What To Do If You Have A Holiday Dental Emergency

Christmas peanut brittle. What a treat! That is until you feel a different sort of crunch. Now you've done it; you've broken a tooth on Christmas Day. During the holidays, we often indulge in food we don't normally eat: chestunts, walnuts, hard candy and other foods that can sometimes damage sensitive teeth, dental work or gums. So this holiday, be dental aware. Remember to chew hard foods slowly and not use your teeth to open or cut any type of hard shell.  From a chipped tooth to a lost filling, a dental emergency can hamper any celebration. Knowing what to do in a dental emergency can minimize the pain and discomfort until you get to a dentist.

Many household first-aid kits contain items for medical emergencies, such as cuts and sprains. But dealing with a dental emergency requires other supplies. Here is a list of common items you can keep in your medicine cabinet if a need arises.

• Dental pain relievers. Dental pain is often a result of inflammation and pressure on various tissues and nerves of the face, so the best over-the-counter pain relievers are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include ibuprofen or naproxen. Over-the-counter dental anesthetic gels, pastes and liquids can also alleviate dental pain.
• Temporary dental cement. This can be used to replace a filling or secure a crown. A piece of softened sugarless gum can also work as a temporary filling.
• Soft dental floss. Use floss immediately to remove objects stuck between teeth.
• A denture repair product. If you are a denture wearer ask your dentist for this product to temporarily fix any broken, missing or worn parts of a denture.

Remember, these remedies are temporary until you are able to contact your dentist and should not take the place of seeing your dentist!

Do It Yourself Dentistry

The lore of do-it-yourself home dentistry used to involve a pair of pliers from Dad's handy old tool box. Or...better yet...string wrapped around a tooth on one end, and to a door knob on the other. Swing the door closed, and voila, you saved your self a trip to the dentist. 

The recent economic woes in the U.S. have led to an increased accounts of DIYers perfoming their own dentistry at home. A recent survey of dentists points to an increase in this type of behavior. So, perhaps it is not a surprise that the most popular technique involves Super Glue.

As amusing as it sounds, patients use many dangerous methods to save themselves a trip the to the dentist, from emery boards to power tools (i.e. dremel tools). I have been told by a patient that Super Glue worked better than Krazy Glue. Obviously he's had some experience in differentiating between the two in their effectiveness.

It is true that cyanocrylate, the generic name for Super Glue and Krazy Glue, which contains acrylic resins methyl-2-cyanocacrylate or 2-octal cyanoacrylate, is used by physicians for wound repair. In fact, cyancrylate bonds very well to surfaces that are moist and non-porous. Sounds perfect for that dental crown that keeps coming out, right?

Unfortunately, that notion is wrong and here’s why. The crown is a non-porous surface and can be moistened, but the tooth, despite being very moist, is also very porous. Therefore, the adhesion between the two is negligible and will not last. But the real danger is forcing the cyanocrylate down into the tubules of the tooth and killing the tooth. This will ultimately lead to the need for a root canal or even the loss of the tooth due to resorbtion.

What most people may not know is that a dental crown does not stay in place via adhesion. It remains in place for years merely by mechanical retention. Mechanical retention is best explained like this: Imagine placing an identical glass over another identical glass. Pick up the upper glass and the one below comes with it, and the two "stick" together as you lift the top glass.

Now try that with two identical bowls stacked face down on top of each other. It’s impossible to pick the bottom bowl by lifting the one placed on top. This is an illustration of the effects (and success) of mechanical retention.

So if that crown keeps falling off, it's not due to a lack of adhesion - it's due to the shape of the prepared tooth lacking in retentive features. Dentists typically don't actually use glues, we use cements to prevent saliva from seeping between the crown and tooth, which prevents tooth decay. In this light, I hope you see the futility of using a product like Super Glue in your mouth. It's not at all about stickiness - it's about the shape of the tooth and the tightness of the fit - that keeps the crown from falling off.

And because the human body has a high moisture content, cyanoacrylate adhesives will bond very effectively to the skin and other body parts. Getting glue on your fingers can bond the crown to your finger. It can be removed but it certainly can complicate the process. Your best choice is to see your dentist as soon as possible.

