Your oral health affects your daily routine and overall well-being. Preventive dentistry is the key to good oral health. It can save you both money and time in the future. On the other hand, restorative dentistry may cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. With that being said, it is critical to prevent dental problems from arising.
Preventive care routines can help you keep any problem from developing. It goes without saying that it’s easier to treat a health problem at the initial stage. The same goes for dental problems.
From cavities and gum disease, oral issues tend to get worse over time if not addressed early. It can be too late when you’re already developing the late stages of periodontitis.
Preventive dentistry is a great way to minimize your risk of dental problems. Below you can find out how preventive dentistry can save you a lot of time and money. It all comes down to regular check-ups and proper oral hygiene.
Regular Dental Visits
For most people, there are a lot of day-to-day things to worry about. This is especially true for those with a tough business schedule. They have a hard time managing commitments at work and balancing their personal life.
Dental visits are the last thing they want to do. This is why they often put off dental check-ups. However, it can be more harmful than they think!
Why Is It Important To See Your Dentist Regularly?
Preventive check-ups give dentists an opportunity to identify disease and intervene in a timely manner. Your dentist will be able to detect early signs of a dental issue if any. It will not only reduce pain but also eliminate additional costs.
Regular dental appointments can keep you safe from a diverse range of oral problems, including:
Cavities
Gum Disease
Tooth Decay
Bruxism
Sleep Apnea
TMJ Disorders
Oral Cancer
All of these conditions have one thing in common: they are much easier to treat when detected early. By the way, the treatment is most effective when performed early.
For instance, periodontitis is likely to turn into a more serious stage if it goes unnoticed due to lack of regular check-ups. However, if periodontal disease is caught early, you will be able to treat and manage it more easily.
What’s Going To Happen During Your Visit?
During your visit, your dentist and hygienist will evaluate the health condition of your gums and will also check for:
Any signs of lesions or pits that could point out to the beginning of a cavity or tooth decay
Any abnormalities in your mouth, including signs of TMJ and oral cancer
If the dentist finds any lesions or pits, they will be filled before developing any symptom of cavities.
These visits also involve examination of current restorations, meaning your dentist will check existing crowns, fillings, and so on.
As for your gums, your dentist and hygienist will make use of a periodontal probe (special diagnostic instrument) to examine their condition. Periodontal probing allows the dentist and hygienist to measure the pocket depths around teeth. The pockets or gaps start to form around teeth as the gums pull away from your teeth.
Any depth above 3mm is a reason for concern because it increases the risk of bacterial infection.
How Often Do You Need To Visit Your Dentist?
For each patient, the dentist determines the most suitable frequency based on his or her health condition. While some people need to see a dentist twice a year, others need to make appointments more often. Your dentist will suggest the number of annual check-ups that suits you best.
What Does It Involve?
In general, hygiene appointments include:
Teeth polishing – Removal of plaque and stain
Oral hygiene recommendations – It may also include special periodontal brushes, electric toothbrushes, rinses, fluorides, and so on.
Did you know that seasonal changes can impact your oral health? Many allergy sufferers experience tooth, throat and mouth discomfort while experiencing sinus issues and hay fever. Here’s how seasonal allergies can impact oral health and what you can do about it.
Bad Breath and Sore Throat – Bad breath can be related to untreated nasal congestion, which can lead to a sore throat developing and its resultant bacteria creating a foul mouth odour. Postnasal drip causes this and because you can’t clean your throat, it’s difficult to get rid of.
Dry Mouth – A stuffy nose means encourages mouth breathing, which dries out your mouth. It’s also caused by a reaction to certain antihistamines that relieve nasal congestion and sneezing. Saliva protects teeth from decay by washing away bacteria and food particles which is why a dry mouth is more prone to cavities and tooth decay.
Toothaches – Painful teeth may be an allergy symptom. Sinus pain is caused by pollen and dust impacting one’s immune system. This causes mucus to build up in your sinuses where they become congested, pressurising your teeth and nerves and causing sensitivity and toothaches.
So how can you prevent the above form occurring?
â— Stay hydrated: Drinking lots of water keeps your mouth hydrated. This counteracts a dry mouth as it washes away the buildup of mucus.
â— Gargle with salt water: Salt draws mucus out of the sinuses. Gargle with a solution consisting of a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of water to reduce and flush away accumulated bacteria, relieving throat pains and reducing bad breath and plaque.
â— Treat your teeth: Regular brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is important to maintain good oral health and also reduce the effects of dry mouth.
â— Treat your allergies: Avoiding anything that causes or triggers your allergies. Treat them with prescriptions after consulting with your doctor, ensuring it has no side effects.
