Everyone has experienced dry mouth at one point or another, especially after sleeping with your mouth open all night or maybe your nose is stuffed, forcing you to breathe from your mouth. However, dry mouth, at times, can be a chronic and a very uncomfortable condition.
In addition to several other chronic diseases, tobacco use is a primary cause of many oral diseases and adverse oral conditions. For example, tobacco is a risk factor for oral cancer and periodontal disease. It can also cause stained yellow or brown teeth, bad breath, and loss of teeth. Smoking is thought to alter bacteria in dental plaque, making it more harmful.
In general, smokers can expect to develop some combination of the following, depending on the amount and length of time they have smoked:
Persistent bad breath
Discolored teeth
An increase in calculus (tartar) build-up
Periodontal (gum and bone) disease that may progress more quickly and be more severe than in non-smokers
Jaw bone loss
Shifting teeth
An increased number of missing teeth
Oral cancers
Mouth sores
Root caries (cavities)
Sinusitis
Hairy tongue
Smoker’s lip (like a burn)
Altered sense of taste and smell
Delayed wound healing
Gum Disease
Smoking has been established as a significant risk factor for gum disease. Tobacco reduces blood flow to the gums, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients that allow gums to stay healthy, and leaving them vulnerable to bacterial infection.
According to one U.S. study, cigarette smoking may play a major role in more than half the cases of severe gum disease in adults. Current smokers were about four times more likely to have periodontitis than people who had never smoked. (Ref: J.Periodontology 2000 May:71(5):743-51)
If unchecked, periodontal disease can lead to complete destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues, abscesses and, ultimately, loss of the tooth.
Caring for your Teeth and Gums
If you are a smoker, there are some things you can do to prevent tooth and gum problems:
Try to quit smoking – speak to your doctor or dentist or call helpline for guidance and support.
If quitting smoking is too difficult, try and reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke.
Thoroughly clean your teeth and gums twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Use dental floss every day to clean between your teeth.
Avoid having a dry mouth – drink plenty of water and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
Limit your alcohol intake.
To stop using tobacco or smoking habit, people can also join smoking cessation classes and support groups along with drug therapy. Ask your doctor or dentist for information on similar programs they may be familiar with.
Ref: www.webmd.com
www.who.int
www.cdho.org
A toothache is a common reason for visiting the dentist. Pain from toothaches can affect the teeth and jaws.
If you’re having continual mouth pain or discomfort, here are some steps to take to resolve the problem, or at least provide some temporary toothache relief until getting to the dentist:
Brush and floss your teeth to remove food fragments on and in-between your teeth. Rinse with warm water.
You may take painkillers for the pain, but DO NOT put an aspirin or any other painkiller directly against the gums near the aching tooth. This can burn and cause damage to the gum tissue. If the pain persists, call to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Avoid very cold or hot foods as they may make the pain worse.
Relief may be obtained by biting on some cotton wool soaked in oil of cloves. Oil of cloves is available at most pharmacies.
It is important to know that persistent toothache pain may temporarily subside, but will usually return until the underlying problem has been addressed. Failure to treat these problems in a timely manner may lead to further deterioration and more costly treatment.
Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary. A root canal might need to be done if the cause of a toothache is found to be an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection. An antibiotic may be prescribed.
See your dentist as soon as possible if a toothache lasts longer than 1 or 2 days or if it is severe. Proper identification and treatment of dental infections are important to prevent its spread to other parts of the face and skull and possibly even to the bloodstream.
Tooth sensitivity can affect one or more teeth. It’s most common when you eat or drink something hot, cold, sweet, or sour. The pain can be sharp and sudden and can shoot deep into the nerve endings of your teeth.
You may get sensitive teeth when your gums recede and expose the surface beneath, called the dentin. This soft layer makes up the inner part and roots, which have thousands of tiny tubes that lead to the tooth’s nerve center (the pulp). These channels allow the trigger — for example, the hot, cold, or sweet food — to reach the nerve in your tooth, which results in the pain you feel.
