Snoring, Can It Affect a Marriage?

Can snoring be grounds for divorce? Can it ruin a marriage? Maybe not but snoring and sleep apnea can cause tension between an otherwise harmonious couple. It's time to silence the snoring and get sleep apnea treatments.

If your partner is a chronic snorer, you could experience classic signs of sleep deprivation- memory, learning, and reasoning difficulties. You could also suffer from headaches, burn-out, irritability, and depression.

The snorer also faces health risks as snoring can be a manifestation of sleep apnea- repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. Sufferers have a 30% greater risk for heart attack and an elevated risk for stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

All things aside, studies show that couple who struggle with sleep apnea have a higher divorce rate than those who sleep peacefully.

Effective dental treatments are available for both snoring and sleep apnea. Call Rubino Dentistry at 847-825-1002 today. We help protect your health, and maybe, your marriage. 

3 Tips for Combating Sugar Cravings

Any dentist will tell you that sugar can be harmful for your oral health; however, it can be difficult to ward off those tempting cravings, especially when we see something we know is especially delicious.

If you think your family has sugar on the mind, then you would be right! The brain uses nearly 80 percent of your daily sugar consumption. It is programmed to crave sugar's energy and sweetness. The brain sends out a nice, pleasurable sensation when satisfied.

So what can you do to keep the sugar cravings at bay? Well, our Chicagoland dental office has three great and easy tips for you. 

1. Keep blood-sugar levels steady. This can be done by eating three meals and two snacks each day. When you have snacks, things like carrots and even popcorn (low salt & butter) are great options-- they can scrape away the plaque. 
2. Keep mind & body occupied. Enjoy physical activities that take you away from the cookie jar. Try doing something outside, when the weather is nice. 
3. Refuel the reserves. Get enough sleep and daily nutrients to fight the fatigue-induced cravings. 

Sugar-related obesity and type-2 diabetes are on the rise, and sugar can cause irreversible damage to teeth and gums, along with hours of missed school and work due to discomfort and the need for repair. For a healthy future, use sugar sparingly, and always brush & floss after eating. 

For questions, concerns, and treatments, email or call Rubino Dentistry. We are a dentist in Park Ridge, just a short distance from Chicago. 

Dental Implant Solutions Restore Beautiful Smiles

For a beautiful, strong, natural-looking smile, consider dental implants when replacing missing or aging restorations. Implants offer permanence and stability, and they securely anchor replacement teeth to effectively stop jawbone loss. Another benefit? They prevent the sunken look that inevitably accompanies an edentulous (toothless) smile.

With dental implants, aka teeth in one day, you can have a healthier smile that looks and feels very natural, because dental implants alleviate bite problems, allow you to chew and speak unhindered, and preserve the structure of your smile.

Your overall joy of life can be enhanced by replacement teeth that look, feel, and function just like normal teeth. We can discuss whether implants are right for you. Call us today to book your consultation at Rubino Dentistry, a Park Ridge cosmetic dentist office.

Tips for Brightening a Tween's Smile

It can be tough to be a tween. Kids between the ages of 10-13 are in the no man's land between two worlds: adolescence and teenage years. Negative peer pressure take on a whole new meaning for people in this age range; it can be rough.

As a dentist in Park Ridge and father myself, I know what it can be like for kids to begin realizing their appearance matters, which includes their smiles. Adults can even start to worry about their tweens and the pressures of smoking and oral piercings being in the future. There are other less-visible gestures of independence that can threaten the oral health of your tween.

Do any of  these ring a bell?

• Sports and energy drinks
• Ditching lunch in favor of sugar-packed snacks
• Forgetting to brush in the morning or during sleepovers
• Forgetting to wear performance mouthguards during sports
• Using implements other than floss to clean between teeth

Poor goal hygiene can lead to things other than cavities, such as gum disease. It places your tween's self-esteem at risk. 

What can you do about it?

1. Take a deep breath. 
2. Offer choices like a cool electric toothbrush and toothpaste your child will want to use.
3. Practice what you preach; also practice good oral hygiene. 
4. Keep soda and sugary snacks to a minimum at home. Have chilled water (fluoridated, preferably) at home as well as veggies, fruits, and whole grains. 

