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Archive for the ‘Dental Care’ Category

Cavities can best be described as tooth decay.  As we all know, tooth decay is influenced by what we eat, how we take care of our teeth, and the amount of fluoride in our toothpastes.  If your family has a history of tooth disease or teeth problems, then you may inherit it that way.  This is very common, as many people inherit tooth problems that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Adults who suffer from a dry mouth are more at risk for cavities, as they have a lack of saliva in their mouth.  Dry mouth is very common, and is normally the result of medications, illness, and radiation treatment.  Tobacco users will also suffer from dry mouth, as the tobacco will use up the saliva in the mouth and leave the user with nothing to keep his or her mouth moist.
Cavities are a very serious situation, and if left untreated, can result in the destruction of the tooth.  This can also destroy the nerves as well, resulting in an abscess.  An abscess is very serious, as it infects the root tip.  If left untreated, an abscess can result in death.  Although you may not realize it, cavities are a very serious matter that can quickly spread to something even more serious.
If you visit your dentist on a regular basis, he will check for cavities.  Without visiting the dentist, it is impossible to tell whether or not you have a cavity.  Most cavities develop below the gums, and you won’t be able to see them.  If the cavity exists in the tooth, you will be able to see it, as it will change the color of the affected area.  If you notice a color change or a blackened area in your tooth, you should make an appointment with your dentist immediately.
What you eat is a big contributor to cavities.  If you eat a lot of sweets or drink a lot of soda, you will be at a higher risk for cavities.  Foods that are rich in sugar or starch are eaten by bacteria found in plaque, which will produce acids that eat through teeth.  This acid is very harmful to teeth, as it can eat through the dentin and enamel in no time at all.  If you don’t do something about it, the acid will continue to eat at the tooth until there is nothing left to say – leaving you no choice but to get the tooth extracted.
Over time, the tooth enamel will start to break down beneath the surface of your tooth, even though the surface will appear to be fine.  Once the acid has managed to eat away enough of the enamel below the surface, the surface will collapse, which results in a cavity.  After this has happened, if you don’t get it treated, the tooth will continue to be eaten and the cavity will continue to spread until all of the tooth has been eaten, after which the enamel will be gone and your root will be exposed – which can be very painful.
Cavities will more than likely develop in the pits of chewing areas around the back teeth, between your teeth, or near the gum line.  No matter where they occur, the easiest way to spot them is to visit your dentist.  Your dentist will be able to do x-rays and find out just how bad they are and tell you what options you have.  If you visit him in time, he will be able to save the tooth and stop the cavity before it spreads throughout your tooth.

As we all know, toothaches and any type of oral injury can be extremely painful and should be seen by a dentist immediately.  Dental emergencies should be seen immediately by a dentist, day or night. These emergencies include broken teeth, teeth that have been knocked out, or teeth that have been forced out of the socket.  With some emergencies, the cheeks, lips, or gums will have cuts or abrasions on them from where the teeth come out of the socket.
If you’ve had a tooth recently knocked out, the first thing you should do is look for that tooth.  When you’ve found the tooth, gently scrub it to get rid of any dirt or debris.  Once you have cleaned it, you should place it back in your mouth between the cheek and gums.  Whatever you do, you should never try to put it back in the socket.  If you can make it to the dentist in time, he may be able to put the tooth back in place.
If you’ve had a tooth come out of place, you can normally reposition it with your fingers.  You shouldn’t use a lot of force, simply because it could damage the tooth.  You shouldn’t force the tooth into place, rather try and jiggle it around.  You can also use moist tissue to hold the tooth in place, until you can get to a dentist.
If you’ve got a fractured tooth, the treatment will all depend upon how bad the booth has been fractured.  No matter how light the fracture may be, it is very important that you get to a dentist as soon as you can.  Minor fractures aren’t that bad, as they can normally be smoothed out using sandpaper.  Sometimes, the tooth can also be restored with a composite.  Either way, you’ll need to make sure that you use extreme caution with the tooth for the next few days.
The more moderate fractures, normally include damage to the dentin, pulp, and even the enamel.  These fractures can be nothing to worry about at times, yet painful with other cases.  Providing the pulp hasn’t been damaged, your dentist will be able to restore the full shape and function to the fractured tooth.  In cases where pulp damage has occurred, the dentist may need to do a root canal or other type of serious surgery to repair the tooth.
Whenever you encounter a dental emergency, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact a dentist immediately.  Your dentist will be able to assist you, fix the problem, and stop the pain.  Dental emergencies can happen at any time, so you should always the emergency number of a dentist who will be there at a moments notice.  Tooth pain can be very excruciating – and you’ll obviously want to get the problem fixed immediately.