Anthony Alfonso

How To Protect Brittle Teeth

Repairing chipped teeth – Philip M. Gray, DDS — How To Protect Brittle Teeth

Having a great oral hygiene routine will not only help your teeth shine but will also keep your entire body healthy. Did you know that the enamel on your tooth is much stronger than your bones? So, if you find that your teeth are chipping or fracturing easily, then there is usually an underlying reason why your teeth are getting brittle.

It’s crucial to find the cause of your brittle teeth and to get treatment. In the meantime, you can at least start to care for your teeth properly – and make sure you maintain your attractive smile.

What is the cause of brittle teeth?

Although your tooth’s enamel is strong, there are many different habits and conditions that can deteriorate your enamel, weakening the tooth and resulting in brittleness. If your teeth are prone to breakage, then it may be due to the following things:

Grinding or teeth clenching: Your teeth can bite down with immense force. Constantly grinding or clenching your teeth will wear away your dental enamel.

Poor oral hygiene: Teeth prone to decay, cavities, or have a lack of pulp, can make your teeth brittle. The cause of this condition could be inadequate brushing or even over-brushing, which wears down the enamel. Inadequate levels of fluoride can also result in erosion because fluoride helps protect your teeth from germs, bacteria and other dental problems.

Nutrient deficiency: Vitamins and minerals are crucial for maintaining healthy tooth enamel. If your body is deficient in any one of the essential nutrients it causes your teeth to weaken. For example, a lack of vitamin A will cause tooth brittleness, and a lack of vitamin D weakens your body’s ability to absorb minerals, like calcium and phosphorus. Both are vital for strengthening your tooth enamel.

The causes of poor nutrition are usually eating disorders or even just having a poor diet in general. Be aware that some medications can prevent your body from absorbing certain nutrients your teeth need.

Acids: Eating disorders where there is frequent vomiting will also damage tooth enamel. Having a diet high in acidity, like eating lots of grapefruit, will also cause your enamel to deteriorate. Other things that will produce enamel-weakening acids include eating too many sugary foods and beverages – especially sodas.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta: This is an inherited condition where the dentin of the teeth does not form correctly. This results in abnormal formation of the mid-layer of the teeth, making the teeth discoloured, and possibly weaker, which can result in fracturing.

Dehydration and dry mouth: If for some reason your body does not produce enough beneficial saliva to help clean out your mouth and neutralize the acids, then this can also lead to brittle teeth.

Unfortunately, once your enamel has been weakened there isn’t a lot you can do about it. While your bones contain regenerative cells, your teeth do not. Keeping your teeth healthy and strong in the first place is important if you want to stop any extra erosion.

How to Strengthen Brittle Teeth

Here are a few ways that you can strengthen your teeth, protect your enamel and prevent any future tooth decay and cavities.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is the process of swishing a high-quality edible oil, like coconut oil, around in your mouth for about 20 minutes. This process will help keep your teeth clean and clear away any built-up plaque. Oil pulling will also remove bacteria from your mouth and stop it from sticking onto your teeth.

When you leave bacteria on your teeth, the acid that’s produced will start to corrode your surface enamel, exposing the vulnerable dentin layer beneath, leading to sensitivity, and eventually pain. You can keep your teeth strong by maintaining a regular oil pulling routine.

Avoid Daytime Snacking

Constantly snacking on carbs throughout the day gives the bacteria in your mouth a constant supply of food. Keeping these bacteria well-fed will produce more acid, resulting in a weakening of your tooth enamel. If you must snack during the day, then be sure to eat something free of carbs, or rinse your mouth with water after you’re finished.

Eat Foods That are Rich in Minerals

Teeth are porous and they gain or lose beneficial minerals over time. Make sure your teeth are getting the minerals they need. Brushing and flossing your teeth helps to clean them but it does not give them minerals. To keep them healthy and strong you will need to consume a diet that is rich in minerals, such as:

Eggs
Dark leafy greens
Mushrooms
Cheese

Take Refined Sugar Out of Your Diet (or Reduce Your Consumption)

Sugar is the main food source for harmful bacteria in your mouth that damage your teeth. It is also undoubtedly a cause of other health problems, such as diabetes or even cancer.

