One hundred million Americans don't see their dentist every year, even though visiting the dentist regularly is essential in maintaining your oral health. With that being said, you have probably received a text, email, or phone call at some point in your life, reminding you that you are due for your 6-month visit with your dentist. You might be wondering, "how often should I really go to the dentist?"
The typical twice-a-year recommendation to visit the dentist originated from an advertisement for toothpaste, and there's little to no research that supports it. The twice-yearly rule isn't necessarily the best option for everyone. Read on to learn more about how often you should get dental checkups, why you might need to visit a dentist more often, why going to the dentist is essential, and what you can do to stay healthy and minimize your visits.
How Often Should You Visit the Dentist?
While it's true that visiting the dentist twice a year is a good rule of thumb for many people, the truth is that you have your own unique smile needs. So it depends on your oral hygiene, habits, and individual medical conditions.
Some people only need to visit the dentist once or twice are year, while others may need to go more often. So, always remember to ask your dentist when you should schedule your next appointment. And don't worry! They'll probably tell you when they want to see you next anyway.
Who Should Go to the Dentist More Often?
Some people need to visit the dentist more than twice a year. But who? People with a greater risk of dental disease and other health conditions may need to see the dentist every three months or more. This higher-risk group includes:
Pregnant women
Smokers
Diabetics
People with gum disease
People with a weak immune response
People who are prone to cavities or plaque build-up
Why is Going to the Dentist Important?
Even if you brush twice a day and floss daily, you still need to visit a dentist regularly! Your dentist and dental hygienist are trained to check for problems that you might not see or feel on your own. Some things, like cavities or gum disease, aren't even visible or painful until they're more advanced. When it comes to oral cancer, dentists and hygienists are often the first to find it for many patients.
Because the issue might either be preventable or more easily treated when caught early (like oral cancer), seeing a dentist regularly matters. With regular visits, your dentist will find solutions to any red flags that will save you time, discomfort, and even money in the long run.
What Can You Do to Keep Dentist Appointments to a Minimum?
The best thing you can do to keep your dental visits to a minimum is to maintain good oral hygiene. So, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth daily using floss, interdental brushes, or an oral irrigator. And guess what? If your dentist doesn't see any cavities or signs of gingivitis for several years, they might even lengthen the time between your visits.
Now you know that how often you need to visit the dentist depends on your unique smile situation. For some people, like smokers and diabetics, it may be more often. But no matter what, visiting the dentist is a preventative measure that improves your overall health and makes things easier for you in the long run. If you keep up with your daily hygiene, your dentist may even cut back on your required dental appointments. Remember to always follow your dentist's advice in terms of your next appointment. And if it's been a while, it's time to respond to that text, call, or email from your dentists' office for your 6-month dental check-in.
Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen years. They have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout the various stages of childhood.
Children begin to get their baby teeth during the first 6 months of life. By age 6 or 7 years, they start to lose their first set of teeth, which eventually are replaced by secondary, permanent teeth. Without proper dental care, children face possible oral decay and disease that can cause a lifetime of pain and complications. Today, early childhood dental caries—an infectious disease—is 5 times more common in children than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.
What Kind of Training Do Pediatric Dentists Have?
Pediatric dentists have completed at least:
Four years of dental school
Two additional years of residency training in dentistry for infants, children, teens, and children with special needs
What Types of Treatments Do Pediatric Dentists Provide?
Pediatric dentists provide comprehensive oral health care that includes the following:
Infant oral health exams, which include risk assessment for caries in mother and child
Preventive dental care including cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations
Habit counseling (for example, pacifier use and thumb sucking)
Early assessment and treatment for straightening teeth and correcting an improper bite (orthodontics)
Repair of tooth cavities or defects
Diagnosis of oral conditions associated with diseases such as diabetes, congenital heart defect, asthma, hay fever, and attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
Management of gum diseases and conditions including ulcers, short frenulae, mucoceles, and pediatric periodontal disease
Care for dental injuries (for example, fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth)
Where Can I Find A Pediatric Dentist?
Pediatric dentists practice in a variety of locations including private practices, dental schools, and medical centers. Your pediatrician can help you find a pediatric dentist near your home.
Pediatric Dentists — The Best Care For Children
Children are not just small adults. They are not always able to be patient and cooperative during a dental exam. Pediatric dentists know how to examine and treat children in ways that make them comfortable. In addition, pediatric dentists use specially designed equipment in offices that are arranged and decorated with children in mind.
