Belmont's #1 Dental Clinic
Tooth decay occurs when plaque, the sticky substance that forms on teeth, combines with the sugars and/or starches of the food we eat. This combination produces acids that attack tooth enamel.
You can get cavities at any age, they aren’t just for children. As you age, you can develop cavities as your tooth enamel erodes, and dry mouth due to age or medications can also lead to cavities.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and going to your regular dental check-ups. Eating healthy foods and avoiding snacks and drinks that are high in sugar are also ways to prevent decay.
1) Brush Your Teeth – In the fight against cavities, it is essential that you brush your teeth properly at least twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
2) Floss Daily – Food debris gets caught in between our teeth when we eat. If the debris is not removed, it can lead to cavities. Flossing every day is the best way to remove food debris from in between the teeth.
3) Eat Healthy – Proper nutrition plays an important role in good dental health. Eating nutritional snacks and limiting the amount of sugary drinks will help to prevent plaque from forming on the teeth.
4) Visit Your Dentist – Many cavities can only be detected by a dentist or a dental X-ray. Visiting your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings are a key factor in preventing cavities and staying on top of good oral hygiene.
5) Have Sealants Placed – Dental sealants are a protective coating that is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant protects the tooth from getting a cavity by shielding against bacteria and plaque. Sealants are more common in children because of the new growth of permanent teeth, however, sealants can benefit adults to.
Sealants – In early signs of tooth decay, the dentist can apply sealants. As long as the decay has not broken through the enamel.
Composite fillings
Amalgam fillings
Porcelain inlays/onlays
Crowns (Gold/Porcelain fused to metal/Ceramic) Bridges
Implants
If you suffer from bad breath, you are not alone. Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be downright embarrassing.
According to dental studies, about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath have a dental condition that is to blame.
Gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and bacteria on the tongue are some of the dental problems that can cause bad breath.
Using mouthwash to cover up bad breath when a dental problem is present will only mask the odour and not cure it.
1) Prevent bad breath by brushing your teeth and flossing twice a day, especially after meals that contain food and spices known to cause bad breath. Remember to brush your tongue, or try using a tongue scraper, to remove any trapped food and plaque caught in the tiny hair-like fibers on the tongue. Finish off your brushing by rinsing thoroughly with water or mouthwash.
2) Prevent bad breath by visiting your dentist on a regular basis (every six months or as indicated by your dentist) for a complete examination of your teeth and gums and thorough cleaning
3) Preventing bad breath is achievable when you have dental problems treated as they occur, such as tooth decay, gum abscesses, and abscessed teeth.
4) Preventing bad breath from smoking is easy when you take the necessary steps to quit smoking, as this is the only way to eliminate bad breath from the use of cigarettes, which is also responsible for periodontal disease.
5) A dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a major factor when it comes to bad breath. Sip water throughout the day and during meals. Chew sugar-free gum
6) Avoid foods known to cause bad breath such as garlic, onions, cabbage, certain spices, and coffee.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding the teeth. It is also one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults. Some studies have indicated that there may be a link between heart disease and periodontal disease.
Everyone is at risk for gum disease, but it usually occurs after age 30. Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors. Diabetes and dry mouth also increase your risk. The symptoms include bad breath, red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and painful chewing.
There are two major stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Regular dental check-ups along with brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily play an important role in preventing gum disease.
While many toothaches and dental emergencies can be easily avoided just by regular visits to the dentist, we all know that accidents can and do happen. Having a dental emergency can be very painful and scary.
Common problems that require an urgent trip to your dentist include a broken or cracked tooth, an abscessed tooth, or a tooth knocked out in an accident.
If you have a tooth abscess that is causing difficulty swallowing or you have developed a fever or facial swelling, get emergency care as well.
A broken or cracked tooth may cause a very painful toothache, especially if the inner pulp of the tooth is exposed.
That’s where the tooth’s blood vessels, nerve, and connective tissues are, and if that area becomes inflamed or infected, the pain can be excruciating.
There are several potential causes of a cracked or broken tooth. These include
– Chewing and biting into hard food
– Biting on hard objects
– Brittle tooth structure caused by root canal therapy
– Old restorations that have begun to separate from the tooths structure
– Clenching or grinding of the teeth
– Trauma to the face and mouth
If only part of the tooth has broken off, you may wish to collect the broken piece and take it with you when you see the dentist. Even though they may not be able to use the broken piece of tooth to restore it, they may want to see if the piece that broke was enamel or part of a filling. When a tooth cracks and the entire tooth remains in the mouth, avoid eating or biting down on the tooth. A cracked tooth may or may not involve the root, so every effort to avoid contact with the tooth should be made in order to prevent the tooth from cracking further and potentially causing a root fracture. See your dentist as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage from occurring to the tooth and gum tissues.
One cause of a painful toothache is an abscessed tooth. An abscess is an infection in or around the root of the tooth which may or may not be painful. It occurs when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, dies and becomes inflamed.
Painful, abscessed teeth can be caused by untreated tooth decay, a cracked or broken tooth or filling, or from a gum infection, especially in advanced gum disease. Your mouth always has bacteria, but it is kept out of the tooth by the solid tooth enamel. If tooth decay erodes that enamel or you have a cracked tooth, bacteria can get into the living pulp inside the tooth. Your immune system fights back, sending in white blood cells to kill the bacteria. Pus forms from white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria. There isn’t any extra room inside your hard tooth, so it tries to drain out the tip of the tooth root in the jaw. A pocket of pus can form at the root tip. The abscess can appear on a dental x-ray. The pressure and inflammation from this abscess can be very painful.