Are you looking for a good general dental office in Chicagoland? Then contact Rubino Dentistry about any one of our dental services. 

A Camera that Finds Cavities? Available at Our Park Ridge Dental Office

It's true. We have a camera at our Chicagoland dental office that is replacing intramural camera that we used for many years. Intramural photos of your teeth, gums, etc. are very valuable in their own way by helping us diagnose dental problems and show/explain them to you. The new camera, SoproLife® is an excellent cameral for this but has one big advantage: it can also find decay. 

The special light in the camera penetrates the enamel and underlying tooth structures and bounces back to the camera. If there is decay, it shows as red on the image of the tooth. We have used a laser (DIAGNOdent) in the past, and will continue to do so, but the DIAGNOdent could not be used around old fillings crowns, or in between teeth. The SoproLife will work in these areas and help u to be as accurate as possible in finding cavities as early as possible. This is especially important around old fillings and crowns that are stained, look suspicious, or have become symptomatic to you.

 

We will continue to use our digital x-rays and the DIAGNOdent, but the addition of the SoproLife is a big step forward. 

SoproLife also has a high magnification setting, which will help us to evaluate cracks in teeth and find calcified canals when doing root canal therapy. 

In addition, Dr. Rubino will use it when removing deep decay near the nerve chamber. The SoproLife will allow him to remove the decay only and not the sound tooth structure, which could help avoid an exposure of a nerve. 

We will be using the new camera on most patients at their preventative maintenance appointments. So next time you're here, you'll get to see how it works. Feel free to contact Rubino Dentistry and let us know what you think!

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing (SRP) remains the cornerstone of periodontal therapy for gum disease (gingivitis). SRP is usually accomplished under local or topical anesthetic to allow the therapist to meticulously clean root surfaces, remove chronic inflammatory irritants under your gums, and eliminate the bacteria involved in active gum disease. In addition to the mechanical removal of calculus (tartar), some scar tissue adherent to the tartar and roots may be removed in a non-surgical manner. As a result, the bacteria imbedded in these irritants is also removed, producing a much healthier environment for the gums, roots, and bone to heal.

We use an antimicrobial gel, called Arestin, in those areas where there is bone loss  and pockets over 5 mm which remains under your gums for about 1 week. This was a key addition to eliminate the bacteria most often involved in reoccurrence of gum disease. As a result, we do far fewer surgeries than was necessary 15 years ago.

After administration of anesthetics, the other areas of your mouth not being treated under the gums are scaled ultrasonically. Once this is complete, the target areas are cleaned ultrasonically, with hand instruments, and again ultrasonically. The second ultrasonic cleaning sprays a special antibacterial rinse (chlorhexidine) through the tip to flush debris out of your gums and kill bacteria. Then the Arestin gel is injected under your gums where needed. You will not be able to feel it and it dissolves over time. Wait 10 days to floss or WaterPik in the areas your therapist advised the Arestin was placed.

You will be given the same antibacterial rinse, called Periogard, in a home use bottle and will be instructed in its use. Your participation with meticulous home care is very important! If you smoke, stopping or reducing to less than five cigarettes per day will be very beneficial.

Post treatment symptoms are often minimal. Some gum soreness, hot-cold sensitivity, and possible minor tooth soreness can be expected, but last only a few days in most cases. During this time, following home care recommendations and the use of the chlorhexidine rinse not only helps keep you comfortable, but also contributes to the healing and final result. Brush and floss all of your teeth, including the treated area (although gently there unless otherwise directed). If you have a WaterPik for you chlorhexidine use as directed. Discomfort can be controlled by taking Ibuprofen, Aleve, or Tylenol as needed.

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Park Ridge dental practice and have great knowledge about this subject and can help you with any curiosity about it. 

Cracked Teeth? Tips from a Chicagoland Dentist

A very common and often difficult problem for patients is having cracked teeth. Teeth crash for a wide variety of reasons; the most common reasons are having back teeth with moderate to large silver fillings. Patients with parafunctional habits such as grinding or clenching teeth and having cracked teeth that were never fixed. teeth that have had root canals are also good candidates for cracking.