A pediatric dentist offers a wide range of treatment options, as well as expertise and training to care for your child’s teeth, gums, and mouth. When your pediatrician suggests that your child receive a dental exam, you can be assured that a pediatric dentist will provide the best possible care.
Not all issues that affect the mouth and your general oral health start as pain.
We are taught from an early age that proper oral health is maintaining healthy teeth. The simple acts of brushing and flossing are instilled in us so that we maintain our “pearly whites” – yet, oral health is much more than clean teeth. It involves the gums and their supporting tissues, the palate, the lining of the mouth and throat, the tongue, the lips, the salivary glands, the chewing muscles, the nerves, and the bones of the upper and lower jaws.
Recent research has indicated possible associations between chronic oral infections and diabetes, heart and lung disease, stroke, and low birth weight or premature births. In other words, oral health refers to the health of our mouth and, ultimately, supports and reflects the health of the entire body.
An important first step in combating the two leading causes of poor oral health, dental caries and periodontal disease, is understanding that tooth loss is often the result of disease or injury, rather than an inevitable consequence of aging.
Educational programs emphasizing the importance of oral health promotion/disease prevention are also necessary to raise awareness and discourage the lack of concern regarding oral health. Proper oral health is vital to a productive and healthy life.
Messages that encourage lowering sucrose intake, reducing acidic beverage consumption, and routine brushing and flossing teeth should continue to be disseminated through all sources of media – including dental literature, television, newspapers, magazines, radio, and the Internet. It should be incorporated into the education curriculum targeting children, caregivers, and communities.
If you haven't visited your dentist and dental hygienist in a while, it may be time for a dental prophylaxis appointment. This type of appointment is a standard preventive measure in dental medicine, which involves cleaning your teeth and inspecting your mouth for signs of any potential issues. While we'd all love it if our at-home oral care routine would be enough to keep our smiles perfect, seeing your dental professionals is crucial. So you may be wondering, what is dental prophylaxis, and why do I need it? Here's what you can expect from this type of dental visit.
What to Expect During Your Dental Prophylaxis Appointment
A prophylaxis dental appointment is a routine, preventive procedure. Your dental hygienist will update your medical history to see if there have been any changes in your health, such as pregnancy, new diagnosis, medications, or other updates. As a preventive measure, they will also do a physical and visual examination of your mouth and neck to screen for oral cancer.
X-Rays
X-rays help your dental professional discover potential oral health problems that aren't visible to the naked eye, like cavities, for example. When your dental professional decides it's time for you to get X-rays, you will probably get bite-wing X-rays of your molar and premolar teeth. Some dental practices also take pictures of the anterior incisor teeth, which are in the front of your bite.
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Food and Drug Administration created dental radiographic examination guidelines to help dentists with their professional judgment on how best to use this type of imaging. The ADA also recommends that your dentist have a conversation with you about their plan for X-rays so that you can make decisions together.
If you have excellent oral health and regularly see your dental professional, they may recommend X-rays less often than if you're at risk for oral health issues. Factors that dental professionals consider when determining the frequency at which you should get X-rays include the following:
Age
Oral health
Risk for disease
If you already have signs of oral disease
Discomfort in your mouth
Periodontal Probing
Once your dental hygienist updates your medical history, they will visually examine your gum tissue and conduct a periodontal probing. This involves measuring the depth of your gum tissue with a tool known as a periodontal probe. It's crucial to measure gum tissue because our gums should fit snug around our teeth. Due to poor oral hygiene, age, or medical conditions, our gums may pull away from our teeth, creating pockets where food particles and bacteria can get stuck.
Besides periodontal probing, your dental hygienist will inspect your teeth. This is to alert your dentist of any areas that should be checked for potential tooth decay. Lastly, they will perform a dental cleaning using special instruments (ultrasonic and hand) to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and beneath your gumline. Your hygienist will also polish your teeth to remove tooth stains and then clean between your teeth with floss (also known as interdental cleaning).
Ongoing Oral Care Recommendations
Your dental hygienist is an excellent source of knowledge for questions and concerns surrounding at-home oral care. They can make recommendations for taking better care of your mouth and demonstrate proper oral care techniques. They'll remind you to brush your teeth twice per day, floss once per day, and use a mouthwash. Following your dental hygienist's work, your dentist will then perform a full examination of your mouth. This includes examining your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth for signs of disease, and reviewing any X-rays that were taken.
