4 Tips to Help with Jaw Soreness

Treat it like a sprained ankle
~Rest the joint. Avoid chewy foods: gums, bagels, pizza crusts, etc.
~Use heat and ice compresses on the joint.
~Take NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), which can help reduce swelling and pain.

Get a night guard
~If you find that you are clenching and grinding at night a guard can help relieve stress on the jaw joint.

Put your tongue to the roof of your mouth

~If you catch yourself clenching or grinding during the day, the simple act of placing your tongue to the roof of your mouth will make you aware of it and provide separation of your teeth.

Massage
~Massaging the muscles around the jaw will increase blood flow to the area and loosen tight muscles surrounding the jaw joint.

Best Tooth Paste for Gums

Do you have bleeding gums, gingivitis or periodontal (gum) disease?  These are the best tooth pastes on the market for you!

I Was Told My Tooth is Cracked. What Now?

Cracked teeth are fairly common and most often fixable.  Some teeth have been in your mouth since you were 6 years old and have been through some wear and tear.

Most common causes of a cracked tooth:

• Clenching and Grinding
• Large silver fillings
• Older fillings
• Root canalled teeth

How do I know if I have a cracked tooth?

• You or your dental professional can see it.  At our office we will take a photograph of the crack, so you can see what we see.
• You have off and on biting sensitivity. 
• Sensitivity to hot and/or cold
• Gum swelling
• A "line" of stain 

How is a cracked tooth treated?

• If a crack is superficial (simple) and not causing any pain, removing the crack and placing a filling can be done.
• If a crack is large (complex) and symptomatic, the best treatment is a crown.  A crown is placed over the top of the tooth to prevent the crack from spreading and progressing.  Eating and drinking will cause flexure of the tooth.  A crown prevents that flexure, keeping that crack right where it is.

What happens if I leave a crack and do nothing?

• Much like a crack on the sidewalk it will spread.  The larger the crack the more symptoms and pain you can have, as the crack gets closer to the nerve.
• The crack can cause the tooth to split in two.  Often this will result in needed the tooth extracted.

5 Ways Vaping Impacts Your Mouth.

1. Contains harmful chemicals like diethylene glycol- found in Antifreeze, lead and chromium.

2. When inhaling the hottest and most potent part of the vape is right away, that which happens in the mouth. As a result, cells in your mouth change, in a negative way.

3. Liquid Nicotine constricts important blood flow to your teeth and tissues. It’s like applying a tourniquet to each tooth. Healthy blood flow is important to keep your teeth.

4. Vaping dries out your mouth. This is causing bad breath and decay.

5. Vaping is a stimulant and can cause clenching, grinding and jaw pain.

Are Dental X-Ray's Necessary?

 A lot of patients ask this question.  Often they explain that they are not in any pain, are concerned about cost or incurring unnecessary radiation exposure.  We are a full service dental office and owe it to our patients to obtain a complete dental picture.  We want to make sure each patient get the dental care they need and deserve.  X-Rays are a necessary part of that picture.  Without them, we could be missing underlying dental issues.

I'm not in any pain.
Super!  That meas they cavity likely hasn't reached the nerve space.  With an x-ray we can determine how deep the cavity is, what type and size of filling you need and how soon it needs to be done to avoid dental pain or abscess.

I'm concerned with the cost of x-rays.
Vaild.  X-Rays cost money.  So do fillings, crowns and root canals.  Fillings are far cheaper than a crown and cheaper yet than a root canal.  By using x-rays we can diagnose a small cavity and place a small filling.  This will cost less than waiting 'until next time" to take x-rays.  Cavities will grow and spread over time.

I'm worried about radiation exposure.
We take radiation exposure seriously.  Digital x-rays generate way less radiation than past x-ray technology.  In fact, dental x-rays produce less radiation than an average person receives on an average day from environmental radiation; less than riding on a plane, less than being outside for 15 minutes.
We take into account individual patient needs.  Those that have never had a cavity and healthy bone support, don't need x-rays as often as those with active gum disease or high cavity rates.

If you have any questions about x-rays, please don't hesitate to ask!

In the picture above, the teeth in the mouth look healthy and cavity free.  The x-ray shows a cavity between the teeth.  

Gum Disease and Alzheimer's.

We all know it's important to have healthy gums and now a new study has linked gum disease to Alzheimers.

Read more below Then floss!

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/01/gum-disease-causing-bacteria-could-spur-alzheimer-s

The Importance of Baby Teeth

Baby teeth are important to your child's dental health and development. They are essential for chewing, speaking, smiling and are needed to hold the space for the permanent tooth to come in. Think of the baby tooth as a puppet string, guiding each adult tooth.

Baby teeth are needed, and shouldn't be pulled, just because they aren't permanent.