Whitening

Everyone seems to want whiter teeth.  There are many different products to use either over the counter or from the dentists' office.  Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash can be found in stores.  These products work well if your a heavy smoker or coffee drinker because they help to attack stain, but if you do not eat foods that cause much staining, whitening mouthwash and toothpaste may not necessarily be the right product for you.  Good old fashioned baking soda will also help to brush off stain, thus making your teeth look whiter.  Just dab a bit of baking soda on your toothbrush and lightly scrub.  CREST white strips actually will show results, however you must use them as directed.

If you would like to have professional whitening, the dentist can make you specific whitening trays.  After having the trays made you will receive a gel that is quite similar to the crest white strips.  the only difference is the percentage of carbamide peroxide found in the bleach gel.  The blue lights you see on TV for whitening are really just for effect; they do not have anything to do with the whitening process.

<-- UNNECESSARY.

When you do start to whiten you may experience sensitivity.  If this occurs you can use some sensodyne and a fluoride rinse.

There is nothing wrong with whitening, but many patients may have cavities and gum disease.  It is more important to fix cavities and gum disease than it is to have white teeth.  Whitening comes last on the list of to-do's when it comes to oral health.

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Wisdom Teeth

Some people have four, some people have more, and some people have less.  Some people never see their wisdom teeth and some never knew they even came in.  Others have them surgically extracted, and some live with them impacted.

I don't want to say that your wisdom teeth are not necessary, but patients have enough teeth that they could do without.  Most patients' wisdom teeth usually cause problems if they are not properly taken care of.  If you do have them they are very hard to keep clean because they are far back in the mouth.  Wisdom teeth are most likely to decay and develop gum disease.  The gum disease developed in the wisdom teeth can effect your other teeth.  Also, wisdom teeth can effect your other teeth if they do not grow in properly.  Patients that do not have them surgically extracted, and have been told to, could experience something like this,

Now, this x-ray shows the wisdom tooth (the tooth to the left) growing into the patients last molar (the tooth in the middle).  All of the black in the molar is decay from where the wisdom tooth was pushing into the molar.  The decay is causing infection in the molar, this is painful.  Unfortunately, not only did this person have to lose the wisdom tooth, but they also lost their molar. 

Moral of the story, if your dentist tells you to get your wisdom teeth out, use my wisdom, and get them out before you lose more teeth than necessary. 

Gum Disease

Gum disease is the silent oral killer.  Gum disease is also referred to as Periodontal Disease.  Periodontal disease is, in my opinion, the worst thing to have in the mouth, besides cancer.  Cavities, broken, and crooked teeth can be fixed.  Periodontal disease is much harder to reverse. 

So, what exactly is this so called Periodontal, gum disease?  Let me explain.  Gum disease develops from gingivitis, everyone hears about gingivitis but I think there may be a lack of understanding of what actually makes gingivitis arouse.  If your dentist tells you that you have gingivitis that is good, because gingivitis is the ONLY reversible stage of gum disease.  At this stage blood cells and bacteria are causing an acute infection in the patient’s gums, but can be fixed by daily flossing and a Listerine mouth rinse.  Upon flossing, bleeding and soreness will most likely occur, but will subside after regular flossing in about a month.

However, if you visit the dentist and they tell you that you have periodontal disease you cannot fix that by flossing.  Periodontal disease occurs when a buildup of bacteria, hide inside the deepest darkest part of your gums, fester, multiply and eat away the bone that holds the roots of your teeth into your jaw.  This action will cause your teeth to start wiggling and eventually they will fall out.  This is extremely unfortunate because the cost to fix this disease is expensive and painful.  To fix this you may need bone grafts, dental implants, gum surgery, and/or dentures. 

Most patients would never know they have periodontal disease because it’s painless until your teeth start falling out.  Smoking, heredity, and irregular visits to the dentist will cause gum disease.  So, hopefully this gives you yet another reason to visit your local dentist.  Patients with gum disease have a very dirty mouth.

Cavities - Why?

Coming to the dentist would not have to be so bad if no one had to hear, 'Oh, I see a cavity.'  Most patients dread the needle, the taste, the sensitivity, the numb feeling.  There is definitely so much uncomfortable, to say the least, about getting a cavity filled.  

So, we all fear being told we have a cavity, but why don’t we do things to prevent them?

A cavity is this whole in you tooth that is created from the food you eat.  The foods you eat react with a natural forming substance found on your teeth, plaque.  Bacteria stick to the food and plaque reaction, and start to eat your tooth.  First bacteria eat into your enamel, then the dentin, and finally if you wait to get it fixed it will eat into the nerve.  If bacteria reach the nerve you will get an infection.

Infections are painful.  They can cause swelling.  Infections can also drain into a puss pimple on the outside of the gum, known as an abscess.

What foods are bad foods?  

Most obvious bad food, soda a.k.a.  battery acid to enamel.  Sugars, juices, fruit snacks, candy, and even natural fruit because of the high sugar content could be cavity causing. Some patients realize its "mints", or "coffee with honey."  You can definitely eat and drink whatever you want, but maybe try rinsing with water to flush the sugars and bacteria out.  Also, try using a straw with drinks to bypass your teeth.

Hopefully, now you are little bit frightened and will do your best to prevent cavities.  They can be fixed, but once they are fixed you must still take care for your teeth.

Okay, okay, okay.  You do watch your sticky food intake, and rinse with water, and brush, floss, and use a mouth rinse, but you're still getting cavities.  There can be many reasons.  Is it possible hereditary, acid reflux, age, pregnancy?  Yes.  Talk with you dentist and doctor if you have concerns.