Many teeth have surface cracks which are not a problem; once a crack begins to discolor, we become suspicious of the crack as it progresses into the teeth. In a tooth that has a vital nerve, cracks can actually cause chronic inflammation and eventual irreversible nerve damage. Sometimes, this process is symptomless until the nerve damage is irreversible. We monitor any cracks that are visible every time you come in for exams. Unfortunately, often very since cracks exist which are undetectable at the beginning. Cracked teeth are one of the most unpredictable and difficult scenarios for doctor and patient. Diagnosis is sometimes a product of process of elimination.

Teeth with moderate to large silver fillings eventually will crack! Most of the time, the fillings to not brake but rather the enamel of the tooth does. Usually, these cracks will progress until a corner of the tooth breaks. These breaks will be to the deepest part of the filling and beyond. It is very common to remove an old silver filling and find a significant crack underneath the filling very close to the nerve chamber. Many of these cracks are symptomless but often a patient will begin to have symptoms and hypersensitivity to hot, cold, and sweets, discomfort while chewing or biting, and eventually escalating pain as the nerve becomes damaged. We try and stop this progression by removing the old filling, following and removing the crack and placing a protective lining in the deepest area. This is usually followed by a dental crown. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of teeth with moderate to deep cracks will eventually require root canal therapy in spite of our efforts to stop them. Therefore, the sooner we identify and treat active cracks, the lower the possibility of root canal therapy.

Worse case scenario with cracked teeth are cracks in the root system. It is one of the most common reasons for failure of root canals and usually results in extraction of the tooth. We have a variety of options to help reduce the risk of cracked teeth, which we will discuss with you if we find cracks in any teeth.

If you have any cracked teeth, come into our Park Ridge dental office. As a Chicagoland dentist, Dr. Rubino has seen it all, you can have confidence in his ability to treat your dental concerns, including cracked teeth.

Restorative Dentistry -- Veneers

So what are dental veneers?

Well, in short, they are shells made from very thin ceramic/ porcelain or perhaps a composite material and then they are bonded to the front of your teeth. This is a great choice for improving the look of your teeth to give you the smile you always dreamed of. The procedure requires little to no anesthesia and the procedure is easy-going.

Why should you get veneers over other options?

A veneer is a great option versus something like a crown (however, if you need a crown to replace missing strength in tooth, then a crown is truly needed). A veneer is a more conservative solution to giving a tooth or teeth a new look in terms of color, shape, or the size. If you have any discolored teeth, a gap in teeth, or chipped teeth, then veneers are a great solution for those problems.

Veneers last for a long time, unless there is an unforeseen issue such as something knocking the veneer; however, they are designed to be a long lasting solution to aesthetic dental issues and have proven to be that way.

What is the procedure like?

To complete the procedure, there will likely be three separate appointments; the first for diagnosing, the second for planning the treatments, and the third for actually doing the treatment.

In order to get the teeth ready for the bonding, they are gently buffed so there will be a slightly added thickness to the veneer. If you go with composite, once the tooth is ready to go, the dentist will bond and mold the material to your teeth. If you go with porcelain, then there will be a mold made of your teeth, which is sent to a lab, and that will shape the new veneer. Once that is ready, it is applied to the tooth. The veneers are bonded to the tooth with a cement, which is then hardened between the tooth and the veneer.

You will take some time to adjust to you new teeth. Brush and floss daily, just like you would with your real teeth. After a week or two, you will have a follow-up with your dentist. Dr. Rubino, here at our Park Ridge dental office will see how things are going with you and your new teeth.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rubino Denistry. We are a Chicagoland dentist office and have lots of experience in veneers.

What You Need to Know About Dental Crowns

If you are considering getting a dental crown because your dentist mentioned it or you are already sure that this is something you want, well, it's important to know all you can about them. If you are indeed considering this procedure, do not worry, this is a common deal. It will only improve your oral integrity and health.

