5 Dental Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Even with regular check-ups, things can go wrong when it comes to your teeth and gums. Know when to contact your dentist with these symptoms you should watch for.

THE BEST HEALTH

With regular dentist visits, we all should be able to keep on top of any problems that might affect our mouths. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be aware of those symptoms that warrant a quicker appointment especially for those of us who leave more time than we should between visits. 'It's not that hard for people to look in their mouths when cleaning their teeth to see if there's anything that wasn't there before,' says Dr. Edmund Peters, a professor in the school of dentistry at the University of Alberta. Just keep in mind that by the time the signs begin to show up in your mouth, the problem is likely advanced' so never hesitate to phone your dentist. Here's Dr. Peters' list of the dental symptoms you should never ignore.

Dental symptom #1:  Changing gums

Gum disease includes gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (a more advanced condition, which, if untreated, could lead to tooth loss) and is caused by plaque, an almost invisible sticky film containing bacteria that can form on a clean tooth within 24 hours. With time, this plaque can harden into tartar or calculus. The tartar can accumulate under your gum line, causing even more inflammation.

Contact your dentist if you experienced these symptoms:

• Changes in color, for instance from a normal pink color to red or bluish-red
• Swollen gums with a spongy feel
• Receding gums, making the teeth look larger' you may see some of the root
• Pus, odor, or new spaces forming between the teeth

Dental symptom #2:  White spots on teeth

Dental decay is essentially an infection in your tooth which starts in the hard enamel dissolving in response to acid produced bacteria. The first signs are white spots that form in the very early stages.

When decay begins, particularly if this is happening between the teeth, you probably won't be aware of it, which is why regular check-ups, including x-rays, are so important. At this point, you may be able to stop the process before it develops into an actual cavity that requires a filling. So if you notice any white spots that weren't there before, it's worth getting them checked out.

Dental symptom #3:  An increased sensitivity to hot and cold

Once decay moves through the enamel and into the center of the tooth, which contains the nerves and the blood vessels, you will likely begin to experience noticeable symptoms, such as new or increased sensitivity to hot and cold or to certain foods. If this occurs, make a dental appointment immediately, as the earlier you treat a cavity, the better.

Sensitivity to hot and cold could also be a sign of less serious problems, such as teeth grinding' which you maybe unaware you're doing, especially if it happens at night or a filling that needs to be fixed. It's always worth mentioning this to your dentist.

Read full story at:  http://www.besthealthmag.ca/

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What Is Good Oral Hygiene?

Bad breath cannot be a consistent problem. Gums don't bleed or hurt and especially appear in pink when you brush or floss. And when you want to keep your teeth as clean as possible and free of debris then that is what you call "good oral hygiene".

Good oral hygiene is a consequence in the mouth that looks and smells healthy. If you are undergoing constant bad breath, or your gums do hurt and bleed while brushing then that is a sign that you need to see your dentist. Any of these cases are implications to certain dental problems. 

Your dentist or any dental professional can aid in helping you learn the good oral hygiene techniques and approach that can help you identify that part of your mouth that may require or need extra consideration and care during brushing as well as during flossing.

Regular teeth brushing and cleaning between teeth is an important habit for good oral hygiene. Cleaning between your teeth after brushing once or twice a day is ideally better. Dental floss is commonly used to do this to remove plaque from between teeth. And for those who are unable to use a toothbrush in particular, regular rinsing with antiseptic help to clean the teeth and prevent gum disease.

Try to avoid sugary foods for they are the main source of bacteria in the mouth. They are broken down into acid which is the common cause of tooth decay and also, tooth erosion. 

Good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums and so it is very crucial maintaining the same. It will not only empower you by making you feel and look good, but also allow you to eat and speak the proper way. Practicing good oral health takes part into your overall well-being.

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Why Quit Smoking

You know you should quit smoking. But you just haven't gotten around to it yet. Here are some reasons to help you commit to quitting:

• You will have a better chance of living a longer, healthier life. As soon as you stop smoking, your body starts to recover. Within two weeks to three months, your heart attack risk declines and lung function improves. Within a year after you have quit, your risk of heart attack declines by about 50 percent. Within 10 years, your risk of lung cancer will be almost the same as if you had never smoked.
•  Your cholesterol levels will improve, significantly lowering your risk for heart disease. Smoking reduces HDL ("good") cholesterol and may alter LDL ("bad") cholesterol so that it leads to a buildup of plaque in your arteries.
•  Your smile will be brighter. With every puff, nicotine and tar coat and stain your teeth. After you quit, make an appointment with your dentist to have the yellow stains cleaned. Your whiter smile can remind you of your accomplishment.

