A Disappearing Toothache Could Be a Sign of Something Worse

That toothache isn’t going to go away by itself, and if you have been going through a bottle of clove oil in a day or two, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

According to AAE.org, leaving a toothache to its own devices can cause serious problems, and without dental care, it could turn into a nasty abscess. An abscess isn’t much fun and can cause other complications including a trip to the E.R. and even death.

A tooth abscess is literally a pocket of puss caused by an infection in or around your tooth. Unfortunately, not all people feel pain when an abscess occurs, but if you do notice an ache in the bone that is around your tooth, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist, as this is probably the most common symptom when it comes to a tooth abscess. If you have a continuous and severe throbbing or gnawing pain or shooting and sharp pains, you could be dealing with an abscessed tooth. Other signs that you may have a tooth abscess include, but are not limited to, 

• Gum swelling
• Pain when chewing
• Fever
• Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold
• Constant bad breath
• Swollen neck glands
• Bitter taste in your mouth
• Feeling ill or uneasy
• General discomfort
• Swelling and redness of the gums
• Upper or lower jaw swelling
• An open sore that could be draining on the side of your gum 

If the pulp inside your tooth dies from the infection your toothache may suddenly stop, however, that does not mean that you are out of the woods and magically healed. Once the pulp dies, the infection in your tooth will remain active, spread, and continue to destroy tissue. The only way to get rid of the infection is to see your dentist, even if you are out of pain.

Dental abscesses are usually treated with endodontic surgery or more commonly a root canal. Root canals are no more painful than a filling. During a root canal, your dentist will remove all of the bacteria and dead tissue from the canals in the roots of your teeth before cleaning, shaping, and filling the root canals. Once satisfied your dentist will either place a permanent or temporary filling depending on the severity of the infection.

After your root canal procedure, your dentist will ask you to come back for another visit to place a dental restoration, such as a crown, over the top to restore and protect it. Once your root canal and dental restoration are completed, your tooth will function just as it used to.

If you have a nagging toothache, or one that just disappeared, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. A dental abscess really can be dangerous and should not be overlooked. Call or click today.

Is The Six Month Smiles Treatment Right For You?

If you thought a new smile would take years because you had to wear braces, think again. Thanks to the revolutionary cosmetic dental restoration procedures available from your dentist, you can have a brand new toothy grin in as little as six months.

The Six Month Smiles program, available in Corona, is done by focusing on just the teeth in the front of your mouth that need correcting without making any major changes to your bite. Similar to traditional or standard braces, Six Month Smiles are much more aesthetic as your dentist uses white brackets and white wires to correct your smile and straighten your teeth.

With the Six Month Short Term Orthodontic Treatment, you can have the smile that you have always dreamt about in less than a year.

Although the Six Month Smiles works for some, it may not be right for everyone. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for the Six Months Smiles program is to schedule a consultation with your Six Months Smiles provider. However, there are a few questions that you can ask yourself before you take the next step. Just remember these questions are not meant to replace a consultation with your dentist for the Six Months Smiles Orthodontic Treatment as only a certified provider can determine if you are right for this 21^st century innovative procedure.  

The first question that you will want to ask yourself is what the motivation behind improving your smile is. Is it because you are self-conscious when you smile, speak or laugh, or is it because you have a big occasion or event coming up. Do you want a new smile because of your career or because you speak in front of large groups.

The second question that you will want to ask yourself is what really bothers you about your smile. Do you have a gap in-between your teeth are they crowded together crooked or just out of place.

Ask yourself what other problems you have with your smile whether it is the overall shape of your teeth, the fact that they are too long or too short, not white enough or they seem to be worn.

If you have real concerns about your smile, have not previously been fitted with an orthodontic appliance, and just don’t like the overall shape of your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine if the Six Months Smile Orthodontic Treatment is right for you. 

Can Gum Disease affect Cognitive Function?

Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. Gingivitis, and the more severe periodontal disease should be taken care of immediately, otherwise you may eventually lose your teeth. However, what is even more shocking is that gum disease and tooth loss could also cause a decline in thinking skills, especially among people over the age of 50.  

Researchers are investigating whether people who have poor dental health also suffer from poor cognitive functions, which technically mean people who have gum disease also have problems with managing numbers, words, and memory.

Recent research indicates that that every person, whether male or female, who had a tooth removed or had lost a tooth, saw a loss in cognitive function. In fact, people who had lost all of their teeth had quite poor cognition compared with those who had more. The study also found poor cognitive behaviors in people who suffered from severe gum disease, or periodontitis.

