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Common Problems
Tooth Decay
Caries, or tooth
decay, is a
preventable
disease.
When your teeth and
gums are
consistently exposed
to large amounts of
starches and sugars,
acids may form that
begin to eat away at
tooth enamel.
Carbohydrate-rich
foods such as candy,
cookies, soft
drinks, and even
fruit juices leave
deposits on your
teeth. Those
deposits bond with
the bacteria that
normally survive in
your mouth and form
plaque. The
combination of
deposits and plaque
forms acids that can
damage the mineral
structure of teeth,
with tooth decay
resulting.
Preventing a cavity
formation is always
the goal, but in the
event that you do
develop a cavity we
have many methods
available to restore
your tooth both
functionally and
cosmetically.
Treatment options
will be discussed
with you to help you
choose the best
method of
restoration, based
on your individual
situation
Sensitive Teeth
Your teeth expand
and contract in
reaction to changes
in temperature. Hot
and cold food and
beverages can cause
pain or irritation
to people with
sensitive teeth.
Over time, tooth
enamel can be worn
down, gums may
recede, or teeth may
develop microscopic
cracks, exposing the
interior of the
tooth and irritating
nerve endings. Just
breathing cold air
can be painful for
those with extremely
sensitive teeth.
There are actually
many different
reasons that teeth
may become
sensitive. After an
evaluation at our
office to determine
the cause of the
sensitivity, we will
discuss the options
that are available
to treat the cause
and the symptoms. We
have several methods
available in our
office to help
alleviate
sensitivity and will
help you to choose
the methods that
will work best for
your specific
situation.
Gum Disease
Gum, or periodontal,
disease can cause
inflammation, tooth
loss, and bone
damage. Gum disease
begins with a sticky
film of bacteria
called plaque. Gums
in the early stage
of disease, or
gingivitis, can
bleed easily and
become red and
swollen. Another
indicator of gum
disease is
consistent bad
breath or a bad
taste in the mouth.
As the disease
progresses to
periodontitis, the
bone that holds the
teeth in place may
recede or melt away.
In very advanced
cases of gum
disease, teeth may
fall out or need to
be removed by a
dentist. Gum disease
is highly
preventable and can
usually be avoided
by daily brushing
and flossing, and
routine cleanings.
Several risk
factors, such as
diabetes, smoking,
or prescription drug
interactions may
increase your chance
of developing gum
disease. Our
hygienists are
trained to recognize
and treat all
degrees of
periodontal disease.
They are also are
trained to evaluate
your medical history
to alert you of
conditions that may
make you more
susceptible to
developing gum
disease. The
condition of your
gums is evaluated at
each routine
cleaning visit.
Proper brushing and
flossing, along with
routine cleanings
are the best way to
avoid gum
disease.
Bad Breath
(Halitosis)
Brushing and
flossing daily helps
to prevent the
buildup of food
particles, plaque
and bacteria in your
mouth. Food
particles left in
the mouth
deteriorate and
cause bad breath.
While certain foods
such as garlic or
anchovies may create
bad breath
temporarily,
consistent bad
breath may be a sign
of gum disease or
another dental
problem. Persistent
bad breath should be
evaluated at our
office.
Canker Sores
Canker sores (aphthous
ulcers) are small
sores inside the
mouth that often
recur. Generally
lasting one or two
weeks, the duration
of canker sores can
be reduced by the
use of antimicrobial
mouthwashes or
topical agents. Our
office has several
options available to
help treat the
discomfort of canker
sores.
Orthodontic Problems
Crowded teeth,
improperly spaced
teeth, and/or
misaligned jaws can
affect the function
of your
mouth, as well as
the cosmetics of
your smile.
Orthodontic problems
can result in
chewing
difficulties, speech
difficulties and
Tempromandiblular
Joint (TMJ)
disfunctions or
pain. All of these
issues can be
corrected with
orthodontics. A
bite that does not
meet properly (a
malocclusion) can be
inherited. Some
types of maloccusion
may be acquired.
Some causes of
malocclusion include
missing or extra
teeth, crowded
teeth, or misaligned
jaws. Accidents or
developmental issues
such as thumb
sucking or finger
sucking, for an
extended time, may
contribute to
malocclusion. An
evaluation of your
bite is completed at
each routine
cleaning visit.
There are many
options available,
for both children
and adults, to
correct bite
problems and build a
beautiful,
functional smile.
Our office will be
happy to discuss
your treatment
options and help you
to select the best
option for your
specific needs.
To avoid some of the
common problems
mentioned above, be
sure to brush and
floss.
Brushing:
Use a toothbrush
with soft bristles
and a small strip of
fluoride toothpaste.
When you brush your
teeth, move the
brush in small
circular motions to
reach food particles
that may be under
your gum line. Hold
the toothbrush at an
angle and brush
slowly and
carefully, covering
all areas between
teeth and the
surface of each
tooth. It will take
you several minutes
to thoroughly brush
your teeth. Brush up
on the lower teeth,
down on the upper
teeth, and the
outside, inside, and
chewing surface of
all of your front
and back teeth.
Brush your tongue
and the roof of your
mouth before you
rinse.
Brush your teeth
four times daily to
avoid the
accumulation of food
particles and
plaque:
As soon as the
bristles start to
wear down or fray,
replace your
toothbrush with a
new one. Do not
swallow any
toothpaste; rinse
your mouth
thoroughly with
water after you
finish brushing.
It is important to
carefully floss and
brush daily for
optimal oral
hygiene.
Flossing:
For areas
between the teeth
that a toothbrush
can’t reach, dental
floss is used to
remove food
particles and
plaque. Dental floss
is a thin thread of
waxed nylon that is
used to reach below
the gum line and
clean between teeth.
It is very important
to floss between
your teeth every
day.
Pull a small length
of floss from the
dispenser. Wrap the
ends of the floss
tightly around your
middle fingers.
Guide the floss
between all teeth to
the gum line,
pulling out any food
particles or plaque.
Unwrap clean floss
from around your
fingers as you go,
so that you have
used the floss from
beginning to end
when you finish.
Floss behind all of
your back teeth.
Floss at night to
make sure your teeth
are squeaky clean
before you go to
bed. When you first
begin flossing, your
gums may bleed a
little. If the
bleeding does not go
away after the first
few times, let a
staff member know at
your next
appointment. |
