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Tooth Decay
Caries, or tooth decay, is a preventable disease. While
caries might not endanger your life, they may negatively
impact your quality of life.
When your teeth and gums are consistently exposed to large
amounts of starches and sugars, acids may form that begin to
eat away at tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich foods such as
candy, cookies, soft drinks and even fruit juices leave
deposits on your teeth. Those deposits bond with the
bacteria that normally survive in your mouth and form
plaque. The combination of deposits and plaque forms acids
that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth
decay resulting.
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Sensitive
Teeth
Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in
temperature. Hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain
or irritation to people with sensitive teeth. Over time,
tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may
develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the
tooth and irritating nerve endings. Just breathing cold air
can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth.
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Gum Disease
Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth
loss and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film
of bacteria called plaque. Gums in the early stage of
disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and
swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth
may fall out or need to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease
is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily
brushing and flossing. One indicator of gum disease is
consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
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Bad Breath
(Halitosis)
Brushing and flossing daily helps to prevent the buildup of
food particles, plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Food
particles left in the mouth deteriorate and cause bad
breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies,
may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may
be a sign of gum disease or another dental problem.
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Canker Sores
Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the
mouth that often recur. Generally lasting one or two weeks,
the canker sore has a white or gray base surrounded by a red
border and can be quite painful. The duration of canker
sores can be reduced by the use of antimicrobial
mouthwashes, topical agents or, within a few days, with the
use of our state-of-the-art dental laser.
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Orthodontic
Problems
A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion)
can be inherited, or some types may be acquired. Some causes
of malocclusion include missing or extra teeth, crowded
teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues,
such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of
time, may cause malocclusions.
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TMJ
The “Temporomandibular Joint,” more commonly referred to as
the “jaw joint,” assists in the basic opening and closing
movements of the jaw. This joint can be a common area for
recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that
“popping” sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction,
this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning
properly even if a “popping” sound is present when chewing
or talking.
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