Learning that you or your child developed a cavity can be stressful, especially when that cavity is located in a highly visible part of the mouth, such as the front teeth. If your child has a cavity on the front tooth or you have one yourself, you may be wondering why it happened and how your dentist might treat it.
Common Cavity Locations
Tooth decay is most common in the molars and premolars, explains the Mayo Clinic. These teeth are located in the back of the mouth and have grooves and pits that can collect food particles. The back teeth may also be harder to reach with a toothbrush or floss. While the front teeth are smoother and easier to access for cleaning, they’re not immune to cavities. Any of your teeth can develop decay.
Causes of Front Tooth Cavities
If cavities are more commonly seen in back teeth, why might you develop a cavity on the front tooth? A survey conducted by Public Health England found that 5.1 percent of 5-year-old children in the country had decay in one or more of their front teeth, also known as the incisors. Public Health England explains that this type of decay is linked to long-term bottle use, especially when children are given sugar-sweetened beverages to drink overnight or for long periods of time during the day. Decay caused by these beverages is known as baby bottle tooth decay.
While the American Dental Association (ADA) explains that cavities are especially common in children, people of all ages may develop cavities in any of their teeth if their oral hygiene routine is insufficient. Forgetting to brush your teeth, skipping your flossing routine and consuming sugary foods and drinks puts you at risk of developing cavities.
Treatment Options
It’s important to seek treatment for a cavity as soon as possible before the decay worsens.
There are many ways that dentists can repair a front tooth cavity. Much like cavities elsewhere in the mouth, cavities in the front teeth may be treated with fillings. A dentist will remove the decayed portion of the tooth and fill it with strong, restorative material. For a natural look, tooth-coloured fillings may be used. These fillings can be made from materials such as acrylic acids or resins, reports Johns Hopkins Medicine. This treatment typically only takes one appointment.
To correct cosmetic issues that arise from a cavity on a front tooth, a dentist may recommend treating the cavity with either a crown, which is a tooth-shaped white-coloured restoration over the tooth, or a veneer, which is a thin piece of porcelain bonded to the front surface of the tooth. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that these options may require two or more dental visits, and they can also be designed to match the patient’s natural tooth colour. Your dentist can help you determine the best treatment option for your individual situation.
Preventing Tooth Decay
No one wants to develop cavities. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce your risk of tooth decay with some simple steps. A good at-home oral hygiene routine is the first place to start. Remember to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss once per day. It’s also important to eat a balanced diet and try to limit foods and drinks with added sugars. See your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings, too.
If you develop a cavity in your front tooth or notice that your child has developed one, rest assured that these cavities can be treated. By taking simple precautions, you can reduce your risk of future tooth decay and help your whole family maintain healthy smiles.
Everyone in your family has unique oral care needs throughout their lives. The good news is that there are dental offices that cater to various family oral care needs! You just have to know where to look and what to ask for. Learn more about family dental groups and why they may be a good fit for you.
Family dentist vs. General dentist
Family dentistry has been around for a long time. But family dental offices are unique because they provide a variety of treatments in-house. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), most dentists in North America – about 158,000 – practice general dentistry. General dentists can treat most oral care issues for the whole family, and they are considered your primary care dentist. Many general dentists have specialties, like orthodontics, root canal therapy, or even cosmetic dentistry.
Family dental groups or practices typically offer specialties or services for the whole family at the same location. With family dentists, you can schedule appointments for multiple family members at the same time. Of course, this depends on the schedule and availability of the dental office. Still, you can ask offices when searching for a family dentist. Having this kind of scheduling ability means less time waiting for back-to-back appointments or appointments on multiple days.
Benefits of a family dentist
Family dental groups are popular because they are so versatile. Most family dental groups have multiple dentists in their practice, offering the convenience of a "one-stop" solution for all your family's oral care needs. Suppose you need a pediatric dentist, an endodontist, or an orthodontist. In that case, you can find family dentists that provide all three in one office.