Read full story at  www.childrenshospital.vanderbilt.org

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The Importance Of Proper Denture Care

 

If you’re missing some or all of your teeth, you may have selected to replace them with a denture. While dentures may seem like a simple solution to replace missing teeth, there’s actually a detailed maintenance routine necessary to keep your dentures fitting well and to keep your mouth healthy. 

Dentures Deserves Care, Too!

At my St. Joseph dental office, we’re here to educate our patients on oral health and provide tips on how to keep mouths healthy. When it comes to our denture wearers, it’s no different. Even though dentures are not natural teeth, is doesn’t mean they don’t require just as much care. Proper denture care is crucial to maintaining the life of the appliance and to sustain oral health. well and to keep your mouth healthy.

Often times if dentures aren’t cared for properly, plaque builds up and creates some serious concerns. When left alone, the plaque can cause additional tooth loss, bad breath, and even gum disease. 

Read full story at  www.moderndentistryassociates.com

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Five New Year's Resolution for a Healthier Mouth

Happy New Year! Well we made it through another year, the holidays are now behind us and perhaps like many you’ve made some promises to yourself to make some changes in your life for 2016. However like so many we make New Year's resolutions, but not many of us are not likely to follow through. Turning over a new leaf in the New Year can be difficult as old habits can be hard to break, but finding a way to stick with it is important when that new leaf benefits your health.

If you want to take better care when looking after your teeth and gums this year, these five resolutions can keep you on track:

1.  Schedule a Dental Appointment

If it's been a while since you've seen a dentist, you're not alone, about one third of people don't see a dentist yearly. But booking this appointment is one of the most important things you can do when looking after your teeth. Issues such as sensitivity in the teeth or bleeding gums – are sure signs that it's time to see a dentist. Even if your teeth look and feel fine, enter a reminder in your phone or calendar so that you can call your dentist in January for an appointment.

To make the process of scheduling visits easier, we book your next one before you leave our office.

2.  Commit to Floss Like A Boss

Brushing your teeth twice a day isn't enough to stop plaque from building up on your teeth, or to completely remove bits of food from your mouth. To take the best care of your teeth, you need to floss too. If you're not in the habit of flossing, the New Year is a great time to start.

One way to make it easier to remember is putting a container of floss on top of or directly next to your toothpaste. Position the container so that you have to touch it when getting your toothpaste. Stash another container of floss in your bag or desk drawer at work, so that you can floss on the go if you forget to do it at home.

3.  Cut Back on Sugar

A study published in in September 2014 confirmed a direct link between the amounts of sugar a person eats and the amount of tooth decay he has. Cutting back on sugar can cut your risk for tooth decay considerably.......

Read full story at  http://www.evolvedental.com.au

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Have a Beautiful Smile This Christmas

There's something about Christmas that creates a heart-warming feeling, and with this Yuletide season everybody is getting ready and heat-up with the much awaited festivity. This season is that time of the year for joy and happiness. Maybe this will be the moment to boast and flash your dazzling smile! But on the contrary, this is also a time for grandiose foods and because indeed, it is a grandiose occasion. Festive moments turn thoughts into social gatherings. Party galore, family lunches and wow, the much-awaited posing for photographs as you celebrate with relatives and friends. Hugs and kisses, maybe under the traditional Christmas tree.. Oh, don't forget "underneath the mistletoe tonight".

Nonetheless, if you feel embarrassed about your smile or suffer from bad breath, these events might fill you with an alarming message. And that is, not to indulge yourself with too much sugar and too much alcohol as well. Winding up your oral hygiene routine is the worst you can do during the holidays. With all the chocolates, sugary foods, alcohol and drinks consumed over this season, teeth take much bit of a bang.

Dental care is important and should be taken with much consideration especially this Yuletide season. We need to maintain and keep up with our oral hygiene. Be extra cautious and vigilant. Bear in mind that teeth are under attack for up to one hour after eating and drinking, unless you don't really want your teeth to get the chance to recover.

Don't let a “Grinch” moment ruined your Christmas. Try and make sure your teeth don't experience that wistful effect. After all, it's never too late to get your teeth sparkle and let yourself smile stunningly. Otherwise, make your dental health and your dream dental make-over be on top of your New Year's resolution!

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Dental Stem Cell Research

Dental professionals are very excited because scientists have found out that our teeth contain valuable stem cells that, if properly stored, could potentially hold the cure to a number of diseases, like Parkinson's, diabetes, and cancer, and with the future potential to help in spinal cord injuries, as well.