â— Talk to a dentist: Probably the most effective and useful step is talking to a dentist. At Apple dental, our professional dentists can identify root causes of your oral problems. Whether its allergy-related or not, we’ll figure it out and provide the ideal treatment.
It can be ridiculously easy for children to get plaque on their teeth. Almost all kids love candy and snacks which means that they’re very vulnerable to the bacteria that builds up on teeth and hardens into plaque. Plaque ruins enamel, which is the protective outer layer of the tooth. Without enamel, we’re much more susceptible to tooth decay and even the breakdown of the bone beneath your teeth and gums. This is why it’s so important to do everything you can to prevent plaque in both your children’s teeth and your own. Here are 4 things you can do to prevent plaque buildup.
Avoid Sugar and Starch
Sugary and starchy foods like soda, candy, cake and bread have a lot of carbs which can cause them to stick to your teeth and create plaque. There’s no way we’re going to recommend NEVER giving your kids these delicious treats. Just make sure that they’re followed by a good brushing right after, and you should be able to reduce the chances of plaque buildup.
Brushing and Flossing Daily
The most important thing you can do to avoid plaque is brushing and flossing with the proper techniquesevery day. This means brushing at least twice, and flossing at least once per day. When brushing, make sure you massage your gums with the toothbrush and get the small areas between your gums and teeth. The same goes for your children since plaque tends to gather in these spaces.
Nutrition
Many foods contain acids that can damage your teeth. However, on the opposite ends of the spectrum, there are foods that can actually help build up and strengthen your teeth. Foods such as yogurt, cheese, fruits and celery can all be great for your teeth. Celery contains material that scrubs food away from the surface of your teeth, and generates saliva, which also helps clear bacteria from your mouth. Any food containing calcium is also great for your teeth since calcium protects against periodontal (gum) disease and keeps your jaw bone strong and healthy.
Regular Dentist Visits
Plaque buildup is unfortunately pretty inevitable. Even if you do everything you can to prevent it on you and your child’s teeth, you can’t keep it off alone. Visiting a dentist every six months will help take care of the difficult to reach plaque, or plaque that has already hardened and can’t be easily brushed away. The more you visit your dentist the less likely that plaque will get the chance to turn into tartaror cavities.
Avoiding plaque altogether is basically impossible, but there are things you can do to reduce it, and get rid of it whenever it does accumulate. This is the main goal of proper oral healthcare, and it will help you avoid cavities, tooth decay, gum disease and so many other dental issues in the future. Make sure you’re showing your kids a good example on how to take care of your teeth, and they’re much more likely to carry these good habits into their future.
When it comes to general dentists, most of us rarely give the job much thought. Sure, we know dentists clean teeth and go to school, but beyond that most of us do not have a clue. Here are a few interesting facts that will help you better understand and be more appreciative of all the things our dentists do for us.
4 Facts about general dentists
The following are four interesting facts to know about general dentists.
1. Dentists are in demand
While you hopefully have had no trouble in finding the right dentist for you, the current demand for dentists is high. With fewer people attending dental school and more environmental factors affecting our teeth than ever before, the need for dental professionals will only continue to increase. Chlorine in pools and drinking water, the increased frequency of antibiotic use and the consumption of sugary and acidic drinks are all contributors to this rise in dentistry demand.
2. More than tooth brushers
Beyond the routine cleaning and maintenance of patient oral health, dentists have many responsibilities. Your general dentist handles the diagnosis of dental and gum diseases, cosmetic procedures, teeth whitening, patient education, surgery and implants, extractions and so much more. The variety of work done by general dentists goes beyond what most professions require, making dentistry a very interesting and challenging industry.
3. Only 20% specialize
While it may seem like every dental professional would be clamoring for specialized spots, the majority of dentists prefer general dentistry. With only 20% of dental students choosing to specialize according to the American Dental Association, the other 80% are general dental practitioners. Those that do specialize can choose from one of the 10 recognized areas of dentistry: Dental Anesthesiology, Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Prosthodontics.
4. Art meets science
For many dental professionals, the pull of dentistry, as opposed to other medical fields, has to do with the change for artistic expression. Dentists must combine their medical knowledge, practical skill and understanding of aesthetics on a daily basis. To create the most beautiful smiles, dentists must be able to apply a creative and artistic eye to the teeth of their patients. By combining an understanding of balance, symmetry, and aesthetic beauty with education and medical training, dentistry is the perfect career for anyone who loves art and science.
The bottom line
General dentists can have extremely varied and challenging careers. Oral health is interconnected with overall health, so finding a trusted general dentist is important.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. It is directly caused by the bacterial plaque: a soft, sticky and colourless bacterial film constantly being formed on our teeth and gums.
