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Most people know when they have a cavity—they can either see it on their tooth or... ouch! They can feel it! But there are certain things that many of our patients don't know about cavities that could save them a trip to our Raleigh, NC office!

1. Not all sugars are created equal

It's quite well known that eating dietary sugars in excess along with poor oral hygiene leads to dental decay such as cavities. This is due to the fact that the bacteria in your mouth feed on these sugars and excrete acids as a byproduct of that process, thus causing decay. But xylitol, a sugar alcohol derived from birch or corn, actually prevents the bacteria from converting sugars into acids.

Xylitol is available in the form of gum, mints, toothpaste, and even in a granulated form much like regular cane sugar. You might consider trying some xylitol products between meals to keep your mouth clean and fresh.

2. It's not always what you eat but HOW you eat

Are you a grazer, always snacking between meals and never satisfied? We now know that this kind of eating can contribute to cavities and other oral health problems.

Every time you eat anything with carbohydrates in it, you're feeding the bacteria in your mouth, which in turn produce acids. If you're constantly eating, it doesn't allow your saliva time to bring the pH of your mouth back into a more alkaline, neutral state. It takes your saliva about 20 minutes to neutralize the acids in your mouth after eating.

It's especially easy to harm your teeth in this way with soft drinks, sipping all day long. So, it's best to avoid sugary drinks and junk food, and if you need a snack opt for healthy vegetables or what are known as "detergent foods." If you do decide to drink a soft drink or eat something sugary, have it all at once and not over the course of the day.

3. Flossing is one of the most important oral hygiene techniques

Although most of our patients are aware that they need to brush, sometimes they can get lackadaisical when it comes to flossing. And that's a big mistake. Flossing is one of the most important (and we daresay, easiest) things someone can do to help prevent cavities and tooth decay.

You see, as we've already mentioned, the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities feed on the food you eat. So if you've got pieces of that food stuck between your teeth all day and night, every day, that's asking for a problem.

Flossing clears that bacteria-feeding food out from between your teeth. Floss daily and whenever you decide to do it, morning or night, just do it!

4. A dry mouth can lead to cavities and tooth decay

Your teeth's best defense against cavities and tooth decay is actually your saliva! We've already talked about the pH neutralizing effect saliva has. So if you find you have a dry mouth often, make sure to have some water to sip on. Or why not try some xylitol mints or gum to get your saliva production kicked into action?

5. Over-brushing can damage your enamel

If you brush like a construction worker with a jackhammer, you should ease up! Brushing too hard can scrape away at your teeth's enamel, which leaves them more susceptible to cavities and decay. Brush lightly, with your brush angled at the gum line for two minutes, twice a day. That's all that is required!

Never before have dental implants looked as natural and aesthetically pleasing as they do today. With the help of computer-aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team are able to create implants with impeccable fit and finish. Although these technologies have been in use since the 1980s, it's only recently that they became efficient and cost-effective enough to be useful.

Dr. Gregory Weaver can also take digital scans of your teeth, providing a much more in-depth and accurate representation of them when compared to traditional X-rays. This scan can be used to create a physical model of your teeth through the use of 3D printing technology, allowing for the utmost in accuracy when planning your implant treatment.

Since each of our patients are unique, these CAD/CAM technologies offer a highly customized approach to implant dentistry that helps avoid the "one-size-fits-all" ways of the past. The goal is to have an implant look and function as closely as it can to the tooth it's replacing. That’s why these implants are typically milled using ceramic or composite resin — materials chosen due to their durability and resemblance to teeth.

Even the planning of your surgery can be aided and guided by computers. 3D CT scans create a digital representation of your mouth including all significant anatomical markers. This data is imported into planning software which, coupled with CAD/CAM implant technology, is able to 3D print surgical guides that snap into place over a patient's teeth. This means less risk for surgical error and much more accurately placed dental implants.

The main benefits of CAD/CAM dental implants are that they:

• Are extremely accurate for every patient, down to 50 micrometers
• Have better long-term results and more natural-looking implants
• Can be manufactured quickly, the same day in many cases

Of course this is just a quick summary of the benefits, and a computer-modeled implant may not always be the best option. If you have questions about the dental implants or the technologies we use to make them look as natural as possible, feel free to contact our Raleigh, NC office.

Weaver Dentistry provides a variety of cosmetic procedures to help enhance our patients’ smiles. These procedures include veneers, bonding, KOR and DASH in office teeth whitening services, and NiteWhite customized take home teeth whitening trays. Cosmetic procedures are often done to enhance the appearance of a patient’s teeth, whether it’s using veneers or teeth whitening treatments.

After completing customized cosmetic treatments our office will check in with patients to ensure they’re satisfied with their new smile. We encourage patients to continue making their six month appointments to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.

For patients interested in any of our cosmetic procedures, we recommend calling our office and scheduling a personal consultation to go over your options and find the best possible treatment plan. Don’t hesitate to contact our office to find out more about our cosmetic procedures!

Weaver Dentistry has been keeping North Carolina’s smiles healthy and beautiful since 1899. Dr. Weaver and Dr. Sykes have over 52 years of dental experience, with a specialty in Cerec crowns and cosmetic dentistry. We have three different locations including Raleigh, Cary, and Wake Forest. Each office is known for making our patients feel comfortable, safe, and well cared for.

Our office treats patients of all ages and is happy to provide comforting perks like hot towels for relaxation, a coffee and tea bar, free Wi-Fi, in addition to the most experienced dental hygienists that North Carolina has to offer. Our younger patients have their own “nook" where they can read fun books, color, and find a treasure chest full of prizes. We strive to provide the best service from the moment you walk into our office until you checkout.

Dr. Weaver and Dr. Sykes are both highly skilled with Cerec crowns, and are certified Invisalign providers. Dr. Weaver travels the country teaching other dentists the proper techniques when using Cerec technology to place beautiful, life-like crowns. Since our doctors are certified by Invisalign, we have the ability to treat patients in as little as six to eight months while still achieving the most optimal results. TruDenta has also trained and certified Dr. Weaver to treat patients suffering from headaches without the use of drugs or needles. His patients especially enjoy the long-lasting effects of their TruDenta treatments.

If you are interested in visiting our office for the first time, we are able to offer complimentary consultations for second opinions. Dr. Weaver and Dr. Sykes always will make time to go over all treatment options with their patients in order to decide upon the best route of treatment. If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with us, please reach out to any of our three locations!