Smoking is one of the nastiest habits out there, and has caused more trouble for people who smoke than they could ever imagine. If you are a regular smoker, then you need to start thinking about your teeth, and thinking about what smoking can eventually do to your teeth. Smoking is not a healthy habit, and if you continue to smoke not only will you be spending money on cigarettes, but you will also be spending mass amounts of money on the dentist bills.

When it comes to smoking, it is something that most people all enjoy and it is hard to quit. But when it comes to your mouth and your teeth, people who smoke do not really realize the effects it has on your mouth. The first effect is the fact that you will always have bad breath; you will always smell like you have just had a cigarette, even if it has been an hour or two. Remember, that bad breath can actually cause gum cancer, and if you smoke you are at an even bigger risk of developing gum cancer.

Gum cancer is just one of your worries, think about your teeth falling out, or just constant gum and teeth pain. When you smoke, you wear down your gums and your teeth. Your teeth can actually decay a lot fast than they would if you were not smoking. You can wear down your enamel and get cavities a lot easier and faster than you normally would.

Studies these days show that people, who actually smoke, will have a larger amount of plaque build up on their teeth. This is caused by the ingredients of the cigarettes that you are smoking on a daily basis. Plaque build up is what causes cavities, and the more plaque that builds up, the worse off you are going to be. The plaque will not only build up on your teeth, but around your gums as well. Once you start having problems with your teeth, it is only a matter of time before gum problems start to arise.

Smoking is a hard habit to kick, but if you just think about what good you will be doing to your teeth in the long run, you will see that quitting your habit is a smart decision. Just think about how much money you would essentially be saving and how much good you will be doing for your mouth. Smoking and cancer within the mouth can be quite painful, and sometimes that pain never goes away. So, even though you might think that quitting smoking would be a really tough decision to make and quite an ordeal for you, sitting in a dentist chair for an hour or two with your mouth wide open getting various cavities filled can be a lot worse for someone, just think about it. The next time you try to light up, just think about what you will be doing to your body as well as your pearly white teeth, they will not stay white for very long.

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Many of us have experienced uncomfortable feelings or sensations when it comes to seeing our family dentist. For some the emotions are so strong that they may actually become ill while in the dental chair.

There is no need to experience these negative emotions any longer. Emotional Freedom Techniques, also known as EFT, is a fast, easy, painless technique that can free you from stress, fear, anxiety and countless other negative emotions.

EFT has quite often been referred to as emotional acupuncture. EFT does activate many of the same energy meridians as does traditional acupuncture, however, we don’t use any needles.

Instead, these meridians are activated through a series of gentle tapping. EFT is quite easily learned by people of all ages and is a technique that you will use often, once you become familiar with it. So, let’s now begin by taking a look at those feelings you may have been experiencing before and or during your past dental appointments such as:

Stress, Anxiety, Fear, Nausea, Dizziness, or Light Headedness

All of these negative emotions are a result of a disruption in the body’s energy system. EFT corrects this disruption. We will address the first issue, Stress, and then proceed on to each additional one listed above.

There are two basic parts to doing EFT, the Set Up and the Sequence. The following diagram shows the primary
EFT tapping points which we will cover now.

First Tapping Point. This point is known as the Eyebrow Point and is shown on the diagram to the left by the initials EB. This is the point at the beginning of the eyebrow and along the curve toward the nose. You will tap this area with the fingertips of the first two fingers (index and middle fingers) on your dominant hand to activate this meridian.

Second Tapping Point. This point is known as the Side of the Eye and is depicted by the initials SE on the diagram. It is located on the side of the eye on the boney socket orbit the eye sits within. Using the fingertips of your first two fingers on your dominant hand, you will gently tap this area to activate this energy meridian.

Third Tapping Point. The third tapping point, depicted by the initials UE, is located beneath the eye in the middle on the boney orbit the eye sits within and is activated by gently tapping with the first two fingertips of your dominant hand.

Fourth Tapping Point. The fourth tapping point is located beneath the nose in the small cleft area as shown by the initials UN in the diagram. As with the previous points, this meridian is also activated by gently tapping it with the tips of the first two fingers on your dominant hand.

Fifth Tapping Point. The fifth tapping point is called the chin point. It is actually in the little groove beneath your bottom lip. Again, this point is activated using the fingertips of the first two fingers on your dominant hand.

