Tips for Avoiding Dental Issues

Common dental issues can affect an individual’s dental form and function. Avoiding complications like decay, gingivitis, and missing teeth takes just a little effort completed regularly starting from a young age. Here are a few tips that will help keep your teeth safe from bacteria and free from plaque:

Brush and floss regularly. An essential habit to dental care, brushing once in the morning and once at night greatly improves an individual’s defense against dental issues by removing the source of the problem. Flossing works similarly to brushing, getting deep between teeth to gently scrape away plaque from areas brushing cannot reach.

Rinse with mouthwash. While a non-alcoholic antiseptic mouthwash can provide greater benefits like eliminating bacteria and freshening breath, simple going through the act of swishing water between teeth dislodges any leftover debris from food.

Visit the dentist at least once every six months. This ensure smiles are free from tartar buildup, a calculus that cannot be brushed or flossed away. Routine visits also allow dentists to conduct examinations to proactively treat issues before they can occur.

Avoid food products with too much sugar. Soda and candy can be major contributors to decay and gingivitis. Bacteria feed off sugar and produce an acid that eats away at enamel, weakening the tooth.

Eat more whole fruits and vegetables. Apples, cucumbers, carrots, and celery all have one thing in common—they’re good for your teeth! Not only are these foods packed with essential vitamins and minerals needed good health, the fibers help keep teeth clean by whisking away debris and plaque.

Don’t use your teeth as tools. Habits like using teeth to crush ice or open cans may not seem so bad, but can actually cause damage to teeth that may warrant a need for bonding or crowns. Keep teeth away from potentially hard objects, as these can cause cracks or chips.

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The beauty of your smile depends upon maintaining healthy habits. Making sure to follow these tips will establish a foundation dental care that will help you keep your teeth strong and healthy well into your senior years.

Our practice is dedicated to helping patients improve their health by providing the tools and information needed to make educated decisions about their health. Check with our office staff and schedule an appointment with Dr. Lisa Heinrich-Null to explore options for improving your smile.

Seven Reasons for Root Canals

A root canal is a dental procedure that removes decayed nerve and pulp from the tooth’s root system, yet preserves the integrity of the natural tooth. After the nerve and pulp have been removed, the tooth is sealed and usually protected with a single crown.

Routine professional cleanings can detect tooth decay before it settles into the pulp, therefore preventing the need for a root canal. Root canals are often a part of emergency dental services when a patient begins to feel discomfort and seeks out a dentist to resolve the problem.

If you have not had a professional cleaning and exam in a while, and you have consistent tooth pain, your need for a root canal may be caused by:

1. Fracture – Fractures can abscess caused by an infection in between the tooth and gum, and tooth-related abscess which takes place in the tooth at the tip of the root and then spreads to adjacent bone tissue.
2. Toothache – Severe toothache or pain, usually felt when eating hot or cold foods, while chewing or when applying pressure on the area. Other problems can mimic the pain of a toothache, and it is always best to check with a dentist who can look at the tooth and gums, and assess the health of the tooth’s pulp.
3. Deep Cavity – When dental caries causes large cavities to form in the teeth, a root canal can be performed to save the tooth and prevent further complications from developing. A deep cavity can be filled or capped with a crown, and after the decayed material has been removed, it will function as a natural teeth. 
4. Trauma – Teeth injuries can break the tooth structure, damaging or exposing the soft pulp and causing nerve trauma and pain. To save the tooth but rid the patient of pain, a root canal is performed and the cavity sealed and covered, depending on the severity and location of the injury.  
5. Fracture – Fractures can cause intermittent pain and often can be seen and confirmed via imaging, such as x-rays. As with other dental traumas, a fracture can cause the pulp to be exposed or damaged, requiring a root canal and covering to protect the remaining natural tooth and gum. 
6. Resorption – This uncommon condition occurs when the body’s cells turn on themselves and eat away at the tooth structure, leaving holes in teeth and root system. Unfortunately resorption can develop rapidly, and it’s best to get treatment as soon as possible to prevent the onset of further damage. Root canals can help with the pain, and stop the erosion before it kills the entire tooth. 
7. Repeated Dental Procedures – Recurring dental treatments can impact the teeth, placing a lot of stress on them and aggravating the pulp. When the pulp becomes inflamed, the tooth should be tested by the dentist in order to determine the best course of treatment. 

Contact the office of Dr. Heinrich-Null to schedule an appointment if you are experiencing dental pain or have not seen a dentist in over 6 months. Early detection helps to prevent the need for a root canal, but if you do indeed need one, this procedure will help save your tooth.

Are Fluoride Treatments Helpful?

Fluoride was discovered to keep teeth healthy in the middle 20th century; since then, fluoride has been included as an important part of dental health and treatments. According to research, fluoride is crucial for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. Topical fluoride treatments and products are vital in the fight against tooth decay for developing teeth.

Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens enamel, the outer layer of the tooth, making it more resistant to bacterial acids that cause tooth decay. Fluoride can also repair some of the damage done in the very early stages of the decay.

Who Needs Fluoride?

Fluoride is delivered in one of two forms, topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is a fluoride treatment applied to the outside of the teeth, such as toothpaste or professional fluoride treatment. Systemic fluoride is that which is consumed, such as fluoridated water and fluoridated supplements.

Although everyone should brush with a toothpaste containing fluoride, exposure to fluoride is especially vital for teeth and gum health in developing teeth. Fluoride treatments are most helpful for the high risk population of infants and children, and particularly those too young to be responsible for their own oral health.

Some medical or health conditions, can put patients in an at-risk category. Fluoride treatments are particularly helpful for people experiencing the following:

• Dry Mouth: Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by various diseases, medications – including allergy medications and anti-anxiety drugs – and medical treatments, such as head and neck radiation treatment. These conditions can reduce the presence of saliva naturally produced in the mouth, allowing food particles, bacteria and acids to remain on the teeth and erode enamel. 
• Periodontal Disease: Also known as gum disease, or periodontitis, this disease can cause gums to recede and leaves the soft tissue and tooth roots open to a bacterial attack, which increases the chance of tooth decay under the gum line. 
• Dental Appliances: Any fixed appliance or metal bracket can challenge the integrity of teeth by making it more difficult the keep areas free of debris and bacteria. 
• History of Dental Caries: People who experience cavities frequently or whose family history includes a history of dental caries will benefit from additional fluoride treatments. 

For personalized advice, or more detailed information on how fluoride can benefit your dental wellbeing, contact your Victoria dentist to schedule an appointment.