Dental Problems

An abscessed tooth is a painful condition where the soft inside of a tooth, also called the pulp, has become infected, which is typically accompanied by a pocket of pus, and usually spreads to the root of the tooth. A tooth's pulp is made up of nerves and blood vessels and stretches from the top (crown) of the tooth all of the way down to the very tip of the bottom of the root.

When a patient has an abscessed tooth, the first thing that we will do is prescribe antibiotics in order to try and treat the infection. This doesn't always work, in which case we will check to see if the abscess is effecting the health of the pulp of the tooth, or the underlying bone. If we find this to be the case, we may suggest a root canal procedure so that we can make sure to remove all of the damaged and decayed pulp. 

Bad breath is something that most people experience at some point in their lives. It is estimated that 65% of Americans suffer from this ailment, but many are embarrassed and don't try to get help. Instead, they spend upwards of a staggering 1 billion dollars every year on products to help mask the problem, such as gum an mints.

There are multiple reasons as to why someone has bad breath, the most common being that the mouth, and teeth, are not clean; this can be even worse when a person has dentures. When food particles get stuck between teeth or film stays on the teeth, tongue, and gums, then bacteria begins to grow, which between that and dead cells together produce a sulfur compound, which is what makes your breath stink. This is why it is so important to have good dental hygiene habits and make sure to brush, floss, and use mouthwash daily.

As most of us know, after we eat certain foods, our breath smells worse, two prime examples being onions and garlic, but any food with a strong odor will have the same effect. When the reason behind your bad breath is because of food, brushing, flossing and using mouthwash will only temporarily cover up the smell; it will not fully diminish until the particular food has completely passed through your body.

There are some health problems that also cause bad breath such as periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. It is caused by plaque which forms and builds up on teeth. Generally this happens when a person has poor dental hygiene, but can hormonal changes, smoking, illness, and medications can also play a roll in causing it.

Dry mouth is another common culprit behind bad breath. When a person has dry mouth, their mouths are not producing as much saliva as it should. Saliva helps your mouth to stay clean and rinse away odor-causing particles. So when the mouth is unnaturally dry, bacteria and food particles never get washed away and they just sit on your teeth, multiplying, which the end result is a mouth that is not only dry, but that smells bad too.

Certain medications you are taking could cause bad breath and there are also some serious health issues that it could be as well, so you should be alert and vigilant. Even though it may seem embarrassing, knowing and staying on top of the reasons behind your bad breath could save your life.

Below you will find a list of illnesses and the smell associated with each:

Good dental hygiene is the first step in caring for bad breath. When people have good dental hygiene habits, and just do the basics such as brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash on a daily basis, the chances of having bad breath go down immensely. This is also very important if a person has dentures, even though they are removable they still need to be thoroughly cleaned and soaked in a sanitizing solution. Routine dental visits for a professional cleaning is also extremely important because sometimes we miss spots in our mouths and a professional cleaning will get into every crack and crevice, where bacteria can build up. 

If you notice that you always have bad breath, and are following good dental hygiene practices, you should mention your concern to us. We can check your mouth for gum disease, which can cause gums to be inflamed and recede, or see if there are other contributing factors. If after an oral examination, we determine that the odor is not caused by poor hygiene or by any medications that you are currently taking, then we may refer you to your primary physician to see if there is possibly an underlying health issue.

When someone has good oral hygiene practices and brushes, flosses, and immediately after, uses mouthwash, it can be somewhat effective in toning down bad breath. But mouthwash many times is somewhat ineffective and just masks the smell. In this case, you will want to mention that to us and we may decide to prescribe special mouthwashes, such as Zytex or chlorhexidine. Zytex is effective in neutralizing the sulfur compounds in your mouth and effectively kills bacteria with a combination of thymol, zinc chloride and eucalyptus oil and chlorhexidine is an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Any prescribe mouthwash should be only used as directed, because if you do not, you could have adverse effects such as staining of teeth. There are a few antiseptic mouth rinses on the market today that the ADA (American Dental Association) has approved, since they kill the germs in your mouth that causes bad breath and they both freshen breath and reduce plaque and gingivitis. If you are interested in one of these products, you should always check with us first to see which is the best for your situation.

