• Monday, February 15th, 2010
Dental Plaque is a clear and sticky film, composed of bacteria, which build up on teeth. If this layer of bacteria is not removed by ordinary brushing and flossing this plaque will build up and release acids which can then damage your teeth.
When this plaque builds up it can turn into a mineral form commonly called tarter or calculus. These are calcified deposits responsible for many teeth and gum problems, including gingivitis, cavities and even tooth loss.
With good oral hygiene and regular dental check ups and cleanings you can often catch most plaque before it has had a chance to graduate into tarter or calculus.
• Tuesday, January 05th, 2010
I mentioned in a previous post that canker sores are not to be confused with cold sores. This would probably be easier to do if I mentioned what a cold sore is and looks like.
Here is a definition of cold sore from the National Institute of Health.
Herpes labialis is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. It leads to the development of small and usually painful blisters on the skin of the lips, mouth, gums, or lip area. These blisters are commonly called cold sores or fever blisters.
This is a virus and is contagious. It can spread by touch or by someone touching the infected area or by contact with anything which has become infected(such as a hand, a towel, razor, tweezers).
Part of the treatment of cold sores includes ensuring you don’t spread the virus to others or other parts of your own body.
Wash blisters gently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus to other areas of skin. An antiseptic soap may be recommended. Applying ice or warmth to the area may reduce pain.
The warning signs of cold sores are:
Skin lesions or rash around the lips, mouth, and gums
Small blisters (vesicles) filled with clear yellowish fluid
Blisters on a raised, red, painful skin area
Blisters that form, break, and ooze
Yellow crusts that slough to reveal pink, healing skin
Several smaller blisters that merge to form a larger blister
Mild fever (may occur)
If the symptoms do not go away in a week or two you should see your doctor.
• Monday, December 14th, 2009
A canker sore is a small ulcer or lesion that occurs on the inside of the mouth. They can appear on the top surface or the tip of the tongue, underneath the tongue, on the roof of the mouth or on the gum. Canker sores appear round or oval with a red border and yellow or white center. Canker sores are not contagious.
Canker sores are not the same as cold sores. Cold sores develop on the outside surface of the lips and are a different condition.
A couple of days before you actually see the sore you may feel a tingling or burning sensation in the area where the sore is about to appear.
• Friday, October 23rd, 2009
First we have our baby teeth. These start coming in around the age of 6 months. Young children have about 20 teeth before they begin to lose them. The second set of permanent teeth consist of 32 teeth. Twenty-eight of them appear between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The last four are called the third molars. These are the wisdom teeth. If they do erupt it will be around the age of 20. However it is common for the wisdom teeth not to come through at all. This is often the case in small jaws without room to support the extra teeth. When they do come in the wisdom teeth appear in the rear of the jaw.
• Sunday, October 18th, 2009
When you come in for a routine dental exam the first step that is normally done is an x-ray. An x-ray is essential in determining whether tooth roots, fillings, and the structures of the jaw bone are in good health.
Once the x-ray has been completed your dentist or dental hygienist will use a small mirror and a pick to inspect each of your teeth. The mirror helps to ensure your teeth are looked at from every possible angle. The pick is used to check the strength of the enamel on your teeth and to help detect cavities or filling that need replacing.
Your dentist will also check your gums for discoloration, swelling, and “pockets,” areas where the gums pull away from the teeth because of bacteria.
Once your oral health has been fully checked your dentist will go over with you any needed actions such as deep cleanings, filling replacements or cavities that need to be filled.
• Monday, October 05th, 2009
The plaque the builds up around the teeth and beneath the gums causes what is called periodontal disease. Even if you brush and clean between your teeth several times a day you may not be able to remove all the plaque, especially right around the gum line.
The bacteria in plaque create toxins that injure the gums and the bone surrounding your teeth. If not removed by your dentist these toxins and build up and destroy the tissue and underlying bone structure. One of the problems caused by these toxins acting on the tissue and bone around your teeth is causing infection and inflammation of the gums. This can affect your overall health and also lead to tooth loss.
With regular visits your dentist can detect and treat this problems before it causes irreversible damage.
• Monday, September 28th, 2009
Dentistry has a very long and fascinating history for instance did you know…
The ancient Chinese used acupuncture to treat the pain associated with tooth decay.
The first anesthetic used in dentistry was cocaine.
In 1905 a German Chemist, Alfred Einkorn introduced Novocain as a substitute for the addictive anesthetic of Cocaine.
French dentists were the first Europeans to promote the use of toothbrushes.
Most Americans did not brush their teeth until army soldiers brought back the tooth brushing habit after WWII.
A New Orleans dentist by the name of Parmy is credited with being the inventor of dental floss. Back in 1815 he promoted teeth flossing with a piece of silk thread.
• Sunday, September 20th, 2009
Most of us learned very young the importance of taking care of our teeth. We brushed and sometimes even flossed when asked to by our parents. Some of us even grew fond of the feeling of clean teeth and fresh breath.
As we get older it is as least as important to take care of our teeth and gums as it was back then. So much so that recent evidence has shown a link between periodontal disease and heart disease or stroke. The research shows that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.
One theory of why this occurs is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when it enters the bloodstream contributing to the thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries.
So it becomes very important to brush and floss regularly to keep your teeth and gums healthy and to visit your dentist on a regular basis.
• Tuesday, September 01st, 2009
Fillings do not last forever. They can become discolored or corrode. They can also fall out, leak or crack. When any of these situations occur the filling will need to be replaced. This is not an unusual occurrence and is to be expected. Fillings can last anywhere from five to fifteen years. If you clench or grind your teeth your fillings may need to be replaced more frequently.
Some dentists also feel that amalgam fillings should be replaced due to toxic impact on the body. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Some dentists feel these metals, especially the mercury, can be harmful. It’s best to discuss this with your dentist to see whether they recommend changing out your amalgam fillings to something like ceramics or polymer compounds.
• Friday, August 07th, 2009
Most of us visit our doctors once a year for a medical check up. But how frequently should you see your dentist? The best advice is to visit your dentist every six months unless there is some special reason he or she has recommended you come more frequently. Parents usually remember to have their children’s teeth checked regularly. Unfortunately as adults people often postpone their dental visits. This can be due to busy schedules or financial concerns. Speaking from lots of experience I can say this is not a good idea. Just like discovering an unwanted medical condition in its early stages can mean the possibility of complete cure, finding out about a dental situation as soon as possible can make fixing the problem quicker and easier.
And just to let you know, with all the advances in modern dentistry, checkups and cleanings are easier and far less painful than years ago. So, if you’re putting off seeing your dentist, don’t. It’s just a wonderful feeling to know your teeth and gums are healthy and will be with you for all the years to come.