Classic signs and symptoms of gingivitis are red, swollen and sensitive gums which may bleed when brushed. Another sign of the disease is that gums may have receded from the teeth and, consequently, the teeth appear to be elongated. Another symptom is bad breath or halitosis.
Simple gingivitis may be prevented through good oral hygiene:
Correct brushing and appropriate use of dental floss to eliminate plaque, bits of food and control tartar build-up.
Toothpaste containing pyrophosphate may be used by persons with excessive tartar.
Schedule regular check-ups with the dentist. Once tartar is formed, only a professional can remove it (prophylaxis). Depending on how fast the tartar accumulates, a professional cleaning may be required every three months or annually.
Proper eating habits assure an adequate nutrition for the jaw and teeth.
Avoid cigarettes and other types of tobacco.
The processes of some illnesses which may cause or worsen gingivitis should be treated or controlled.
Everybody has a bad taste in their mouth occasionally. It usually goes away after brushing your teeth or rinsing out your mouth.
However, in some cases the bad taste sticks around due to an underlying cause. Regardless of what’s causing it, having a bad taste in your mouth can ruin your appetite, possibly leading to nutritional deficiencies and other problems.
If the bad taste doesn’t go away after a day or two, work with your doctor to figure out what’s causing it. Also be sure to tell them about any changes in your appetite or sense of smell.
Read on to learn more about the causes of a bad taste in your mouth and get some tips on how to keep your mouth tasting fresh.
What’s considered a bad taste?
The definition of a bad taste varies from person to person. For some people, the unpleasant taste in their mouth is metallic. For others, it may be bitter or foul, depending on the cause. You might even notice a diminished sense of taste during meals.
Oral causes of a bad taste in the mouth
Poor hygiene and dental problems
The most common reasons for a bad taste in your mouth have to do with dental hygiene. Not flossing and brushing regularly can cause gingivitis, which can cause a bad taste in your mouth.
Dental problems, such as infections, abscesses, and even wisdom teeth coming in, can also cause a bad taste.
Other symptoms of dental problems include: bad breath, bleeding, red, or swollen gums, sensitive teeth, loose teeth.
You can avoid most common dental problems by regularly flossing and brushing your teeth. It’s also important to regularly visit your dentist for cleanings and exams. You can also add an antibacterial mouth rinse to your dental routine for added protection.
Dry mouth, sometimes called xerostomia, happens when your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva. This can cause a dry, sticky feeling inside your mouth.
Saliva reduces the growth of bacteria in your mouth and helps to remove bits of food. When you don’t have enough saliva, you might have a bad taste in your mouth due to extra bacteria and leftover food there.
Several things can cause dry mouth, including: over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, aging, stuffy nose causing mouth breathing, nerve damage, tobacco use, autoimmune conditions, diabetes.
If you have dry mouth, work with your doctor to figure out what’s causing it. Most people with dry mouth find relief through lifestyle changes, medication adjustments, and OTC or prescription mouth rinses.
Oral thrush
Thrush is a type of yeast infection that grows in warm, moist areas, including your mouth. Anyone can develop oral thrush, but babies, older adults, and people with suppressed immune systems are more likely to get it.
Oral thrush can also cause: white bumps, redness, burning, or soreness, trouble swallowing, dry mouth.
Regularly flossing, brushing, and rinsing out your mouth can help prevent oral thrush. Also try to limit your intake of sugar because yeast feeds on it.
Always contact your doctor if you have white spots in your mouth, even if you don’t have any other symptoms.
Respiratory infections
Infections in your system, especially viral infections, can affect the taste in your mouth. Tonsillitis, sinusitis, colds, and middle ear infections frequently affect your senses of taste and smell.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. One of its early symptoms is a bitter taste in your mouth.
Pregnancy
The hormonal fluctuations of early pregnancy can cause many sensory changes. You might crave foods you’ve never wanted before or suddenly find certain smells repulsive. Many women also report having a bad taste, usually a metallic one, in their mouth during their first trimester. While the taste may be annoying, it’s usually harmless and goes away later in your pregnancy. Learn more about the metallic taste in your mouth during pregnancy.
Menopause
Women who are going through menopause or are about to often mention having a bitter taste in their mouth. This is usually caused by dry mouth, which is a common symptom of menopause.
Reflux
Bile and acid reflux have similar symptoms and can happen at the same time. They’re caused by either bile, a fluid made in your liver that helps digestion, or stomach acid moving up through your esophagus.
