Question: What will happen if you do not brush your teeth?

Reply: If you stopped brushing your teeth plaque will start to build up on your teeth. Plaque is a coating of bacterial film that produces acids that eat away tooth enamel and cause cavities, or small holes, to form. After a while plaque film gets harder and more resistant to scraping and brushing and becomes tartar (solid bits that irritate the gums). One of the first signs of trouble is a condition called gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums brought on by the uncontrolled growth of plaque and tartar. It may cause bleeding and swollen gums, but it can be easy to ignore because it isn’t painful. Yet gingivitis is still just a warning sign that worse things are let to come.

When things really start to go wrong after not brushing for a while, a group of gum diseases called periodontitis develops. Gum pockets form when irritated gums pull away from teeth. They collect decaying food particles and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Unchecked plaque growth  in the pockets, on teeth and around the gum line leads to cavities, swollen gums, discolored teeth, bone loss, abscesses and very bad breath. However with all this going on things still can get worse. Rampant tooth decay will start causing major dental pain. You will have pain just trying to eat anything. Abscess and infections will develop. Bacteria that is left developing in your mouth will start to invade other systems in your body.

Although research is ongoing, poor dental health may contribute to a number of very serious conditions you’d never expect, like heart disease, stroke, and possibly even cancer. It only takes around five minutes a day twice a day for good at home dental care habits. Combine that with seeing your dentist regularly and you can help to keep your teeth healthy for a life time.

Question:  Baby tooth fell out now what?

Reply: Once your child looses a baby tooth you will want to provide a sterile gauze pad on the site of the extraction and gently have your child bite down to stop any excess bleeding. Keep your child from rising her mouth or chewing hard foods for around 24 hours. Prevent your child from drinking anything hot. After around 24 hours help your child to gently rinse their mouth using warm salt water, then have him/her swish it gently in their mouth. Resume gently brushing their teeth while keeping the toothbrush bristles away from the extraction site.

Question: Can a permanent tooth fall out.

Reply:  Even though permanent teeth are meant to last a life the they can and do fall out. There are many ways in which you can loose a permanent tooth, one of the most common reasons to adult tooth lost is gum disease. Though even with gum disease poor oral hygiene and dietary habits play a causing factor. Other reasons for tooth loss, would include advance tooth decay, and accidental injury.

A dentist will need to trimmed or filed down the tooth having the dental crown in order for the crown to fit without it appearing to be too large and out of balance with the rest of your teeth. Next an impression is made of all the teeth that are to be crowned. The dental crown is then made in a lab according to the measurements of the impression. While you are waiting for your new crown to come back from the lab the dentist will put a temporary cap on the tooth to protect it. Once the new crowns come back from the lab, they are ready to be placed over the teeth, they are cemented with a sturdy dental cement to ensure they will stay in place and be just like the natural teeth of the patient. With proper dental care, dental crowns can last a lifetime.

Question: Jaw hurting when I chew, why?

Reply: There can be a few reason why your jaw may hurt when chewing or talking. If you been noticing jaw pain talk to your dentist about TMD temporal mandibular joint disorder. Also jaw pain can be a sign that you are clenching or grinding your teeth. Many people do this when stressed. If you are having high stress currently, try to be more aware of this. People can also grind or clench their teeth while sleeping. In this case it can be harder for you to know if that is what you are doing. However normally your jaw can be more sore in the morning when you first wake up. Consult with your dentist. Regardless of why your jaw is hurting your dentist will be able to determine the correct course of treatment.

Question: Visible cavity on wisdom tooth, will it need to be pulled?

Reply: Dentist are not as quick to pull wisdom teeth, or third molars as they use to. Generally speaking if the wisdom teeth are not causing you any trouble then you should not have them pulled just to be pulled. However if your wisdom tooth is starting to decay a dentist may advise to pull it if that is the best option. Either way you need to see a dentist as soon as possible so the decay does not spread and become a much large issue. If you do not have dental insurance currently, try getting either a dental HMO plan or a dental discount plan. These are the types of plans that normally do not have long term waiting periods and you will be able to save on average between 20 to 30 percent off an oral surgeon

Question: What can I do to help stop bleeding gums?

Reply: Most often bleeding gums is a sign that you may have gingivitis or gum disease. In many cases you can help stop your gums from bleeding by improving your own at home care. This would include: brushing your teeth and cleaning between your teeth by flossing daily. One product you may want to also try is a pulsating water flosser. Studies have found that people who add a water flosser to their oral hygiene routine improve their oral health in as little as two weeks. However taking care of your gums and dental health does not stop at home. You need to see a dentist regularly in order to maintain your dental and oral health.

What can be done if a knocked out tooth can not be saved. Not to worry even if you do knock out a tooth and it is too late to save the tooth you do not have to lose your smile. Due to many advances in dentistry you can have a dentist replace the tooth. One such option would be with a dental implant. A dental implant is a freestanding artificial tooth which is anchored directly onto your jawbone, and with a porcelain crown attached, to aid in biting, chewing, and for esthetic reasons.

Question: Can a tooth that been knocked out be repaired?

Reply: The answer is yes it can. If you or your child knocks out a tooth, keep in mind the sooner you can get to your dentist’s office, the better.  If a tooth has been knocked out, gently rinse any debris from the root and attempt to place it back into the socket. If that’s not possible, hold it in the mouth on the way to the dentist. If that is still not an opinion then keep the tooth in milk until you get to the dentist’s office.