Eating disorders can negatively effect a person's oral health. People who suffer from anorexia or bulimia are at a higher risk of cavities, tooth discoloration, enamel erosion, and tooth loss. This is because, for example, binge eating and using diuretics or laxative can cause changes in the mouth on a chemical level. Also, when a person throws up, harmful stomach acids are released into the mouth and over time that can cause harm to teeth. After someone throws up they should not immediately brush, but instead just rinse their mouth out with just water, or water mixed with a small amount of baking soda. 

A common oral ailment is canker and cold sores. Many people are under the assumption that they are the same thing since both are painful, but in fact they are very different. 

Canker sores are non-contagious sores that appear on the inside of your mouth and are small, shallow and are usually white or a light color in the middle with a darker red border. In most cases, canker sores usually dissipate on their own so the best best is just to wait them out, but there are a few things a person can do to speed up the healing process, for example a mouth rinse with water mixed with either salt or baking soda. 

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are small contagious blisters that contain fluid that usually appear on the outside of the mouth, around the lip area and are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). Lips will begin to burn or itch in the early stages, then painful blisters will appear, finally the blisters will break and a scab forms over the area. The whole process can take 2-4 weeks to fully heal. There are some over-the-counter topical creams that can help ease the symptoms and speed up the healing process of cold sores.

Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in the world, and simply put is the breakdown and destruction of the hard layer on the outside of your tooth, also known as the enamel. Plaque is always building up on your teeth, each time you consume sugary foods and drinks, and it sticks to your teeth. Plaque has bacteria that in turn begins to break down the tooth's enamel, and in time a cavity can form. 

Cavities and tooth decay are more common among children as they are just learning how to properly clean their teeth and developing their dental hygiene habits, but they can effect children, teens, and adults alike. It is very important to try and stay away from frequent exposure to certain sugary and carbohydrate-rich foods such as ice cream, soda, and candy. If you do consume these things, you should try to brush afterwards so that the plaque doesn't build up on your teeth and it doesn't have a chance to break down your enamel. It is also very important for routine dental visits so that you can get a professional cleaning and your mouth can be examined for cavities.

In order to prevent cavities, you need to have good dental hygiene. You need to brush your teeth, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day. In between brushing you can chew on sugarless gum, which stimulates the saliva in your mouth. Did you know that saliva can help to rinse away debris and other materials in your mouth, which kind of makes it your own natural cavity fighter? At your routine cleaning we may also apply a sealant to your teeth, which also helps to prevent cavities. 

Symptoms of a cavity include: 

Nursing bottle caries, more commonly known as baby bottle decay, affects babies between birth and the age of 5 1/2 and is caused when sugary liquids, such as milk or juice, cling to teeth. This happens when you allow your baby or child to sleep with a bottle in their mouth because the flow of saliva decreases when sleeping, which causes the bacteria in the mouth to thrive on the sugar from the liquid, which in turn slowly erodes the enamel of the teeth, causing decay. If you notice the decay, you should bring your child in to see us right away so that we can take the restorative measures needed to address the issue because if left untreated, your child's future permanent teeth run the risk of not properly forming.

Diabetes is a lifelong illness that results in an excessive amount of sugar in a person's blood. For those who have this disease, they are more susceptible to a variety of different medical issues, including issues with the mouth and teeth. Diabetics are more prone to dry mouth, which means that since their mouths aren't producing as much saliva, bacteria and food particles don't get washed away and they just sit on the teeth, multiplying, eventually leading to gum disease and tooth decay. When blood sugar levels are not in balance, the same problems arise. It is very important for diabetics to practice healthy dental hygiene habits and keep up on their routine dental cleanings, so as to not let a problem progress to something very serious.