Vitamins and dietary supplements
Many vitamins and supplements can cause a metallic taste in your mouth, especially if you take them in large amounts.
Cancer treatments
There are many chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer. Treatment with chemotherapy usually involves a combination of these, and many of them can cause a metallic or sour taste.
Neurological conditions
Your taste buds are connected to nerves in the brain. Anything that affects these nerves can cause a bad taste in your mouth.
The bottom line
If you have an unexplained bad taste in your mouth, make an appointment with your doctor to find the underlying cause.
During your appointment, make sure you tell your doctor:
All the medications and supplements you take.
Any other symptoms you have, even if they seem unrelated.
Many people think going to the dentist for regular checkups is just about keeping your mouth clean and maintaining a bright smile. In a lot of cases, your dentist is the first line of defense when it comes to early diagnosis of dental issues as well as other health problems.
According to research, over 90 percent of all diseases have oral manifestation, which means regular dental visits are not limited to oral hygiene, so you should schedule a visit to the dentist even if you don’t currently have a dental issue.
How your dentist can diagnose dental issues early
If you are visiting a dentist for the first time, make sure you tell them about any dental issues you are having and also provide them with your complete medical history. When they have all the necessary information on hand, your dentist will be on the lookout for symptoms of serious dental issues as well as other health risks.
A routine dental checkup will help your dentist know if you have cavities, which are decayed areas of your teeth. Cavities can be treated by your dentist drilling away the decayed part of your teeth and replacing it with filling made of either porcelain, composite resin or metal.
If you suffer from gum disease or bleeding gums, it could be caused by plaque buildup inflaming your gums. It could also be caused by diabetes. If you have bleeding gums but you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, your dentist will likely be the first person to notice the symptoms during a routine checkup and will tell you to go see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
Another dental issue your dentist can diagnose early is oral cancer. If you are having difficulty swallowing, numbness in your tongue or experiencing pain in your jaw, you should schedule an appointment if the symptoms persist for over a week. Your dentist will check your face, lips and mouth for any signs of oral cancer. Even if you don’t exhibit the symptoms, many dentists perform the test during routine checkups as a preventive measure. If the test performed by your dentist confirms that you have oral cancer, you will be able to start treatments before it spreads, giving you a better chance of beating the disease because it was caught early.
Tobacco use increases your chances of having cavities, gum disease and oral cancer, which is why dentists and doctors recommend not smoking. If you are a smoker and want to quit, ask your dentist for recommendations on how to kick the habit.
Routine visits to the dentist can also help detect early signs of heart disease. Studies have shown that people with periodontal disease are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart disease.
Bottom line
Dentists usually help you maintain good oral hygiene, but they can also spot signs of other diseases which can help you start treatment early and prevent them from getting more serious. Make sure you schedule regular appointments with your dentist to deal with your dental issues and also catch potential problems.
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that weather can affect your health, but many people do not realize that this also includes your oral health. While autumn brings all kinds of wonderful things with it like brightly colored trees, comfy sweaters and hot chocolate, the cooler temperatures can also cause problems with your oral health.Here are three of the most common issues you might experience, when the weather turns colder.
1. A Sore Jaw
Many people experience achy joints during the cooler weather. Well, you jaw is attached to a very important joint called the temporomandibular. If you have TMD (grinding of the teeth), this can be made worse by the cold.Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for TMD so you should speak to your dentist if this is a concern.
2. Dry Mouth
Cooler temperatures are often accompanied by drier air, so your mouth can dry out more easily. And to further exacerbate this, you are less likely to drink enough water in the cold than you are in the hot weather.Dry mouth can be a factor in a number of dental issues including bad breath, more frequent tooth decay, problems wearing dentures and gum irritation.Addressing dry mouth can be as simple as drinking more water and using a humidifier at home or in your office. If problems persist however, your dentist can recommend alternative treatments.
3. Tooth Sensitivity
If you have sensitive teeth, you may be more likely to notice it in the autumn once the temperature starts to cool. If you experience pain or sensitivity when eating cold foods such as ice cream, you may experience a similar sensation when cold wind is blowing on your teeth.
The sensitivity can be even more severe if you like to enjoy a hot soup or cocoa after coming inside from the cold. Using a toothpaste that is formulated for sensitive teeth can help but if your teeth are more sensitive than they normally are or if they are only sensitive in a certain spot, it could be a sign of a cavity, so you will want to visit your dentist to be sure.
If you have been dealing with any of the issues above associated with the autumn weather and would like to discuss them further, call to your Dentist today, to rule out any underlying problems and to help you with strategies to keep your teeth healthy at any time of year.
