Irmo Smiles, in Irmo SC, is pleased to provide a full range of dental care services and dental treatments. Our dentistry services include: children's, cosmetic, family, general, laser, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
Lots of people ask their dental professional if there’s a difference between plaque and tartar-and it’s a great question. Both plaque and tartar buildup are common dental problems. Significant plaque buildup can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Tartar is calcified plaque. Arming yourself with the facts can help you be smarter about how you care for your teeth. The Facts About Plaque Plaque is sticky, colorless film containing bacteria that builds up naturally on tooth surfaces and especially along the gum line within four to 12 hours after brushing. Sugars in food and drinks can combine with plaque bacteria to release acids. These acids attack tooth enamel and break it down, which can then create cavities. Plaque bacteria can also contribute to gum disease, like gingivitis. Regular brushing and flossing are your most effective tools in the fight against plaque. If it’s not removed daily, plaque eventually accumulates and hardens into tartar. To read the entire article visit OralB.com.
#5: Watch out for starchy foods These are sneaky because they often get trapped in your teeth. If you choose to indulge in chips and cakes, take extra care when you floss that day to remove all the food particles that can lead to plaque build-up. #6: You can still have fun So, what can you eat? Lots of stuff! Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish and vary your diet. Eat whole grains and choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods. The holidays are a great time of year to start thinking about healthier habits. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice-such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables-for your overall health and the health of your teeth. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
#3: Limit your alcohol intake ’Tis the season for egg nog, Brandy Alexanders and glog! If you choose to imbibe, try to drink water alongside your drinks. And remember: Too much alcohol can dry out your mouth. #4: Take it easy on the hard candies Some candies are more problematic than others. Hard candies can put your teeth at risk because in addition to being full of sugar, they’ve also been known to cause broken or chipped teeth. (Be careful not to break or chip your teeth when eating nuts as well!) To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Dry mouth, or xerostomin is the result of decreased saliva production, which affects up to 60% of older adults. Saliva lubricates the mouth helping to prevent decay and protect tooth enamel. But don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to manage this condition. Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of reasons, including medications you may be taking, radiation or cancer treatments, smoking, immune deficiency, systemic diseases (such as Diabetes, ParkinsonÃs, Sjogren syndrome) or salivary gland aplasia. To read the entire article , please visit plus.HealthyTeeth.org
In a perfect world, there would be no cavities - but unfortunately that would mean there would have to be no sugar, and let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet isn’t just important to your overall health, its important to your oral health as well. Frequent or prolonged intake of sugary foods enables bacteria to maintain an acidic environment on the surface of your teeth. Soft and sticky foods cling to the biting surfaces of the teeth and stay there until itÃs brushed off. Saliva will spread the sugar between the teeth, and to the front and back. So how do cavities occur and that ugly dental decay? Every time you eat, plaque and bacteria in your mouth mix with the sugar and starch from the food you ingest, creating an acidic environment in your mouth. This acid softens the enamel of your teeth, and without proper oral hygiene, can expose your teeth to troublesome cavities. How to reduce the risk of decay:
Brush daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
Follow your country’s food guide necessary for a healthy diet.
When eating starchy foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, minimize the time teeth are exposed by eating them with meals rather than snacking on them throughout the day.
Substitute sugary snacks with sugar-free gum and mints. Xylitol found in some chewing gums has been found to reduce risk of cavities. This can help reduce cavities and increase saliva flow.
Drink high-sugar beverages through a straw, then rinse mouth with water and brush within 30 minutes. But be careful, brushing to quickly following a meal can damage your teeth’s enamel.
Rinsing with water after eating can help cleanse the teeth before brushing.
