But while any type of problem with your teeth and gums should always be dealt with in an expedient manner, there are certain problems that can cause more damage in a shorter amount of time than others. One such example would be teeth grinding, both the daytime awake version and the nighttime, while-you-are-asleep kind. To look a little bit deeper into what can come as a result of consistent tooth grinding, let’s examine a couple of issues:

Loss of Tooth Enamel

The first danger of unchecked tooth grinding is that it can damage the protective coating on them called enamel. This helps to protect you from the various effects that food, beverages, acids, and everything else that comes in contact with your teeth can have on them. And once enamel is gone, it doesn’t come back.

Head, Ear, and Toothaches

Another problem stemming from teeth grinding is the pain that it can cause. Because the muscles in the face and jaw clinch so hard and for so long during these sessions, it can lead to anything from moderate to significant pain anywhere in the face. This includes not only the teeth themselves, but also the cheeks, temples, sinuses, and basically everywhere else.

If you are in need of treatment to help correct you or a loved one’s habit of grinding your teeth, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at our office immediately. We are ready to help you as soon as possible.

Then there is central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing and then the last form of apnea is complex sleep apnea syndrome or also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, and this occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Why should You Consider a Mouthguard for Sleep Apnea?

A custom mouthguard is made by the dentist to help reduce snoring and alleviate obstructive sleep apnea and it can be a powerful method of achieving greater sleep health and has been effective in numerous clinical trials. The mouthguard is relatively comfortable and tends to be used more consistently giving a better adherence rate.

The patients report that the mouthguards are fairly comfortable and easy to wear, they are convenient for travel due to the compactness of their size, the mouthguards are less invasive and far quieter than a CPAP machine. The other advantage, of course, is the cost, which is usually a factor for a lot of patients.

If you are curious about a custom mouthguard as a treatment option, we encourage you to call our office for a visit and we can set you up for an appointment with a special sleep dentist who can perform an examination of your oral cavity – which will include your throat, tongue, jaw and teeth, and possibly an x-ray of your airway. This is the first step and we will help you get to the right professional to guide you through the process.

Facts About Root Canals

A root canal is a procedure that involves removing the diseased pulp in a tooth while preserving the rest of the tooth. It is supposed to stop the pain that comes from a tooth with a deep cavity that can reach the nerves. A root canal requires an anesthetic to prevent any pain from the procedure. That anesthetic will wear off shortly after the procedure, but you may experience some effects of the procedure for a time after it is done. It is important to know what is normal and what type of pain is not normal after a root canal so you know what to do about it.

After a Root Canal

It is normal to have swelling and discomfort after a root canal. That can last for a few days. During this time, you should manage any pain or other symptoms with over the counter medications and a good oral hygiene routine. There are some cases when a problem with the root canal procedure is the cause of the tooth pain.

It is possible that during the procedure, the tissue surrounding the root canal has some damage from the instruments. This can cause the area surrounding the root canal to experience additional pain and sensitivity. Another common cause is a temporary filling that is too high. A high filling will cause discomfort when you put pressure on it. This is something that will stop when a new, permanent filling is put in place.

Anytime you feel pain or discomfort after a root canal or any other procedure, you can call our office to ask if it is something to worry about. You can also contact us to schedule an appointment to help you with anything regarding your oral health.

Gum disease may hurt the inside of your mouth, but it also can affect your entire body. The disease can spread into your circulatory system and travel to other parts of your body. Researchers have even reported that gum disease, if untreated, could result in death.

How Gum Disease Can Affect the Rest of Your Body

The cause of infections outside of your mouth from gum disease is because the hostile bacteria in your mouth travel up and down through your bloodstream. The bacteria will group in other areas of your body and continue to populate those areas. The hostile bugs found in your mouth are the same reproducing bacteria that can be found in the arteries of people who have heart disease.

The body fights these bacteria by swelling up. Your gums become swollen because more blood in the area means more white blood cells to fight the bacteria. When flossing your teeth or brushing, if you see blood or it is painful and swollen, it’s a sign you probably have an infection the body is responding to.