Family dental groups can make dentist visits positive experiences for children, especially. Children should have a dentist and dental hygienist who are gentle, patient, and comfortable working with kids. Kind and gentle dentists and dental hygienists will keep children comfortable and encouraged. It's worth the effort to find the perfect dental professional that makes your kids feel comfortable so they can have a lifelong positive attitude toward dental appointments.
How to find a state-of-the-art family dental practice
Many family dental groups have efficient and modern technology and facilities. All you have to do is research what you need and ask offices what they offer. Ask about the procedures and equipment the office uses when choosing your family dentist.
Today, many dental groups prefer safer X-ray machines and better imagining software to show patients any issues. This technology is called intraoral camera exams. The dentist can magnify problem areas on a monitor using a small camera. These are just two examples of modern technology found at most dental offices.
Intraoral cameras and newer X-ray machines are less invasive, which can really help children with dental anxiety. Check with your insurance carrier and research treatment plans when choosing a family dentist to ensure there are no surprises.
How to find a family dentist
A good family dental group will have worked with adults and kids, including very young children. You should search for a family dentist who can understand and respond to your family's various needs, such as losing those first teeth, fluoride needs, and even tooth whitening for the adults.
Consider the following as you are looking for a family dental group:
List the needs of your family members. Will one child need braces while another needs only a regular cleaning? Some dental groups have both a general dentist and orthodontist in the office.
Does the group have a pediatric dentist on-site? Pediatric dentists treat young children, young patients with special needs or disabilities.
Experience and rapport are vital for a long-term relationship. Read the family dental practice's website to read biographies, specialties, and services offered. You can ask friends and family for recommendations and read reviews online.
You should be able to ask questions and bring up concerns to your dentist and dental hygienist, including asking for product recommendations, healthy snack ideas, and demonstrations of flossing skills. You should learn more about preventative oral care and teach your children proper oral care habits with help from the family dental group.
Aside from experience and rapport, there are some convenience factors to look for as well:
Is the family dental group located close to home?
Are you able to schedule appointments conveniently, and do they send reminders?
What are the payment options available, including financing for procedures not covered by dental insurance?
Is the dental team professional and caring with their patients?
You can search for dentists in your area through reputable sites like the American Dental Association (ADA) Mouth Healthy site. Don't be afraid to be picky about your dentist. A family dental group can provide dental care to your whole family throughout your children's lives.
Enamel protects the inner layers of your teeth from dietary acids, helping to keep them healthy and white. Once enamel wears away, it can’t repair itself1. However, it is possible to repair and strengthen weakened enamel – a process known as ‘remineralization’ – and protect your teeth from future erosion.
What Causes Teeth to Lose Minerals?
Enamel can wear away for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is erosion caused by acids in your diet. These acids attack your tooth enamel, wearing away the minerals that keep it strong – a process called ‘demineralization’. Over time, this weakens your enamel, and the loss of minerals can result in white spots on your teeth, as well as changes in their shape.
The good news is, before it’s worn away, acid-weakened enamel can be repaired and those important minerals can be restored. This is called ‘remineralization’.
What is Remineralization and How Do You Remineralize Teeth?
Remineralization occurs when vital minerals—like calcium—bond to the teeth to fill in the weakened areas of enamel.
These minerals need to be present in saliva to facilitate the process. You can get many of these minerals from the foods you eat, such as cheese and other dairy products, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, or poultry and seafood.
6 Ways to Help Remineralize Teeth
1. Increase Saliva Production
One of the most effective ways to repair tooth enamel is to maximize the amount of saliva you produce. This is because essential components in your saliva – such as calcium and phosphate – can neutralize harmful acids and help restore minerals lost because of acids in your diet. Saliva is also your body’s natural defense against cavities.
2. Drink More Water
Tap water containing protective fluoride plays a crucial role in supporting remineralization by helping to replace some of the calcium present in the enamel. Rinsing your mouth with fluoridated tap water after eating or drinking acidic foods and drinks can also help to reduce the effects of acids on your teeth.
3. Use a Toothpaste Designed for the Job
Opt for a toothpaste clinically proven to help rebuild enamel strength, like Pronamel. Pronamel is specially designed to penetrate deep and remineralize acid-weakened enamel, to help protect your enamel every time you brush. Discover how Pronamel toothpaste actively strengthens weakened tooth enamel.
4. Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum helps to keep that all-important saliva flow up, protecting your enamel from acid wear and demineralisation. Always look for gums with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.
5. Eat a Remineralization Diet
Certain foods can help remineralize the spots in your teeth that acidic foods and drinks have weakened. For example, foods rich in calcium (dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt) help put back minerals into the enamel, and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables encourage saliva flow.
6. Dodge Acidic Drinks
Drinks that contribute to demineralization include sodas, sports drinks and fruit juices. In addition to their sugar content, these are all highly acidic and can wear down enamel – a combination that puts you at greater risk of demineralization and tooth decay.
Take Steps to Remineralize Teeth
You can help remineralize your teeth by following the tips above and adopting a good dental hygiene routine with products like the Pronamel range that are designed to protect enamel. You should also pay regular visits to your dentist so that signs of demineralization can be spotted early.
If you enjoy sipping hot coffee in the morning, then you may have yellow or brownish stains on your teeth, and you may have considered a home whitening treatment. There are plenty of at-home whitening treatments available; you don't have to give up your morning cup of coffee to have a beautiful smile.
At-Home Bleaching for Tough Stains
Regular checkups are a great way to prevent the tooth discoloration that some coffee drinkers experience; even after a professional cleaning stains may come back due to the foods you eat or they may be intrinsic stains which affect the color of your teeth. If intrinsic stain is bothering you, then you can talk to your dentist about at-home bleaching. With this procedure, a whitening product is applied to your teeth using a plastic mouthpiece that your dentist custom-fits to your teeth. You may have to wear the mouthpiece for two or more hours every day for two weeks as per the instructions on the tooth whitening package, but this home treatment can make a noticeable difference.
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whiteners for Minor Stains
Teeth whitening products that you can purchase over-the-counter work well and you can consider at-home bleaching system recommended by your dentist. Still, they may be a good fit for some coffee drinkers. If your discoloration responds well to regular cleanings, then you can talk to your dentist about which products (whitening toothpastes and toothbrushes) might work well to routinely fight coffee stains. Products like white strips and whitening mouthwashes expose your teeth to lower concentrations of bleaching ingredients than a gel that your dentist would provide, and the results are milder. You can use them at home on your own for regular whitening. To prevent irritation or sensitivity, be sure to follow the instructions correctly and don't overuse any whitening products.
Whitening Toothpaste to Maintain a White Smile
A whitening toothpaste will help in removing coffee stains that may have recently developed and they help for maintaining a beautiful, bright smile. Colgate Optic White, for example, helps to remove stains with mild abrasives and removes lighter stains with hydrogen peroxide. It also offers cavity protection and helps to keep your breath fresh.
Using home teeth whitening products, can help you to keep your smile white so you can enjoy your coffee guilt-free. Whitening products can assist, however; even with proper use of a home bleaching system from your dentist, you will need to take extra care of your teeth to stop new coffee stains from developing. Brush twice a day and floss regularly. You can also rinse with water and then brush after enjoying your morning cup. Finally, see your dentist for regular cleanings to get rid of external stains as well as any plaque buildup.
DDS and DMD are the acronyms of the degrees dentists earn after finishing dental school. DDS means Doctor of Dental Surgery, and DMD can mean either Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine. While the names are different, the American Dental Association (ADA) explains that they represent the same education. Some universities may grant dental graduates with a DDS, and others grant a DMD, but both degrees have the same requirements.
According to the ADA, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery established the first Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees in 1840. When Harvard University started its dental school in 1867, their degrees were called Dentariae Medicinae Doctorate (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) because Harvard uses Latin names for their degrees. Even though these degrees are based on the same educational requirements, they still have different names.
What Is the Difference Between a DDS and a DMD?
Today, many universities award a DMD degree. Dentists with either a DDS or a DMD are educated to practice general dentistry. All dentists receive a rigorous education. First, dental schools typically require a four-year undergraduate education. Afterward, graduates go to dental school for another four years of classroom training, clinical training, and dental laboratory training.