Taking sugar out of your diet reduces the amount of damaging bacteria in your mouth, making it an easy and effective way to protect your dental health.

Brush Your Tongue

Brushing your tongue keeps it clean and is another great way to reduce the bacteria in your mouth. Plus, you’ll have fresher breath and feel like your whole mouth is cleaner too.

See Your Dentist Regularly

Visiting the best dentist in Durango, CO every 6 months will help keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest. Your dentist will be able to spot any areas that might need improvement and can also detect any oral diseases early on. In addition, your dentist can help you remove substances like plaque and tartar. These are things that tooth brushing on its own will not be able to remove.

Oral Cancer: Prevention & Early Detection

Warning signs of oral cancer: Symptoms and risk factors — Oral cancer: prevention and early detection

Cancer is always a scary topic to discuss but it helps to learn more about how you can prevent it. With some good information, you can feel strong and empowered to navigate any situation that you and your loved ones are in. Oral cancer is one major concern for those in dentistry, and according to The Oral Cancer Foundation, about 53,000 people will be diagnosed with this type of cancer this year.

Why is oral cancer screening important?

Oral cancer has one of the highest mortality rates compared to other cancers, so early detection and prevention are crucial. Not every patient will have noticeable symptoms even if they have oral cancer because the symptoms are barely noticeable in the early stages, which is why oral cancer screenings are so important.

When should I get screened for oral cancer?

During your bi-annual check-ups, your dentist and hygienist will thoroughly look for any changes and lesions in your mouth, although a dedicated oral cancer screening should be conducted at least once every year. Those over the age of 45 are most at risk, but any individual 18 or older should have annual screenings.

Getting a screening is completely painless. Most of the screening is visual, and your dentist or hygienist will conduct a close examination of the maxillofacial and oral regions for any signs of change. Your dentist will begin by feeling the face, glands and neck for unusual bumps. Then they will use dental lasers to look for other abnormal signs and lesions invisible to the eye.

Signs of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can affect the tongue, cheeks, lips, sinuses, throat, teeth, gums and roof of the mouth or below the tongue.

Oral cancer is unfortunately usually detected much later than other types of cancer. This is why it’s very important to know your body and what is normal or not normal for you. Detecting signs of change early is best. These signs can include:

A constantly sore throat that never heals
Unexplained bleeding or numbness in your mouth
Dentures that suddenly do not fit the same
You have sores in your mouth that are red or white
You have a lump in your throat
There is a thick lining in your mouth
You have loose teeth
You have tongue pain
You have pain in your jaw or stiffness when you chew

Some of these symptoms can be confused with gum disease or having cold sores, so you must see a dentist or doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Causes of Oral Cancer

Genetics and lifestyle habits can put you at risk for oral cancer. Knowing your risk factors is important, so make sure that you speak with your dentist about your family and medical history.

Oral cancer can be caused by the following factors:

Using tobacco products
Abusing alcohol
HPV (human papillomavirus)
Having a family history of cancer
Excessive sun exposure (especially during a young age)

It can be surprising, but 25 percent of all oral cancer cases will occur among those who have never smoked and only had alcohol occasionally.

What happens if my dentist finds signs of oral cancer?

The good news is that oral cancer can be treated successfully if caught early.

Your dentist will look at your mouth and take some cells to see if they are cancerous. These cancerous cells can grow uncontrollably, harming your body. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the chances of survival and recovery. Your medical doctor and your dentist can work together to provide you with the best cancer treatment possible.

Cancer treatments can include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. There are other treatment options available and you can discuss them with a specialist. There is an 81 percent chance of survival within the first year of oral cancer, but you will be at an increased risk of it recurring later in life.

Since your body is complex and full of interconnected parts and systems, your oral health directly contributes to your overall health. Practicing great oral hygiene is the first step to keeping your mouth in a healthy condition.

Patients should consider changing their lifestyle choices concerning tobacco and alcohol. The longer you keep up these habits, the more at risk you will be for oral cancer. Limiting your sun exposure and making sure to wear sunscreen when you go outdoors will also help protect you from harmful UV rays.

