What Can I Do About Bad Breath?
If you feel constantly worried about bad breath, you’re not alone. Bad breath (halitosis) is an all too common problem, not to mention embarrassing and distracting for you and others around you. Deducing what is most likely causing your bad breath will help determine what you can do to prevent it.
Greatly reduced saliva flow during sleep (the cause of morning breath), certain foods (such as garlic, onions, and peppers), poor oral hygiene, periodontal (gum) disease, dry mouth, tobacco, dieting, dehydration, and some medical conditions (including sinus infections and diabetes) can all cause bad breath. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day (in the morning and at night) is the first thing to start doing, if you are not already in the habit. Brushing after every meal is even better, if you can. If not, chewing sugar-free gum after meals can get food particles out of your teeth. Additionally, clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or interdental cleaners, and remember to brush your tongue. Brushing your tongue, especially the back areas, can make a big difference in how clean your mouth feels and smells. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning. Toothbrushes should be replaced every couple months.
Biannual dental cleanings and checkups at one of our offices will not only keep your teeth and gums in good shape, but seeing you regularly will also allow us to better detect any problems, such as gum disease, dry mouth (Xerostomia), or other dental conditions (like tooth decay), that may be the cause of persistent bad breath. If you have gum disease, more frequent visits to our office might be recommended for your oral and overall health.
Breaking a tobacco habit (smoking or chewing tobacco) can significantly improve your oral health and the way your breath smells. Ask us about ways we suggest to help break a tobacco habit. Drinking plenty of water and eating healthy also keeps your mouth moist and more free of bad bacteria. Mouth rinses can help, too, but ask us which rinses actually kill the germs that cause bad breath, because some only mask odor as a temporary solution.
When bad breath is a symptom of a larger bacterial problem in your mouth, we can help. If we find that your mouth is healthy, we may refer you to your physician for further consultation and more comprehensive treatment.
Are Silver Fillings Safe?
Amalgam fillings are commonly called silver fillings. Dental amalgam is a stable alloy of mercury with other metallic elements, including silver, copper, and tin. While some concern has been raised about dental amalgam’s mercury content, the combination with other metals renders it stable and safe for use in filling teeth. The major U.S. Scientific and health bodies have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe restorative material, and current studies indicate no measurable direct health risks to patients.
Amalgam fillings are durable and can withstand high chewing loads, so they are especially useful for restoring back molars where the mouth’s chewing load is the greatest. They are also practical for deep fillings in areas below the gum line, where it is difficult to keep dry during preparation and filling. Because amalgam fillings do not bond (stick) to teeth, preparation is “undercut,” creating a space that is narrower at the surface of the tooth and wider enough inside to keep the filling from falling out.
One of the biggest disadvantages of amalgam fillings is that the preparatory undercutting requires the removal of more healthy tooth structure than is generally necessary with other types of fillings. This can weaken the natural tooth, and when amalgam fillings eventually need to be replaced it means the removal of even more healthy tooth structure. The most visually noticeable disadvantage of amalgam fillings is that they are not as natural looking as tooth-colored fillings, particularly when the restoration is near the front of the mouth. Composite (tooth-colored) fillings or, in more extensive cases of decay, inlays, onlays, and crowns, are good alternatives to amalgam fillings.
If My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt & My Filling is Still in Place, Why Would the Filling Need to be Replaced?
Constant pressure from chewing, teeth grinding and/or jaw clenching can cause dental fillings to wear away, chip, and even crack. If the seal between the tooth enamel and the filling breaks down, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can work their way under the filling. You then run the risk of developing additional decay in that tooth. Decay that is left untreated can progress to deeply infect the tooth and even cause an abscess and/or eventual loss of the tooth. Again, regular dental checkups enable us to monitor areas of concern and help keep you in optimal oral health.
When fillings are large, or if recurrent decay is extensive, there might not be enough remaining tooth structure to support a replacement filling. In these cases, we may need to replace the filling with a natural looking porcelain crown.
How Can I Tell if I’m at Risk for Gum Disease?
According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, about 80 percent of U.S. adults currently have some form of gum disease, ranging from gingivitis to serious periodontal disease. The prevalence of gum disease increases with age, because as we age, our teeth wear down, our gums naturally recede, teeth can become more sensitive, and medications can affect some oral changes. If your gums feel tender or sore, or if they look red and swollen, you may be at risk for gum disease. Other signs include bleeding and/or receding gums, pain or sensitivity in your teeth (and even loose teeth, caused by weakening gum fibers and/or bone loss), and persistent bad breath. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss as well as various other health problems. More and more life-threatening illnesses are being linked to the presence of dental diseases.
The first thing to do is get a thorough dental evaluation. If you have any degree of periodontal disease, we can help. We strongly believe in and focus on the importance of healthy gums for a healthy mouth and body. Gum disease used to require surgery more often than not. While surgery is still an option and sometimes needed, many cases are now treated with less invasive techniques first, such as deep cleanings, local antibiotics, and special rinses. Please come in and let us help you achieve and maintain healthier gums for a healthier you.
How Can Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments Improve My Life?
A more beautiful smile can make life more beautiful. Studies have shown that a healthy and attractive smile can raise self-esteem, increase confidence, improve your personal as well as your professional life, and help you make better first impressions on others. Sometimes it doesn’t take much dental treatment for you to feel much better about your smile, and there are a variety of subtle, yet noticeable ways that smiles can be enhanced. There are also more significant and dramatic treatment procedures (and combinations of procedures), often called “smile makeovers,” that can totally change teeth and smile appearance, to give you the smile of your dreams.
While there is no true “specialist” association with cosmetic dentistry, there are a number of organizations with advanced training and awards associated with cosmetic dentistry. Some dentists place greater emphasis on cosmetic dentistry treatments, especially when they have an exceptionally artistic eye and/or particular enjoyment for cosmetic procedures. We especially like Lumineers® smile makeovers, because these thin, custom-made, and permanent veneers can be applied without extensive preparation and, in most cases, without shots
Advancements in dental technology have made it possible for dentists to address a wide variety of issues affecting smile appearance. Some common cosmetic dentistry treatments include teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding and enamel shaping, porcelain bridges, veneers, and orthodontic solutions (including braces and aligner therapy). Replacing old, amalgam (silver) fillings with tooth-colored composite fillings can also be considered cosmetic in nature, as it is done to improve both the health and structure, and the appearance of teeth. Really, all dental treatment aimed to improve the appearance of your teeth, gum shape, and smile can be considered cosmetic in nature.