Dental students spend the first two years of dental school studying biomedical sciences courses like anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. The last two years are focused on clinical and laboratory training.
After graduating from dental school, dentists must pass a national written examination called the National Board Dental Examination, followed by a regional clinical board examination. Dentists must also pass a jurisprudence examination about state laws before being given a license to practice dentistry in that state.
With such extensive education and examination requirements, you can be certain that any dentist with a DDS or DMD degree is qualified to treat you.
Education After a DDS or DMD
Most dentists stick with practicing general dentistry. However, some choose to specialize in a particular area of dentistry after earning their degree. Training programs range from two to six years, depending upon the specialty area. There are several dental specialties, including endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, and pediatric dentistry. The ADA can help you find a dentist with a specialty that fits you best.
Dentists receive a rigorous education and have to pass several exams to be able to practice. Whether they have a DDS or DMD after their name, you should choose a dentist based on their skills, types of services provided, communication, and professionalism.
It takes up a sizeable portion of our mouth, and we can feel when it becomes fuzzy and unhygienic, yet many of us ignore the tongue when it comes to our oral hygiene routine. It’s time to stop the tongue from feeling like the odd man out, and keep it fuzz-less and happy.
Health
Newsflash: your tongue is teeming with germs. It’s not surprising, considering how often we eat, and the fact that many people neglect to clean this area when brushing their teeth. What’s more, 80% of the germs in our mouths aren’t on our teeth—they lies on our cheeks, gums, and of course, tongue, which is prime real estate for the growth of germs.
Add the fact that the tongue is a bit of a food-magnet, and you’ve got a recipe for germs heaven. Think of it as a large rug with millions of Velcro-like hooks, each of which snag particles of food debris. These then decompose and attract germs, which cause bad breath.
Embarrassment
An unclean tongue can sometimes become discolored, blooming an unpleasant white, or even black. Do you want to add an unsightly, colorful mouth to already-existing bad breath? Luckily, there are easy solutions:
Tips
A moist mouth is a clean mouth. Lack of fluids can cause bad breath, so rinsing your mouth with daily use anti-germs mouthwash will help keep it fresh .
Tongue scrapers are easy to use, cheap, and found at almost any pharmacy or dentist. Simply run the cleaner or scraper over the surface of your tongue to slough off germs.
You can also try the Colgate 360 º® toothbrush. It’s designed to clean not only your teeth, but also clean your tongue, cheeks and gums by rooting out all the sneaky germs that lurk in your mouth. Simply flip the toothbrush over and clean with the cheek and tongue cleaner.
DID YOU KNOW?
Each person’s tongue shape and map of taste buds is distinctive and matchless, making them as unique as a human fingerprint.
You might maintain good oral care and schedule regular visits to your dentist, but there are certain conditions that a dental specialist may be better suited to treat. For instance, it's likely that you'd see an endodontist for more complex root treatments. Or, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist to address certain advanced gum conditions. Find out the difference between an endodontist vs. periodontist, their qualifications and when you should seek out specialized care.
Endodontists Treat the Tooth Root
A general dentist can, in some cases, perform root canals and treat gum disease with deep cleanings. But if severe problems arise in your root, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist. This is a dental professional who specializes in treating your tooth's root, pulp and any related pain, as the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) explains.
It takes several years of training to become an endodontist. First, an aspiring endodontist would typically gain a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as biology or chemistry, to prepare for dental school. The American Dental Association (ADA) notes that students must successfully complete the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) to apply for admission to a four-year accredited dental school. Upon completing dental school, endodontists train an additional two or more years in an accredited endodontics program. The last step, if they want to become a board-certified specialist, is certification with the American Board of Endodontics.
According to the AAE, endodontists represent less than 3% of dentists. They work to maintain your tooth's integrity and are highly skilled at performing surgery and procedures on the root and pulp of your teeth. In fact, the AAE reports that general dentists refer almost half of their root canal cases to endodontists. Your general dentist would likely refer you to one if you've experienced trauma to your face or mouth, or if you have severe swelling around your teeth. They'd also likely refer you to an endodontist for endodontic surgery. One of the more common referrals is for an apicoectomy, which is a surgery to remove the tip of your root and any acutely inflamed tissue to help prevent further infection, explains the AAE.