And overall, visiting the best dentist in Durango, CO regularly is a major factor in oral cancer prevention and early diagnosis.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea

The link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease has been ignored. – Science Inquirer – Jioforme — Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea

I would like to discuss the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic pain, headaches, TMJ and bruxism.

Dentists have the opportunity to evaluate the oral airway at every visit and 1/3 of the adult population may have sleep disorder, breathing, SBD condition or jaw/facial pain disorder they can treat.

Dentists can find and control 3 things:

Control inflammation
Control mandibular parafunction
Maintaining airway

Trauma is origin of osteoarthritis, changes to joint and facial pain.

Micro-trauma of maintaining airway and clenching, the result of chronic pain frequently is the source of this free radical generation, Patients fail to heel from micro-trauma injuries to the face and jaw.

Breathing is the brains highest priority to protect the human organs.

Night Guard can increase the number of apnea sensation of breathing and hypopnea reduction of blood oxygen 3-4%, resulting in an increase of carbomyde, medical conditions (Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke).

Normal breathing is through the nose to help filtrate and moisturize, heated-combined with Nitroux Oxide prevent URI. Two biggest factors in success with oral appliance therapy for OSA are Body Mass Index (BMI) And Nasal airway resistance.

Signs and symptoms of OSA: Snoring, Fatigue, Lethargy, excessive daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, depression, morning headaches, GERD, migraines, thyroid problems, osteoarthritis, difficulty concentrating, other risk factors ( Diabetes, stroke, heart attack, )

Other Symptoms in children and adults: Snoring, restless sleep, increase sweating, mouth breathing, nightmares, bedwetting, ADHD, Earaches, headaches, bruxism, chronic headaches, TMJ problems, fatigue, muscle tightness, teeth soreness, nocturnal bruxism,

Teeth grinding and clenching while sleeping isn’t just annoying for your bed partner. It could also be what’s causing your headaches, jaw pain, and wearing down your teeth, called Nocturnal bruxism.

Why do people grind their teeth?

Can be caused by stress, and anxiety. It often occurs during sleep, abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth can also cause sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.

OSA is a medical condition with a dental treatment. OSA can be treated by a dentist in Durango, Co and a diagnosis of OSA MUST be bade by a physician trained in the field of sleep medicine.

MAD-Mandible Advancement Device will be used to treat your OSA by moving the jaw and tongue forward at night which acts to keep your airway open.

10 Foods That Are Bad For Your Teeth

10 Foods Bad for Your Teeth | General, Family and Cosmetic Dentist Bellflower, CA — 10 Foods That Are Bad For Your Teeth

Tooth decay can affect anyone, no matter what age you are. Tooth decay is a result of having plaque with bacteria that feeds on the sugars in your diet, which then causes cavities. Cavities happen due to the bacteria eating the sugar and turning it into an acid that dissolves your tooth’s enamel.

Eating foods that are high in sugar are bad for your teeth and contribute to plaque and tooth decay. In this article, I will discuss what foods you should try to stay away from or limit, in order to keep your teeth as healthy as you can.

What foods should you be the most concerned with?

In general, foods that are sticky and sugary will be bad for your teeth. When foods are sticky they tend to stick onto your teeth longer, which gives the bacteria a greater chance to do damage to your teeth. Acidic foods can also be a bad choice, as the acid can potentially damage tooth enamel. Food and drinks that are sugary and acidic (such as soda), can cause double the harm to your teeth.

The foods listed below are not necessarily bad for your health, but experts recommend that you brush your teeth, floss and rinse your mouth after consuming these food items to help prevent cavities from forming.

1. Popcorn

Popcorn is a healthy snack alternative to chips but there are a few reasons why it can be very hard on your teeth. We typically enjoy popcorn during a long movie which gives bacteria more time to damage your teeth while you watch. Plus, it’s virtually impossible to eat popcorn without getting it stuck in between your teeth. Be prepared with a toothpick and some water or a good floss after you’re done eating.

In addition to that, those hard unpopped kernels are great at cracking teeth if you accidentally bite down on one. If you eat popcorn by the handful, take some extra care.

2. Refined carbs

Refined carbs typically include most of young children’s favourite foods such as white bread, crackers, chips or french fries. These are all simple carbs that break down into sugars. Once these sugars mix in with the bacteria in the mouth, they ferment and create lactic acid which is very efficient at eroding tooth enamel.