Why Dental Prophylaxis is Necessary
If you take good care of your teeth at home, you may be wondering why your dentist says you need this appointment. Many dental problems may go unnoticed in their early stages. They may not cause pain or have visible signs. However, a dental prophylaxis appointment can help your dental professional diagnose these problems at an early stage! For example, it's common not to feel pain from a cavity when it first forms. But your dentist will most likely be able to find that cavity in your prophylaxis appointment and repair it before it gets larger and causes you discomfort.
How Often to Do Dental Prophylaxis
The frequency of attending dental prophylaxis treatments is not a "one size fits all" situation. Some people need to see their dental professionals for a prophylaxis appointment twice a year. However, certain people should follow a different schedule. If your teeth and gums are very healthy, you may not need to go as often. On the other hand, if you have a high risk of dental disease, you may need to up your frequency.
It may be smart for people in high-risk groups to attend a dental prophylaxis appointment every three or four months. These groups include people who smoke, people with gum disease, and people who often get cavities. Pregnant women and people with diabetes or weakened immune systems may also need more appointments than just twice a year.
Have a conversation with your dental professionals about how often you should schedule these visits. They'll want to know of any recent changes to your overall health, not just your teeth, that may affect the frequency at which they see you.
A dental prophylaxis appointment is meant to serve as an essential preventive measure for keeping your mouth healthy and your smile bright. With an oral examination, X-rays, periodontal probing, teeth cleaning, and a relationship with your dental professional in which you feel comfortable discussing your questions and concerns, you are on the ideal track to keeping your mouth as healthy as it can be!
Dental technicians use their artistic and scientific talents to construct prostheses after obtaining a prescription and dental impressions from a licensed dental professional. By using materials available in the industry, dental technicians can improve the quality of life for patients by restoring or retaining their natural smiles through the replacement of missing or damaged teeth and gums.
The dental technician collaborates with the dental office to design safe reconstructive devices, such as crowns, bridges, full dentures, partial dentures, ceramics or veneers, orthodontic appliances and implants. The cost of these devices varies greatly depending on the time, work and materials that go into each one. For dentures, in addition to the initial purchase price, any repairs must also be factored into the overall price tag.
If you’re fascinated by the world of dentistry but the thought of delving into someone’s mouth and finding bits of food doesn’t appeal to you, then becoming a Dental Technician could be your ideal career move.
A Dental Technician’s role is to be the branch of dentistry that manufactures dental prosthetics. This can range from implants, bridges, crowns, dentures and even veneers. When a dentist or dental hygienist takes an impression of your teeth, the results will be sent to a dental technician who will then follow the instructions and create whatever device the patient requires.
In this role, there is the opportunity to specialise in a particular area, for example, ceramics. Still, the majority of technicians enjoy the variety of work that comes into the laboratories each day.
Some of the daily tasks you can expect to do as a Dental Technician include pouring dental models, fabricate models from dentist impressions, implant restorations and fabricate veneers for crowns. As with every job role, there are also housekeeping tasks such as maintaining dental lab records and preparing reports.
One of the most attractive parts about being a Dental Technician is that there is little customer interaction. In this role, you can work from a laboratory, far away from the dental practice and communicate via email and post; you will never be tasked with the challenge of fitting any of the devices you make.
How to become a Dental Technician?
You will need a qualification to stand out from other candidates in the field, at the University of Bolton, a range of Dental Technology courses are available. All these courses are provided in a state-of-the-art £4.8 million facility which houses industry-standard equipment, preparing all the students for a successful career.
Working hard in the laboratories is one thing, but you will also require some soft-skills to charge up the dental career ladder. You’ll need a steady hand as you’ll be required to work on prosthetics for extended periods, and a good eye for detail when it comes to understanding a dentist’s prescription.
Fortunately, these soft-skills, alongside time management, critical thinking, listening, reading comprehension and interpersonal skills, which are all essential to a successful career as a Dental Technician, can be taught by the incredible lecturers at the University.
If you feel a flash of pain in your gums or a sudden toothache, you’re not alone. A survey by the American Family Physician revealed that 22 percent of adults have experienced pain in their teeth, gums, or jaw within the last six months.
