Month: November 2021

Chipped, broken or cracked teeth can lead to serious oral problems if left untreated. Here are a few things you should keep in mind if you have a crack in your tooth — or if you suspect that your tooth is cracked.

Key takeaways:

• A tooth can get cracked from blunt force trauma, chewing hard foods and objects such as pens and grinding your teeth. Also, large fillings can put immense pressure on the tooth and cause it to fracture. 

• Cracks on your tooth may not be visible but after a while you may start experiencing pain and tooth sensitivity. 

• Cracks often require minimal treatment such as dental bonding. However, visit your dentist as soon as you spot the fracture because it can get worse and result in a painful infection.

Seek your dentist’s advice to know if your cracked tooth needs professional treatment.

Chronic dry mouth is caused by a reduction in the amount of saliva produced. Saliva is important in maintaining the health of teeth and gums, and your dentist can recommend ways to improve saliva production to treat chronic dry mouth.

Key takeaways:

• Saliva washes away bacteria and acids which can harm your dental health, with reduced saliva levels increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
• Chronic dry mouth means there is not enough saliva present to maintain the balance of the natural fungus Candida albicans, which can result in oral thrush — white patches in the mouth.
• There are a number of ways to counter chronic dry mouth, including sipping more water and chewing sugar-free gum.

“Dry mouth can increase your risk for oral infections, tooth decay, and gum disease, not to mention bad breath. Ask your dentist how you can help treat your dry mouth to protect your smile!”

Read the full story here

https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/can-chronic-dry-mouth-harm-your-dental-health/

Teeth grinding (aka, bruxism) affects your teeth and jaw, however people are often unaware that they grind their teeth at night.

Key takeaways:

• Teeth grinding puts pressure on the teeth and gums which can lead to inflammation and damage to connective tissue.

• Damage can cause tooth injury, sensitivity and uneven wear.

• The jaw can become painful through overuse and lead to related temporomandibular issues (TMJ) like waking with headaches.

If you suspect you grind your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist.

“The truth is that teeth grinding can have a bigger impact on your oral health than you might think.”

More: https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/long-term-impacts-of-teeth-grinding/

When your child’s baby teeth become loose, it is a sign their permanent teeth are starting to come through. Your child’s dentist can answer any concerns you have about a loose tooth.

Key takeaways:

• You should allow a loose tooth to fall out on its own where you can.
• Encouraging your child to wriggle their tooth can help it loosen and fall out naturally.
• Never attempt to force a loose tooth out if it is painful when your child wiggles the tooth.

“If your child is complaining that the tooth is very loose, or you’re worried the tooth may fall out while your child is sleeping, you can evaluate how loose the tooth is.”

Read the full story here:

https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/should-you-pull-your-childs-loose-tooth/