Soft white bread and dinner rolls are the worst culprits, as they tend to stick to the teeth easily, giving the bacteria more time to create acid.

3. Dried fruits

Things like raisins, dried apricots or fruit roll-ups are often believed to be examples of wholesome, nutritious snacks which are better for teeth than candy. But the sugars found in these fruits are highly concentrated due to drying them out. Plus, their chewy texture makes them prone to stick to teeth, giving the bacteria extra time to cause damage.

4. Soft drinks

All soft drinks, whether they contain sugar or not, will have acid. This can damage your teeth which can lead to increased cavities and dental erosion. Try to avoid soft drinks if you want to keep your teeth healthier. Stick to unsweetened tea or water as a replacement. If you need to drink a soft drink, avoid brushing your teeth immediately after since the acid softens your tooth enamel making them more vulnerable to abrasion.

5. Pickles

Pickled foods use vinegar which contains acid, and is important for the pickling process. This acid can cause staining as well as erosion of your tooth enamel. Many pickled foods contain sugar which also contributes to cavities.

6. Wine

Both white and red wine contain erosive acid, which works to soften the enamel. Red wine also contains compounds known as tannins, which dry out your mouth and stain your teeth. If you know you are going to drink wine, brush your teeth beforehand to help reduce the amount of plaque that the wine can stick to. You should also wait 30 mins after drinking wine to brush your teeth to avoid brushing the wine into your teeth.

7. Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits can be an important part of any healthy diet, but when you eat a lot of them on their own the citric acid in the fruit can wear away at your tooth enamel, which leaves your teeth vulnerable to cavities. Lemons, limes and grapefruit are especially highly acidic. When you are drinking juices, try using a straw so that some of the acid bypasses your teeth.

8. Pasta sauce

Tomatoes are a healthy source of vitamins but they are acidic. When you eat pasta with red sauce, it can do double the damage to your enamel because the acid in the sauce breaks down your teeth and the pasta’s carbohydrates help feed bacteria that cause cavities.

9. Hard candy

Hard candies linger in your mouth for a while as you wait for them to dissolve. It can take around ten minutes for some hard candies to dissolve and there are no health benefits to eating candy. Because the sugary treat spends so much time in your mouth it gives the bacteria lots of time to do some serious damage. Hard candy also has the potential to crack teeth and cause cuts on the inside of your mouth.

10. PB&J sandwiches

Peanut butter is usually made with a lot of sugar and it is sticky. Instead, try using natural peanut butter with no added sugar to lessen the problem. Along with that, jam is typically loaded with sugar. Even all-fruit jams contain natural sugars that encourage plaque and bacteria to gather if not rinsed out right away.

You can consult a dentist in Durango, CO about the food items that might damage your teeth, and start avoiding them.

Are Bleeding Gums And Heart Disease Related?

Bleeding Gums Linked With Heart Disease, Diabetes - S10 Dental — Are bleeding gums and heart disease related?

You might not know it, but dental health can affect more than just the appearance of your teeth. Your dental hygienist probably reminds you all the time to brush and floss so that your teeth stay pearly white, but these healthy habits can actually affect other parts of your body too. Namely, your heart. Keeping your teeth and gums clean can also help you prevent heart disease.

Research shows that individuals who have periodontal disease (or gum infections) are twice as likely to develop heart disease, and their risk could be even greater than those who have high cholesterol. How could these two things be connected? It has to do with the bacteria found in the mouth.

What is gum disease?

Specific factors – such as diabetes, pregnancy, taking certain medications, obesity, poor diet or genetics – can increase the risk of gum disease. It is also more prevalent in men, individuals over 65 and smokers. However, poor dental health is the main cause.

By not following a consistent oral health routine, plaque builds up on the teeth. Plaque is a film of bacteria that sticks and eats away at your teeth. Everyone has some level of plaque because it forms from saliva, fluids and from eating foods, particularly sugary treats. If plaque is left untreated, it hardens and becomes tartar that can only be removed by a dentist. This bacterial buildup then causes cavities because it breaks down the enamel that protects teeth against decay. If this decay reaches the gum line, gum disease, which goes through multiple different stages, can develop.