Sixth Tapping Point. (see diagram on following page)
The sixth tapping point is the collarbone point. The easiest way to activate this area is to form a light fist and tap over the area where a gentleman would knot his tie.

Seventh Tapping Point. (see diagram on following page)
The seventh tapping point is located under the arm about four inches down from the armpit and even with the nipple on a man.
For a woman, it will be in the middle of the bra strap under the arm. Activate this meridian using four fingertips on your dominant hand.

Eighth Tapping Point. (see diagram on following page)
The eighth tapping point is on the top of the head and is activated by using four fingertips of your dominant hand.

There are two other points you may use for the initial set up. These are the Karate Chop Point and the Sore Spot.

In the diagram to the left, you will see two dotted oval areas on the chest . These are approximately 2 inches down from the middle of the collarbone and are between two ribs. This area earns it’s name due to the fact they are tender due to lymphatic congestion.

You will know when you have found your Sore Spot by the slight discomfort you will feel when pressing or rubbing in this area. This meridian is activated by rubbing the sore spot with the first two fingertips of your dominant during the set up.

The Karate Chop Point is located on the side of the hand along the meaty part of the palm. This is the area you would use in Karate to strike a board. The diagram to the left shows this tapping point. It is activated by tapping with four fingertips of your dominant hand during the set up.

EFT consists of two basic components or parts, the Set Up and the Sequence.

The Set Up. The set up is used to start EFT and is focused on the main issues known at the time. A typical set up phrase would be: “Even though I have (name
problem or feeling), I deeply and completely accept myself.” For example, let’s say you experience stress just thinking about going to the dentist. Your set up phrase would be something along the line of the following:
“Even though I feel a lot of stress just thinking about going to the dentist, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

While stating the set up phrase you will be either rubbing the Sore Spot or tapping on the Karate Chop Point. You will repeat the set up phrase a total of three times before starting the tapping sequence.

The Sequence. This begins the tapping and you always start at the top and work down the body– beginning at the Eyebrow Point (EB) and ending at the top of the head.

While you are tapping on the 8 energy meridians, you will state certain phrases to help your body focus in on the issues you wish to resolve. By tapping and also stating the issues, you engage both sides of your brain.

As I mentioned, EFT works to re-align your body’s energy system.
Our bodies have a very distinct electrical system. To prove this, simply shuffle your feet across a carpet and then touch a metallic object such as a doorknob or light switch. You will get a small shock which is due to the static electricity you generated. This would not have been possible if your body did not already have its own electrical nature.

You can also measure the body’s electrical impulses through an EKG of the heart. Even your thoughts emit energy impulses which medical science has documented in the form of brain wave activity. So, when your energy system is gets out of alignment, EFT is used to correct this condition.

Another way of thinking about this would be by using a television set as an example. If you took the back off of a television and stuck a screw driver into the components you would disrupt the electrical system of the television which results in messing up the reception or distorting the sound or both. But, remove the screw driver and the picture becomes clear and so does the sound.

EFT corrects the imbalance caused by negative emotions by neutralizing the negative emotions effect on the body.

For dealing with stress, measure your level of discomfort on a scale from 0 to 10 with 0 meaning no discomfort and 10 being maximum discomfort. Then begin the procedure in a similar manner to the following:
Set Up—while tapping on the Karate Chop Point, repeat the following phrase three times.

“Even though I get so very stressed when I go to the dentist, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Now begin the tapping sequence addressing the issue you are focusing on by starting at the Eyebrow Point.

Eyebrow Point: “Releasing this stress.”
Side of Eye: “Releasing this stress.”
Under the Eye: “Releasing this stress.”
Under the Nose: “Releasing this stress.”
Chin: “Releasing this stress.”
Collarbone: “Releasing this stress.”
Under Arm: “Releasing this stress.”
Top of Head: “Releasing this stress.”

Now you will tap in positive affirmations or phrases to fill the space where the negative emotions once resided.

Eyebrow Point: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Side of Eye: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Under the Eye: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Under the Nose: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Chin: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Collarbone: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Under Arm: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed.”
Top of Head: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed
Now take a nice deep breath in and slowly let it out. Drink some water too as this helps move things along.

