Maintain Your Oral Health with Austin Family Dentist

Hopefully, you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once, every day. However, we also hope that the extent of your dental hygiene routine does not end there. Like a car, your mouth needs regular professional maintenance to continue operating properly, even in you wash it often. To help you ensure a lifetime of bright and healthy smiles, your Austin family dentist, Dr. Van Wicklen, explains the necessity of professional care for your oral health.

Prevention and Attention to Detail

The point of brushing and flossing your teeth is to control the excessive buildup of dental plaque, which consists mostly of oral bacteria. When these germs gather, they form the sticky biofilm to protect them and adhere to your oral tissue. Among these microbes are those responsible for the formation of tooth decay and gum disease; therefore, controlling their population is vital to maintaining your oral health. When allowed to remain for more than 48 hours, plaque calcifies (hardens) into tartar—a harder, stubborn substance that cannot be removed with a mere toothbrush and toothpaste. At your dental checkup and cleaning, Dr. Van Wicklen can thoroughly examine your oral tissues for early signs of disease and infection, improving your chances of successful treatment. Also, our talented hygienists will carefully remove residual plaque and tartar from your teeth and under your gum line to help prevent the formation of damaging dental diseases. (more…)

Austin Dentist Discusses Morning Breath Causes and Cures

Chances are, you don’t enjoy having bad breath. Unfortunately, it is still a part of the morning for most people, and for some, it may be a problem that affects more than just the start of their day. If you brush and floss your teeth every morning, then you can mostly eliminate your morning breath before starting your day. However, sometimes the foul odor may be more stubborn than normal and brushing and flossing may not always do the trick. To help you eliminate especially-persistent bad breath and return your confidence, Austin dentist, Dr. Steven Van Wicklen,  explores what causes morning breath and how you can rid yourself of it.

Why is Your Breath Foul in the Morning?

If asked what causes bad breath, how would you answer? Most people are aware that strong foods, such as onions and garlic, can leave very strong impressions for hours after you’ve eaten, but if food were the only cause, why would your breath be especially horrid in the mornings, after a night’s sleep? (more…)

Austin Family Dentist Wants to Discuss Your Heart Health

February marks American Heart Month, dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of heart disease. Keeping your heart healthy, however, is a lifelong practice. So what does your dental health have to do with your cardiovascular wellbeing? More than you may think, actually. A plethora of studies examining oral-systemic health (the relationship between your oral and physical health) have shown a connection between dental disease and heart disease, including the presence of gum disease-causing bacteria in the midst of atherosclerosis (a disease involving plaque buildup in the arteries). As part of our dedication your oral and systemic health, Austin family dentist Dr. Steven Van Wicklen discusses tips for keeping your heart healthy, including how to ensure a clean and disease-free mouth.

Tips for a Healthy Heart

Two of the most common methods of keeping your heart in good shape are to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. The plaque that can accumulate on the walls of your blood vessels and arteries is comprised largely of cholesterol and fat deposits, which can accumulate in excess if you’re not careful with your meals. Daily physical activity can help you control your weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure, as well as improving your respiratory system’s ability to deliver oxygen-laden blood to your heart and other organs, which is essential to their proper function. (more…)

Why Ignoring Crooked Teeth Should Not Be an Option

The position of your teeth is an important consideration in your mouth’s proper function. Your teeth must be properly aligned to efficiently displace the pressure of the powerful human bite. When one or more of your teeth are crooked, it can lead to complications throughout your oral health. Your Austin dentist, Dr. Van Wicklen, explains why you shouldn’t ignore your misaligned smile and offers a solution that allows you to discreetly restore the function to your smile.

Straighter Teeth are Healthier Teeth

Even if your crooked teeth did not bother you, and you were proud to show your misaligned smile, multiple oral health issues can arise from teeth that are not in their proper place. For instance, dental plaque, which consists of hundreds of different kinds of bacteria, can hide in the crevices and odd spaces created by misaligned teeth. These germs are the cause of tooth decay, gum disease, and chronic bad breath (halitosis). While brushing and flossing typically removes plaque before it becomes an issue, crooked teeth provide odd crevices and spaces for the microbes to hide, often out of reach from traditional tooth brushing. Not straightening your teeth can significantly increase your risk of developing a chronic dental disease. (more…)

How Amazing is the Human Tongue?

You may not consider your tongue when you ponder your oral health care, but the truth is that the muscle is as vital as your teeth and gums when it comes to your mouth’s health and function. Not only does your tongue allow you to eat and speak clearly, it can also warn you of an impending oral or systemic illness. In honor of the amazing human tongue, Austin dentist Dr. Van Wicklen offers a few interesting tidbits about your body’s strongest muscle.

Did You Know?