Conducted in 1996 and lasting until 1998, the study consisted of data that was gathered from people who took part in memory and thinking skills tests. The 6,000 participants were both men and women between the ages of 45 and 64. Thirteen percent of those who took part in the study had lost their natural teeth with about a fifth of the participants having less than 20 teeth remaining. About 12 percent of the participants had deep gum pockets and serious bleeding gum issues.

What the researchers discovered was that the scores on thinking and memory tests, including number skills, word fluency and word recall, was lower in people who didn’t have teeth. People who had better oral health and more teeth had better test scores than those with severe gum disease as well.

Some researchers believe that poor dental health may reflect poor eating habits. People with tooth and gum problems may not be able to eat certain, “Brain foods,” which could contribute to poor cognitive functions. Researchers agree that it could be a contributing factor, but so could inflammation from gum disease. Inflammation, regardless of where it is located in the system can affect cognition.

So what’s the bottom line? Good oral health habits just may help you think better and remember where you put your keys.

If you would like more information regarding oral hygiene, schedule an appointment with your dentist today. 

The Dangers of Missing Teeth

Your dentist will tell you that missing teeth will affect more than your self confidence and although that gap in the middle of your smile may not do much for your self-esteem, it isn’t doing much for your oral health either.

Your teeth are meant to be a team, and if one is lost because of gum disease, tooth decay or an accident, you need to bring in a replacement.

Although some people don’t take losing a tooth too seriously, the long-term consequence can be detrimental. If you have missing teeth the rest of your teeth are in danger as well.

Missing teeth not only show when you smile, but will also age you. Your face will appear gaunt because there is no cheek support. Your dentist explains that other problems that can occur because of tooth loss include periodontal problems, malocclusion, hypereruption, lost fillings, tooth fractures, speech defects, chewing problems and TMJ.

According to Web MD, your teeth will move freely until they come into contact with something. In other words, if you lose a tooth, your surrounding teeth may drift into the hole that was left by the missing tooth. The movement could be tipping or rotating and will eventually affect your bite. This is known as malocclusion. If this occurs, it could be putting a strain on your TMJ or jaw joints. Not only will this cause pain, but severe TMJ disorders can actually cause your jaw to lock into place.

Tooth loss hinders your chewing ability on the side where you lost the tooth because there is less chewing surface. When this occurs, you will naturally chew on the other side. This will result in additional force that could cause lost fillings and broken teeth.

If you have a tooth that normally touches the missing tooth when you put your teeth together, hypereruption can occur causing your tooth to protrude. So much so that your roots could begin to show. This will cause sensitive teeth, root decay and gum problems.

Although it is nearly impossible to prevent all types of tooth loss, good oral hygiene that includes brushing twice and flossing once each day can certainly help you keep your teeth. If you play sports, wear a mouthguard and don’t forget to schedule regular checkups with your dentist.

For more information regarding the dangers of missing teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

Good Oral Hygiene can Prevent Disease

Most people are aware that poor oral hygiene can lead to dental caries and gum disease, but what most don’t know about is the mouth and body connection. Not practicing good oral hygiene causes more than bad breath and can lead to some serious health issues.

According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers from NYU, or the New York University, found a direct link between Alzheimer’s disease and gum inflammation. Although there were only 152 participants in the study that took place in a 20-year period in Denmark, it was discovered that low cognitive function was related to people who suffered from gum inflammation. The bacterium, porphyromonas gingivalis, was present in those who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, but not in those who didn’t. In a recent study, it was also discovered that gum disease bacteria could move from the gums to the brain either from the nerves that connect from the roots of the teeth to the brain or through the blood. In other words, if you have gums that bleed, the bacteria will enter your blood stream every time you brush, floss or eat.  

Pancreatic cancer has also being linked to periodontal disease thanks to a study conducted at Harvard. What the health researchers discovered was that men, who had recent tooth loss, were more susceptible to pancreatic cancer. It was also suggested that there is a direct link between carcinogens caused by gum disease and pancreatic cancer.  Although this theory is still being researched, it is just another reason to practice good oral hygiene that includes regular checkups with your dentist.

Your mouth is loaded with bacteria, which could lead to heart disease. People who do not brush and floss regularly could be at risk of heart disease. Because the bacteria from your mouth can enter your bloodstream, it can interrupt the blood flow to your heart increasing your risk of blood clots and heart attacks.