Two of the most likely explanations are that you’ve developed tooth sensitivity or that one of your teeth is cracked or infected. The good news is most causes of sudden tooth discomfort are easily treatable by your dentist.
Here are 10 possible reasons why your teeth might be giving you pain, and when to see a doctor.
1. Exposure to extreme heat or cold
Tooth sensitivity is caused by worn tooth enamel or exposed nerves in your teeth. When you eat or drink something with an extremely low or high temperature, you may feel a sudden, sharp flash of pain.
2. Gum recession
Gums are the layer of pink tissue that cover bone and surround the root of the tooth to help protect the nerve endings of your teeth. As you age, gum tissue often begins to wear , causing gum recession.
This recession leaves the roots of your teeth exposed, as well as leaving you more vulnerable to gum disease and tooth infections. If your teeth are suddenly more sensitive than they used to be, gum recession could be the culprit.
3. Enamel (dentin) erosion
It’s estimated that at least 12 percentTrusted Source of people have some form of “dentin hypersensitivity” that causes them discomfort when they eat. This kind of sensitivity can be caused by eating a highly acidic diet, brushing your teeth too hard, and other factors.
As a result, the enamel that coats and protects your teeth begins to wear away and is not replaced. This can lead to sharp, stabbing pain that sends shivers up your spine when you bite into certain foods.
4. Tooth decay (cavity)
Tooth decay, also referred to as a cavity, might be the reason why your teeth have suddenly started bothering you. Tooth decay can linger on the sides or tops of your tooth enamel without being noticed for some time.
Once the decay begins to progress toward an infection, you may startexperiencing pain in your tooth.
5. Gum infection
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, affects more than 47 percent of adults over the age of 30Trusted Source. Gum disease is called gingivitis in its early stages, and some people don’t even know that they have it. Sensitive teeth and gums can be a sign of escalating gum disease.
6. Cracked tooth or crown
You may not be surprised to learn that a cracked tooth or crown can cause tooth pain and sensitivity. But there are cases when you may have a tooth cracked ever so slightly, so that it causes pain but is nearly impossible to see.
7. Sinus infection
One symptom of a sinus infection is pain in your teeth and in your jaw. As your sinuses become inflamed and filled with pressure from the infection, they can compress the nerve endings of your teeth.
8. Grinding or clenching jaws
Grinding your teeth and clenching your jaws can lead to chronic tooth sensitivity, as you wear away at the enamel on your teeth.
While many people clench or grind their teeth from time to time, high-stress circumstances or poor sleep can lead to you increasing this habit without you realizing it, resulting in tooth pain that seems mysterious.
9. Dental procedures
Recent fillings or tooth work involving drilling can temporarily make the nerve endings of your teeth more sensitive. Sensitivity from a tooth filling procedure may last up to two weeks.
10. Teeth bleaching products
Using whitening strips, bleaching gels, or having an in-office teeth-whitening procedure can put you at a higher riskTrusted Source of tooth sensitivity. Pain in your teeth that’s caused by teeth bleaching is often temporary and will usually subside if you stop using whitening products.
Studies suggest that cleaning your tongue regularly can reduce unwanted mouth bacteria that can lead to bad breath, a coated tongue, plaque buildup, and other oral health conditions.
Some researchTrusted Source says tongue scrapers are the most effective tool to use. However, you can also use toothbrushes and mouthwashes to clean your tongue.
Tongue scrapers are the most effective
Both tongue scrapers and toothbrushes can eliminate bacteria on the tongue, but most studies have found that using a tongue scraper is more effective than using a toothbrush.
A 2006 review examinedTrusted Source two studies on tongue cleaning and bad breath and found that tongue scrapers and cleaners were more effective than toothbrushes in reducing the volatile sulfur compounds that cause breath odors.
Here’s how to clean your tongue using a tongue scraper:
Select a tongue scraping instrument. This may be plastic or metal. It may be bent in half making a V shape or have a handle with a rounded edge at the top. Shop online for tongue scrapers.
Stick out your tongue as far as you can.
Place your tongue scraper toward the back of your tongue.
Press the scraper on your tongue and move it toward the front of your tongue while applying pressure.
Run the tongue scraper under warm water to clear any debris and bacteria from the device. Spit out any excess saliva that may have built up during the tongue scraping.
