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What Is Your Mouth Telling You?

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Mouth
Your mouth can speak volumes without you having to say a word. In fact, your mouth may be the first thing people notice. Smiles, laughs, even the smell of your breath all leave lasting impressions on others. The inside of your mouth can be home to a multitude of tell-tale signs for potential health problems, poor hygiene, and even what your diet and lifestyle consist of. How can you know when there is a serious problem that requires a trip to the dentist? Regular checkups help prevent serious issues, but it is possible for problems to develop in between visits. Recognizing the signs of a real problem can get you into the dentist and feeling better before the problem has a chance to get worse.

Chronic Bad Breath

Everyone has experienced a bout of bad breath from time to time, but chronic halitosis (bad breath) is usually an indication that there are bigger problems at bay that need to be addressed. Bad breath could just stem from lack of proper oral care and failure to properly maintain good brushing and flossing habits. Consistently, missing brushing and flossing could lead to bacterial growth in your mouth and chronic bad breath. Unfortunately, bad breath is just the beginning once bacteria starts to grow it can infect your gums and lead to gum disease called gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation and bleeding of gums. This condition can further increase the risk for other health problems like stroke or heart attack. Infections of the mouth aren’t limited to just the gums an abscessed tooth can cause inflammation of the gums, infection, and drainage that will also affect your breath. It is best to make an appointment if you have any of the symptoms or concerns about the state of your gums.

Pain

Toothaches are another common problem and can be quite debilitating if not treated quickly. These aches can stem from different problems and may not necessarily be anything to do with the tooth. Most toothaches can be traced back to tooth decay or damaged teeth or gums. If a gum as recessed even a little exposing the root, you may experience tooth sensitivity. A cavity or cracked tooth may also lead you to experience a high level of pain in the damaged tooth and sensitivity. There are times that toothaches and sensitivity are caused by other factors like sinus swelling and headaches. Visit us if pain or sensitivity persist.

Other pain or oral problems like mouth sores or ulcers could be related to ill fitting dentures or orthodontic fixtures. In some cases these sores are due to viruses, vitamin deficiencies like B12 or potential oral cancers from abuse of tobacco products. Please contact us immediately if anything in your mouth refuses to heal.

Getting an Early Start With Dental Care

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oral hygiene
Your child’s life is full of exciting firsts like the first time they roll over, take their first step, and say their first word. Sometimes with all of these amazing milestones, the first trip to the dentist can be an easy first to overlook. When is the right time to start caring for your child’s teeth with proper brushing and yearly checkups?

At-home oral care starts early even before they get their first tooth, and while checkups can wait a while, it doesn’t hurt to get them familiar with a good dental routine. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 children have at least one untreated tooth decay or cavity. These early problems can lead to pain and other issues with speaking, learning, and eating. The sooner good habits for brushing and flossing are instilled, the healthier your little one’s mouth will be as they continue to grow.

How To Get Started

Great habits can start before a first tooth comes in. Gently brushing your baby’s gums with a special brush once or twice a day can get them used to the idea of brushing and the importance of taking care of their teeth. As toddlers start them brushing with a fluoride toothpaste to help prevent cavities. Be sure to help your young child brush their teeth to ensure they are learning the correct way to brush and that all of the teeth are being cleaned. As they grow more you can introduce both flossing and how to use a fluoride mouth wash made specifically for children. Limiting the amount of sugary foods and offering a larger variety of healthy and fresh foods rounds out a great beginning to a healthy mouth.

Overcome Checkup Anxiety

The first checkup to your dentist can cause anxiety and fear in a little one if they have never accompanied you on a check-up. A great way to settle their anxiousness is to allow them to come with you for a routine cleaning and checkup. You can also discuss what will happen at their checkup without describing the process with too much detail. Your hygienist or dentist will have their own terminology used with children’s visits and will do everything they can to ease their worries and explain what they are doing.

Early Prevention

Early checkups will help prevent cavities and can help identify orthodontic problems for early treatment. Protective sealants can be applied to back molars which are the most likely to develop cavities and performing x-rays can show hard to see cavities in between teeth.

Don’t wait to give your child their first dental checkup. Giving them an early start with good dental hygiene and checkups will keep their smiles bright for the rest of their lives.

When Should Those Wisdom Teeth Come Out?