Periodontists Specialize in Gum Health
What is an endodontist vs. periodontist? Like an endodontist, a periodontist is a dentist who has the same skills and credentials as a general dentist but has also gained education and certification in treating, diagnosing and managing periodontal disease, as the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) states. These experts complete an additional three years of training beyond dental school to become certified in an array of gum treatments. The AAP explains that periodontists are akin to the plastic surgeons of dentistry. They place implants, perform laser treatments, lengthen crowns and even perform regenerative procedures.
Maintaining healthy gums is vital to dental health, as they protect your tooth root from loosening or being exposed. Ideally, your gums should be a healthy pink color and fit evenly around your teeth. If your general dentist diagnoses you with advanced gum disease, a periodontist can perform pocket reduction procedures (gum surgery) to reduce pocketing and remove bacteria below the gumline that might cause infection, bone loss or tooth loss, as the AAP notes.
Preventing Tooth Root and Gum Issues
In many cases, issues with your roots and gums are preventable. Maintaining great oral hygiene at home can help you keep your mouth free of decay-causing bacteria and prevent early-stage gum disease. Remember to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and see your dentist at least twice a year.
If you have pain in your mouth, or if you notice your gums are swollen, make an appointment with your dentist — sooner rather than later — so that they can refer you to the correct dental specialist, if needed.
You brush. You floss. You swish. Good for you! Nobody wants garlic pasta sauce from lunch to linger on their breath.
But you could be taking your swishes up a notch. Did you know that the best mouthwash for bad breath control also keeps your teeth healthy?
Next time you gargle to freshen your breath, be glad that your mouthwash multitasks. But what should a mouthrinse contain and how does it benefit your overall oral health?
Who’s to blame? Micro-villains!
Beware the little guys: tiny microorganisms in your mouth can cause bad breath. Regardless of whether germs or fungi are to blame for the halitosis, antimicrobial agents work to kill and slow the growth of these microorganisms.
In addition to keeping your breath fresh, mouthrinse containing antimicrobial agents works to reduce a buildup of unsightly plaque on your teeth. It also helps to counteract gingivitis, or gum disease.
Swish and spit with mouthrinse after brushing your teeth or whenever you want to freshen your breath.
30 seconds to blast-off!
Although fluoride is added to toothpaste, a little extra exposure to this essential compound is beneficial. Fluoride protects the teeth from decay. This active ingredient also prevents the tooth enamel from white spot lesions that may eventually lead to tooth decay.
Children over the age of 6 and adults should use the mouthrinse according to label directions each time they rinse their mouths. Holding the mouthrinse in your mouth and swishing it around your teeth for 30 seconds or longer helps the fluoride reach the crevices between each tooth.
That’s fine for you, but how do you get your kids to gargle for a full half-minute? Two words: get rhythmic. Have them hum a favorite song, such as two rounds of "Jingle Bells," while swishing. You can even make it into a game. To win, the little ones aren’t allowed to spit until the song has ended.
And what should you be gargling while you’re jingling bells? If you want to be sure to protect your teeth against bad breath, plaque and gingivitis, try Colgate Plax Mouthwash. The alcohol-free formula is gentle and protects the mouth from germs for 12 hours, even when eating and drinking.
The daily gargle
Make your routine more liquid: use mouthwash each morning and evening after brushing your teeth. Mouthwashes can also be used before or after flossing.
Brushing, using mouthwash and flossing is the best way to remove odor-causing germs. When you're shopping for oral care products, take a moment to peek at labels. Look for those key ingredients not only to keep your breath fresh, but to ensure a healthy future for your teeth.
A rubber dam is a thin sheet of latex that creates a barrier between the working field and the rest of the mouth. We punch holes in it for the teeth to slip through.