Repeat steps 2 to 5 several more times. As needed, adjust your tongue scraper placement and the pressure you apply to it to prevent a gag reflex.
Clean the tongue scraper and store it for the next use. You can scrape your tongue once or twice a day. If you gag during the process, you may want to scrape your tongue before eating breakfast to avoid vomiting.
How to clean your tongue with a toothbrush
Although using a toothbrush may be less effective than using a tongue scraper, you may find it easier to use — especially if you’re already brushing your teeth twice a day.
Here’s how to clean your tongue with a toothbrush:
Choose a soft-bristle toothbrush; shop for brushes online.
Stick out your tongue as far as it will reach.
Position your toothbrush at the back of the tongue.
Brush lightly forward and backward along your tongue.
Spit out saliva that appears during the brushing and rinse out the toothbrush with warm water.
Clean your tongue as often as you brush your teeth.
You may want to brush with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 5 parts water once a day if your tongue is discolored. You should rinse your mouth out with water following this type of cleaning.
Can oral mouth rinses clean your tongue?
Mouth rinses — especially when combined with toothbrushing — can help clean your tongue and other parts of your mouth.
Consider using a therapeutic mouthwash containing active ingredients to destroy bacteria in your mouth that may cause bad breath and other conditions. You can find mouthwashes over the counter or online.
You can also ask your doctor or dentist to prescribe one for you. Follow the mouthwash’s instructions for best oral care.
Benefits of cleaning your tongue
Several studies point to the benefits of cleaning your tongue:
Reduces sulfur compounds that cause bad breath
A 2004 study in the Journal of Periodontology concluded that using a tongue scraper helped reduce volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath. A tongue scraper removed 75 percent of these compounds and a toothbrush removed 45 percent of them.
Reduces bacteria on the tongue
A 2014 study in BMC Oral Health found that tongue cleaning reduced bacteria on the tongue but that levels only stayed low if the tongue cleaning occurred regularly. The article concluded that you should both brush your teeth and clean your tongue regularly for good oral health.
Contributes to a fresher-feeling mouth
The American Dental Association does not equate tongue cleaning with the reduction of bad breath, but it does conclude that cleaning your tongue can contribute to a fresher-feeling mouth that you might enjoy.
Reduces plaque
A 2013 studyTrusted Source of plaque in children in the International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry found that regular tongue cleaning by either a toothbrush or scraper reduced plaque levels.
The manufacturing industry has utilized computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) for decades to create precision tools and parts. The dental profession first adopted this technology in 1985, revolutionizing the construction of dental restorations and prostheses. Since then, CAD/CAM dentistry has only advanced, providing benefits to both professionals and patients.
Understanding Digital Dentistry and the CAD/CAM Process
CAD/CAM dentistry describes the software that makes it possible for dental professionals to perform complex restorations faster, more efficiently, and sometimes more accurately. Both dental practices and laboratories use CAD/CAM technology to construct restorations like crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, bridges, dentures, and implant-supported restorations from high-strength ceramic. Here's what to expect from a restoration procedure using CAD/CAM.
Tooth Preparation. Your dental professional will prepare the site for your restoration by removing all decay or portions of the structurally unsound tooth.
Intraoral Scanning. Next, an optical scanner will digitally capture the tooth preparation and surrounding teeth to create a 3D custom image.
Restoration Design. With those 3D images, the dental professional will use the CAD software to design the final restoration.
Milling. Next, a milling machine takes the design and shapes the crown, veneer, inlay, onlay, or bridge from a single block of ceramic.
Sintering and Polishing. The restoration is stained or glazed to look more natural before being polished.
Cementation. Finally, the restoration is permanently placed in your mouth to complete your smile.
This whole process could take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the case's complexity. Still, CAD/CAM requires less time and effort than traditional laboratory methods.
Benefits of CAD/CAM in Dentistry
The use of CAD/CAM technology provides benefits not only for dental professionals but also for patients. Some of the significant advantages include:
Single-Visit Treatments. Using traditional laboratory methods, your dentist or prosthodontist would prepare your tooth, make an impression, and send the impression to a lab to create the final restoration. With CAD/CAM technology, the dental professional can sometimes complete all these steps in a single visit, allowing for fewer disruptions in your schedule.