Other health conditions that can occur because of poor oral hygiene include endocarditis, an infection of your hearts inner lining, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and HIV/AIDS. Women who are pregnant and suffer from gum disease are also more likely to give birth prematurely or have low weight babies.

The best way to have a healthy mouth and body connection is to practice good oral hygiene habits that include brushing twice and flossing once each day, eating a healthy diet and seeing your dentist at least twice a year. Schedule your dental appointment today.

Are you Obsessed with Tooth Bleaching?

Tooth whitening has become an obsession both here in the United States and overseas with millions of people spending billions of dollars on tooth whitening strips, pastes, gels, and mouth rinses. Unfortunately that obsession, coined, “Bleachorexia,” by dental professionals can actually cause serious problems for your teeth and gums.

More than ninety nine percent of adults who participated in a study believed that having a beautiful white smile was the most important asset with ninety-six percent believing that an attractive smile made a person much more appealing when it came to the opposite sex. Seventy-four percent of adults felt that a person’s career success chances could be hampered with an unattractive smile.

According to Web MD, your quest for the brightest and whitest teeth will not only make your teeth brittle, but can also make them appear gray or even transparent.

Teeth will stain over time because of coffee, tea, red wine, too much fluoride and some types of antibiotics. Tooth whitening will only remove stains and will not bleach teeth that have been restored. If you have dental veneers, tooth colored fillings or dental bonding, bleaching your teeth will not cover those types of restorations. Teeth that have been discolored because of antibiotics or fluoride may also be resistant to tooth whitening products.

When tooth whitening is done the right way you can have a beautiful smile, but when abused and over done, it can cause irreversible problems making your teeth translucent and less white.

Other problems that can occur from over bleaching include hypersensitivity. Sensitivity to hot and cold is probably the most common complaint that people have when it comes to tooth whitening. However, hypersensitivity will usually go away eventually.

If you bleach too much you could also have palate, throat and gum irritation from the bleach. Some people actually become nauseous after accidentally swallowing the tooth-whitening product.

Bleaching too frequently or keeping the product on your teeth for too long may cause enamel erosion. If you must whiten your teeth at home, your dentist recommends that you use an ADA approved tooth whitening kit.

Of course, the best way to whiten your teeth is at your dentist’s office with either a custom-made tooth bleaching kit or chair side bleaching. If you cannot afford to have your dentist whiten your teeth, stick with the ADA approved product list.

Don’t become a, “Bleachorexic.” Schedule an appointment with your dentist for tooth whitening today.

Get a Mouthguard and participate in National Face Protection Month

It’s National Face Protection month, and if you or your family is participating in any type of sport this spring, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dentist who can fit you with a custom-made mouth protector.

A mouthguard is essential when it comes to Little League baseball, basketball, soccer and other group sports, but what some people don’t realize is that a sports mouth protector should also be included in your sports bag if you like to bike, surf, play racquetball, or tennis. Swimmers, kids and adults who like to go inline skating and even people who water ski are ordering custom made mouthguards from their dentist to keep their teeth and gums protected.

According to the ADA, mouthguards should be an essential part of the uniform and are just as important as helmets, knee and elbow pads. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of the 7 million recreation and sports related injuries that happen every year involve kids who are just five years old.

The National Youth Sports Safety foundation recently reported that both professional and amateur athletes who do not wear mouth protectors are an astounding sixty times more likely to cause injury to their teeth, gums or face. With that being said, a survey back in 2009 said that over sixty-seven percent of parents claimed that their children were not wearing sports mouthguards while playing organized sports. An additional 84 percent of kids don’t wear mouth protectors because it was not required even though shoulder pads and helmets are.

There are three types of mouthguards available. Stock, Boil and Bite and Custom Made.

Stock mouthguards are the least expensive, but are not as effective as the other two as they can be uncomfortable and ill fitting making kids and adults less likely to use them. Stock mouthguards can also make it difficult to breathe and talk.

Boil and Bite mouthguards are available from your local sporting goods store or pharmacy and are a step up from stock mouth protectors as you place them in warm water before putting in your mouth. Once in your mouth they actually mold to your teeth.

Custom-made mouthguards are available from your dentist and are your best bet when it comes to sports mouth protectors as your dentist will make a mold before sending it off to a dental lab. Custom made mouthguards will fit your teeth perfectly make it less likely that you will leave it at home.

Participate in National Face Protection month and schedule an appointment with your dentist for a custom-made mouthguard today.