What is Dry Socket?

After removing a tooth such as a wisdom tooth, a dry socket can occur when the blood clot for the healing process becomes dislodged or does not form. When that happens, the bone and fine nerve endings are exposed to air, liquids, and foods. A dry socket will delay the healing process and can be very painful. One should see a dentist right away if one suspects they may have a dry socket

What are the potential long-term hazards of using whitening Toothpaste? 

All toothpaste will help remove surface stains. However, whitening toothpaste has more abrasive formulations and acts more quickly, so you see a result faster. Whitening agents in toothpaste are low and are typically not in contact with your teeth long enough to whiten your teeth. The Abrasiveness helps remove stains from your teeth—agents such as silica, calcium carbonate, or dicalcium phosphate. The potential hazard of using tooth-whitening toothpaste is that long-term use of these heavily abrasive toothpaste will eventually weaken enamel to the point where plaque and bacteria begin to damage the teeth. All toothpaste has some abrasiveness, but before using whitening toothpaste long-term, talk to your dentist to see what is best advised.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Many people deal with having sensitive teeth on a daily bases. Usually, when eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet, or acidic. Sensitivity can happen when tooth enamel starts to thin or wear down, exposing the underlying root surface dentin. Receding gums can also expose your tooth dentin, causing tooth sensitivity. There are many reasons why you can wear or thin down your tooth enamel. A few would be drinking Acidic beverages like sodas, Teeth grinding, Brushing with abrasive toothpaste or brushing incorrectly, or overbrushing more than recommended. At the same time, gum disease can cause receding gums. Other ways to expose your tooth dentin would be by a chipped or fractured tooth. With proper dental care, you can avoid sensitive teeth. Talk to your dentist if you currently have sensitive teeth to find the best treatment option.

Studies indicate that older adults have a higher risk of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health. Dental health care is essential at any age. When you consider that almost one out of four people over age 65 have lost most of their teeth and that receding gums tissue affects most older people, proper dental care for seniors is a critical issue to address. Yet many seniors still need dental care they are not currently getting due to no transportation to a dental office, the cost of dental care, and a lack of dental insurance. Many seniors feel they do not need dental care even though poor dental health care has been linked to other health risk factors.

Improperly maintained swimming pools can be hazardous to your teeth. 

Did you know improperly maintained pools can cause severe and rapid dental enamel erosion? Maintenance by a professional pool service can be costly, which is why many pool owners will do the work themselves; however, If the chemical levels are not adequately maintained, pool water contact with teeth can cause severe enamel erosion damaging your teeth permanently

Vending Machines can Influence a Child’s Diet and Oral Health Care. 

Although many schools are changing what foods are in their vending machines, many more vending machines still provide sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snacks that can affect children’s teeth. In the younger grades, the school is either removing vending machines altogether or offering healthier snacks. Though in high schools and colleges, junk food in vending machines is still wildly offered. Many dentists are concerned that their patients are still consuming too much of the sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snacks that are found in many vending machines. These snacks typically have very little, if any, nutritional value; over time, they can take a toll on one’s teeth. Food choices among children and teens are important factors that affect how quickly they may develop tooth decay.

Risk factors of having your tongue, lips, and cheeks pierced includes:  

• Dangers like chipped and fractured teeth 
• Damage to your gums 
• Periodontal disease 
• Problems with speech 
• Swallowing and chewing 
• The studs themselves could be harboring bacteria increasing risks for infection. 

Studies found that studs made of steel seemed to promote the development of a biofilm, a thin layer of microorganisms that adhere to the surface of a structure. Types of bacteria associated with staph infections were found on the steel and titanium studs, leading researchers to conclude that metal studs increase risks for complications if a piercing channel becomes infected.

Taking Away the Fear and Anxiety from Your Dental Visit with Conscious Sedation. 