Measure your level of discomfort around the issue of stress. If you still measure anything above 0, repeat the process. This time use the following set up and sequence:
“Even though I still have this remaining stress about going to the dentist, I deeply and completely accept myself.”
Now begin the sequence while focusing on and addressing the issue, starting at the

Eyebrow Point.
Eyebrow Point: “Remaining stress.”
Side of Eye: “Remaining stress.”
Under the Eye: “Remaining stress.”
Under the Nose: “Remaining stress.”
Chin: “Remaining stress.”
Collarbone: “Remaining stress.”
Under Arm: “Remaining stress.”
Top of Head: “Remaining stress.”

Now tap in another round of positive affirmations as you did in the first sequence of tapping:

Eyebrow Point: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Side of Eye: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Under the Eye: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Under the Nose: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Chin: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Collarbone: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Under Arm: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Top of Head: “I choose to feel calm and relaxed when I visit the dentist.”
Measure your level of discomfort around the issue of stress. If it is anything above 0, repeat. If you have succeeded in achieving a 0, congratulations.

More than likely, this issue regarding stress and the dentist will no longer bother you. Other aspects may arise and you will deal with them in the same manner in which you dealt with the stress. You will simply substitute the new aspect (such as fear of the instruments) in place of the word “stress”.

The Movie Technique
One of the most effective ways to use EFT is with what is known as the Movie Technique. In this technique, you simply play a short little movie in your mind featuring you visiting the dentist.

Notice the feelings that begin to arise and their intensity. Now, take these feelings and place them into the set up and sequence of EFT. You will soon effectively resolve these issues.
EFT is a wonderful technique to use on any negative emotion you may be experiencing.

I have used it personally for many issues such as a fear of public speaking, fear of flying and the sudden loss of a loved one to name a few. In the loss of a very dear family member, I was experiencing deep grief, anger and bitterness—many common emotions that evolve around the loss of a loved one. I am not saying that to grieve is bad. Morning is a natural process.

However, when grief is prolonged and begins to affect other areas of your life, then it is time to address the issues surrounding the grief. In my case, those issues were unresolved anger, resentment and bitterness. Using EFT helped me to overcome these fears and negative emotions.

I have helped many clients resolve other issues and have effectively used EFT on the following:

Weight Loss Prosperity Issues
Resisting Exercise Abundance Issues
Depression Money Issues
Anger Guilt
Phobias Bitterness
Fear of Public Speaking Resentment
Low Self Esteem Procrastination
Performance Issues Blocks
Self Confidence Relationship Issues
Changing Careers Marketing/Prospecting

In closing, I have not come across any issue that EFT has not shown to be effective on.

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A root canal is a repair to save a tooth that has become infected or decayed. The procedure consists of removing the nerve and pulp while the inside of the tooth is cleaned out, disinfected, and sealed. If treatment is not done when the tooth becomes infected, the tooth could turn into an abscess. Not having treatment can cause swelling and infection in the face known as cellulitis or can cause drainage problems within the root of the tooth.

It is possible to remove the tooth, but doing so could cause your teeth to shift and move. It could also cause a problem with chewing and biting. If you chose to have the tooth removed, an artificial tooth could be implanted but would not be as beneficial in chewing as your real tooth would be.

To decide if you need a root canal or not, your dentist will do an examination with x-rays. After deciding that you need a root canal, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic. A sheet of latex, known as a rubber dam, will be put around the tooth to keep it clean and dry during the treatment.

An opening is then made in the crown of the tooth. The pulp is removed from the chamber and root canal. Tiny instruments called files are used to clean the root and will shape the root to make sure the seal will stick and seal. A temporary filling is put into the opened tooth to protect the tooth between dental visits. The filling also prevents bacteria from setting in until you can get back in to have a permanent filling put in. Remember that your temporary filling is susceptible to fracture. Therefore you want to avoid biting or chewing until after your tooth is filled in.

Even with the pulp removed and the seal in place, the tooth is still very much alive. You will still be able to brush your teeth regularly and eat and drink normally. If proper hygiene is done, the tooth has a ninety-five percent success rate.

When you are sent home after your root canal is done, there are some complications that you need to be aware of. These include:

Soreness may be experienced and may be due to the injection, the chore of having to keep your mouth open for so long, or the overall treatment of the root canal.

If you have any pain, take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If you still have pain after taking over-the-counter medication, then get in touch with your dentist.

After your root canal is over, your dentist will continue to monitor you until you are one-hundred percent better. At future appointments, you will have more x-rays to make sure the tooth and filling are healing.