The earliest and mildest form of gum disease is known as gingivitis. The signs of gingivitis include redness, swelling, tenderness, bad breath and bleeding while brushing and flossing. Gingivitis can occur around one tooth or throughout the entire mouth. The good news is that gingivitis is entirely reversible if you are able to develop healthy dental care routines. For example, brushing and flossing twice a day and scheduling biannual dental checkups.

However, when gingivitis goes untreated for a period of time it can develop into periodontitis which is an advanced form of gum disease that is more difficult to treat. When tartar is left to sit on the gums longer it damages the tissue and causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This is known as “receding gums”. This causes pockets to form between the gums and teeth which can allow bacteria to build up and wear down the bone. Teeth will become loose as the bone deterioration accelerates and in severe cases, it can cause extreme tooth and gum pain, bad breath and pus.

During the earlier stages of periodontitis, dentists are able to treat the infection using non-surgical methods like scaling, root planing and antibiotics. Advanced periodontitis will usually require surgery to help prevent tooth loss and the spread of infection.

Gum Disease and the Heart

So what does gum disease have to do with the heart? Individuals with gum disease are two to three times more likely to have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world, so researchers are interested in how to reduce it and the prevention of gum disease could be a solution.

However, while research hasn’t found that gum disease will cause heart disease, there is a clear link between the two. The possible reason for this is related to inflammation which is the body’s common response to infection. When gums have gingivitis or periodontitis, they will become swollen and inflamed due to bacteria exposure. If this inflammation goes untreated and becomes chronic, this will trigger inflammation in other areas of the body. Chronic inflammation increases the risk of heart disease because it can result in plaque buildup in the arteries or even trigger blood clots.

Researchers have also found that bacteria in the mouth can be absorbed into the bloodstream which can lead to inflammation within blood vessels leading to atheroma formation, or a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can cause atherosclerosis. In addition, studies have shown bacteria from the mouth in the blood vessels of individuals who had strokes.

In addition, midlife tooth loss as a consequence of gum disease is related to coronary heart disease. Researchers studied adults between 45 and 60 who had 25 to 32 natural teeth at the start of the study. Those who had lost two or more by the time of the follow-up exam several years later had a 23% higher chance of developing heart disease.

While there is little doubt that the connection between these two diseases is there, researchers can’t conclude causation between the two. For example, people who have good oral hygiene habits might also take better care of their overall health thus leading to a reduced risk of heart disease. Gum and heart disease also share common risk factors including high blood pressure, smoking and lack of exercise, to name a few. This can make it challenging to state that gum disease is an independent risk factor for heart conditions.

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

The link between periodontal disease and heart disease is clear. To help you protect your gums and heart, watch out for these warning signs of periodontal disease:

Red gums that are swollen or tender, and other painful conditions in your mouth
Gums that are prone to bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth or when eating hard or tough food
Gums that are receding from your teeth
Having loose or separating teeth
Pus deposits between your gums and teeth
Mouth sores
Persistent bad breath
A change in how your teeth meet when you bite down
A change in the fit of your partial dentures

To learn more about gum disease get in touch with dentists in Durango, CO.

Does Root Canal Therapy Hurt?

Root Canal therapy and its possible Complications | drjlv.com — Does root canal therapy hurt?

Most of the time, we are afraid of the things that we don’t know. If your dentist advised you to have root canal therapy, you might be wondering about the level of pain you have to endure. To alleviate your dental anxiety and quench your curiosity, discover if it is painful and learn how a root canal works.

Q: Is it painful to have a root canal?

A: Thanks to modern technology, root canal therapy comes with a local anesthetic to relieve the pain during the procedure. The experience and pain level are quite similar to a dental filling treatment. However, root canal therapy usually takes longer than other dental procedures since it includes cleaning the pulp and restoring the tooth structure.

How does a root canal work?