We are someone, or we know someone, who has had bad experiences with their dentist or is afraid of any dental pain. Sometimes this leads to high anxiety for many, making them avoid regular dental care because of anxiety and fear. However, with Conscious Sedation, you will be able to be in a comfortable and relaxed state of mind. Conscious Sedation Dentistry is administered by simply taking a pill. No need to worry if your body will act funny because all body functions will remain completely normal. The advantages to conscious sedation are that the pill is easy to administer, safe and easy to monitor, works well for most people, and can be given at a low cost. Also, unlike anesthesia, where a patient is completely unconscious, under conscious sedation, can respond to commands or questions. With conscious sedation, there is no real reason why you should not take care of your dental health and see your dentist regularly. Talk to your dentist about conscious sedation and see if this is a good choice.

Dentist Opens Their Dental Practice to the Online Community. 

When finding a new dentist, people turn to the internet. More dentists see that more than the phone book and word of mouth is needed to get them noticed. They are opening their practice to the online community. Doing so not only helps them get new patients they might not have had otherwise but also provides added service to people visiting their sites. Many dental office websites provide information on their practice and for increased knowledge of dental healthcare. Dental offices may also offer specials on their website for dental services you may not get otherwise.

Some benefits of having Porcelain Veneers: 

• Porcelain veneers can completely transform your teeth and smile. 
• Porcelain veneers remain among the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in the United States. 
• Veneers can be used to fix many dental problems. 
• With veneers, a dentist can control your new teeth’ color, position, shape, and size. They also can correct crooked, worn, or chipped teeth. 

Ask your dentist about dental veneers to see what your options are.

Fall Brings more Concerns about Children’s Dental Health. 

Many schools offer dental healthcare programs for the coming of fall and going back to school, Going over the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth to their overall healthcare. Some schools invite dentists to give a presentation to the children to stop bad dental care habits. Ask your local dentist if your child’s school does not provide such a program. They may have free days where they go over children’s dental care.

Breastfeeding VS Bottle-feeding in Preventing Childhood Cavities. 

It has been suggested that breastfeeding over bottle feeding is better for your baby’s overall health. However, concerning early childhood cavities, breastfeeding is no better or worse than bottle feeding. Both can cause dental decay in baby teeth if proper dental care is not taken. To help prevent dental erosion: Avoid overnight feedings; letting your baby nurse at will can make milk pool in the baby’s mouth, which will cause acid to form contagiously throughout the night, leading to tooth decay. This is the same with bottles, so avoid letting your child walk around with a baby bottle. Whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby, wipe your teeth and gums with a clean damp washcloth after feedings. The ADA (American Dental Association) suggest you encourage your child to drink from a cup by the time they reach their first birthday. Dentists offer you to take your child to their first dental appointment by the time they get their first birthday. We recommend having either dental insurance or a dental plan to help make going to the dentist more affordable. And remember, preventive dental care starts from home.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay what it is, and how to Prevent it. 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD) is caused by frequent and prolonged exposure to liquids except for plain water. Beverages include formula, milk, fruit juices, and drinks containing sugars. If these liquids pool around the baby’s teeth and gums for an extended period, they will lead to cavities that first develop in the upper and lower front teeth.

Usually, this happens when you leave a baby with a baby bottle to sleep or to soothe a baby from crying. You should not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle filled with anything other than plain water or use a pacifier. See if your dentist has a pacifier they recommend you use. If you are breastfeeding, try to avoid letting your child nurse continuously. Also, remember to wipe your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean damp washcloth after feedings. BBTD is preventable with proper dental healthcare. Ask your dentist for more dental care tips for your child and ensure they have regular dental checkups.

Know how to care for your Baby’s Teeth? 

Good oral healthcare starts right from the beginning of your child’s life. Taking care of your child’s oral health before their first teeth emerge would be best. Certain factors may affect your child’s teeth’ appearance. One of them is tetracycline, an antibiotic that can cause tooth discoloration. It is something to beware of and should not be used by nursing or expectant mothers in the last half of pregnancy.