So what is a dental crown? A dental crown is a piece that a dentist will use to cover a tooth that has been broken, cracked, or part of your tooth is missing. The crown will cover the damaged tooth so your tooth is restored back to its original shape, size, strength, and appearance. Once the crown is placed (they are cemented into place), the crown will completely cover the structure of the tooth and improve the tooth.

How do you know when you should get a crown? As we mentioned, you should get a crown when your tooth is cracked, broken, or is missing part of the tooth and the remaining tooth cannot support a filling. You can also get a crown if your tooth is decayed. If you have a cracked tooth, you can have the tooth saved if it is treated and crowned ASAP. After the crown is cemented into place, it is permanently in place and made stationary as it covers the tooth.

If you are in the Chicago area and are looking for a dentist who does crowns and bridges, the contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Chicagoland dental office located here in Park Ridge. As a Park Ridge dentist, Dr. Rubino and Dr. Wnek have great experience with crowns and bridges.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Having white teeth is a dream for many people who struggle to get them; sometimes, brushing, flossing, and mouthwashes do not make the teeth white, or at least as white as we'd like. So what can you do? Teeth whitening solutions either from your dentist or from a kit.

Here are some FAQs of teeth whitening. 

• Does teeth whitening harm enamel? Teeth whitening does not cause any permanent damage to enamel. 
• Does it cause permanent sensitivity? Having sensitive teeth from whitening is indeed a side-effect but if it does happen, it will go away within a few days of the whitening, often a day or two. You will return to your state of sensitivity you had before getting the whitening. 
• Am I able to whiten my teeth? For the most part, anyone can whiten their teeth; however, you will want to have your dentist give you the green light because everyone is different. You might not be a candidate or may require less whitening treatments than others. 
• How long do the effects last? If you get your teeth whitened by your dentist, then the effects will often last between six months and a couple years. If you do it yourself with an at-home kit, the results last much shorter. 
• How much does it cost? This depends on where you go. If you do an at-home kit, then you will likely spend around $20 but if you do professional, it can cost as much at $1000, sometimes as low as $300-$600. 
• Does it affect dental work like crowns, fillings, or vaneers? Getting your teeth whitened will not affect things like porcelain vaneers or any crown work; it can temporarily reduce the strength of the bond between enamel and composite restorations like fillings. 

If you are in the Chicago area and want to discuss teeth whitening, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Chicagoland dental office and offer great whitening services. As a Park Ridge dentist, I see patients of all ages. 

Tooth Enamel FAQs

Have you heard of tooth enamel? Chances are that you have, if not, then you just did! Do you know much about tooth enamel? Many people do not, if you don't, you're about to! 

What is tooth enamel? Enamel, essentially, is the hard stuff on the outside of your teeth that protects your teeth. Tooth enamel is one of the hardest and highly mineralized substances of our bodies. It makes sense that the enamel has to be so strong since we eat and drink so many things throughout our lives and we even use our teeth as tools, like to hold a pencil. We pass a lot of sugars and other things, even bacteria, over our teeth so their protection has to be incredibly strong. 

Tooth enamel is one of the four tissues that make up our teeth. The three other parts of your teeth are the dentin (yellow stuff), the cementum, and then the pulp (the inner most part of the tooth, like its heart); the tissues of the teeth go in that order from out to in. When you see someone's teeth, you are looking at their enamel, unless they have lost their enamel, which case you'd be looking at decreased enamel and likely some dentin. 

Tooth enamel is strong but it is not impenetrable. It can be broken and even removed, this is called enamel erosion. There are several things that can contribute to enamel erosion: not taking care of your teeth, eating and drinking foods and beverages with lots of acid (the acid weakens the enamel and then it can be brushed away), chewing on things like pencils and pens can crack the enamel, and quick exposure to hot and cold beverages and food (taking a bite of hot pizza and then a drink of a cold beverage causes quick expansion and shrinkage of enamel; this puts stress on it and can crack it, same for vice versa- cold then hot).