My Child Has Shark Teeth?

Many parents become alarmed when they look in their child's mouth and see the permanent teeth growing behind the baby teeth. What went wrong? Aren't the permanent teeth supposed to grow under the baby teeth and push them out? While shark teeth sound scary, it really looks worse than it is. When permanent teeth grow behind baby teeth, instead of pushing them up and out, this is known as shark teeth.

Shark teeth is actually a fairly common occurrence, and generally happens in the front teeth. They can happen in the molars and incisors, although this is fairly rare. Needless to say, this occurs when a child is losing his or her teeth, generally around age 6.

How Shark Teeth Occur
There are a few guesses as to why shark teeth occur. Some dentists believe that this occurs because the roots of the baby teeth don't get dissolved like they normally should and the permanent teeth have nowhere else to go, so they just come into the mouth where there is the least amount of resistance. Some dentists say that the permanent teeth start growing in behind the baby teeth because there is too much crowding in the lower jaw. Another theory says that because the permanent teeth develop behind the baby teeth, this is simply a slight deviation from normal and they just didn't make it as far forward as they should have. I think that all of these are good explanations as to why this phenomenon occurs. I personally think that all three are possible explanations and any of them might be true for a specific individual.

Treating Shark Teeth
As long as your child's other teeth looked okay, your child will probably be asked by the dentist to wiggle the affected baby tooth to try and get it to come out on its own. If after three weeks the tooth is still hanging on, then it will probably be up to the dentist to take care of it.

Sometimes a stubborn baby tooth needs to be removed professionally by a dentist. With the baby teeth out of the way, the permanent teeth has a chance to move into its correct position. This occurs naturally as the child talks, eats, and plays with the new tooth with his or her tongue.

If it appears that the emerging secondary tooth won't have enough room to develop normally even if the baby tooth is removed, the dentist may decide to slim down neighboring baby teeth with a simple procedure called disking, to make sufficient room. In addition, other baby teeth may be removed to make room for the secondary teeth as well.

Pediatric shark teeth are a normal, treatable condition in children and a consult with a dentist can tell you if any intervention is necessary. Many shark teeth resolve on their own, leaving the child with a beautiful smile and a small prize for the tooth fairy.

　

Holidays And Your Dental Care

Holiday treats and special foods are something many of us look forward to eating. The sweet treats and ever so tempting desserts can be a challenge for your teeth. But if you are careful your teeth don’t have to suffer while you enjoy the holiday foods. Having holiday dental problems is not a fun way to start the new year.

Why Do Sweet Foods And Drinks Cause Cavities?
Everyone has bacteria lurking in their mouth. This bacteria uses the sugars in the treats to grow and multiply. Unfortunately the result are acids which break down the tooth enamel. The bacterial film, also known as plaque, builds up on teeth. I usually tell kids that the bacteria are "tooth bugs" and the stuff they leave behind after digesting sugar is"poop" ...this usually gets their attention! Between the plaque and the acids, your teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay. Your gums are also more apt to become irritated and develop gingivitis. This doesn’t mean that treats are to be avoided totally. It just means a little preparation is needed. Having snacks throughout the day without brushing is what causes problems because the "tooth bugs" are still on your teeth. Every time you eat a sugary treat when these "tooth bugs" are still on your teeth, the acid (poop) attacks your teeth and breaks down the enamel. It’s not just the immediate eating time, but those acids are present in your mouth and on your teeth for up to twenty minutes after you eat.

Tips For Holiday Oral Hygiene

1. If you are going to have some cookies or other sweet treats, eat them as part of your meal. Saliva in your mouth helps break down food and also carry those harmful acids away from your teeth. This way the saliva you produce for regular meals will clean your mouth of food better. As a result there will be fewer acids in your mouth that can harm your teeth.
2. Lots of fruits on your holiday treat list? Fruits can be good for your health, but the acids in fruit can be harmful to your teeth. That doesn’t mean give up eating fruit.
3. After you eat fruit, rinse with water before you brush. The fruit acids can make your tooth enamel softer and more prone to cavities. By rinsing with water before brushing, you dilute the effects of the fruit acid and minimize the attack on your teeth.
4. Rinse your mouth with water or chew xylitol sugarless gum if you are unable to brush after eating. This will get rid of many of the food particles. You will also increase the amount of saliva in your mouth which is part of the natural cleansing process of your mouth.
5. If you have excessive dental work such as crowns, fillings or braces, you may want to avoid holiday treats like caramel or taffy. Sticky and chewy treats can pull old crowns, old fillings or orthodontic brackets. Definitely not part of holiday cheer.
6. On the other extreme, hard treats like nuts and peanut brittle can also break teeth. Unless you want to follow in President George Washington’s footsteps remember nutcrackers are made for cracking nuts. George Washington learned the hard way and ended up with dentures.