Here are ways to find relief and reduce your tooth sensitivity:
Try toothpaste made for sensitive teeth – Several brands of toothpaste on the market are designed to help people with sensitive teeth. Some pastes contain an active ingredient called potassium nitrate, which helps to block the tiny tubules in the dentin. They don’t work for everybody, but it’s usually a good place to start.
Change the way you brush – If you’re not using a soft toothbrush, if you’re scrubbing your teeth vigorously, or if you’re not brushing for a full two minutes, then you’re not doing any favors for your sensitive teeth. Hard brushing can actually wear away enamel, increasing the sensitivity in your teeth. Changing your brushing habits will definitely pay off.
Avoid acidic food and drink – Exposure to red wine, pop, fruit juices and acidic foods—such as oranges and pickles—can put your enamel under constant attack. Limit these foods and drinks, and try to brush about 20 minutes after eating them.
Ask your dentist about a paint job – If you’re not having much luck with desensitizing toothpaste, talk to your dentist about painted-on barriers. Desensitizing agents like fluoride varnish or even plastic resins can be applied to the sensitive areas of your teeth.
Put a stop to tooth grinding – If you’re grinding your teeth when you’re tense, you could be wearing away enamel and giving yourself a sensitivity problem.
Treat your receding gums – Normally the root of your tooth is covered up by your gum tissue. But if you have some gum recession, caused by gum disease or even hard brushing, then the root will be exposed and the cementum can be worn away. Your dental care provider may be able to rebuild or restore your receding gums.
If you still have discomfort, call Expressions Dental™. There may be a procedure that can help.
Dry mouth, known medically as Xerostomia, is one of the main causes of halitosis (or bad breath). Dry mouth can be caused by a number of medical conditions. Most of these conditions are nonlife-threatening, making dry mouth more of a nuisance than anything else.
To minimize dry mouth:
Drink water frequently to keep your mouth moist and loosen mucus. Carry water with you to sip throughout the day and keep water by your bed at night.
Suck on sugar-free hard candies, ice chips, or sugar-free popsicles. Chew sugarless gum (gums containing xylitol). These sucking and chewing actions help stimulate saliva flow.
Moisten foods with broths, soups, sauces, gravy, creams, and butter or margarine. Eat soft, moist foods that are cool or at room temperature.
Avoid commercial mouth rinses or mouthwashes that contain alcohol or peroxide. These ingredients may further dry out your mouth.
Avoid salty foods, dry foods (for example, crackers, toast, cookies, dry breads, dry meats/poultry/fish, dried fruit, bananas) and foods and beverages with high sugar content.
Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine. Alcohol increases water loss by triggering frequent urination. Alcohol, as well as caffeine, also dries out the mouth. Also avoid acidic beverages, such as any fruit juices.
To prevent or treat dry mouth, you can protect your teeth by brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and scheduling regular dental checkups. Oral cavities can lead to the growth of unhealthy bacteria, which eventually leads to dry mouth and bad breath.
It is true that your pearly whites lose their luster as we age. Some common foods, drinks and even mouthwashes can stain teeth. But, Do-it-yourself remedies can help whiten teeth, and avoiding substances that stain teeth can stop further discoloration.
Use these steps to whiten your teeth:
Home teeth whitening – Talk to your dentist about at-home tooth whitening products like kits, strips and toothpastes may lighten stains. But, for deep stains, you may need to seek your dentist’s help.
Home remedies – Some people prefer the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears, and carrots trigger lots of saliva, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth. Chewing sugar-less gum is also a tooth-cleansing action.
Tooth whitening and dental work – Approach tooth whitening with caution if you have lots of bonding, fillings, crowns, and bridges. Bleach will not lighten manufactured teeth, so they will stand out among newly whitened natural teeth. In order to match your whiter teeth, you may need new dental work, including veneers or bonding.
Preventing teeth stains – As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel may wear away. The underlying layer, called dentin, is yellower. That’s why it is important to try to avoid staining teeth. If you take care with foods and drinks that discolor teeth, the results of whitening can last longer.