You combat this by practicing correct oral health habits. Brush your teeth twice per day for two minutes. Floss one time each day. Use a mouthwash at the end that has fluoride. Make this a daily routine that you follow. It will slowly kill off the bacteria in your mouth. Next, give our office a call and get your teeth professionally deep cleaned.

Don’t forget to ask us about the best cleaning schedule for your teeth. Some situations require cleanings 3-4 months apart until the bacteria are completely gone. You can also inquire from us about if you would benefit by having us add a protective coating and sealant.

Social Situations

If you don’t want to smile when meeting someone new or when spending time with your friends, they may start to think you don’t like them. Some people may think you’re not very friendly or that you don’t like them, even if that’s not the case at all. If you do smile, people may notice your teeth, and while some may not care, others may ask you personal questions you don’t feel comfortable answering.

Your Employment

In an ideal world, getting a job will always involve being evaluated for your skills and knowledge, not your looks. However, the sad truth is that we don’t live in such a world, and many employers do judge you based on your appearance. This is especially true for jobs in customer service, television, and other positions that deal with the public. You may find that you get passed over for such jobs even if you’re incredibly qualified because you don’t have a perfect smile.

Your Relationships

Finally, just like employment, some people do base their relationships more about how you look than on who you are. They may find your damaged smile unappealing or may even be embarrassed to be seen with you. It’s not nice, and many would say it’s certainly not right, but unfortunately it is how some people are. If you’re done with your damaged smile, we’re here to help. Whether you just need a few fillings or minor repairs to your teeth or want to replace them with dentures or implants, we can give you back your perfect smile. Call us today to schedule an appointment.

Gum Health

Having straighter teeth helps keep your gums healthy. When there are odd spaces between teeth or when your teeth are crowded together, it can weaken the gums, leading to periodontal disease. This makes your gums swell up and often causes bleeding when you brush.

Your Teeth Will Last Longer

When your teeth are straight, they wear down at the same rate. When some are crooked, those teeth may wear down much more quickly because they rub against other teeth. For example, if your bottom teeth are crooked, one may stick out a bit more than the others, and it may rub against the back of an upper tooth. The enamel on both of these teeth then wears down more quickly than it should.

Your Teeth Won’t Be at Risk

Teeth that aren’t aligned right can stick out, putting them more at risk of damage if you’re in any type of accident. These teeth are more likely to crack or even break off if you get hit in the face since they’re not in line with the rest. Crooked teeth also often develop cavities more quickly or have worse cavities than other teeth. This is because it’s often more difficult to clean these teeth since they’re all crowded together. You can’t always easily get floss down in between them. Do you have a few crocked teeth you want taken care of? Give us a call today to schedule a consultation so you can take back your smile!

There was a time when people that today we would call an herbologist, were instead branded as witches because the uneducated people of the Middle Ages didn’t understand what the healers were doing. To them, it looked like potions and poisons.

But essential oils have made a comeback. It is true that many of the drugs that we use today are based on the knowledge the healers had about their properties. Pharmaceutical companies figured out how to chemically replicate these substances and created the drugs that we take today. They are still finding more and more plants with disease-curing properties in the forests around the world. So, what if these oils can we use for oral health.

What Essential Oils Work?

There are several herbs that are easy to use and also easy to find. Some may surprise you as they are so commonplace you wouldn’t expect them to do anything but make your food taste good. Piqued your interest? What are these simple herbs? These simple herbs would be cloves, thyme, cinnamon, oregano, and peppermint. Tea Tree Oil is another that you might not know about, but that has been used in oral care for centuries.

If you engage in tooth-pulling add some oregano to your coconut oil. It is an anti-inflammatory and also an antioxidant. Clove oil can be rubbed on the gums to relieve tooth pain. Thyme is good to use as a mouthwash ingredient. It adds flavor but also helps protect against tooth decay, gingivitis, and general mouth infections. Tea Tree Oil and cinnamon are both antiseptic and anti-bacterial. Both can be used in mouthwashes but note that Tea Tree Oil cannot be swallowed. You must spit it out.