 Exposure to acid on the enamel can be intrinsic (inside the body) or extrinsic (outside the body). Those who experience intrinsic exposure typically suffer from gastric reflux or persistent vomiting. Extrinsic can be soda, citrus juices and foods, alcohol, etc. 

You can help minimize the exposure by limiting your consumption of these acidic foods and drinks. Also developing a good oral hygiene practice by brushing for 2 minutes, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash. Also, using a toothpaste that is meant to restrengthen enamel will do wonders. 

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a dental practice in Chicagoland. As a Park Ridge dental office, we see people of all ages and see plenty of enamel erosion.  

Effects of Soda on Your Teeth

Soda, or pop, can be a tasty beverage, especially when we pair it with a hot day or our favorite food. However, just because it tastes good does not mean that it is something we can indulge in anytime we want, the truth is that pop can be harmful for your teeth.

No matter what you call the beverage, the drink has the same effect on your pearly whites. Soft drinks have proven themselves to be a good source of tooth decay, which can impact people of any age, not just the elderly. The sugar and acid in the soft drinks can be a cause of softening tooth enamel, w
hich can lead to cavities and sensitive teeth. Drinking soft drinks, along with a poor oral hygiene habit, you can experience some poor oral health.

Statistics from 2013 say that nearly 80 percent of youth, children and teens, consume at least one soft drink a day (that can be cans, bottles, cups, etc). Some reports have mentioned that some teens drink as much as 12 pops a day.

What can you do to help resolve the consumption of so much pop?

• Swap the soft drinks for other beverages like water, 100% juice, milk, etc. Go for things that are more natural and have less sugar and acid. If you are a parent, then you can partake in this venture as well, encourage your kids to do it as well. If you are drinking more natural, teeth friendly beverages, then your teeth will look and feel a lot better. 
• Rinse your mouth with water. If you enjoy a soft drink now and then, that is fine. However, after you finish, try rinsing your mouth out with some water to rid your mouth of the sugars that try to attach to your teeth. Also, this will rinse out the acid that can have long exposures on your teeth. 
• Brush your teeth with toothpaste that contains fluoride and use an oral rinse. The fluoride in your toothpaste (and possibly even the rinse) will help strengthen the enamel and reduce chances of cavities. 
• Get fluoride applied to your teeth by your dentist. If you stop at your dentist's office, they can apply fluoride to your teeth in the form of gel, foam, or rinse. 

If you have any questions, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a Park Ridge dentist. As a dentist in Chicagoland, I see a lot of patients and we make sure each patient gets quality care and attention. We rarely make our patients wait for their appointment. 

Basic Dental Terminology

A lot of the words that we use to describe teeth and the mouth as dentists are much more complicated than the ones that are used by non-dentists. So what are some of these words that make up dental terminology?

• Human dentition: this means the teeth that are located in the lower and upper jaws. So, when you hear or read this word, it basically means all your teeth. 
• Maxillae: this is the upper jaw. 
• Maxillary teeth: these teeth are part of the maxillae that are the arch, so they are in the front. 
• Mandible: this is the lower jaw. 
• Mandibular teeth: These teeth are located on the lower jaw. 
• Primary dentition: this is the first group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called "baby teeth" and there are 20 of them. 
• Permanent dentition: this is the second group of teeth we get as humans. They are commonly called our "adult teeth" and there are 32 of them. 
• Posterior: this is the area that is towards the back of the mouth. 
• Anterior: this is the area towards the front of the mouth. 
• Mesial: this is the middle, or midline. 
• Distal: This is away from the midline of your mouth. 
• Buccal: This is the cheek area of your mouth. 
• Lingual: This is the tongue area. 
• Facial: This is the area that is on your cheek or lip side of your mouth. 
• Palatal: This is the tongue side of your maxillary teeth. 
• Occlusal: This is the area of the mouth that are the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. 
• Incisal: This is the area of the mouth that are the biting surfaces of your front teeth. 

Now, you may not be a dentist in Park Ridge like me but at least now you know some basic dental terminology. 

Why Should You Floss?

Flossing is another part of your oral health routine, however, it is not the small role player that many people think it is; flossing is actually one of the biggest things you can do for your smile. So why should you floss?