Injuries to teeth and mouth can and do happen. Approximately 80% of these dental injuries can affect one or more of the front teeth and may cause damage to soft tissues to the tongue, lips, and inner cheeks. Sports injuries are the main source of tooth and mouth injuries in older adolescents and adults Tips in Preventing Sports-Related Tooth and Mouth Injuries

1) Wear a Mouth Guards: When playing sports, the best way to protect your teeth and mouth is by wearing a mouth guard.

2) Wear Face Cages: This equipment protects against trauma to the face, especially when playing certain sports positions, like baseball catcher or hockey goalie.

3) Wear Helmets: It’s always wise to wear a helmet made for the activity that you are participating in. Although most helmets won’t protect the teeth and mouth, they will protect another important area – your head, to help protect against a brain concussion.

Canker sores appear inside the mouth they are small ulcers with a white or grayish base and bordered in red. You can have one or more canker sores at a time.  Experts are not sure what causes canker sores, however they do think that stress, as well as fatigue and allergies, can increase the risk of getting them. Canker sores are not contagious and normally disappear in a week to 10 days. Cold sores/fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are contagious. Cold sores are fluid-filled blisters that often appear on or around the lips, but can also crop up under the nose or around the chin area. Emotional upset can trigger an outbreak. So can a fever, a sunburn, or skin abrasion.

How Stress Affects Your Oral and Dental Health.

Stress may cause you to have headaches, a stomachaches, or just a feeling of being on edge. Yet did you know that stress also effect your mouth, teeth and gums. The potential effects on your oral health from stress includes: Mouth sores, including canker sores and cold sores Clenching of teeth and teeth grinding (bruxism) Poor oral hygiene and unhealthy eating routines Periodontal (gum) disease or worsening of existing periodontal disease

Question: What causes Bruxism.

Reply: The causes of bruxism (teeth grinding) are not really known, however many believe that stress, sleep disorders and an abnormal bite can all play a role in bruxism.  If you think that you are grinding your teeth, make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Your dentist can help you manage bruxism and its related symptoms, as well as repair and help prevent further damage to your teeth.

Question: What can I do to help reduce teeth grinding?

Reply: Many people probably grind or clench their teeth from time to time. Problems arises when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can develop. Your dentist can fit you for a mouth guard to help protect your teeth from grinding during sleep. High stress can be a factor in teeth grinding so talk to your dentist or doctor for options in reducing stress. Other tips to help stop teeth grinding would include: Avoid or cut back on caffeine, Avoid alcohol, Avoid chewing gum, and do not chew on anything other then food. ,

Having regular dental checkups are important because you can have dental issue without knowing it. Many times cavities do not hurt until the get large enough to cause issues. The same goes with gum disease, since gum disease is not painful until later stages. Also take into account that about 80% of Americans have gingival inflammation and that over 50% of Americans over 50 years old have periodontitis, yet only about 4% are getting treatment for gingivitis or periodontitis, it is a safe bet that most Americans have gum disease and do not know it.

 Your adult teeth should last for a lifetime. However having poor hygiene and unhealthy food choices can lead to poor oral health. Symptoms of poor oral health can include: Spots on the teeth, Bad breath, Loose teeth or Fillings, and Sensitivity to hot or cold. Practice good oral health habits by regularly visiting the dentist, brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily.

“Meth Mouth” is a term used to describe the mouth of a methamphetamine user because of the rampant tooth decay that often occurs with the use of this dangerous drug. Using meth can cause decay so bad that the teeth cannot be saved and must be pulled instead. Methamphetamine use damages dental health in many ways: The use of this drug, can make users experience cravings for sugary carbonated beverages, which is bad for teeth. The “high” from this drug can lasts for about 12 hours, users will normally not brush or floss, therefore leaving the sugary substances on their teeth for long periods of time. The drug acidic contents can also damage teeth. Ingredients can include battery acid, lantern fuel, antifreeze, hydrochloric acid, drain cleaner, lye and over-the-counter cold medications containing ephedrine. Many users of methamphetamines usually tend to clench or grind their teeth. which can cause teeth to wear down, crack and brake.

Do not Floss before you Brush your Teeth.

Some people may think that if they floss before brushing it is better because you are dislodging food particles which brushing would then sweep away. However the benefits of flossing has less to do with freeing food bit you can see then the debris you can not see. Dentist Jennifer Jabloow DDS in Manhattan states “Flossing is better able to remove the microscopic debris between your teeth after you’ve brushed off larger particles that were in the way.” Therefore after you are done brushing your teeth spit out the excess toothpaste hold off on your final rinse until you have finished flossing. According to Men’s Health dentistry advisor Kenneth Young, D.D.S., doing this can help transfer the toothpaste’s fluoride into the crevices between your teeth, maximizing its germ-fighting action.

All surgery come with a certain amount of risks, however considering that on average no more the 12% of wisdom teeth ever causes any problems down the road you may want to give a second though to having wisdom teeth removed. Some of the risks of wisdom teeth removal include: Pain, Lockjaw, Hemorrhage, Dry Socket, Perodontal damage, Infection, Injury to Temporomandibular Joint, Fracture of Adjacent Teeth. Fracture of the Mandible, Fracture of the Maxilla, Anesthetic Complications and Sinus exposure or infection. If you or your child wisdom teeth are not causing any trouble think twice before having them pulled. You may also want to get a second dental opinion about having to have wisdom teeth pulled.