The most common symptom of an abscess is an ache in the bone around the tooth, but you may also experience pain when chewing, swelling of the gums, or other symptoms. Many people with an abscessed tooth have a difficult time identifying the exact tooth that is causing the pain, and it doesn’t always show up on x-rays. More symptoms include:
A throbbing toothache that can radiate to your jaw, neck, or ear.
– Your teeth may be sensitive to hot, cold, and the pressure of chewing. – You may develop a fever. – You might have swelling in your face, cheek, and the lymph nodes of your jaw or neck. – Your gums may be red and swollen. – If the abscess ruptures, you might get a rush of bad-tasting and smelling discharge in your mouth and have an open, draining sore. – If left untreated, the pain can become severe, often excruciating.
Your dentist will examine your teeth and locate the abscess. You will need an X-ray to see the exact location of the abscess and whether the infection has spread.
A dental abscess is usually treated with root canal treatment. The dentist will remove the bacteria from the empty canals within your tooth, clean, shape and fill the root canals, and seal the space. You will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After the new restoration, the tooth will continue to function like any other tooth.
In some cases, the tooth can’t be saved and your dentist will pull out the infected tooth and drain the abscess to eliminate the infection.
You may be given antibiotics if the infection has a chance of spreading or if you have a weakened immune system.
Tooth sensitivity is a common problem that affects millions of people. Basically, tooth sensitivity involves experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks or ice cream. Some people with sensitive teeth even experience discomfort from brushing and flossing. The good news is that sensitive teeth can be treated.
Sensitive teeth can also be a sign of a cracked tooth or a tooth abscess, which needs to be treated by your dentist to prevent losing a tooth or getting an infection in your jaw bone. If you suddenly develop tooth sensitivity, make an appointment with your dentist to see if there is a source that needs to be treated.
Tooth sensitivity is a common problem that affects millions of people. Basically, tooth sensitivity involves experiencing pain or discomfort to your teeth from sweets, cold air, hot drinks, cold drinks or ice cream. Some people with sensitive teeth even experience discomfort from brushing and flossing. The good news is that sensitive teeth can be treated.
Sensitive teeth can also be a sign of a cracked tooth or a tooth abscess, which needs to be treated by your dentist to prevent losing a tooth or getting an infection in your jaw bone. If you suddenly develop tooth sensitivity, make an appointment with your dentist to see if there is a source that needs to be treated.
Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structure and is caused by acid attacking the enamel. Tooth erosion signs and symptoms can range from sensitivity to more severe problems such as cracking. Tooth erosion is more common than people might think, but it can also be easily prevented.
Discoloration — Because the dentin of the tooth is exposed during tooth erosion, discoloration or yellowing of the teeth can occur.
The more dentin that is exposed, the more yellow the teeth will become because dentin is naturally yellow. This discoloration, importantly, is to the tooth itself; yellowed teeth that appear as such due to poor dental hygiene or consumption of tobacco products constitute an entirely different problem.
Tooth Sensitivity — Sensitive teeth are very common symptoms of tooth erosion because the enamel that protects the teeth wears away, leaving exposed dentin. This dentin, which is less hard than the enamel, is also more sensitive to temperature and more prone to decay.
Rounded Teeth — During the early stages of tooth erosion, it is common for teeth to have a rounded look. The ridges of the enamel wear away, leaving a flatter or more rounded surface; similarly, the sharper edges of teeth like canines and incisors will also appear rounded because the enamel wears away across the parts of the tooth most commonly in contact with food.
Transparent or Sandblasted Appearance — It is not uncommon in the early stages of tooth erosion for the teeth to have a sandblasted look or for the tips of the front teeth to look transparent. The pitting is a sign that the enamel is starting to succumb to erosion; the transparency is a function of both the thinning of the enamel and the relative yellowness of the underlying dentin.
Cracked tooth — If tooth erosion continues into the advanced stages, the edges of the teeth can start to crack and have a rough feeling. At this point, acids and bacteria in the mouth will penetrate the tooth, leading to problems ranging from cavities to radical decay of the tooth potentially requiring extraction, root canals, and caps or crowns.
Dents—Little dents, also called cupping, can start to appear on the biting areas of the teeth. These dents show where the enamel has eroded inconsistently.
Extreme Sensitivity — Since the enamel wears away during tooth erosion, the teeth can become extremely sensitive during the advanced stages of tooth erosion. Exposing the affected tooth to very hot or very cold temperatures can induce sharp, stabbing pains in the mouth and jaw.
– After eating or drinking acidic foods or beverages, rinse your mouth with water so that the acid will be neutralised.
– Wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth after consuming acidic foods or beverages to allow the teeth to remineralize after the acid exposure.
– Cut back on carbonated drinks and try replacing them with water, milk or unsweetened coffee and tea.
– Use a straw when drinking carbonated beverages or other sweet drinks, such as natural fruit juices, which are very acidic. A straw enables the liquid to go quickly to the back of your mouth instead of washing over the teeth.
– Swallow acidic liquids quickly instead of swishing them around or holding them in your mouth.
– Chewing sugar-free gum can help reduce dry mouth and increase the saliva flow, allowing for your teeth to remineralize.
– Always use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride can help to reduce tooth sensitivity.
