Cavities, or tooth decay, is a preventable disease. Cavities may not endanger your life, but they can negatively impact your quality of life.
When your teeth are consistently exposed to large amounts of sugars(candy, cookies, soft drinks, fruit juices) causing deposits that bond with the bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids that damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting.
Hot and cold foods and beverages can cause pain to people with sensitive teeth. This is because teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Also tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth can develop microscopic cracks exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating those nerve endings.
Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Early warning signs include chronic bad breath, tender or painful swollen gums and minor bleeding after brushing or flossing. As the disease progresses to periodontitis there is bone loss, abscesses and possible loss of teeth.
Gum disease is highly preventable and with regular visits to the dentist, brushing and flossing severe problems can be avoided.
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often reoccur. They can last 1-2 weeks, that time can be reduced with the use of antimicrobial mouthiness or topical agents. A canker sore typically occurs on delicate tissue in mouth usually light in color at base surrounded by a red border.
Bad breath is caused by several factors. In most cases due to a buildup of food particles left on the teeth, tongue, gums and then collecting bacteria. Dead and dying bacterial cells release a sulfur compound that gives the breath an unpleasant odor. Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the build-up of food particles, plaque and bacteria. Consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem.
A dental abscess is a localized collection of pus associated with a tooth. Most common type is a “periapical abscess” where the origin is a bacterial infection that starts in the soft tissue(pulp) inside the tooth caused by decay, break or fracture. The other type is “periodontal abscess” where the infection originates in area adjacent to root most often due to bone loss. In both cases see the dentist and antibiotics will be administered and it will be determined which abscess you have and the appropriate treatment options will be discussed.
Teeth grinding is a fairly common yet annoying habit. Some people develop grinding (bruxism) as a result from their inability to deal with stress or anxiety. Another type of bruxism is clenching where the patient mashes their teeth together unconsciously as well.
In either type of bruxism the teeth can become hypersensitive, worn down, fractured and or loosened. In addition one can develop headaches, jaw pain and loss of range of mouth motion. Bruxism is somewhat treatable, a common treatment by the dentist involves fabricating a custom appliance worn mainly at night to protect the teeth, help relax the jaw and keep teeth in a better alignment.
Dr. Sidney Libfraind complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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