This has an incredible number of advantages to the dentist, the dental assistant, and most importantly, the patient. I will review some of these advantages here:
Prevents contamination of the cavity with saliva or blood when bonding your filling. The number one cause of sensitivity after a white filling is contamination during the bonding. Not only does this make your tooth hurt for weeks, but it also decreases the longevity of the filling. Poorly bonded fillings break down at the margins, allowing them to leak. Plus, when this occurs, decay then has an easy path under the filling.
Protects the lips, tongue, and cheek from harm from the drill. The rubber dam retracts and protects lips, cheeks, tongue, and even the gums.
Retraction of soft tissue for better visibility. This also allows the dentist and assistant to focus more of their attention on your tooth and the procedure. The contrast in color from the rubber dam and the tooth also makes visibility better. Every step in a dental procedure requires a great level of attention to detail; the dam enables this.
Protection of the gum tissue. With the dam in place, we usually place a wedge between the teeth. In combination with the dam, this prevents damage to the gums. It also allows a clean working field.
Prevents swallowing foreign materials. We use a lot of small tools, which can be dropped. It is very comforting for patient and doctor to have the dam as a safety net.
Keeps bad tastes out. Many dental products we use taste pretty bad, the dam will allow these products to be rinsed without touching any soft tissues.
Keeps vapor from your breath out of the working field. Not only does this fog up our mirrors, making it hard to see, there is enough water in your breath to contaminate your filling.
Catches amalgam scraps. While it is not as critical to have a dry field for a silver filling, we still use the rubber dam for the above reasons and also to catch any scraps that fall off as we carve your filling. The dam also catches any pieces of fillings or crowns that are removed when drilling.
Keeps bacteria from saliva out of the tooth during root canals. Root canal is the procedure that has been most associated with rubber dams; in fact, many dentists will only use the rubber dam for this procedure. It is used for good reason, as we use small files and caustic irrigating solutions that we do not want in your mouth.
Allows patients to relax. When first using the rubber dam, I anticipated a lot of negative reaction to it from patients. Surprisingly, the feedback I got was almost completely positive. Many patients found it comforting to have the protection in place and also not have to worry about what to do with their tongue.
Deep cleaning your teeth might sound like something a dental professional recommends if you’ve not been brushing your teeth well enough or if you’ve missed more than a few dental visits. But in fact, deep cleaning is a dental procedure that treats gum and periodontal disease. According to a study by the Journal of the American Dental Association, deep cleaning is especially beneficial to people with chronic periodontitis. Learn when deep cleaning is right for you and how the process works.
When Is Deep Cleaning Necessary?
The American Academy of Periodontology suggests that the bones and gum tissue surrounding your teeth should fit snugly around them. When you have periodontal disease, these very bones and gum tissue get destroyed, resulting in pockets forming around your teeth.
Over time, these pockets increasingly get deeper, making room for bacteria to live, which leads to even more bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, dental professionals might recommend that you need to get those teeth extracted.
At your evaluation, your dentist will measure the depth of these pockets. If the pockets are too deep, you won’t be able to treat your teeth with at-home oral care only. You will need a deep dental cleaning.
How Does Deep Cleaning Work?
Deep cleaning of the teeth comprises two parts – scaling and root planing.
Scaling. This part of the procedure is where a dental professional removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) collected below the gumline, cleaning all the way down to the bottom of the pocket.
Planing. The next step of deep cleaning consists of your dentist or dental hygienist smoothening out your teeth roots so the gums can reattach to your teeth.
It may take more than a single visit for your deep cleaning procedure to be complete.
Oral Care After Deep Cleaning
After your deep cleaning, the pockets should be free of bacteria, but your gum tissue will most likely feel sensitive. Your dentist will give you specific instructions on caring for your teeth in the weeks to follow. It’s best to be careful about what you eat and how you brush. Your dental professional might also prescribe a mouth rinse to reduce bacteria in your mouth.
Your dentist will likely ask for you to come back for a check-up in a couple of months.
Deep cleaning for your teeth might feel like a big step, but in reality, it’s an effective procedure that can remove infection and tartar so your gums can heal. By prepping yourself mentally for the procedure, you can take the first steps towards healthier and happier gums. After all, happier gums equal a happier you!