Stem cell research has been immersed in controversy over the years for many reasons, with the main issues including the following:

• Embryonic stem cells carry technical and ethical challenges.
• Bone marrow stem cells are very painful to collect.
• Cord blood  stem cells can only be harvested at birth.

Read full story at  www.thedentalgeek.com

 

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4 Reasons Why Professional Teeth-Whitening is Better

Tooth-whitening is a seemingly simple procedure that many people believe can easily done at home. While at-home teeth whitening kits are effective for some people, others may find that at-home teeth-whitening products can cause considerable pain without providing the expected results. For the best results, consider these benefits of in office whitening conducted by your dentist.

1.  Your Dentist can Limit Pain and Sensitivity

Many people have sensitive teeth, meaning that even a simple professional cleaning can cause discomfort. As a result, even a non-invasive procedure like teeth whitening can be an uncomfortable experience. Even when teeth aren't particularly sensitive, at home whitening kit can cause pain simply because they are not customized to each user's dentition. If the user's mouth doesn't perfectly fit the mouth trays that are used to apply the lightening solution, the solution can leak from the trays and can cause gum irritation.

Professionally administered whitening treatments completely bypass this problem. When your dentist provides a take-home treatment, the mouth trays are customized to fit your mouth to prevent leakage and guarantee bright results.

Read full story at https://mitchelldentist.wordpress.com

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When It's Better To have Sweets

Craving for some sweets? You don’t have to worry for it isn't too much to indulge in sugary treats. Your dentist knows about it and this time I'll try to convince you that eating sweets at certain times is better for your teeth than any other foods. I will cite one good example for you like for instance, when you eat a full meal your saliva production increases. In this case, the undergone process aids in rinsing food particles from your mouth. On the other hand, the same also helps in neutralizing acids that cause plaque.

This is such great news for everybody especially for dessert lovers. Sweet desserts can be part of every meal and the good thing is that it even lowers the risk to your teeth simply because your mouth is already at its optimum cleaning or rather cleansing condition.

Most dentists agree and recent study shows that sweets taken after meals are definitely preferable and more beneficial rather than sweets eaten between meals as snacks.

Furthermore, you must bear in mind that this kind of sweet goodies is as essential as when you eat it. A great number of dentists are still standing on their beliefs that even when your saliva is over flowing, sticky candies stay on your teeth for a long time. Nonetheless, keep out yourself from sucking hard candies for long. You are enormously constructing a haven for bacteria that is building-up unsafe weakening acids.

When sweet treats does have a place in your diet, it surely have a place in your heart. And now, here comes the happy tooth for sure! One good advantage of sweet treat is that it gives a quick boost of energy to anyone. There are healthier ways to eat if you want to take care of your precious asset: your sparkling teeth and your dazzling smile! Oh.. I am, too, love treats. And I surely love sweets!

So don’t worry… Be healthy!

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An Apple For Your Smile

It is common knowledge to everyone that having fiber-enriched foods like apples in our diet is remarkably beneficial. In spite the fact that they are good for our body, they also aid in keeping our teeth well and healthy. Due to their moderately acidic personality, the famous apples indeed help in cleansing and keeping our teeth sparklingwhite. In short, it definitely acts as a mild cleansing agent to your teeth. We should take note that the skin of the apple is mostly essential in the process, so do not peel the same. This fiber enriched covering of the fruit is somewhat helping the acid do the process.

However, there’s a variety of foods acting like little toothbrushes when you chew them. Crunchy foods such as carrots, celery and apples especially are the ones responsible for scrubbing away tough stains over time so better start stocking those in your fridge.

When your mouth doesn't get the chance to clean itself of the sugars due to constant eating such scenario seriously leads to cavities. Constant snacking with no  tooth brushing in between is one of the major cause of dental caries. An apple as an in-between meal snack is a good way to prevent constant eating, thus, the fruit fiber fills you for longer time resulting to less sugar and sweets on your teeth and at the same time less calories consumed. You stay fit and healthy! The most important of all is that you protect your smile and your health, too.

Notwithstanding all the good qualities of all the tooth-friendly foods available especially apples, those or the same are not a mere substitute for your toothbrush! Sugar and acid are still present among those goodies which can surely damage your teeth. Allowing those elements to stay on your teeth will absolutely reverse the advantage it gave the teeth by eating an apple. And so, brushing is still a must after eating. You still have an option by drinking water, that is, if you don't have a toothbrush on hand.

Always have these tooth-friendly goodies. Have an apple and the likes. They are too good to be out of your fridge and table! Just give it a try! A big bite! An apple for your smile!