Digital Impressions. If you've ever had a conventional impression, you immediately understand the benefits of a digital system. The traditional method requires the patient to place a tray with a thick, gooey material — called alginate — in their mouth and hold for two to five minutes until the material sets. A scanner is placed in the patient's mouth with digital impressions and moved around the affected area — like waving a magic wand.
Cost-effectiveness. CAD/CAM technology eliminates several outsourcing costs for your dental professional, and these savings may be passed onto the patient. Be sure to ask about your options and the associated costs.
Is CAD/CAM Dental Work Right For You?
Not every tooth can be treated with CAD/CAM dentistry, so talk to your dental professional about your best options. Because precision and fit are essential for your restoration or prosthesis, the practitioner may prefer using the conventional laboratory method for complex fabrications. Start by asking your dentist about CAD/CAM technology and how it may impact your restoration appointment.
If your dentist has recently told you that they want to refer you to a specialist, you most likely have questions about what this specialist does! Your general dentist and dental hygienist are the primary care providers for your basic dental needs. These include bi-annual checkups and routine cleanings. But, sometimes, you need specific dental treatments that require the attention of a specialist. So you may be wondering, what is a dental specialist, and what are the different types?
The American Dental Association recognizes various specialties within dentistry. Most receive the same undergraduate education and graduate from accredited dental programs. Once licensed as dentists, they continue their education for two to four years to achieve recognition as dental specialists. Check out these dental professionals to learn more about who your general dentist may refer you to and why!
Periodontists
You probably consider your general dentist and dental hygienists to be the keepers of your oral health. But did you know there's a whole specialty related to the care of the structures surrounding your teeth? Periodontists study and treat conditions that affect the teeth's stability. The bone, gum tissue, and ligaments in your mouth all play vital roles in holding your teeth in place, so they must be protected. When you get gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, it can advance to a stage that requires surgery. That's where periodontists come in! They also complete root planing and scaling procedures and manage dental implants, as noted by the American Academy of Periodontology.
Pediatric Dentists
These dentists research, advocate for and promote oral health for children. They specialize in working with children and teens below 18 and people with special needs. They're like general dentists in that they provide the same type of services, like checkups and cleanings, but for kids. To keep their visitors engaged and happy through their dental experience, pediatric dentists usually decorate their offices in fun and playful ways. Maybe we should ask our general dentists to get back to the fun decorations too!
Endodontists
Endodontics is the field that studies the blood and nerve supply within the roots of our teeth. This tissue (dental pulp) sometimes needs unique treatments to eliminate infections or repair injuries. Root canals are the most common procedure that endodontists perform.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists work to align your jaw and straighten your teeth to improve their function and longevity. You may have already visited one as a child to get that beautiful smile with straight teeth you have now! These specialists aid in the growth of your mouth and jaw through various orthopedic devices. They specialize in braces, retainers, aligners, and headgear. Many of us see an orthodontist for a few years when we need to straighten our teeth, whether as kids or adults.
Prosthodontists
Prosthodontists specialize in preparing and making various tooth-replacement restorations. They receive an extra few years of training to work in this field. You may go to a prosthodontist if you're looking to restore or repair your smile with dentures, bridges, or implant crowns.
Dental Hygienists
As mentioned above, dental hygienists and general dentists work as a team to take care of your general oral health. Dental hygienists are often your first line of defense for fighting tooth decay and gum disease! They remove plaque (biofilm) at your bi-annual appointments and provide the essential knowledge of teaching you how to take care of your oral care at home. They offer a wide range of services that vary from state to state.
Oral and Maxillofacial Professionals
While this grouping of specialists sounds like a mouthful, what they do for your smile is more straightforward. They assess and diagnose diseases that occur in the face, mouth, and neck. They also create and complete treatment plans for these diseases. Three significant concentrations within the field of oral and maxillofacial dental professionals include:
Oral pathologists specialize in injuries in the head and neck. They identify, manage, and sometimes treat these diseases. For example, if your general dental finds a lump or bump in your mouth or jaw, they may refer you to an oral pathologist. The pathologist will then meet with you for an assessment and further testing.
Oral radiologists interpret dental X-rays to diagnose specific head and neck conditions. Think of them as similar to medical radiologists. They use radiant energy to produce and analyze radiographs to detect disease.