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wisdom teeth
Conventional wisdom seems to indicate that as soon as wisdom teeth begin erupting or causing pain, parents should plan to have their children’s wisdom teeth removed. This is because wisdom teeth usually begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, while parents are still largely in control of ensuring their children are still going to the dentist. However, not everyone has their wisdom teeth removed in their young adulthood. Some wait until they are older to get them removed. If you are considering wisdom tooth removal, here are some facts to consider.

The Potential for Infection

There are lots of good reasons to get the wisdom teeth removed, even if they aren’t currently causing pain. Wisdom teeth that don’t fully erupt may cause infection. If infection is already present, usually noted by swelling in the area, then those teeth need to be removed immediately. Otherwise, removing wisdom teeth that aren’t fully erupted is more of a preventative measure.

A Painful Sensation

Sometimes wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning they are so far back in the mouth that they do not come in normally. Trapped in the jawbone or gums, this condition can be extremely painful. Or, wisdom teeth may come in at the wrong angle, pushing against the other teeth, or your mouth may simply be too small to accommodate them. Other adults often notice that existing wisdom teeth may be more prone to cavities or gum disease because they are so difficult to reach with a toothbrush or dental floss.

Removal is Easier Than Ever

Today’s wisdom teeth removal surgery is faster and more painless than ever before. Surgery itself typically takes only 45 minutes and the anesthesia is far more advanced. If the dentist has to cut into the gum line or bone, he will stitch up the area and the stitches will dissolve in a few days. Be sure to indicate any medications you take on a regular basis and discuss thoroughly what type of anesthesia you want to have during the procedure.

Although your recovery will be much swifter than the surgeries of decades ago, you should still plan appropriate recovery time. Most people have little or no pain after surgery and experience only mild discomfort and swelling for the next 3 days. However, during that time, do not force yourself to eat hard foods or suck through a straw, as you can dislodge the clots that are important to healing. Drink plenty of fluids and use an ice pack to diminish swelling.

If you need to have your wisdom teeth removed, why not discuss it with your dentist on your next appointment? You will be amazed how much the art has advanced in recent years!

Combating Dental Fears

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combating dental fear

It’s no surprise that fears of what might happen in the dentist’s chair tops the list of worries than many would-be patients have.  If you have a fear of going to the dentist, there is more than just sedation dentistry to make you feel at ease.  Here are some tips.

Arrange An Earlier Appointment

Meeting with your dentist before any actual work is done can help you feel more at ease regarding the whole process.  Not every dentist can devote that sort of time to each patient, but explaining that you have a mild phobia will help the office understand what you need to be successful.  Getting to establish a rapport with your new dentist and feeling less claustrophobic in the office will help you feel more at ease.

Put Your Fears Into Words

Talk with your dentist about the parts of the visit that bother you the most.  For example, some people have a very sensitive gag reflex and hate the tabs for the x-rays.  Many offices offer panoramic X-rays, so you may be able to avoid that part entirely!

Similarly, many people are not very comfortable with the tools in the dentist’s office.  Once in the chair, they look around at every single piece of equipment there, and, naturally, their heart rate begins to speed up!  Realizing that not every tool in the office is going to be used on you is a great start.  But communicating with the dentist to determine what will be used can help you relax.

Think Sound

Sometimes it’s just the sound of the equipment that unnerves a patient.  A study at King’s College London found that removing unpleasant noises could actually help reduce anxiety in the dentist’s office. You may want to try wearing earbuds and listening to music instead.

Choose the Right Dentist!

Personality really does make a difference!  Research indicates that two of the biggest  factors for reducing dental fear are actually humor and empathy.  We want to feel understood and we want to be put at ease.  So personality – bedside manner, if you will – matters quite a bit.  Humor is great for anxiety.  Personality doesn’t begin at the dentist’s chair, though.  The entire staff can make a mildly phobic person less anxious by being kind and communicative, whether that is the hygienist or the billing office. Milder dental phobias are much easier to handle with good information, a caring staff and humorous attitude.

For More Serious Cases

Sometimes, though, mild phobias are not as mild as you might hope.  In that case, ask your dentist about some nitrous oxide or other mild sedation dentistry methods that could make your visit more comfortable.

Controlling Diabetes…Through Dentistry!

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One of the most prevalent conditions in our country today is diabetes. Almost ten percent of our population has diabetes – over 29 million people! Nearly 2 million cases are diagnosed each year, and a whopping 8 million or more people are living with diabetes and don’t know it. Untreated, diabetes can lead to a host of very dangerous problems, such as damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves and other parts of the body.