Enjoy the sugarplums and all the rest of the holiday season treats, just remember to do so in moderation. Floss and brush your teeth at least twice a day. Enjoy the holiday season and don’t forget to smile.

Does Tabacco Really Have an Effect on Oral Health?

I'm going  to sound like a broken record, but you have been told a thousand times that smoking is bad for your health and you should really quit. And I know you’re probably really sick and tired of hearing about it and you think that you can quit whenever you’re ready. Studies have shown that tobacco addiction is worse than heroin and it takes the average smoker 8 quit attempts before they are actually successful.

So, we all know that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in North America and if you continue to smoke it will kill you and in the best case scenario, make you constantly sick! But have you ever thought what the effects of smoking have on your mouth, teeth and gums and what people around you might not be saying but FOR SURE are thinking?

Tobacco Is Dangerous For Your Teeth

Tobacco contains many substances known to be destructive to your body`s cells and tissues. Smokers have more hardened dental plaque than non-smokers, and heavy smokers have more calculus than light smokers. Calculus is tartar or a form of hardened dental plaque

Narrowing Of The Blood Cells

The Nicotine in tobacco causes something called vasoconstriction or narrowing of the blood vessels.
Blood circulation – certainly an important function – has been shown to decrease as much as 70% in your mouth during the smoking of a cigarette. Tobacco smoking, furthermore, also affects your body`s immune system.

 

Gum Disease

Young people who think that smokeless ‘chewing tobacco’ is somehow safer than lighting up are putting themselves at terrible risk of illness too! Chewing tobacco releases a variety of chemicals into the body and often cause mouth sores, cracked and bleeding lips and gums, and can lead to cancer of the throat, mouth and gums.

What You Can Do

If you’re not too worried about the long term effects of smoking on your body, lungs and heart, at least now you’re clear on the effect of smoking on your teeth, mouth and gums. Take this advice: visit your dentist and get a thorough checkup and teeth cleaning and remember to quit smoking!!

Gingivitis vs. Peridontitis...Yes There is a Difference

Gingivitis is a formal term for "bleeding" of the gums, which is reversible by proper flossing and brushing. Periodontitis means there is some degree of irreversible breakdown of the bone under the gum. Dentist have a tool , a perio probe,  which is basically a dip stick we use to measure the depth of the collar of gum around each tooth. A good measurement is "3" and NO bleeding. If we get bleeding with a value of 3, then that is gingivitis and we "slap" your hand and lecture you about flossing these areas more. Usually the bleeding is between the teeth and you can access these areas only by flossing. Brushing, alone, does not do the trick.

Now if we measure a "4" or "5" or higher, and we have bleeding, then we are having some degree of bone loss. This is not good and not reversible. The dentist has to "clean"or scale and root plane under the gums. The patient really cannot access these areas. However, once we are able to clean these areas, chances are good, healing occurs and the patient can access these areas. So, my point is, not all cleanings are the same. It is vital and so important, time is taken each year or as needed to measure these areas and explain these readings to you.

Finally, if a patient has dental insurance and the contract says "100% payment for a cleaning," please note that means your gums are healthy with NO bleeding. The definition of "prophylaxis" in the context of dentistry, means to clean above the gums. Moderate to severe Gingivitis and Periodontitis places the patient under another category with your insurance. Instead of 100% payment for preventive work, this changes to the basic category which could mean paying a deductible and a percentage (usual 20%) for the treatment. So don't think the dentist is pulling a fast one on you. Invest a little now to clean them properly and get into the habit of proper home oral hygiene.