  • Your tongue is not only necessary, it is unique. Tongues come in different shapes and sizes, with various arrangements of taste buds, and your tongue’s print is as distinctive as your fingerprints.
  • A healthy human mouth contains around 10,000 taste buds, 8,000 of which are spread across the top surface of your tongue. The remaining taste buds are scattered on the inside of your cheeks, under your tongue, on the roof of your mouth, and on your lips. (more…)

You Don’t Have to Tolerate Tooth Loss

Unless you’re a hockey player, a missing tooth is probably not a badge of honor. Your teeth can be lost to disease, decay, trauma (such as in the case of a hockey player), or a number of other reasons, but natural causes is not one of them. Your teeth were meant to last a lifetime, and if one or more of them is lost, they must be replaced to salvage your dental health. As an experienced dentist in Austin, Dr. Van Wicklen knows well the lasting effects of untreated tooth loss, and offers a state-of-the-art solution that closely mimics the entire structure of your natural tooth.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is similar in shape to your natural tooth root. The implant is surgically inserted into your jawbone, which accepts and fuses to the biocompatible titanium exterior of the implant. When your mouth heals, the implant will be as securely anchored as your natural tooth roots, and your replacement teeth (i.e., crown, bridge, or denture) can be attached to the sturdy base. (more…)

Single-Visit Dental Crowns at Your Austin Dentist’s Office

Time is of the essence when treating your dental issues, but in today’s hectic society, finding time to sit in a chair can be difficult. Unfortunately, dental maladies such as tooth decay, gum disease, or complications from a structurally damaged tooth do not wait for anyone, regardless of how busy you are. As progressive diseases, these maladies will continue to destroy your dental health until you address them. In our dedication to helping you maintain your healthy and beautiful smile, Austin dentist Dr. Van Wicklen makes treating your teeth simpler, quicker, and more appeasing to your schedule.

Why Do You Need a Crown, Anyway?

Healthy teeth are surrounded by a strong substance called tooth enamel. As a barrier for bacteria, food debris, and other irritants, enamel protects the softer tissues of your tooth from disease and discomfort. When your tooth is damaged (i.e., cracked or fractured), then your tooth’s interior is exposed to infection, decay, and the risk of loss. A dental crown, often called a cap, is shaped like your tooth and is placed over it to help retain its structural integrity and protect it from further damage and disease. If your tooth is treated for tooth decay and a dental filling is placed, Dr. Van Wicklen may recommend placing a crown over the treated tooth to keep it strong. (more…)

Austin Dentist Explores the Damages of Gum Disease

Chances are that you’ve heard of gum disease. In fact, there is also a good chance that gum disease has affected you or someone you know. Approximately 80% of adults in America have gum disease to some degree, from mild gingivitis to severe periodontitis. The infection begins with the excessive formation of plaque, which consists largely of oral bacteria. When these germs accumulate along your gum line, they release toxins that attack the connective tissues between your gums and your teeth. The resulting gum recession and subsequent inflammation can pave the way for the devastating destruction of gum disease. Austin dentist, Dr. Van Wicklen, is familiar with the consequences of gum disease and explains the dangers it can pose to your dental and physical health.

The Foundation of Your Teeth

Tooth decay, which directly affects your tooth’s structure, is often believed to be the most common reason behind adult tooth loss. The truth, however, is that gum disease remains the number one cause of adult tooth loss in America. The trick gum disease’s success is its method of attack. While tooth decay erodes your tooth structure, gum disease targets the mechanisms that hold and support your teeth. Your gums act as a seal that cover and protect the roots of your teeth, which extend all the way into your jawbone. When your gums recede, they lose their tight grip on your teeth. If left untreated, the infection will continue to spread to your jawbone, effectively continuing its attack against the foundation of your teeth. (more…)

Austin Dentist Explains What Makes a Tooth Hurt

Most of us have, at one point or another, felt the discomfort of a sensitive tooth. While a toothache can have a number of different causes, the pain can often be debilitating regardless of its origin. Even if you could ignore it, however, you never should; for all of its possible causes, a toothache indicates that something is wrong. As a dedicated dentist in Austin, Dr. Van Wicklen has extensive experience easing the aching teeth of his patients. Today, he explains some of the more common causes behind tooth sensitivity.

Common Toothache Sources

  • Tooth decay—Your teeth are surrounded and protected by tooth enamel, which happens to be the strongest material that your body produces. Still, enamel is subject to erosion. The underlying tooth structure, called dentin, contains microscopic tubules that lead the pulp in the center of your tooth. When enamel erodes, dentin is exposed to food debris and bacteria. The tubules send sensory information to the nerves housed in the pulp, making the tooth sensitive to irritations like hot, cold, or sweet foods and beverages.
  • Gum disease—Your periodontal tissue, or gums, act as a seal and barrier to protect your tooth’s roots. Aside from bleeding and inflammation, gum recession is also common when gum disease sets in. As your periodontal tissue separates from your teeth, the roots become exposed. Since they are not covered by enamel like the top of your teeth are, exposed roots are sensitive to stimulants and can cause severe tooth discomfort. (more…)

Hey, Gums, Where are You Going?

Many people seem to be under the impression that gum disease is a natural occurrence and should be considered inevitable. Granted, gum disease is common; around 80% of adults in America have some form of the chronic disease, and it remains the number one cause of adult tooth loss.  However, its prevalence among us does not mean that gum disease deserves to be tolerated. Every step should be taken to protect your oral health from the damages of gum disease. As you age, however, prevention can be more difficult. Gum recession, or the separation of gum tissue from your teeth, is a precursor to gum disease, but can also occur naturally through a lifetime of use. Austin dentist, Dr. Van Wicklen, explains gum recession’s link to gum disease, and how to protect your mouth when your gums recede naturally.

Making Room for Mouth Germs

Typically, gum disease begins when oral bacteria in dental plaque release toxins that irritate and inflame your gum tissue, causing it to gradually separate from your teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day can help you control bacterial plaque. However, once your gums begin to separate, the resulting pockets that form can serve as excellent hiding spots for food debris and bacteria to gather safely and continue their destructive work. As bacteria grow within these pockets, the separation continues and gum disease worsens. Left untreated, the infection will destroy your gums, the connective tissue that holds them to your teeth, and your jawbone that supports your teeth’s roots. (more…)