Baby teeth will usually start emerging around six months of age. Standard brushing and flossing healthcare procedures are not required for infants. However, infants have special oral healthcare needs that must meet. Parents should know how to guard against baby bottle tooth decay. Parents also need to take their child to see a dentist at the cutting of their first tooth or by the time they are one year old. Prevention is the key, so the sooner you start with proper dental care, the better.

Dentist in California now Offers New Life-Saving Stem Cell Preservation.

Service for their Patients. Michael Fulbright, DDS, co-founder of Aesthetic Edge in Redondo Beach, is among the first dentists in the nation to offer a new service that recovers and preserves powerful dental stem cells. Only recently have regenerative medical researchers looked to human teeth as ideal sources for stem cells, which are widely used in treating leukemia and heart disease. Until now, they could only be retrieved stem cells from umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, and bone marrow. According to Fulbright, dental stem cells are found only in healthy teeth (those with a blood supply), such as wisdom teeth and those that must be pulled for orthodontic work. He said that young patients, mainly, are excellent candidates for banking their stem cells since they usually undergo such extractions.

Social Consequences Associated with Gum Disease.

Gum Disease has far-reaching consequences that many overlook or feel are not significant problems to address. Even though many people may suffer from various forms of gum disease, few realize how others can perceive their ailment. While gingivitis may not seem like a significant problem to many unsuspecting people, dental professionals worldwide agree that it is a severe complication and can lead to more overlooked issues impacting a person’s health. Beverly Hills periodontist Dr. Alex Farnoosh of The Total Smile argues that gum disease can and will, if untreated, create unsightly cosmetic problems like discolored gums, bleeding around the gum line, and eventually, tooth loss.

The Use Of Twitter For Public Health Surveillance of Dental Care. The micro-blogging service Twitter and other social networks are a new means for the public to communicate their health concerns. They could afford healthcare professionals new ways to communicate with their patients. Websites such as Twitter and Facebook it is explicit we are experiencing a revolution in communication and information sharing. Many dentists are using these social networks as a means of communication with their current patients and potential patients.

Fertility Linked To Oral Health Care in Women 

Studies show that women who want a baby should look after their oral health care. A fertility expert stated in a meeting in Sweden yesterday. During the meeting, delegates heard about preliminary research that found for the first time, from when she starts trying to conceive, a woman’s chances of falling pregnant can depend on how well she looks after her teeth and gums. A professor at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Roger Hart, stated in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting in Stockholm that the effect of gum disease on conception is about the same order of magnitude as the effect of obesity.

Amalgam fillings are thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use today. Amalgam fillings are durable and highly resistant to wear and are the lower-cost filling option.

Amalgam fillings combine elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper, and other metallic elements. Although amalgam filling is still considered safe, the concerns raised were about the mercury content in amalgams. However, mercury, when combined with other metals, is rendered stable and safe for fillings.

Since amalgam filling can withstand high pressure, they become helpful in filling molars where the chewing load is higher. Most people with only rare occurrences of allergic response well tolerate amalgam filling. Some people may have short-term sensitivity to hot and cold after having an amalgam filling. An amalgam filling is silver in color, which may be okay for back teeth that are not easily seen but might not want you would want to have towards the front of your mouth.

Amalgam fillings are useful in baby teeth. If a child still has baby teeth but needs a filling, you may not want to spend the cost for white color fillings on teeth that will soon come out when your child starts to get their adult teeth in.

In the end, amalgam filling still has its place, and it should be something to consider when having a filling done. Talk to your dentist and find out all your filling options, then decide what you may feel is best for you and your family And remember, all dental services are less expensive when you have dental insurance or a dental discount plan. So keep us in mind for your dental plans needs.

According to a new research study, oral health deteriorates during hospitalization and is associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections and reduced quality of life. This Research published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology provides the latest evidence that oral health is being overlooked in hospitals, with potentially serious consequences. The Research identified increases in plaque accumulation and gingival and mucosal inflammation. The findings were worst amongst patients who required help with their breathing.