Flossing and brushing do more good for your teeth than only brushing. See, when you brush your teeth, you are removing all the plaque from the top and two sides of your teeth, however, if you do not floss, then you are missing the other two sides (that are between your teeth) as well as your tooth below the gum line). Toothbrushes have a hard time reaching in between your teeth and can't reach below your gum line very well either, this is where floss helps you a ton. If you skip your flossing, you are skipping a significant portion of your mouth when it's all added up.

Flossing protects your gums as well. When we eat food, they can leave behind food particles and also sugars on our teeth that are attractive to bacteria. If these things make their way to below the gum line, they can cause some damage to the root of the tooth and the tissue connecting the tooth to the jaw. What can happen is that these things form plaque which can turn into tartar and that can be what really causes some issues for your gums; it can lead to gingivitis.

If you floss regularly, it can end up saving you money because it can prevent the need for future medical procedures for your mouth, such as root canals and tooth extraction. It can even help prevent other diseases as well; the plaque and tartar that forms can lead to other deceases like Heart Disease.

If you have questions or want to schedule a visit, then contact Rubino Dentistry. We are a Park Ridge dental office located on South Prospect Ave, near Cumberland in Park Ridge. We are walking distance from the train station.

Interesting and Fun Facts About Your Teeth

Our teeth do a lot for us, I mean a lot. They create wonderful smiles (which are often the first thing people notice about us), they allow us to eat food, which gives us nutrition so we can keep living, they help us talk so we can communicate (that's how we build relationships, work, etc.), and the list doesn't stop there. The bottom line is that our teeth are incredibly important. Do you know a lot about your teeth? Well, either way, this blog post is for you.

1. On average, people have 32 teeth in the mouth; this includes your eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, twelve molars, and four wisdom teeth. Now, that 32 will go down if you don't have your wisdom teeth and/or if you lose any teeth. 
2. Over the course of your lifetime, you will develop two whole sets of teeth. As we all know, the first set of teeth are our baby teeth which come in when we are infants and last until our preteen days, perhaps a few years before or after. Usually, they begin to fall out at 6 or 7 years old. By the time you reach 20-21 years old, you have all your teeth for your second set of teeth,  known as your adult teeth. 
3. Believe it or not, China has a national holiday dedicated to teeth. Every September 20th, the Chinese celebrate "Love Your Teeth Day" across China. 
4. Back in Victorian times of the 1800s in England, people who had false teeth would eat before going out in public. They would do this to prevent getting embarrassed if their false teeth would fall out while eating; their teeth were not as quality as false teeth are today, like dental implants. 
5. In Ancient China, they did not have quality dentists like we do today to relieve dental pain; what they would do to heal painful teeth was write prayers for pain relief and wrap them around the teeth. 
6. In many ancient countries, they would use pliers to remove teeth. And no, that was not with anesthetic. 
7. Gotta love your donkey! In the Middle Ages in Germany, they would kiss donkeys in order to relieve any toothaches they had.
8. Toothpaste has only been around for about a hundred years; before that was invented, people would use a special concoction to clean their teeth that consisted of chalk, ash, lemon juice, honey, and tobacco to clean teeth. 
9. Keeping your toothbrush within 5 feet of your toilet can cause it to become contaminated by toilet germs. 
10. About forty percent of people in the US who are ages 65 and over do not have all their teeth anymore.

Now you have an expanded knowledge of your teeth and can feel confident in your smile. If you want your smile to remain beautiful or if you want a beautiful smile, then contact your local dentist. If you are in Chicagoland, then contact Rubino Dentistry. As a Park Ridge dentist, I serve people from all over Chicagoland. 

6 Great Ways to Ruin Your Teeth

Your mouth is a delicate area of your body; your teeth need a lot of care and good care at that. You can do a lot of good for your mouth but you can also do a lot of harm. Some things that we think are good for our teeth can actually be bad, as well as things we don't even think about being bad. As a dentist in Park Ridge  I have noticed some of these things over my many years in the profession.