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Wisdom teeth, or third molar teeth, are the final set of teeth that most young people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when teeth are aligned, but sometimes they protrude through the gums and can cause misalignment and require removal.

When wisdom teeth come through your gums, they can sometimes come in horizontally or angle themselves toward or against your other teeth. When they come through, they can crowd your other teeth causing them to shift and get misaligned. If the wisdom teeth do lean or crowd against your other teeth, it makes them more susceptible to decay by trapping plaque and debris. Wisdom teeth can also stay buried beneath your gums and still potentially cause problems by crowding your teeth together, but sometimes they can partially break through the gums. If this happens the teeth are known to be “impacted.” Whatever the case may be, it is always best to have them removed.

If a wisdom tooth has come through the gums, extraction may be as easy as the dentist pulling the tooth out. However if the tooth is still buried beneath the gums or impacted, an incision will need to be made to remove the tooth. Depending if the tooth is embedded in the jawbone also depends if the dentist removes a portion of the bone to get rid of the tooth. Sometimes dentists will extract portions of the jawbone and tooth to avoid having to remove too much at one time.
Before the tooth is extracted, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the surrounding area. If you are still nervous, discuss with your dentist the possibility of taking a relaxing sedative, nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), or sedation given intravenously. You will need a driver if you decide on the relaxing sedative or IV sedation but should be fine to drive if you’ve been given the oxide.

Recovery from any surgery depends from person to person and depends on the level of extraction. What you need to watch for in the first twenty-four hours:

Bleeding is normal and may occur for the first twenty-four hours. Put clean gauze over the open wound and bite down firmly, applying pressure for forty-five minutes. If you have heavier bleeding, contact your dentist. Do not rinse or spit after the extraction, and avoid drinking through a straw. Also do not drink hot liquids as this can remove the clot.

It’s also normal to have facial swelling after the extraction. To reduce swelling, put an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas on your face for ten minutes.

If you have any pain, consider taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen every four to six hours as needed for pain. Avoid taking Aspirin or any medicine that will thin your blood and prevent clotting.

As with recovery, complete healing after wisdom teeth extraction varies from person to person. Your mouth will start to feel reasonably better within a week or two. Be sure to ask your dentist for a definite healing time.

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Dental implants these days have become quite popular and incredibly easy to get. Because of the amount of technology that we have at our fingertips, it is easy to get procedures done such as getting dental implants. But what exactly is a dental implant, and what would cause a person to actually need to get dental implants? These questions, will all be answered in due time.

A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth that you would get in order to replace an old tooth that was beyond repair and filled with decay. This pretty much means that the tooth is dead, and there is no use for it. Because the tooth is dead, in order to keep anymore bacteria from forming, your dentist needs to get inside of your mouth, take out your dead tooth and replace it with a dental implant.

Because of the technology that is used for dental implants, you can no longer tell which tooth is a dental implant and which of your teeth are actually your real teeth! This has become quite the breakthrough due to the fact that people tend to be a little bit on the self conscious side, they might feel a little strange smiling because of the irregularities that the old dental implants had. But, now that the new dental implants look so real, people do not mind so much anymore!

If you are worried about the cost of dental implants, then look at your dental insurance plan and see what you are covered under. If you do not have dental insurance, then talk to your dentist about setting up some sort of payment plan, this is usually pretty simple to do as long as you pay your bills on time.

Your teeth are a very important part of your anatomy, and if you do not take care of them properly then you are going to feel the consequences, and they can be quite painful. Dental implants are needed due to the fact that you might not have taken care of your teeth, and now they have decayed and they have fallen out. If this happens, or you are worried about this happening, then talk to your dentist about how you can take better care of your teeth. The more you take care of your teeth, the better off you are going to be, and the more money you are going to save. Dental implants and dental surgery is not cheap these days and it can cause quiet the dent in anyone’s wallet.

So, take the time to take care of your teeth, make sure you brush and floss and use mouthwash. All three of these ingredients are going to make sure that you have a bright and incredibly healthy smile. If you have any questions about your teeth, sit down with your dentist and discuss it with them, they can surely answer any type of questions that you might have. The more that you know about your teeth as well as the care of your teeth, the better off you are going to be!

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There are two types of dentures dental procedures: Complete dentures which are artificial teeth for people who have lost all of their teeth, and partial dentures which are for people who have lost several teeth.

