Dental Health Topics

Welcome, and I commend you on your interest in dental health topics! I hope you find the following snippits informative and enjoyable. You will likely find information on topics that you might not otherwise.

Fruits and fruit juices can damage teeth if you’re not careful.

I don’t want to tell anyone not to eat fruit. Fruit and fruit juices are delicious and nutritious, and are an important part of a balanced diet. Unfortunately, along with all of those wonderful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, fruits contain two ingredients that can be devastating to teeth, namely, sugar and acid. Fruits get their sweetness from a sugar that is converted into acid by cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. This acid is what causes cavities. Fruit also contains its own acid, citric acid, which can erode enamel. When eaten frequently throughout the day, the combination of fruit’s sugar and acid can cause significant damage to your teeth.

To avoid this, have your fruits and fruit juices with meals, not as snacks throughout the day. Chewing sugarless gum after eating fruits and juices will also help protect your teeth by neutralizing the acids.

Wear a mouth-guard for sports.

Teeth are susceptible to being chipped, broken or knocked out during contact sports. Wearing a sports mouth guard helps to cushion any impact against your teeth. Most athletes find custom-fitted mouth guards more comfortable than “boil-and-bite” varieties. There is some evidence that a mouth guard can lessen the likelihood or severity of a concussion from a violent hit.

Be skeptical of product claims of “Whitening”.

From gum to mouthwash, toothpaste and floss, these days it seems companies are attaching a “Whitening!” label to anything and everything. The truth is, as long as a company is making a cosmetic claim about a product (such as “whitens teeth!”), there is no requirement for proof or evidence of the effectiveness of that product. As a rule of thumb, take all such claims with a grain of salt. The safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth is by using dentist-supervised whitening systems.

Missing teeth can lead to shifting of other teeth.

If you have recently had a tooth removed, give serious thought to having it replaced to fill in the space. When you are missing teeth, it often destabilizes the dental arch, leading to drifting and tipping of other teeth. This can lead to problems with the way the teeth bite together and increase the risk of gum disease around the shifted teeth. Replacing missing teeth will not only help you chew more effectively, it will help keep your remaining teeth stable.

We offer a wide range of tooth replacements, including implants, bridges and dentures. If you are missing teeth and would like to do something about it, talk to us about replacement options.

It’s never too late.

Many people feel they’ve neglected their teeth too long. Others feel that losing all their teeth is an inescapable reality. The truth is, with all the advances in dentistry, we are able to restore the appearance and function of smiles in ways unimaginable even ten years ago. As studies further our understanding of the nature of gum disease, new and effective methods are available to treat and prevent these problems. While prevention is always our focus, it is never too late to start on the path to a healthy smile!

Brush gently but thoroughly.

Brushing aggressively irritates the gums and causes them to recede, along with the bone that supports your teeth. When your gums recede, they expose the roots of your teeth, which may become sensitive to cold water, sweets and even air. Receding bone around your teeth can cause them to loosen. Use an extra soft toothbrush to clean and massage the teeth and gums gently but thoroughly. Electric toothbrushes work well, but be careful not to push or scrub with them, let the brush do the work.

Don’t wait until it hurts.

Most dental problems are painless when they are in their early stages. Cavities are usually quite deep before they become sensitive. With the exception of blood on your toothbrush, gum disease typically progresses silently and extensively until teeth become loose or painful. Repairing problems is always easiest when they are detected early. It’s important to keep on a regular check-up schedule with your dentist so small concerns can be detected before they become big problems.

Headaches and grinding teeth are often related.

We find many patients who get frequent headaches also grind or clench their teeth at night, often without knowing. The muscles and tendons of your jaw joint, or TMJ, are closely related to your skull. Prolonged tension in the jaw often causes tension in the head, resulting in a headache. For many of these patients, a clenching guard relieves these problems. A clenching guard is a small device worn on the teeth, usually at night, which allows your jaw muscles and tendons to relax while you sleep and relieves the associated tension. This often results in a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of headaches.

You don’t have to “white-knuckle” your visit.

It’s normal to be a little nervous at the dentist. Past unpleasant experiences and fear of the unknown can all contribute to a feeling of tension during a visit. For most people, a caring demeanor and considerate explanation of what to expect helps to alleviate those feelings. For those with extreme nervousness, there are options available to have treatment done while sedated. If you are apprehensive about treatment, it’s important to have a discussion with your dentist about your feelings and discuss different options to help you feel comfortable during your visits.