Your dentist can even spot the signs of diabetes, through loose teeth, bleeding gums and gum disease. You may also have noticed several signs of diabetes that are specifically related to oral hygiene, including an excessively dry mouth or increased cavities. Less saliva gives cavities more of a chance of developing. You may have problems tasting food and be more susceptible to infections on the inside of your mouth.

Surprisingly, one of the most common dental conditions for diabetics is gum disease. Unfortunately, diabetics will also experience longer healing times, and infections at the gum line can worsen the state of diabetes and even contribute to increased risks for heart disease and stroke. Diabetics with gum disease may also experience great difficulty fighting gingivitis, leading to periodontal disease because of poor sugar control. Unfortunately, this creates something of a cycle, where poor sugar control leads to gum disease and gum disease can cause blood sugar to rise.

Interestingly, proper dental procedures can help manage blood sugar levels. Research found that diabetics who floss and brush regularly have more manageable blood sugar levels and glycemic control than those who don’t. Making sure to have professional deep cleanings done regularly can help lower blood sugar levels and stop the profession of the disease. Try to avoid smoking and other habits that make it more difficult to maintain your oral hygiene.

Schedule your appointment as soon as possible so we can become a part of your health management team!

Pregnancy and Dentistry

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We would give anything we could to ensure that our unborn children had the best start possible. Prenatal vitamins, careful diets and even listening to certain music while our infant is still in the womb are all things we try in order to have a healthy, happy baby. Would it surprise you to know that your dental health is equally important to a healthy pregnancy? Here are a few ways that dentistry can help promote the health of you and your baby.

You already know that what you eat directly nourishes your unborn child. But the unpleasant truth is that inflammation of the gums in women increases the chances that the baby will be born prematurely. In fact, women who are pregnant have an increased need to see the dentist, because the hormones generated during pregnancy can greatly exaggerate the way the gums react to plaque. Most women experience a change in their oral health during their pregnancies.

“Pregnancy gingivitis” can occur as early as the second month, and if you already have gingivitis, the condition can drastically worsen. Good nutrition during this time is important, because Vitamins C and B12 are not only good for your baby, but they are good for your oral hygiene as well.

Women trying to get pregnant who suffer from gum disease can also find that contraception is delayed significantly because of gingivitis. That bacteria which flourishes in gums that aren’t regularly flossed, is responsible for everything from heart conditions to osteoporosis.

With gingivitis bacteria linked to everything from fertility to low birthweight babies, don’t take the chance. Increase your flossing habits and make an appointment with your dentist.

Study Finds Acid Erosion of Teeth on the Rise

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You might have heard of acid erosion and the affects it can have on your teeth. But what you may not know is how common it is. Over the past several years, multiple studies have been done on acid erosion and why it’s increasingly common. Our modern-day diets, as it turns out, are quite high in acid. In fact, as many as 1 in 3 children are showing signs of acid erosion.

So what exactly is it and what can we do to resolve the problem? The erosion of enamel on teeth is actually quite common, particularly as we age. What’s disturbing about these new studies is that now acid erosion appears to be more and more common in young people under the age of 35.

There are several signs of acid erosion, which include:

  • Weak or then enamel
  • Teeth that are transparent
  • Dull or yellowing enamel

Because enamel forms the protective outer layer of your teeth, and because it cannot be replaced once it’s gone, it’s important to do whatever we can to stop the progression of acid erosion and save whatever enamel we have left on our teeth. Surprisingly, some of the healthiest diet and beverage choices are also quite acidic and be harming our enamel, such as fruit and fruit juices, coffee, wine and salad dressings.
Although our saliva usually counteracts the effects of acid on our enamel, many of us have such acidic diets that saliva can’t keep up. That’s why it’s important to limit the acidity in your diet as much as possible. If you believe you may be suffering from acid erosion, talk to your dentist today.

Source: https://www.pronamel.us/the-acid-truth-tooth-erosion.html

Dentists and their Specialties

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You may think that one dentist is pretty much like all the others. But the truth is that there are many different areas in which dentists specialize. Here are brief descriptions of each major dental specialty:

Pediatric Dentist

If you have young children, you know how important it is that they have positive experiences at the dentist and doctor. Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for children, from infants to teenagers.