1. Brushing your teeth too hard. This seems like it would be good for your teeth, doesn't it? I mean, you really want to get in there and brush and get that disgusting plaque off your teeth so they can shine bright and white, right? Wrong, well, the brushing too hard is wrong. When you brush your teeth, you want to use a decent force but not too much. When you do, you can ruin enamel. Also, brush in circles instead of brushing in straight side-to-side lines. Consider a brush with softer bristles as well. 
2. Consuming a lot of acidic foods/drinks. Some foods and drinks are so good but are actually rather harmful for your teeth. The acid in these things wears on the enamel and softens it. This is a problem because if you brush your teeth while the enamel is soft, you brush it away. Wait about 30 minutes after eating or drinking to brush your teeth so the enamel can get firm again, also, consider using toothpaste that also hardens the enamel again. 
3. Whitening your teeth too much. As a Park Ridge dental office that offers teeth whitening and teeth in one day services, we know that teeth whitening is a great thing and can really help your smile; however, doing it too much is rough on your teeth. When you whiten your teeth, you are exposing your pearly whites to a mild acid and so the bleach in the whitening solution can weaken the enamel on your teeth. 
4. Taking a swig of an ice cold drink after biting into hot food. This is one that is probably not thought of very often. When we eat food that is hot, we tend to want some cold beverage to go with it, like some soda. This can be rough of the enamel on your teeth because when you bite into some hot food, your causing the enamel to expand; when you take a drink of your cold pop or water, whatever it ma be, you are causing the enamel to contract. When you came quick expansion and contraction, this puts stress on the enamel and creates little hairline fractures in the enamel. Of course, if you drink with a straw, you have a much more reduced risk of this happening. 
5. Using your teeth for things other than eating. Sometimes we use our mouths to help us out, like holding a pencil or biting down on a cap to open something. It seems like something that shouldn't matter and we do it so easily, but it does make an impact. Why? It can create fractures in the enamel. 
6. Not cleaning your teeth enough. This one is a given and probably what you think of when you think of things that ruin your teeth (because I know you think about that all the time). Brush and floss twice a day. Use a mouth rinse (go for alcohol free if you can). Schedule visits to your dentist every 6 months or at least once a year. If you are in Chicagoland, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a dentist in Park Ridge. 

Sleep Apnea 101

Imagine you just got home from work, you're tired, you ate dinner, watch some TV, and now are ready for some well-deserved rest. You even go to bed an hour early so you can get some more sleep. 

Sounds like a nice scenario, right? Well, this is a common scenario for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people every day. Some of those people have something called sleep apnea which can really put distress on your sleep quality and even more importantly, the oxygen to your body (yes, that includes your brain). 

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a rather serious sleeping disorder which happens when the breathing you have during sleep is interrupted. For some people, their sleep can be interrupted multiple times during the night, perhaps dozens to hundreds of times. This means that with all those interruptions of not breathing during the night, your body may not be getting enough oxygen, this affects your body. 

There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is much more common for people to have than CSA; this is when there is a blockage in the airway that causes the apnea. Usually, this is caused by soft tissue collapsing in the back of the throat. CSA is less common and the airway is not blocked. With CSA, the brain forgets to signal to the muscles that they have to breathe; this is a flaw in the respiratory control center. 

Ask your doctor or dentist if you are at risk for sleep apnea. Contact Rubino Dentistry - a Park Ridge dentist about sleep apnea treatments. As a Park Ridge dental office, we see a fair share of patients who had sleep apnea but got treatments for it and we see a big difference. 

Why Is Wearing a Mouthguard Important in Sports

Sports are a big deal in the United States, we are a country that loves athletes and we love participating in sports. Professional sports are the big events to watch but we also have developed a love for the youth and adolescent sports in the country as well. They can be fun to watch and have our children participate in them. However, sports can be have injuries and those injuries can be painful, especially when they happen to the mouth. Even when your child plays a non-contact sport, like soccer or basketball, they can still get a tooth injury because of a ball or accidental hand to the face.