Root canal therapy is a treatment for severe tooth decay where the tooth pulp is already infected. It helps prevent the spread of the infection and tooth abscess, a pus-filled pocket in the gums. Here’s how a root canal works:

During a root canal procedure, your dentist or endodontist will first apply a numbing cream and use local anesthesia on the gums around the tooth.
Once the anesthesia kicks in, a dental dam will be placed on your mouth to isolate the affected tooth.
Your dentist will access the tooth pulp by drilling the tooth. For the front teeth, the hole is drilled from the back of the tooth. The molar teeth are drilled through the chewing surface.
The pulp is removed along with the infected tissue using specially designed dental tools. From this point, your tooth will no longer feel pain.
Antiseptic and antibacterial solutions will be flushed into the area to disinfect the tooth and prepare it for the root canal fillings.
Your dentist will measure the depth of your tooth root to make sure if the fillings can reach the tip of the roots.
The sterile root canal fillings will be placed on the tooth and sealed by a heated thermoplastic material in the area to prevent reinfection.
A temporary filling will be used to seal the tooth permanently. Your dentist may recommend your tooth for crown treatment to protect it from further damage.

What to expect after a root canal treatment

After a root canal treatment, your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic to prevent any infection in the treated area. You will also feel a bit of discomfort, but it will subside as soon as your gums and affected tooth recover.

However, your newly restored tooth will not be as strong as it used to be and must be fully restored with a dental crown. So, moving forward, you should treat it with extra care.

Root canal aftercare: Do’s and Don’ts

The goal of a root canal is to preserve your natural tooth and prevent the spread of infection. After the treatment, you must treat the newly restored tooth by following these after-care tips:

After the treatment, do not eat anything that will require you to use your treated tooth.
Wait for the numbness to wear off before you eat to avoid hurting yourself.
Do not bite or chew on the treated tooth until it is capped with a crown to prevent further damage.
Brush and floss daily to maintain your oral health and to prevent inflammation or infection in the treated area.
Consult your dentist for any instances of throbbing pain or swelling.

Root canal therapy is a suitable solution if you want to preserve your natural tooth. It is an alternative for tooth extraction as long as your tooth is still viable for the procedure. Reach out to the best dentists in Durango, CO if you want to have root canal treatment.

Can A Cracked Tooth Heal On Its Own?

Cracked Tooth Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - All Smiles Care — Can a cracked tooth heal on its own?

If our skin and bones could heal on their own, you might be thinking, why can’t our teeth do the same. A tooth can handle up to 70 lbs. of biting force, but with certain limitations.

Discover if your cracked tooth can heal on its own and why you should visit your dentist as soon as you crack your tooth.

Q: Can your cracked tooth heal on its own?

A: Our teeth may grow in the gums, but they cannot regenerate and heal themselves. It is the reason why your dentist provides the best possible solutions to preserve your natural teeth.

The pearly white feature of your teeth has been with you since you were born, and nothing can ever compare to the quality of your natural tooth. The inability of our teeth to redevelop or regenerate has a lot to do with their composition.

Knowing more about your teeth

Our teeth develop inside the womb of our mothers during the sixth week of pregnancy. Contrary to popular belief, our teeth are not bones. The tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate. It is often mistaken as a bone since it needs calcium to be strong and healthy

Our tooth consists of tooth enamel, dentin, cementum, and tooth pulp. The tooth enamel serves as the sturdiest part of our body that can handle several pounds of bite force. It protects the blood vessels and tissues in the dental pulp responsible for supplying it with calcium.

However, tooth enamel is not made of living tissues and blood vessels. Therefore, it cannot regenerate and heal itself, unlike our bones.

What is a cracked tooth?

A cracked tooth is the result of a bad bite or an injury. The damage can expose the inner layers of your tooth and open it up to disease-causing bacteria. In worst cases, the cracks may reach the tooth root resulting in tooth loss.

Causes and symptoms of a cracked tooth

A cracked tooth can be due to extreme pressure on the tooth enamel. Other causes include:

Using your teeth as a tool
A bad bite
Injury or trauma
Too much pressure on the tooth due to teeth grinding
Sudden change in temperatures like drinking cold and hot beverages
Weak tooth due to old age

Most patients only realize that they cracked their tooth when they experience any of the following symptoms:

Tooth sensitive to cold or hot beverages or food
Pain when biting or chewing food
Throbbing pain and gum swelling

Treatments

The dental treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the scope of the damage. Your dentist will check if the crack is mild or reached the crucial part of the tooth root. Here are the dental treatments for specific types of cracked tooth:

