Cavities, caries, tooth decay—all mean the same and are very preventable with a healthy diet, good brushing and flossing, and regular visits to your dentist.
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 structure of the teeth, with cavities (tooth decay) resulting.
A sticky coating of bacteria that forms constantly, collecting in the grooves of teeth, between teeth, at the gumline and below, is known as PLAQUE. If not removed with brushing and flossing, it will harden into TARTAR (also called calculus). Tartar can only be removed with a professional cleaning.
When the gums become inflamed due to the accumulation of plaque, the space between the tooth and gum deepens forming a pocket. GINGIVITIS is present. The gums may become red, swollen and may bleed from gentle contact, brushing and flossing. You can reverse the damage with brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleanings. Healthy gum tissue is pink and does not bleed.
Ignoring plaque, tartar, and gingivitis causes a more extreme disease called PERIODONTAL or GUM DISEASE, resulting in deterioration of the jawbone and even tooth loss. One indicator of gum disease is consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
The bacteria of gum disease can enter the bloodstream through these infected gum pockets. Current medical research is uncovering strong links between gum disease and heart disease (coronary artery disease). Proper removal of plaque will not only benefit the teeth and gums, but also may help in preventing heart disease.
Also known as HALITOSIS can be prevented by daily brushing and flossing which prevents buildup of food particles, plaque and bacteria in the mouth. While certain foods may cause temporary bad breath, consistent odor may be signs of other dental problems or an undiagnosed systemic disease.
Canker sores are small sores inside the mouth that often recur sometimes due to acidic foods or overzealous brushing! They have a white or gray base surrounded by a red border and are very painful. They will last generally about 10-14 days. With no known cures, topical agents will ease the pain. Recurrence of the canker sores can be reduced with diet and antimicrobial mouthwashes.
Teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold foods 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. In some cases brushing with toothpaste for sensitive teeth may help ease the pain. Dentists also have desensitizing agents that are applied directly to the offending area.
The “Temporomandibular Joint”, more commonly referred to as the “jaw joint”, assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that “popping” sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times the jaw is functioning properly even if a “popping” sound is present when chewing or talking.
A TMJ exam evaluates the joint tissues (the joints, ligaments, cartilage disk, and the chewing muscles). Common pain relievers, moist heat, exercise and soft diet can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ.
For more serious cases of TMJ, additional treatment is recommended. Often a custom-made mouth guard is used to relieve teeth grinding. In some cases, an orthodontic appliances or retainer alleviates discomfort and repositions the joint. For the most severe cases of TMJ, surgery may be indicated.
Reduced saliva flow that results in a dry mouth is a common problem among older adults. It is caused by certain medical disorders and is often a side effect of medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers and diuretics.
Some of the common problems associated with dry mouth include a constant sore throat, burning sensation, problems speaking, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness or dry nasal passages. Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth. Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, extensive decay can occur.
We can recommend various methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial saliva and oral rinses.
While body piercing and tattooing may be all the rage, piercing in and around the mouth carries with it problems and complications that are not associated with piercing in other areas. Unlike an earlobe that is pierced, the tongue is in constant motion, which slows and complicates the healing process.
Because the mouth contains millions of bacteria, infection is a common problem associated with tongue piercing. Signs of infection include swelling, pain, bleeding, bad breath and foul taste.
Chipping and breakage of teeth are associated with tongue piercing. This can result in costly, extensive restorative treatment.
Lip and tongue jewelry rub against the gum tissue causing gum recession. In severe cases, the recession can be extreme enough to result in tooth loss.
The use of any tobacco product can increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease. Smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
Tobacco products damage your gum tissues by affecting the attachment of bone and gum to teeth. Loss of the gum attachment leads to gum recession, sensitivity to hot and cold and increased incidence of tooth decay.
Smoking can delay healing after a tooth extraction or other oral surgery.
Smoking also can contribute to bad breath, darkening of the teeth and tongue and tartar build-up.
Like cigars and cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products contain a variety of toxins associated with cancer. At least 28 cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in smokeless tobacco products.
Smokeless tobacco can irritate your gum tissue, causing it to recede or pull away from your teeth. Once this gum tissue recedes, the roots of your teeth are exposed, increasing your risk for tooth decay. The roots of your teeth also may become sensitive to hot and cold or other irritants, which means you could experience some discomfort when eating or drinking.
Sugars, often added to enhance the flavor of smokeless tobacco can increase your risk of tooth decay. Smokeless tobacco also typically contains sand and grit, which can wear sown your teeth.
Signs and symptoms that could indicate oral cancer include:
- Any sign of irritation, like tenderness, burning or a sore that will not heal;
- Pain, tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or lips;
- Development of a lump, or a leathery, wrinkled or bumpy patch inside your mouth; color changes to your oral tissues (gray, red or white spots or patches), rather than a healthy pink color;
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue;
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together.