Tooth loss can come from many things such as decay, trauma, or some sort of periodontal disease. It is very important to replace these teeth. Not doing so can make it more difficult to chew properly, can make your other teeth shift, and can give your face a sagging appearance, adding years to your face.

Dentures are made out of metal and with acrylic resin, a plastic-like material that is designed to fit the exact shape of your mouth. Dentures have suction in them to make holding them in place a lot easier.

Having dentures look very much like real teeth and can improve a smile. They’re designed to be comfortable and completely functional.

Before you schedule an appointment to have dentures done, you should first do your research on your dentist. Check the credibility of your dentist and where he did his training. Mostly all dentists are qualified to perform the denture procedure.

With the denture procedure, it may be necessary to pull the remaining teeth. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to smooth the bony ridges so your dentures will fit smoothly. To be fitted for dentures, your dentist will make a mold of your teeth using wax. You will discuss custom-fit, color, and shape of the teeth. If you choose to have a complete set of dentures, your dentist will wait until you have completely healed from having all of your teeth pulled.

If you choose to have a partial denture, metal attachments are anchored around your natural teeth. Partial dentures help maintain teeth alignment to help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting and moving. Partial dentures can also prevent your other teeth from decaying and prevent gum disease.

While dentures certainly have the advantage in improving a smile and preventing other teeth from shifting, dentures also have a downside. One of the main downsides is that dentures may take a little while to get used to. There is hygiene maintenance involved and speech problems to possibly overcome. Mouth sores and irritation may occur but only if you do not take them out like you should to clean and disinfect them. You may need to change your dentures when they start to wear out, usually around every seven months.

Another problem that may occur with your dentures is the fact that you are not used to having something in your mouth that isn’t food. The brain senses that this is food and sends messages to the salivary glands to produce and secrete more saliva. Loss of taste and gagging are also possible problems that may occur.

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Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of improper bites (tooth irregularity and/or unequal jaw connection). Orthodontists can also specialize in the control or modification of facial growth. Your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist if he feels you will need treatment to improve your orofacial appearance.

Any orthodontic problem can be classified as misaligned or crooked teeth, missing teeth, extra teeth, overbite, under bite, misaligned jaw position, and a disorder in the jaw joint.

No matter how old or young you are, correcting the alignment of teeth seems inevitable. It’s always better to correct the alignment at a young age as an adult’s jaw is already positioned and settled. The ideal age for a young person to have alignment is between the ages ten and fourteen. The treatment for this is, of course, braces.

There are many types of braces available to you such as the standard metal or plastic brackets that are bonded to teeth, back-of-the teeth braces that are hidden from viewing, Invisalign, ceramic colored braces, and self-ligating braces.

Standard metal or plastic brackets are very strong and can withstand any most any kind of treatment. When the braces are first put on, the brackets may irritate your gums but will go away as time goes on.
Anyone wanting back-of-the-teeth braces is made of metal and virtually invisible to other people. Since the braces go on the back of the teeth, orthodontists need special training. If you find your orthodontist is not trained, feel free to ask your dentist or Google to see if there is an orthodontist around the area who will do this type of braces for you.

Invisalign braces are for people who have very little dental alignment problems. Invisalign is not actually braces but more of a hard plastic mold that are designed specifically for you. If your overbite is not too severe and your teeth are not severely crooked, then Invisalign would be a good choice for you. However if you do have an overbite or require the use of headgear along with braces, then Invisalign would not be a good choice for you. As with back-of-the-teeth braces, Invisalign requires special training from your orthodontist.

Ceramic braces are very strong and blend in with the color of your teeth. The ligatures that hold the wire onto the ceramic brackets are usually clear or white. While the brackets look good for a while, they can begin to stain- especially if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee. Fortunately every time you go in for an adjustment, your brackets are changed.

Self-ligating braces are still made of metal but do not require the use of rubber bands to hold the wire onto the bracket. Self-ligating braces are also known as “speed braces.”

To get the perfect smile that you desire and want, one of the most important things to remember is to have good hygiene. Brush your teeth carefully after every meal (braces or not) with a soft-bristled brush and a good fluoride toothpaste. Floss your teeth and between your braces. Stay away from sticky food such as candy-apples and toffee and stay away from the corn-on-the-cob. Keep your regular cleaning and adjustment appointments with your orthodontist.

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