Friday, September 26, 2014

Overly Sensitive Teeth?

Do you feel sharp pains when you eat your ice cream? Or a jolt when you are drinking your orange juice? Or a jab when you are brushing or flossing? You may be part of the millions of Americans suffering from “dentin hypersensitivity”, aka sensitive teeth.

Sensitive TeethSensitive teeth are caused by a number of different things, but can all be linked to an exposure of dentin. In healthy teeth, your tooth’s dentin is protected by the hardy enamel layer. When that is damaged, through several different ways, it allows external things to reach the nerve-filled dentin, causing the pain.

Some common things that contribute to tooth sensitivity are: buildups of plaque, eating away at your enamel; receding gum lines caused by gum disease and gingivitis; grinding and wearing down your teeth, causing the enamel to fracture; eating highly acidic foods; overusing over-the-counter bleaching kits; brushing too hard; untreated dental decay; or even overusing mouthwash.

When your dentin is exposed, many outside factors can trigger a pain response. 75% of the time, it is caused by a thermal trigger; that is, hot or cold foods or drinks causing sharp sudden pain. Acid is another trigger, including acidic and sweet foods and beverages. A blast of air can trigger a pain reaction, as can a poke or prod in the wrong area.

Naturally, with so many causes, there are also many treatments. Some dentists may recommend a desensitizing toothpaste, which helps to block the pain triggered by the dentin exposure. A dentist may also apply a tooth sealant, protecting the dentin in harder to reach areas. A treatment of fluoride may also be effective in rebuilding lost enamel and helping reduce sensitivity.

If all else fails, and the sensitivity is severe enough, a root canal may be in order. A dentist will manually remove the nerves in the affected tooth (or teeth), preventing future pain and sensitivity in that area.
If you are concerned about tooth sensitivity, feel free to ask your friendly Valencia dentist. They are always there to help and can discuss your options with you and find the root cause of your issues.

To get in touch with your favorite Valencia dentist, visit our website.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Sleep Apnea, Your Dentist, and You

Do you find yourself drinking more and more coffee, despite having eight full hours of sleep? Can’t seem to feel rested, no matter what you do? Does your family complain about your snoring? Well, you just may have sleep apnea, a condition affecting nearly one in every 15 Americans. That is nearly 18 million Americans.
Sleep apnea comes in a few forms in differing severity, but functions the same.

Man SnoringWhen you sleep, tissue in the throat collapse and squeeze, cutting off your air intake, directly impacting the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. When your oxygen levels drop enough, your body will wake you up. However, when you are woken up, it is usually so briefly that you will rarely notice. Sufferers of “mild” sleep apnea will wake up from 5 to 15 times per night. “Severe” sufferers, up to 30. Talk about a rough night.

The good news is, however, that your friendly Valencia dentist can help you if you fear you may suffer from sleep apnea. Your dentist can fit your mouth with a custom mouthpiece designed to pull your jaw forward while you sleep, limiting the tissue pressure that can pinch your airways. They can also set you up with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which is an air pump that helps keep your airways open. However, the CPAP machines are a pricier option for most, so the mouth piece is an effective option for those suffering with milder forms of apnea.

If the mouthpieces and CPAP machine fail, surgery is a last resort option. The surgeon will reshape and shave various tissue found in your throat and nasal passages, creating as much space as possible to allow the best airflow. Naturally, this is a major surgery, so should be considered if all other treatments have failed you.
If you have any concerns about sleep apnea, now is the time to talk to your dentist about it. Studies have indicated that continued hypoxia, a lack of oxygen caused by sleep apnea, can actually promote tumor and vascular growth, which increases your odds (almost 4.8 times) of succumbing to cancer.

Your friendly Valencia dentist would be more than happy to help you get a restful, quiet night of sleep. For both you and your partner.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Gum Disease – The Painless Problem

Gum disease, more officially known as periodontitis, affects roughly 47% of adults over 30. Shockingly, by the age of 65, it climbs to roughly 70% of the population.

Periodontitis begins as plaque buildup along the gum lines. If you fail to maintain a healthy smile, the bacteria begins to build up causing your gums to inflame. Once they are inflamed, you officially have gingivitis. Left untreated, that gingivitis will spread deeper and begin to affect the deeper tissues supporting your teeth. Once that happens, your gum tissue will begin to pull away from your teeth, and gingivitis officially becomes periodontitis.

dental examPeriodontitis is dangerous because it allows bacteria to grow deep inside your gum tissue, leading to tooth loss and bone degradation. It also makes it more likely that you will develop heart disease, and has been linked to causing or worsening Type 2 Diabetes.

However, poor dental hygiene isn’t the only cause. There are several contributing factors. Pregnancy, diabetes, and high levels of stress can aid in the development of gingivitis, as well as smoking or chewing tobacco. If you’re one to grind your teeth in your sleep, that can contribute to gingivitis as well.

Keep in mind that pain is rarely a symptom of gingivitis. Several other symptoms lead as indicators, including red gums, bleeding gums, a receding gum line, loose teeth, sores, and even persistent bad breath.
If you have noticed a few of these symptoms and are worried, make sure to ask your friendly Valencia dentist for advice. Gingivitis is treatable; it simply requires a deeper cleaning (called ‘scaling’), and potentially X-rays.

If you feel you are at risk, you can help prevent the development of gingivitis by brushing twice a day, flossing or picking, using mouthwash twice daily, and seeing your friendly Valencia dentist regularly.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Power Toothbrushes – a Breeding Ground for Bacteria?

New emerging research indicates that hollow-head power toothbrushes could contain “up to 3,000” times the amount of bacteria compared to solid-head power toothbrushes with identical brushing habits.

Power Tooth BrushThe hollow-head brushes allow for more airflow and space for bacteria to cultivate and grow, as the study indicated. However, in the study, subjects were not able to clean or sanitize their brushes in between uses. In actual applications where the brush would be cleaned or sanitized after use, the actual amount of bacteria present would be much lower. Still, a hollow-head brush is potentially a breeding ground for all kinds of nasty things, including yeast and mold.

If you worry about bacteria on your toothbrush, there are a few ways to sanitize it yourself at home. The easiest way is to ensure that it dries between each use. Less moisture means less bacteria support. Some stores will sell a UV light system that will soak your bristles in ultraviolet light, killing anything growing on it; however that option is a bit on the pricier side. Another simple solution is to soak the head of your toothbrush in mouthwash for a good 20 minutes and letting it dry thoroughly before use. This will clean and sanitize and leave a nice minty taste.

The researchers recommend locating some solid-head power brushes, though it’s not an easy feat, as packaging rarely mentions if they are or are not. The trick is to look at where the brush head connects to the base; if there is a lot of space in there, chances are it is a hollow-head brush. If there is just enough room to connect the head to the base, then it is more likely to be a solid-head brush.
Of course, if you have any questions or concerns in finding the right brush for yourself, your friendly Valencia dentistGo Dental, would be happy to discuss your options with you. As always, your health is their priority.