Oral surgeons are tooth extraction specialists. While this may not be your favorite specialist to visit, they perform vital functions! They focus on implants and facial surgeries, devise treatment plans, and create prostheses for patients who lose parts of their mouth, head, neck, or jaw. While this definition may sound alarming at first, oral surgeons provide even the most routine surgeries, like wisdom tooth removal!
The field of dentistry has dramatically improved and diversified over the past decades. With these various specialties, you're able to see a trained professional who focuses on the specific issue at hand. Their goal is to collaborate, research, and advance the art and science of dentistry.
Waking up with morning breath isn’t a fun way to start your day. But it’s extremely common, and most people experience it at some point. Fortunately, it can be treated like all other causes of halitosis (bad breath).
What causes morning breath?
There are a number of different causes of morning breath, but the two biggest causes are dry mouth and bad oral hygiene.
Dry mouth
If you have good oral hygiene, dry mouth is most likely to blame. Saliva is responsible for removing the bacteria that can cause bad breath. When we sleep, saliva production decreases significantly. Certain medications can cause dry mouth, making morning breath even worse.
Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene is another common cause. Our mouths are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re not brushing or flossing effectively, food particles can get stuck in crevices on the surface on the tongue, between the teeth, or along our gum tissue.
The bacteria in your mouth will break down those food particles, which releases the lovely bad breath come morning time.
Morning breath can be a symptom of periodontal disease, especially if poor oral hygiene goes unchecked. Periodontal disease affects the gums, causing infections in pockets beneath the teeth that can cause strong, persistent halitosis. Periodontal disease —which starts as gingivitis — will need to be treated by your dentist.
Eating certain foods
What you put into your body can result in morning breath. Eating strong-smelling foods in the evening like garlic or raw onions can cause morning breath the next day, even if you brush your teeth well.
Tobacco
Tobacco use — particularly smoking — is also directly linked to both morning breath and general halitosis. It can dry out your mouth and make you more prone to gum disease. Add the smoke smell on top, and it can be a recipe for potent breath.
GERD
People with gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) — also known as acid reflux — may experience bad breath due to stomach acid washing back up in their esophagus when they sleep at night.
How is morning breath treated?
In many cases, morning breath can be treated at home with a combination of better oral care and lifestyle changes.
Maintaining impeccable oral hygiene is both the best quick fix and long-term solution for bad breath of any kind. Brush your teeth immediately before you go to bed at night, and don’t eat or drink anything afterward. Doing so can introduce food particles that will be broken down over night. Floss your teeth and use an antiseptic mouthwash after using a tongue scraper.
If you wear a retainer or other orthodontic gear, clean it daily. Brush your teeth as soon as you’re awake to eliminate any remaining morning breath.
If you’re smoking or using tobacco, stop immediately.
Sugar-free gum may also be helpful, especially if you’re on the go and experiencing recurrent bad breath along with morning breath. Sugar-free gum doesn’t give the bacteria in your mouth sugar to thrive on. It can also help to stimulate the flow of saliva and freshen your breath simultaneously.
Your dentist will need to treat periodontal disease with deep cleanings. This will likely include a scaling and root planing procedure, where your dentist removes plaque and calculus from the teeth and gums. Depending on how advanced the infection is, surgery may be required.
For those experiencing bad breath as a result of GERD, your doctor can prescribe acid-reducing medication that you can take at night before you sleep. They also may recommend sleeping in a more upright position to reduce acid in the esophagus.
Preventing morning breath
Morning breath can be treated, but most people would prefer to avoid it altogether.
What you put in your body matters a great deal:
Drink lots of water, especially before you go to bed at night. This keeps you hydrated, preventing dry mouth and the resulting bad breath.
Avoid strong-smelling foods at night, like garlic or onion, and skip out on coffee (even decaf) once the afternoon is over. Ultimately, a healthy, well-balanced diet will help your overall health and can reduce morning breath.
Giving up tobacco can improve your breath instantly, day and night.
It’s imperative to practice good oral hygiene on a regular basis to both treat and prevent morning breath. Brush your teeth for two minutes before you go to bed before flossing and using an antiseptic mouth rinse to kill off any extra bacteria. You should also use a tongue scraper to keep your tongue clean.
If you’ve followed all the prevention methods and home treatments and nothing seems to work, make an appointment with your dentist. They can help you determine the cause of your morning breath and identify the best treatment options moving forward.