To keep teeth white, don’t light up – Smoking is one of the worst offenders, when it comes to staining teeth. Tobacco causes brown stains that penetrate the grooves and pits of tooth enamel. These stains are hard to remove by brushing alone.
Foods that cause teeth stains – Some common foods, which discolor teeth, are coffee, tea, dark sodas and fruit juices. These teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age. Deep color fruits and veggies such as blueberries, blackberries and beets leave their color on teeth as well. Eat them for your health and prevent tooth stains by brushing teeth and rinsing mouth immediately after eating.
Think as you drink – A glass of red wine, cranberry juice or grape juice also stains teeth easily. Remember to rinse your mouth after you have these drinks.
Don’t forget daily maintenance – One simple strategy can help maintain white teeth: brush. Brush at least twice and floss at least once daily. Brushing helps prevent stains and yellow teeth, especially at the gum line.
Visit your dentist – See your Calgary dentist for regular checkups and professional cleaning. The abrasion and polishing methods dentists use can remove many teeth stains caused by food and tobacco.
What is a filling?
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay or chipping back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay.
Although silver fillings are common, they are not the only type to fill a dental cavity. There are other options out there for you to consider.
Here is the list of different types of fillings:
Visit the dental clinic in Calgary to find out which type of filling is best for you. Depending on the location and extent of the decay, cost of filling material and your insurance coverage, your dentist will assist you in determining the type of filling.
Tooth loss is not a normal and unavoidable part of aging. Your teeth are intended to last a lifetime and with good oral care and professional dental services they can.
The fallacy that losing your teeth is a natural part of aging originated from an era when routine dental procedures to prevent tooth loss were not generally practiced or as available as they are today. The truth is that bad oral hygiene habits, wrong diet and neglecting to see your dentist for regular dental services has way more to do with tooth loss than growing older does.
Tooth root decay develops more quickly as we grow older, but fortunately frequent fluoride treatments minimize this risk along with tooth cavities. The natural cleansing process of salivary production may slow down later in life causing more plaque build-up – making routine cleanings and dental procedures even more important. Professional dental cleanings also help to prevent periodontal disease or bone loss which is the number one reason why folks lose their teeth.
Dentists are available to give dental tips and to provide dental services that guard against tooth loss.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign may be used as an alternative to metal braces. They consist of a series of removable aligners that gradually straighten your teeth.
Invisalign can help treat conditions such as:
Crowded teeth
Spaced teeth
Crossbite
Overbite
Underbite
How do I get started?
Talk to an Invisalign provider – Your treatment begins after you schedule your initial consultation. This is an important dental and financial decision. During the consultation, you and your doctor will discuss your case to determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Your doctor will determine if Invisalign is right for you. If not, you will be referred to an orthodontist.
Create a customized treatment plan – Your dentist will take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, which Invisalign will use to create a digital 3-D image of them. From these images your dentist will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth, and tell you the approximate length of treatment. Every case is unique to each patient, therefore treatment times can vary.
Receive your custom aligners – Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, aligners is then created specifically for you. Simply wear them throughout the day and night, and remove them when you eat or to brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gradually begin to shift into place. And because they’re virtually invisible, most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them.
Wear a new aligner every two weeks – Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have checkups with your doctor, usually every two to six weeks. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment.
If you want to find out more about Invisalign in Calgary or to learn how Invisalign may be a choice for you, contact Expressions Dental in NW Calgary.
Visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings can help prevent many dental problems as well as to help you maintain optimal oral health. Don’t wait until you have a toothache before you call your dentist. You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months.
What happens during a dental visit?
Clinical dental examination – Your dental professional will check for cavities and to see if there is plaque or tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.
Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper.
The check-up should also include your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble, swelling, or cancer.
Dental cleaning – During the dental visit, your dental professional cleans your mouth by removing any plaque and tartar, polishing your teeth and flossing.
Once your examination and cleaning have been performed, they’ll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and then make any additional recommendations. It’s important that you see your dentist every six months for a routine examination and cleaning. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