Knowledge is power. Your dentist will tell you, the more information they know about your overall health and current medications as possible, the easier to better understand your oral health needs. Because we know good overall health requires great oral health, and the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, it should come as little surprise that many serious health issues are linked to problems that first started in the mouth. And the same goes with any medications you may be taking. Before your dentists starts their examination or any other procedure, make sure to disclose any and all mediations you may currently be taking. Some procedures or prescribed medications can have adverse effects when taken in combination. In addition, alert your dentist to any allergies, so prescribed medication can be as effective as possible. The same goes for pregnancy, or other health care treatments you may currently be experiencing, which may cause changes to your body. This can help avoid tooth loss, gum disease or other oral health issues as side effects of treatment you may currently be experiencing. It’s always a good idea not only discuss these things with a physician, but also a dentist as well to ensure your oral health is monitored as well. To read the entire article please visit Plus.HealthyTeeth.org
Think back to the days when your tongue served two main functions: licking soft-serve ice cream cones and taunting a sibling when you stuck it out in his direction. But the tongue actually goes beyond melting desserts and young attitude. Here are ten human tongue facts, including some of its functions. The Average Tongue Is Four Inches Long The tongue consists of two parts: anterior and posterior. The anterior tongue is mostly visible and about two thirds of the tongue's total length. The posterior tongue sits near the back of the throat and measures the other one third in length. To read the entire article by Steve Auger, please visit Colgate.com
The habit: Your teeth were made for eating, not to stand in as a pair of scissors or hold things when your hands are full. When you do this, you put yourself at a higher risk of cracking your teeth, injuring your jaw or accidentally swallowing something you shouldn’t. The solution: Stop and find something or someone to give you a hand. Your mouth will thank you. To read the entire article please visit MouthHealthy.org
What other benefits might I receive from using Invisalign to correct my issues? When teeth are aligned properly, gums often “fit” better around them, leaving less room for periodontal issues like gingivitis and gum disease. Because the aligners are removable, regular dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) is easier, which helps avoid some of the marks that can develop on teeth while braces and wires are present. Additionally, it is easier to access some areas of certain teeth after correction has occurred. If you start out with a problematic bite, correcting it can make it easier to chew and speak and even prevent or improve TMJ problems. And finally, properly aligned teeth put less pressure on the bone in the jaw, which can reduce wear and tear over time. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 7321 St. Andrews Road Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
Can Invisalign treatment hurt? When each set of aligners is placed in the mouth, the new angle of controlled forces can cause a feeling of pressure or discomfort for some patients. This generally lasts no more than a couple of days and is a sign that the treatment is working. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 7321 St. Andrews Road Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
What foods do I have to avoid while in treatment? None! The aligners slip right out, so you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. In fact, you’re required to remove your aligners to eat and drink. That means there’s no automatic list of foods or beverages you aren’t allowed to eat, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Please don’t chew gum with the aligners in, because it will stick, and make sure to brush your teeth after each meal before inserting the aligners for the easiest upkeep of your oral hygiene and to keep your breath fresh. Does smoking stain the aligners the way it can stain teeth? Yes, smoking is known to discolor the aligner material, so doing so while in treatment is highly discouraged. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 7321 St. Andrews Road Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
How do I know if I should use braces or Invisalign? Every patient’s situation is unique. We offer a complimentary evaluation to determine if your best treatment options are traditional braces, Invisalign, or a combination of the two. With any of these options, AcceleDent™ may be another possibility to help speed up the progression of your treatment. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 1600 Lake Murray Boulevard Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
Why is it important to have regular teeth cleaning?
Did you know “teeth cleaning” does more than just clean your teeth? Removing plaque is absolutely essential if you want to preserve your teeth, especially during orthodontic care. Plaque builds up on the tooth surfaces and between the teeth, and braces give it even more places to lurk and harden into tartar. Brushing and flossing are, of course, vital, but everyone needs their teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Remember – only a dental hygienist can completely clean your teeth.
My 12-year-old likes to chew ice. Is this harmful? Tooth enamel can be damaged by such things as eating “hard foods” like popcorn, cracking nut shells with your teeth, or chewing on ice. Opening packages or untying tight laces with your teeth can also damage the enamel. All of these things become much riskier when you have braces, because they can shift or bend the brackets or wires, interfering with the work the braces are designed to do and often lengthening treatment time. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 1600 Lake Murray Boulevard Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
Halloween is just around the corner, and although candy consumption is almost unavoidable this time of year, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) wants parents and children to know that there are both good and bad candy options, both of which may find their way into children's trick-or-treat bags this fall. "Of course, dentists do not advocate that children eat large amounts of sugary treats, but it is that time of year, so we want to clarify for parents which treats are better for their kids' teeth and which ones may increase the risk of developing cavities," says AGD spokesperson Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD. To read the entire article, visit: KnowYourTeeth.com Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 1600 Lake Murray Boulevard Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
Changing the Lives of Children in Our Community Dr. Raman is proud to be one of the co-founders of the Midlands South Carolina chapter of the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation (www.s4l.org).
The mission of Smile for a Lifetime is “to create self-confidence, inspire hope, and change the lives of children in our communities in a dramatic way. The gift of a smile can do all this for a deserving, underserved individual who, in turn, can use this gift to better themselves and their community.”
Many individuals are unable to obtain needed orthodontic care due to financial obstacles or other circumstances. Dr. Raman and other area dental professionals work together to choose patients deserving of a Smile for a Lifetime scholarship. Raman Orthodontics Jim Raman, DMD 1600 Lake Murray Boulevard Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 212-0996 RamanOrtho.com
Lots of people ask their dental professional if there’s a difference between plaque and tartar-and it’s a great question. Both plaque and tartar buildup are common dental problems. Significant plaque buildup can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Tartar is calcified plaque. Arming yourself with the facts can help you be smarter about how you care for your teeth. 