Bad breath can be the source of embarrassment and frustration, making you self-conscious with every exhalation. And while most of the time this unfortunate symptom can be treated with improved oral hygiene—including brushing, flossing, and getting regular teeth cleanings— sometimes the root cause is something completely unrelated to your dental habits.
One new study has found that in some rare cases, a particular brand of bad breath can signal a serious kidney condition. In fact, some experts say that if your breath smells like this one thing, you should have your kidneys checked by a doctor immediately. Read on to find out what to look out for, and how to help ease your symptoms once you've noticed the problem.
If your breath smells like fish, it could be due to kidney failure.
If you've noticed that your breath—or your sweat or urine, for that matter—smell like rotting fish, it could be the result of kidney failure, a new study published in the quarterly medical journal, Hippokratia, has found.
This disorder is known as trimethylaminuria or fish odor syndrome. "In trimethylaminuria, the body is unable to turn a strong-smelling chemical called trimethylamine–produced in the gut when bacteria break down certain foods–into a different chemical that doesn't smell," explains the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS).
There are other possible causes of this symptom.
Trimethylaminuria is not frequently associated with renal failure, and the Hippokratia study is the first of its kind to link the two conditions. However, in that particular case study, the researchers found that one 28-year-old suffered from fish odor syndrome as a result of his kidney disease, ultimately getting relief from the syndrome only after having a kidney transplant.
In other cases, fish odor syndrome can be caused by mutations in the FMO3 gene, excessive protein consumption, liver disease, an increase in certain gut bacteria, poor hygiene, gingivitis, and more. Some women with a faulty FM03 gene experience increased symptoms at the start of menstruation, or when taking oral contraceptives.
Diagnostic tests, usually conducted by urine sample, can help you determine whether your symptoms are the result of fish odor syndrome or from some other cause.
Unfortunately, even when the symptom doesn't indicate a serious underlying cause, it can still trigger serious psychological distress to those who suffer from it. "The strong body odor can interfere with many aspects of daily life, affecting a person's relationships, social life, and career," reads the Hippokratia study. "Some people with trimethylaminuria experience depression and social isolation as a result of this condition."
The researchers behind the Drug Discovery Today study confirmed these same findings, adding that "although the disease is considered benign, its psychological burden can be devastating." They warn that many patients suffer from "strong feelings of shame, embarrassment, social isolation and even suicidal tendencies, among others."
For this reason, experts recommend a two-pronged approach to treatment, after ruling out serious causes like kidney disease. First, you should consult your doctor for tips on dietary changes that can lessen symptoms, and second, speak with a counselor who can help assess and address your emotional wellbeing.
Brushing your teeth is such a routine habit that you may forget that there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. But proper brushing is super important for preventing tooth decay and gum disease! Here are a few things you may be doing wrong in your dental hygiene habits and what to do instead to make sure your smile stays healthy now and into the future.
You’re Rushing and Brushing Too Hard
Hard and fast may be great for your SoulCycle workout, but not so for your teeth. Whether you’re rushing out the door to work in the morning or groggily stumbling to bed in the evening, there’s a tendency to rush through your dental hygiene routine just to get it over with. If you’re not going to brush for 2 whole minutes, you may think you can make up for it by applying more pressure and scrubbing your teeth harder. Not true! It’s much more important to be thorough and gentle. Brushing too hard can actually weaken your tooth enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay and sensitive teeth. Plus, you can actually irritate an injure your gums by brushing too hard. Take the time to do it right and your smile will thank you!
You’re Using the Wrong Toothbrush
Despite what some ads and commercials might have you think, there is no single brand of toothbrush that most dentists recommend. That being said, there are some guidelines you should always follow when choosing a toothbrush. First, get a soft-bristle brush. We know there are medium bristle and hard bristle options out there, but we’re sort of confused as to why they exist, because they’re not good for your teeth (they can be really hard on your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities and sensitivity). So stick to a soft bristle brush and only buy a hard bristle one if you’re going to use it to clean the grout in your bathroom.
Believe it or not, size is important too. If you have a smaller mouth, choose a brush with a smaller head that allows you to reach the tighter spaces in the back of your mouth. We’d hate to see your back molars getting neglected just because your toothbrush is too big!
Your Toothbrush Is Ancient
Once you’ve found your perfect toothbrush, try not to get too attached. It’s going to be a three-month relationship at most. That’s right: the lifespan of a toothbrush is only about three months. After that, the bristles get worn out and start sticking out every which way, which makes it hard for them to effectively remove plaque and debris from the surfaces of your teeth. If your toothbrush looks fluffy like a feather duster (or Guy Fieri’s hair), it’s time to toss it.