Dry mouth, also called Xerostomia, is a common condition where the mouth is very dry, the tongue is sensitive, and you are having a hard time speaking properly. Dry mouth can lead to several different dental health issues. When a person has dry mouth, their mouths are not producing as much saliva as it should. Saliva helps your mouth to stay clean and rinse away odor and cavity causing particles. So when the mouth is unnaturally dry, bacteria and food particles never get washed away and they just sit on your teeth, multiplying, which the end result is a mouth that is not only dry, smells bad, and if not properly treated could lead to serious health issues such as burning tongue syndrome.

There are certain medical conditions where dry mouth is a common side effect, for example people who have eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes and people undergoing cancer treatments, taking certain medications, or who have a compromised immune system. Other common reasons could include tobacco use and eating certain foods. If your dry mouth is not caused by a medical condition, there are a few things that you can try such as chewing sugarless gum, sipping water, and you should avoid using tobacco products. 

Fluorosis is a cosmetic condition that is caused by overexposure to fluoride during the first eight years of a child's life, when their permanent teeth are developing. After the permanent teeth come in, if the child has fluorosis, the teeth will be discolored. In mild cases, they may just have faint white patches, but in severe cases may have yellow or dark brown stains, in addition to inconsistencies on the surface of the tooth and visible pits.

Fluoride, when taken in normal doses, is beneficial. When it is consumed in foods, supplements, and water, it gets into the bloodstream and is then absorbed by the body. It can also be applied directly to the teeth when fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash is used. When you come in for a cleaning, many times we will recommend an in-office fluoride treatment.

Gingivitis is a form of periodontal (gum) disease which is caused by a film of plaque, which has bacteria, sticking to the teeth usually left behind after eating. Some signs to look for if you think you may have gingivitis are: redness, inflammation, and pain of the gums, bad breath, and bleeding after brushing your teeth. Also, there are some cases when a woman is pregnant, the fluctuation of hormone levels can cause a form of gingivitis. If you suspect gingivitis, you should make an appointment to come see us right away. It is a very common dental ailment that is non-destructive if caught and treated in time, but if ignored it can lead to periodontitis, which is significantly more serious and can cause infection, decay and even tooth or bone loss. 

There are three main treatment options for periodontitis cases. 1) Root planning is the first method and it consists of scraping and smoothing the roots of a tooth below the gum line in order to clean the tooth and remove any bacteria or tartar buildup. Once the tooth is clean, the gums can easily reattach themselves. 2) Scaling is the second method and it consists of removing bacteria and tartar buildup from the surface of the tooth. 3) The use of antibiotics is the third method and either topical or oral antibiotics can be used. If your gums are inflamed and infected due to periodontitis, this method will help treat the infection.  

When you get a laceration or cut on your face, it is important to get it looked at right away so that it doesn't turn into something more serious such as an infection or major tissue damage. If the the cut is part of a larger injury, one which includes broken facial bones (ie: nose, jaw, cheek), you may need oral & maxillofacial surgery. These specialized surgeons go through rigorous training to correct issues regarding a patient's facial features, neck, mouth and jaw. Take jaw surgery for example, after a jaw fracture the surgeon will go in in order to keep everything in place will use a combination of wires, braces, screws and plates, as well as dental splints. That way proper alignment of the jaw is maintained and the bone is allowed to fully heal.

With tens of thousands of cases diagnosed annually, oral cancer can develop in any part of the mouth and is a very common and vigorous type of cancer that can be life threatening if left un-diagnosed or treated. According to recent studies people of all ages and genders are at risk for developing oral cancer, but men are twice as  likely as women to be diagnosed, with men over the age of 40 being the most at-risk group. When going through the cancer treatment process, patients can develop painful and even chronic complications such as dry mouth, accelerated tooth decay and sensitive teeth.

The most common early warning sign of oral cancer is the appearance of lumps, bumps, or sores in the mouth, but there are several different warning signs that are usually painless if still in the early stages, which is why people should be extra vigilant, because self-diagnosis can be difficult. 

Patient's should also look out for: