People who clench and grind their teeth throughout the day or while sleeping at night are typically completely unaware that they do so. However, this habit can be extremely damaging to one’s smile, wearing down enamel and slowly causing teeth to move out of alignment. While there are different causes for this condition that is medically known as bruxism, there are underlying causes for the condition in individual cases. Most people assume that teeth grinding is the result of stress. This factor can contribute to the situation, although, it is typically the result of an abnormal bite, missing teeth, or teeth that are not properly aligned.
Anyone who suspects that they may grind their teeth can look for several different indicators that will make them aware that they have developed this habit. In addition to consulting your dentist for signs of damage, people suffering from bruxism will typically experience dull headaches on a regular basis or consistently wake up with a sore jaw. Although grinding your teeth may not seem to be immediately harmful, the consequences of this habit over time can have a rather serious impact on your oral health.
Over time, grinding and clenching can loosen teeth in the gums. It can also cause fracturing or even the complete loss of an individual tooth. In the event that grinding wears down a tooth excessively, an individual may need to have crowns, implants, bridges, or dentures put in place in order to correct the problem. Severe cases that go unchecked can result in problems with the jaw that can eventually impact one’s appearance or alter your ability to hear due to the proximity of the ear canal. Continue reading →
Anyone who has ever experienced a severe toothache will tell you that you do not want to neglect dental care until a tooth decays to the point of intense pain. Many will agree that a toothache is one of the worst types of pain that one can experience. A toothache tends to feel worse at night with dull, throbbing pain that seems to increase when one is lying in bed. While pain pills might relieve a toothache temporarily, the best remedy is to get rid of the decay that is causing the ache by filling the tooth or extracting it. However, if one takes a proactive approach, the ache can be prevented, and the tooth can be saved. If your dentist has told you that you need a filling, but you are not feeling any pain, there are some things you need to know about tooth decay.
Poor oral care leads to tooth decay. Neglecting brushing and flossing results in a tooth becoming exposed to acid producing bacteria. Tooth decay occurs as the acid and bacteria eat into the tooth. Initially these destructive bacteria can go unnoticed, so in the early stages of tooth decay; it is not unusual to experience no pain at all. However, as the decay persists a hole will appear in the affected tooth, allowing the nerves to be exposed. Exposed nerves bring pain. When the decay goes unchecked it can reach the point where the only relief is to extract the tooth. Continue reading →
What is Plaque?
Individuals with yellowed teeth may have a buildup of plaque. Plaque forms on tooth surfaces from deposits of bacteria. Scientific researchers have identified hundreds of species of bacteria that live in a human’s mouth. However, there are actually thousands of bacterial species that live in the human mouth. Dentists know that because teeth remain in the mouth for many years bacteria can easily cover dental surfaces. Regular brushing and flossing of teeth can prevent plaque from destroying tooth surfaces. In addition, proper dental hygiene assists in avoiding painful infections to tissues inside the mouth.
Dental Cavities
The sticky and yellow material on an individual’s teeth is actually biofilm. Biofilm is dangerous to the surfaces of teeth, gums, bones and ligaments inside the mouth. There are studies that reveal that dental plaque can cause additional health problems such as heart disease. Bacteria from plaque commonly cause cavities and gum disease in children, teenagers and adults. Tooth decay from plaque’s bacteria requires immediate treatment from a dental professional. Small cavities in teeth are easily repaired with color matching composite material by a dentist. Continue reading →
When a tooth becomes infected down to the pulp, the dental patient has the choice of either a root canal procedure or an extraction. Leaving the condition untreated is dangerous, as the infection may spread into the rest of the body. The patient will quickly need to make a decision on how to proceed.
The Truth About Tooth Extraction
It is a common belief that having a tooth extracted is an acceptable alternative to having a root canal done. Extractions are faster, less complicated and do not cost as much as root canal procedures, but there are certain changes that may result from an extraction.
After a tooth has been removed, it leaves a space in the gums. This may cause the teeth around the space to shift into it, affecting the patient’s bite and possibly causing temporomandibular joint disorder. The remaining teeth may also become crooked and more likely to develop problems over the long term. Continue reading →
Dentists often are the first to notice the signs of bruxism in their patients. Bruxism is the grinding or gnashing of the back teeth either during the day or at night when asleep. Patients may suffer from other physical discomforts because of the clenching and grinding action. Bruxism can be treated in a number of ways to prevent further damage of the teeth.
Symptoms of Bruxism
The dentist may notice areas of worn, chipped or even fractured teeth. The patient may experience increased sensitivity of the teeth and gums. They may feel pain or tenderness in the jaw muscles. Tooth enamel may be worn down, exposing sensitive surfaces of the teeth. The patient may complain of headaches, face pain or earache from the excessive tension on jaw muscles. Often, the patient is aware of nighttime tooth grinding or may have been told about it by spouses or partners. Continue reading →
Cracked tooth syndrome is a real condition that can cause a lot of pain for the individual who has the cracked tooth. A person is said to have cracked tooth syndrome when the tip of a tooth is cracked, and the tooth begins to bend when the person bites something. The pain may not happen constantly, but if the cracked portion of the tooth is bitten at a certain angle, then the individual may experience a sharp pain. Similar to cavity pains, an individual with cracked tooth syndrome may notice the pain when he or she is eating foods that are hot, cold, or sweet. The best way to correct the cracked tooth is to put a crown over the damaged tooth. It is very important for an individual to get the cracked tooth corrected as soon as possible. Failing to correct it in a timely manner may lead to having to get a root canal or permanent removal of the tooth. Continue reading →
Dental emergencies can be just as serious as emerging medical problems. You wouldn’t think twice about going to an urgent care center or emergency room if you needed help. You shouldn’t hesitate to get dental assistance either. The truth is ignoring dental problems has serious consequences. Emergency dental services are there to prevent further damage from occurring. You only have one set of teeth. Proper dental hygiene keeps them healthy, but emergencies still happen. Take a look at five things that you may face if you choose not to get emergency dental care.
Tooth Nerve Damage
Pain in a tooth is actually a good thing. It is the initial pain that tells you to go to the dentist in the first place. When a nerve becomes damaged that natural security system breaks down. This can leave the pulp of the tooth open to infection or decay. Without proper treatment, the tooth loses sensitivity, so when there is a serious issue you won’t know it. This can lead to tooth loss or critical medical problems such as infection in the bone or blood stream. Continue reading →
A toothache is one of the most dreaded pains that people will ever experience. Regardless of how many pain relievers people take, the pain from a toothache will still linger. Without going to a dentist to find the problem, the toothache will continue to exist. When it comes to a toothache, there are usually four main causes of it.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is one reason why a tooth may be aching. Many people do not realize that they have tooth decay because they cannot see it; however, if a person has a toothache, it is a good possibility that it can be traced to tooth decay. Tooth decay is formed through acids that bacteria in plaque produce. The tooth enamel is then attacked by the bacteria. Most tooth decay will be caused by poor dental hygiene. Many people will know that they may have tooth decay if their teeth become extremely sensitive to hot foods or beverages, cold food or beverages, and sweet food or beverages. Continue reading →
The term “Root Canal” has become almost synonymous with painful dental procedures in popular culture, but that attitude has done more harm than good. A root canal isn’t the frightening procedure that popular culture has made it out to be. In fact, there are a number of persistent myths about root canals that this article will do away with.
First Myth: Root Canals are Incredibly Painful
This is possibly the biggest myth about root canals. First, look at what makes you need a root canal in the first place. When your tooth has a cavity, a dentist can drill out the deteriorating tooth and replace it with a filler material. When a cavity is bad enough, it begins to affect the pulp of the tooth instead of just the harder outer shell. This causes an infection, which in turn causes pain. Therefore, a root canal is called for to remove the deteriorated tooth material, but the tooth is already in pain. Continue reading →