Ask us about essential oils at your next appointment. We’d be happy to discuss them with you.

Saliva is crucial to your oral health. Without it, you will not only have gum problems, but problems with your teeth as well. If those two reasons aren’t enough to convince you, we will give you one more reason. If you don’t produce enough saliva you will have bad breath. No one wants their co-workers backing away from them when they talk.

What Does Saliva Do for Me?

Saliva is a crucial part of keeping your teeth strong and your gums healthy. When you eat or drink, remnants of the food or drink, stay on your teeth. This is what you brush away with your toothbrush. But you can’t brush your teeth constantly. That is why you have saliva.

Saliva is like your body’s own mouthwash. It cleans the acids away from your teeth and gums until it is time for you to brush again. It has properties that neutralize the effects of the bacteria that live naturally in your mouth.

Most people at some time or another have experienced dry mouth. That is what we call it when you don’t produce enough saliva. You may also have noticed that when you have dry mouth your teeth may feel a little slimy and your tongue may feel strange. The roof of your mouth may also feel a little sticky.

You don’t normally feel like this. That is because normally you have sufficient saliva to clean away all of the gunk accumulating in your mouth over the day, in between brushings. If you stay sufficiently hydrated, you won’t have these problems. If you have to take medication that causes dry mouth, you should drink more liquids than usual to compensate for the medication. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Types of Dental Cleanings

The cleaning you are probably most familiar with is called a routine dental cleaning, or prophylaxis cleaning. This type of cleaning is usually used for people who are coming into the office for their six-month cleaning and checkup. In a routine cleaning, a dental hygienist will remove any plaque on the teeth, and clean and check the teeth. Flossing will also be done. These cleanings help to keep your mouth healthy. If you get a routine cleaning every six months, you will be able to maintain good dental health.

Some people may come into our office after they have not been to the dentist for a long time. In that case, a more thorough cleaning will be needed, because plaque will have built up and hardened on the surface of teeth. This plaque is so hard you would not be able to remove it yourself. In a gross debridement cleaning, instruments are used to remove plaque from the tooth’s surface, as well as the gums. Once a debridement is complete, dental professionals can see if additional work will need to be completed, or if the teeth are in good shape.

Sometimes, patients come into the office with gum disease already present. They might also come in with gum disease that is dangerously close to happening. For these patients, different instruments are used to scale away the plaque, and treat the underlying gum disease.

Whatever shape your mouth is in, we can clean it! Why not give us a call and let us help you get or keep your bright, beautiful smile.

Why Parsley Will Freshen Your Breath

Parsley has a strong, fresh flavor that acts as a natural deodorizer. Additionally, the fact that parsley has a deep green color is a sign that it contains a lot of chlorophyll. Many people believe that this has some natural antibacterial properties.

Other Benefits of Eating Parsley

Besides containing a lot of chlorophyll, parsley also contains a high level of the flavonoid apigenin. Some studies suggest that this contains great anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This will help with your digestive tract too – another area where debris gathers and bacteria grows, giving you bad breath.

How Much Parsley is too Much

The U.S. FDA recognizes the consumption of parsley as being safe. However, you shouldn’t consume large amounts of it. This is because eating more than is commonly found in foods you’d enjoy can be dangerous. It can result in problems with your kidneys or liver. Additionally, it may also cause you to develop anemia.

One way you’ll know that you’ve consumed too much parsley is because it’s a diuretic, which means that it’ll make you pee more than normal.

You also don’t want to start eating parsley seed oil. While this is safe for the use in food, it isn’t safe if it touches your skin. Not only could this possibly cause a rash, but it may also make you extremely sensitive to sunlight.

Anyone who’s allergic to carrots, celery, or fennel should also avoid parsley. Since you’re allergic to these things, it’s also quite possible for you to be allergic to parsley as well.

To learn more about things like parsley that can improve your breath, give our office a call today.