Endodontist

Endodontists specialize in root canals. While many dentists perform root canal procedures, endodontists focus their attention on periradicular conditions.

Oral Surgeon

Oral surgery is a specialty unto itself. These professionals perform a variety of procedures, including extracting teeth and facial surgery.

Orthodontist

One of the more widely known dental specialists are orthodontists. These dental professionals are trained to treat conditions related to the bite, teeth irregularities and jaw issues.

Periodontist

It’s unfortunate but true – gum disease is an all-too-common problem among dental patients of all ages. Periodontists specialize in treatment and prevention of all forms of gum disease.

Prosthodontist

Dentists who specialize in crowns, bridges and dentures are called prosthodontists. These professionals focus their efforts on different methods of replacing missing teeth.

Most dentists are trained in and completely capable of performing virtually any procedure you’ll need to achieve good oral health. But there may be those occasions, from time to time, when one of these specialists will be called in. If you want more information about dental specialists, ask your dentist. He or she can provide you with all the information you need in order to choose the best oral health care provider for you and your family.

Looking for an dentist in Austin TX? Call Austin Dental Center, the office of Dr. John Glennon, today! (512) 454-0414

 

Source: http://www.dynamicdentalinc.com/blog/bid/45408/Types-of-Dental-Specialists

How Do People Determine Smile Attractiveness?

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It’s probably safe to say that the vast majority of people would like to have an attractive smile. But have you ever stopped to consider what makes a smile attractive? Over the years, several studies have been conducted to determine what qualities add up to a smile that people consider to be attractive. Here are some of the conclusions.

  • Teeth without gaps: Generally speaking, wide gaps between teeth can detract from what might otherwise be an appealing smile.
  • White teeth: It’s no surprise to find out that white teeth are usually considered to be more attractive that stained teeth. The increasing popularity of tooth-whitening products over the past several years is an indication that many people believe this to be true.
  • Straight teeth: Although it may not impact that attractiveness of a smile as much as some other factors, straight teeth are typically thought to be more appealing than crooked teeth.
  • Teeth that are not chipped or broken: Once again, it’s no surprise to find out that damaged teeth don’t contribute to the attractiveness of a person’s smile.

The good news is that your dentist can help you with each and every category listed above. If you would like to improve the attractiveness of your smile, ask your dentist what cosmetic procedures can be done to have the smile you would like to have. Cosmetic dentistry procedures can repair damaged teeth, straighten crooked teeth, whiten stained teeth, and even close gaps between teeth. An attractive smile may be much easier to get than you ever believed possible!

At Austin Dental Center we perform many cosmetic dental procedures to help patients achieve the smile they want, such as ZOOM! teeth whitening and natural looking tooth-colored fillings. Call to schedule your appointment today! (512) 454-0414

Source: http://angle.org/doi/pdf/10.2319/030508-131.1

Are You Giving Your Body the Nutrients It Needs?

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Eating right can be confusing. With all the fad diets that come and go, it’s hard to know whether you should eat carbs or no carbs, fruits or no fruits, meat or no meat, etc., etc. Fortunately, there are some guidelines that each of us need to follow in order to make sure we’re providing our bodies with an adequate supply of the right nutrients. The amounts might vary slightly depending on your gender and your age, but make sure you incorporate the right amount of each of the following nutrients in your diet every day:

  • Calcium (about 1,000 mg per day for most people): Necessary for strong bones and teeth. Good sources are dairy products, leafy greens and fish.
  • Fiber (about 25 grams per day for most people): Reduces your chances of developing diabetes, as well as benefitting the heart. Good sources are vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans.
  • Magnesium (about 310 mg per day for most people): Keeps muscle and nerve function normal, and maintains bone health. Good sources are fish, bran, seeds and nuts.
  • Potassium (about 4,700 mg per day for most people): Maintains normal blood pressure, reduces the risk of kidney stones, and may decrease bone loss. Good sources are bananas, potatoes, yogurt, soybeans and tomato paste.
  • Vitamin A (about 2,310 IU per day for most people): Helps produce red blood cells, maintains vision and immune function. Good sources are orange vegetables, leafy greens and organ meats.
  • Vitamin C (about 75 mg per day for most people): Fights disease and boosts immune system. Good sources are fruits and vegetables.
  • Vitamin E (about 15 mg per day for most people): Fights disease and supports eye health. Good sources are peanut butter, almonds, and fortified cereals.

Source: http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/nutrients-you-need