Filling or dental bonding: Your dentist can still save your tooth if you only have minor cracks or fractured crusp in the chewing surface of your tooth. A tooth-colored resin will be placed on your teeth to seal the tooth enamel and prevent the bacteria from affecting the tooth pulp.
Root canal: If the crack reaches the tooth root, chances are your tooth will be beyond repair. Tooth extraction is an option, but your dentist may recommend a root canal if you want to preserve your natural tooth. In a root canal procedure, the damaged tooth root will be removed and replaced with a filling to prevent further infection.
Crowns: When the cracks on the tooth weaken the tooth enamel, your dentist will recommend a dental crown to protect your weak tooth and restore your ability to chew or grind your food. Crowns can help you use your tooth like it was never damaged before.

Your cracked tooth may not heal itself, but the best dentist in Durango, CO can prevent it from falling apart. Preserve your natural tooth before the crack gets worse.

Tooth Sensitive To Cold: What Are The Causes & How To Safely Deal With It?

Tooth Sensitivity: Causes, Remedies & Treatment | Live Science — Tooth Sensitive To Cold: What Are The Causes & How To Safely Deal With It?

Ice cream and smoothies are a sweet way to reward yourself for a busy day until tooth sensitivity robs that opportunity. One out of eight Americans has a tooth sensitive to cold.

Dentinal hypersensitivity or tooth sensitivity is a common dental condition and anyone can have it through unhealthy habits or as a side effect of another condition or treatment.

What causes tooth sensitivity to cold?

Dentin is the sensitive soft layer of our tooth next to tooth enamel. It covers the tooth pulp where our nerves and blood vessels are located. Once it gets exposed due to weakened tooth enamel, you’ll start to experience tooth sensitivity. Here are the common culprits of tooth sensitivity due to damaged tooth enamel:

Untreated tooth decay

One of the symptoms of tooth decay is tooth sensitivity. The early onset of tooth decay starts with a small hole or scratch on your tooth enamel which can’t be visible to the naked eye. Once the bacteria gets through the enamel, your dentin will be exposed to the extreme temperatures of what you consume, sometimes even to cold air. Thus, resulting in tooth sensitivity.

Aggressive brushing and using a toothpick

While brushing and flossing is a good habit to keep. your brushing technique would be the next crucial step. Aggressive brushing using a hard-bristled toothbrush can scratch the surface of your tooth enamel. Bacteria will then grab the opportunity to break down your enamel and cause sensitive teeth and tooth decay.

While toothpick is widely used to remove food debris after meals, your dentist may recommend opting for dental floss. A toothpick can be too hard for the tooth enamel and cause scratches on its surface. Your tooth enamel may look sturdy but it can’t repair itself unlike the other parts of our body.

Bruxism or teeth grinding

Bruxism or teeth grinding is another way we react to stress. While most of us do it occasionally, patients who work in a highly-stressful environment or suffering from anxiety are prone to teeth-grinding.

Your clenched jaws add more pressure to your bite and gradually wear down your upper and lower teeth. When the enamel breaks from the constant force of teeth grinding, your dentin becomes exposed and causes teeth sensitivity.

Cracked or chipped tooth

Due to injury or using your teeth as a tool can lead to a cracked or chipped tooth. Even with a small crack on the enamel, tooth sensitivity can occur. You also become at risk for tooth infection since bacteria can access the inner layers of your tooth through the cracks on your teeth.

Exposed tooth root

The tooth root is the part of your tooth below the gum line. It contains the nerves and blood vessels and is protected by a layer of cementum. When the gum or cementum gets damaged, the tooth roots are exposed to everything you eat. Thus, leading to tooth sensitivity.

Gum recession, teeth grinding and smoking are some of the leading causes of exposed tooth roots.

Post-treatment sensitivity

Due to concentrated hydrogen peroxide, teeth whitening treatments can cause temporary tooth sensitivity. The whitening solutions used in both professional and over-the-counter whitening treatments can weaken and remove minerals from your tooth enamel which leads to tooth sensitivity.

However, by drinking fluoridated water and fluoride-rich foods and beverages, the minerals in your tooth are replenished in no time.

Bring back the joy of eating ice cream and sipping a hot brewed coffee by reaching out to the best dentists in Durango, CO. Improving your oral health is not only about having bright and white teeth but also for you to enjoy tasting new flavors and eating your favorite meals.

Sugary food and sweet packets should carry warnings

Sugary food and sweet packets should carry health warnings, medics say - Dentistry.co.uk — sugary food and sweet packets should carry warnings

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for cigarette-style health warnings on the packaging of sugary foods that are aimed at children to curb the high children’s teeth extractions being experienced in dental offices around the country.

Dentists are dismayed that more than 34,000 children aged nine years and under have had tooth extractions in the last two years, 18,000 of which are five years and under, these findings have been published by the BMA council. The situation in the USA is most likely not much different, in fact they might be a lot worse

Extractions

The BMA is also calling on the Department of Health to introduce compulsory dental hygiene lessons in primary schools. What a great idea that could be for our own health education in our American schools.

The BMA hopes that this, combined with the introduction of a sugar tax, will help to reduce the number of extractions taking place in primary school children.

A recent study has shown children who require extractions under general anesthetic, miss five days from school, totaling 1,510 missed schooldays in 2014/15.

‘This study is not just a stark reminder of the huge personal cost that dental disease has for children and their families, but that the burden is disproportionately borne by the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society,’ Mick Armstrong, BDA chair, said.

‘This is a national scandal and our political leaders must pay heed.

‘Why are we spending billions every year to treat bad teeth when we ought to be investing in prevention?’

Minimum price

Medics all over the world are calling for a minimum price for confectionery products and sweets. Should the Health authorities in the USA asking for such measures too? What is your opinion?

It has been reported that the medics are also calling for the restriction of unhealthy food and drinks sales on government premises in particular on hospitals premises, as well as calling for a tax on sweet bags and a ban on the advertising of high sugar drinks on TV during day time TV.

Are you suffering from dental problems? Reach out to the dentists in Durango, CO.

Chewing sugar free gum could save billions of Dollars…

tooth decay: Suffering from dental problems? Sugar-free chewing gum may help prevent tooth decay - The Economic Times — Chewing sugar free gum could save billions of Dollars…

The data is significant given tooth decay and oral diseases rank fourth among the most expensive global health conditions to treat, according to the World Health Organization.
While tooth decay is largely preventable, it still affects 60-90% of schoolchildren and nearly all adults globally.

The study, a first of its kind globally, was funded by Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and independently conducted by the Institute of Empirical Health Economics in Germany (IFEG) with input from an international scientific steering committee comprised of thought-leaders in dental and public health and economics, including Prof Elizabeth Kay of Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

Conducted by the York Health Economics Consortium and Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, with funding from Wrigley, the study was an initial exploration into the potential cost savings that chewing of sugar free gum could bring.

“The study represents a solid and substantial approach to the accurate calculation of cost savings in industrial countries that would arise from increasing sugar-free gum consumption,” said Professor Reinhard Rychlik, MA MD, PhD, PhD, Director of the IfEG and the study’s lead author. “Chewing sugar-free gum as a preventive measure for tooth decay has the potential to deliver significant dental care cost savings worldwide.”

Commenting on the research, Professor Liz Kay said “Good policy making in all areas of health is driven by health economic analyses. For some reason, until now, oral health has failed to be subjected to this necessary scrutiny. This study corrects that omission, and in doing so, clearly demonstrates the urgent necessity for Governments to act and introduce guidelines to control the increasing financial burden of oral health, and in doing so enhance the health and well-being of their populations.”

Recognized Oral Health Benefits of Sugar-free Gum

Global rates of tooth decay continue to present a major public health concern – nearly all adults experience tooth decay – suggesting that new preventive strategies may be required to supplement existing measures in reducing the risk of tooth decay and improving oral health. The results of this health economic study suggest that the role of sugar-free gum should be promoted in national preventative oral health care advice alongside other proven oral hygiene behavior.

Chewing sugar-free gum increases the production of saliva, which can help wash away food particles and can help to restore optimum plaque pH levels faster. These benefits can help prevent dental cavities, leading to potentially major cost savings for health-care systems.

You can consult a dentist in Durango, CO if you are facing mouth related problems.