Ritchie Dental Group Blog

Hello Marble Falls dental friends. Today’s topic is about the dangers of smokeless tobacco. Cigarette sales at most Marble Falls stores have decreased in the past decade, but some Marble Falls tobacco consumers have switched to smokeless products instead. There is a common misconception in the Horseshoe Bay area, especially among teens, that chewing tobacco isn’t as harmful. This is absolutely not true. Other types of tobacco, such as spit, snuff, chew, or pinch, are just as deadly as conventional cigarettes.

At Ritchie Dental Group, we see patients encounter serious consequences due to smokeless tobacco use. Because most symptoms of use occur in the mouth, we are usually the first to notice a decline in oral health in Marble Falls. Oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease, and tooth decay are the most common dental problems caused by smokeless tobacco in Texas. Keeping a pinch of tobacco between your cheek and gum all day is worse than keeping candy tucked in there. The tobacco contains almost as much sugar as the candy but delivers harmful chemicals as an added bonus. The dangers are two-fold, the tobacco erodes the teeth and also causes the gums to pull away from teeth.

Oral cancers can be as deadly as lung cancer and usually require surgery. If the Texas patient is fortunate and the cancer is successfully removed with surgery, the collateral damage to the face, neck, or jaw is not pretty. These are the main dental risks of smokeless tobacco. In addition, we should also mention that there are two other major concerns, addiction and heart disease.

At Ritchie Dental Group in Marble Falls, we perform oral cancer screenings and oral examinations. To receive more specifics, or schedule an appointment, call 830-637-7227. We also offer services such as teeth whitening, emergency dentistry, and orthodontics. If you want to quit using smokeless tobacco products to improve your oral health in Marble Falls, we recommend that you communicate with our team, your primary care doctor, or your pharmacist.

Contact Ritchie Dental Group:

830-637-7227

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1000 Marble Heights Dr, Marble Falls TX
Marble Falls, Texas
78654

Congratulations on your new denture in Marble Falls! Your custom-made prosthesis is sure to provide you with years of confident smiles and pleasurable eating. However, you may discover that your denture feels strange at first; it may even make your mouth sore or affect your pronunciation. Don’t worry. When you put these simple tips to use, such issues should go away within a matter of weeks.

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A yummy snack can give your child a boost of energy and help them make it to dinnertime without complaining about hunger. If they forget their lunch at home, they can even grab a few items out of a school vending machine to sustain them until they get home. Unfortunately, however, some snacks pose a threat to your young one’s oral health. Your children’s dentist in Marble Falls is here to discuss the consequences that certain foods can have on precious little smiles.

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If you’ve ever walked the oral care aisles of any drugstore, you know that there are many different types of mouthwash. Some tout their germ-killing abilities, others emphasize their fluoride content, and some claim to whiten teeth while freshening the breath. These are all great benefits, but will they help you improve your oral health in Burnet?

Many individuals wonder if daily mouthwash should be part of their dental routine. Brushing and flossing are the two important habits that have the greatest influence on dental health, so if you’re doing these two things, is mouthwash necessary?

Dental Habits Can Effect Oral Health in Burnet

When our dental patients ask about mouthwash, we tell them that as long as they follow the instructions for use on the bottle, mouthwash may slightly benefit oral health in Burnet, even if it doesn’t live up to every promise as claimed. Rinsing with a mouthwash that contains fluoride can’t hurt your teeth, but allowing a bit of diluted toothpaste to stay on tooth surfaces after brushing probably has the same effect.

Men and women who suffer from bad breath often believe that mouthwash can solve the issue. Actually, mouthwashes that contain alcohol can worsen the problem because they can cause dry mouth—a condition that can exacerbate bad breath. Mouthwashes without alcohol are commonly more powerful for freshening breath. These products are frequently called fluoride rinses.

If you have persistent bad breath, however, you should have your teeth analyzed for plaque build-up. No amount of mouthwash can remedy a mouth full of plaque. If your teeth and gums are healthy and you still suffer from bad breath, it’s important to ascertain the cause. Bad breath can be an indication of a physical condition, so see your doctor soon. Bottom line? Never substitute mouthwash for proper brushing and flossing. And if you use mouthwash, opt for a brand that contains fluoride and no alcohol to improve your oral health in Burnet.

Schedule an Appointment

At Ritchie Dental Group, we like to tackle important issues such as dental products, cosmetic dentistry procedures, over-the-counter teeth whitening, sedation dentistry, invisible braces, pediatric dentistry, oral care habits, and more! If you are interested in making an appointment, please call us at 830-637-7227. A member of my friendly and comprehensive staff can answer any questions you have about our services.

Contact Ritchie Dental Group:

830-637-7227

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1000 Marble Heights Dr, Marble Falls TX
Marble Falls, Texas
78654