So how do you prevent this from happening? Wearing a mouthguard can help. How common are injuries in youth sports? Well, recent reports have stated that nearly 36% of accidental injuries that happen to children happen from sports; of those injuries, approximately 15% of them happen to the mouth.

What kind of injuries can happen to the mouth? There are three classifications:

1. Fracture: This is when there is a root fracture, a broken tooth, or a chipped tooth.
2. Avulsion: This is when the entire tooth is knocked out, including the root. 
3. Luxation: This is when the tooth is knocked into a wrong position but is still in the socket. 
1. Extruded: the affected tooth looks larger than the teeth around it. 
2. Lateral displacement: the tooth is moved forward or pushed back. 

The thing about dental injuries is that they are often easily prevented and one way to help prevent them is to wear that mouthguard. Some dentists are able to custom make them for you; this dentist in Park Ridge is a carrier of UnderArmour mouth guards. Indeed, mouth guards can seem rather hard to wear because they can make it harder to talk. 

If you have any questions about the UnderArmour mouth guards or questions regarding other dental concerns, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a Chicago dentist. 

The Effects of Smoking on Teeth

We have all heard about how smoking is bad for us to some extent; it is mentioned quite a bit in school health classes and we even see ads in magazines, newspapers, on billboards, TV, and radio. However, do we know the details of the effects of smoking on teeth? All of the effects the habit can have on teeth? Let's find out.

If you decide to smoke, then you should look at this complete list of the effects of smoking on your oral health:

• Foul smelling breath
• Discoloration of teeth- predominantly yellow
• The salivary gland on the roof of your mouth can become inflamed (swollen & irritated)
• An increase in the buildup of plaque (and even tartar) on your teeth
• An increase in the loss of bone in your jaw
• A higher risk of leukoplakia, or, white patches in your mouth. 
• A higher risk of contracting gum disease, this can lead to tooth loss
• A longer healing time and process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatments, and oral surgery
• A decreased success rate for dental implants
• A higher risk for developing oral cancer

So we mentioned gum disease, or gingivitis, and one may wonder how you can get that due to smoking. 

Well, when smoking, the tobacco affects the ligaments in your mouth that attach your teeth to the bone. When you smoke, it can even impact the function of the gum tissue cells. When your gum tissue cells are not able to function properly, it makes your mouth more susceptible to infections and other dangers. 

In case you are wondering what kind of tobacco can impact your oral health, it includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. 

No, smokeless tobacco does not exempt you from these dangers. 

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, then contact Rubino Dentistry - a dentist in Park Ridge.

Effects of Alcohol on Teeth

It is New Year's Eve and for many people in the country, it means a night of partying and alcohol. Even if you plan on only have a drink or two and not becoming inhibited, it is important for people to know the effects of alcohol on teeth and gums. This post is to not discourage you from enjoying your beverages and your night, it is just for your information. As a dentist in Park Ridge, I hope you all enjoy your nights responsibly have a fantastic 2014!

Alcohol is a drying agent, if you think in chemistry terms. In chemistry, chemists use alcohol to dry things out; guess what it does to your mouth? The more you consume the stuff, the worse the drying effect will be. How does the alcohol create a dryer environment in the mouth? It reduces the production of saliva and when the alcohol dries up, it takes the other liquid in the mouth with it.

Alcohol is also an acidic liquid, again, if you think in terms of chemistry (acid, neutral, or basic liquids). Due to its acidic nature, this means that when you consume alcohol, you are creating a more acidic environment in your mouth. So, the more alcohol you consume, the more acid is in your mouth and that takes its toll on your enamel. The acid softens the enamel and as we know, or should know, soft enamel is able to be swept away and when that happens, it is gone forever and your teeth become vulnerable. The best way to overcome this is to brush your teeth twenty minutes after consuming an alcoholic drink or even soda; it takes approximately twenty minutes for the saliva in your mouth to remineralize the enamel on your teeth.

So enjoy your nights and have a blast! 2013 is just about over and 2014 will hopefully be a great year for us all. If you have any questions feel free to contact my Park Ridge dental office at 847-825-1002 or visit our site www.rubinodentistry.com.