My
12-year-old son likes to chew ice.
Is this harmful?
Tooth enamel is very hard, but that doesn’t mean you can’t
break it. Try to avoid eating “hard foods” such as popcorn.
Don’t crack nut shells with your teeth or chew on ice.
Opening packages with your teeth can also damage the enamel.
Why are soft drinks bad for
your teeth?
Sugar and acids are your teeth’s worst enemies. What are we
talking about? Soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, and
candy. Because of the acid content, Mountain Dew seems to be
the worst of the worst. Dentists even have a name for the
damage it does – they call it “Dew Mouth.” These soften the
tooth enamel, making it highly susceptible to decay.
Parents, watch your kid’s consumption of these, because
young children’s enamel hasn’t developed fully. This makes
these drinks even more damaging for kids. As well as
eliminating the above (or at least reducing their
consumption), use a sugar-free xylitol chewing gum after
meals. Also, rinse your mouth with a high-quality dental
mouthwash.
Tongue piercings seem to be a
very bad idea. How bad?
Yes, they can look cool, but they can also fracture your
teeth as well as make it much easier to get a nasty
infection of the tongue and lips. Dentists have estimated
that up to 40% of people who have metal rings or other oral
piercings have had big problems from tooth fractures and
infection.
Is fluoride bad for you?
Fluoride is fine…in small amounts. Excessive fluoride can
cause tooth enamel irregularities. Young children,
especially, often swallow too much toothpaste while
brushing. So parents, supervise your young kids while they
brush. Kids (and even adults) often use way too much
toothpaste (a pea-size drop is plenty). A little goes a long
way.
I think I grind my teeth at
night. What can I do about this?
Do you wake up with pain in your jaws or a persistent
headache? If so, you may be grinding (called bruxing) while
you sleep. Persistent bruxing can damage teeth and cause
them to get shorter and shorter. It can also damage your
temporomandibular (jaw) joints and even affect your hearing.
If you suspect that you are a bruxer, tell your dentist. He
or she may recommend a night guard or other oral appliance.
What’s so bad about losing a
tooth?
Teeth can be lost due to an accident or other trauma, but
the most common reason people lose a tooth is because of gum
disease and/or decay. So, is it a big deal to lose a tooth?
I mean you can’t die from it, right? No, you can’t, but
losing even a single tooth can cause the other teeth to
shift and move around – not good. This can affect chewing
and your ability to absorb nutrients from your food. Other
bad things can happen; your face will change shape, often
looking “sunken.” This can make you look much older than you
really are. Your speech can be affected. Because it’s harder
to chew with missing teeth, you may find yourself favoring
softer foods and more carbohydrates, which can cause you to
gain weight. The best way to treat a missing tooth (or
missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can
replace one tooth or many. They can be made to look so
natural that even a dentist has to look hard to tell the
difference.
Does
the doctor check for oral cancer?
Yes, we do. Dentists and hygienists are your first line of
defense in detecting and treating oral cancer. Each year in
the US, approximately 30,000 people are newly diagnosed with
oral cancer. Worldwide, the problem is far greater, with new
cases annually approaching 300,000. In the US alone, a
person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. If you
add the sub category of laryngeal cancers, the rates of
occurrence (about 10,000 additional new cases per year) and
death are significantly higher. However, the good news is,
when found early, oral cancers have an 80 to 90% cure rate.
Our office uses the VELscope™, the most powerful tool
available for assisting in the discovery of oral
abnormalities. We perform the exam using the specially
designed light. Any suspicious tissue is immediately and
easily visible. This screening could literally save your
life!
What causes people to
lose their teeth?
Many people assume that tooth loss is due to decay. It’s
not. It’s because of gum disease. And it can be completely
painless right up until you lose your teeth. Symptoms
include bleeding gums when you brush or floss and loose or
shifting teeth. If you’ve been told you need gum surgery,
you will be glad to know that it’s possible to control gum
disease with a variety of non-surgical methods.
I’ve read that gum disease can
contribute to heart disease and even stroke. Is this true?
Yes. Recent medical research has caused many doctors to
reach a startling conclusion: gum disease, stroke, and heart
disease are linked. Since heart disease is usually fatal, it
is clear that gum disease is a serious matter. The American
Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have
periodontal (gum) disease. If this were any other
affliction, such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be
considered an epidemic! Most dentists think it is just that.
They also knew that gum disease would never be labeled
epidemic because “no one ever dies from it.” The worst is
that you lose your teeth. Not pleasant – but certainly not
life threatening. But that’s all changed.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports: “studies
found periodontal infection may contribute to the
development of heart disease,
increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose
a serious threat to people whose health is already
compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.”
Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection
of the gums. These bacteria can travel into the bloodstream
–
straight to the heart.
Now the Good News
Gum disease can be controlled, even virtually halted, with
the use of very effective NON-surgical procedures coupled
with improved dental hygiene. Dr. Simpson is licensed to
practice the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure™, a
minimally invasive method of treating gum disease. LANAP is
the only laser-assisted procedure certified by the FDA for
treatment of periodontitis or gum disease. With LANAP, gum
disease can be treated successfully without scalpels or
sutures, so healing and recovery is generally faster and
less painful than traditional gum surgery.
Why is it important to have
regular teeth cleaning?
Did you know “teeth cleaning” does more than just clean your
teeth? Removing plaque is absolutely essential if you want
to preserve your teeth. It builds up on the tooth surfaces
and between the teeth. Brushing and flossing are, of course,
vital, but everyone needs their teeth professionally cleaned
on a regular basis. Remember – only a dental hygienist can
completely clean your teeth.
What is a TMJ disorder?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, your jaw joints. The
pain, discomfort, or tenderness in or around the jaw joints
is called a TMJ disorder.
Signs that you might have a TMJ disorder are:
• Facial pain or tenderness
• Jaw pain
• Pain in or around the ears
• Neck pain
• Jaw stiffness
• Discomfort while chewing
• Headaches
• Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
• Jaw “locking up”
• Jaw makes a clicking sound
• Teeth that don't come together properly when eating or
chewing
There are a variety of treatment options for TMJ. Be sure to
ask your dentist about these.
