The Inside Story on Root Canals
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: root canal, root canal therapy
Here are some facts you’ll want to make sure you’re aware of in case you’re faced with the decision of having a root canal.
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First of all, ‘having a root canal’, as most people refer to the procedure, is actually root canal therapy, which means that the dentist works on the inside of the tooth and treats the pulp tissue of the tooth, or the ‘nerves’ of the tooth.
And, the process is not always as painful as people may think; often, the procedure is nothing more than having a filling replaced, and doesn’t have to take a long time at all.
Another misconception people may have about the nerves of the tooth is that the tooth’s nerves are necessary in order for the tooth to function properly in the mouth. However, this is not entirely true.
Pediatric Dentists for Your Little Ones
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: children dental health, dental health, pediatric dentists
Yes, there are also pediatricians in dentistry. They are called pediatric dentists. They are dentists who specialize in children’s dental health.
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Pediatric dentists completed dental school and were further trained on children’s specific needs when it comes to dental health. Their training includes child psychology, management of oral-facial trauma, and growth and development.
Most kids, especially the little ones, are afraid of dentists. But pediatric dentists are kid friendly. They make sure the kids are comfortable with them and make the kids feel that dentists are friends.
Some children’s hospitals even let the children touch and operate the dental machines to make them feel at home. This is a good way to make them forget of their fear of dentists.
Oral Candidiasis: The Yeast Infection
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: fungal diseases, oral candidiasis
This fungus is friendly to the body and prevents other fungus from causing any fungal diseases. But when the person’s immune system is weakened, it allows for the other fungus to easily attack the body like this oral candidiasis.
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The fungus named candida causes the oral candidiasis. Certain drugs promote the growth of candida by altering the organisms in the mouth.
Diabetes, iron deficiency, folate, zinc deficiency also cause the growth of candida. Oral candidiasis is mostly found in exposed and moist parts of the body such as oral cavity/oral thrush, the vagina or the folds of skin in diaper area.
Oral candidiasis occurs without symptoms but sometimes the common symptoms are discomfort and burning sensation in the mouth and the throat with an distorted sense of taste.
Oral Cancer: The Disease of the DNA
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: gum tissue, neck cancer, oral cancer
Oral cancer belongs to a group of cancers called the head and neck cancers. Oral cancer may develop in any part of the mouth but mostly in the tongue and floor of the oral cavity. Oral cancer usually spreads through the lymphatic system to the other parts of the body. For example, the cancer cells may spread to the lungs and these cancer cells are oral cancer cells. So this is treated as oral cancer and not lung cancer.
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Oral cancer is not contagious, but doctors cannot explain why oral cancer is acquired. It has been observed that people with certain risk factors are more likely to get oral cancer. Some of these risk factors are tobacco, alcohol, cancer of the lip from extensive exposure to sun, and people with head and neck cancer.
Oral cancer starts as tiny red or white spot in any part of the mouth. It can affect lips, tongue, cheek lining, gum tissue, and the hard or soft palate. Some of the basic symptoms of this disease are the following:
Protection: What you Need to Know about Mouth Guards
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: jaw injuries, mouth guard
Here are some suggestions on selecting the right mouth guard, as well as facts on what the guards should be used for and the injuries they can prevent.
Credit: wikipedia.org
The principal role of a mouth guard is to protect your teeth from being damaged or chipped while you are playing sports. These guards are made from plastic. The grade of plastic usually determines the quality of protection you will receive from the guard, so if your doctor recommends a certain brand, it may be best to try that brand first.
It is also important to remember that you should wear the mouth guard each time you are playing your sport, even if you are just practicing. All dentists generally agree that wearing mouth guards when playing is a good idea, since over 200,000 mouth and jaw injuries happen among athletes every year.
Annoying Mouth Ulcers – Why?
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: anti-inflammatory medicines, inflammatory bowl disease, mouth ulcers
The associated pain is because of the removal of the skin layer and exposure of nerve cells. But mouth ulcers are easily be treated with pain relievers, antibacterial or anti-inflammatory medicines.
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Mouth ulcers are caused by a break in the mouth lining because of vigorous brushing or dental braces or accidentally biting the inside of the mouth. Sometimes, stress also causes mouth ulcers and can heal within a week or two.
With serious symptoms, mouth ulcers can be an sign of herpes infection, canker sores that are sex related, inflammatory bowl disease, gingivostomatitis, leukoplakia, oral cancer, oral thrush, herpes simplex, or immune disorders. When mouth ulcers are a symptom of a disease, other symptoms of that disease are also present.
Tips for Much Healthier Teeth
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Proper dental care and overall oral hygiene is important. If the teeth are not given proper attention and care, oral diseases may occur and will result in loss of teeth. And it is better to learn proper care for the teeth as early as possible.
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Thus, young kids should already be taught the routine of cleaning the teeth and doing it properly. As early as possible, kids should learn the importance of taking good care of the teeth.
Here are some tips to keep the teeth healthy and clean, and prevent oral diseases from occurring.
1. Teeth should be cleaned after every meal by brushing and flossing. Dentists recommend brushing the teeth at least twice a day and flossing every night.
2. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles so as not to hurt the gums too much. Replace toothbrush every three months.
Prevent Tooth Loss: Protect Your Gums
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: gum disease, tooth loss
What is gum disease anyway? How can one prevent it? Gums provide support for the teeth and keep them in place. When gums become infected, the tissue and bones supporting the tooth are destroyed. This results in tooth loss.
Millions of bacteria live in a person’s mouth. There are some that are harmless. Harmful bacteria are those found in dental plaques, colorless film that builds up on the tooth’s surface. These dental plaques are the main cause of gum disease.
Plaque forms in the teeth all the time and can easily build up and accumulate to excessive amounts. Within 24 hours, at the least, this plaque build up can harden into tartar which can be difficult to remove just by brushing. This irritates the gums and causes them to bleed.
Gums affected by gingivitis become red, swollen and bleed when brushed. When gingivitis becomes severe in progress, the gums pull away from the teeth leaving space for the bacteria to grow and dwell in the gap damaging the teeth. As a result, the teeth shrink, recede, become lose and fall out or need to be removed.
The inflammation of the gums around the teeth due to improper cleaning causes gingivitis. Gingivitis is present in all age groups primarily because of local irritants. People experience gingivitis in varying degrees.
Gingivitis develops during puberty or early adulthood due to hormonal changes and its progress depends on how healthy the tooth is. Some of the common symptoms of gingivitis are swollen mouth and gums, red color of the gums, bleeding gums and gums that are tender when touched but otherwise painless.
Dentures: What Exactly Are They?
Written by admin on September 08, 2009
Tags: dentures, healthy gum, teeth health
The primary function of dentures is to give you a healthy, attractive smile, even if you’ve lost all or most of your teeth. Teeth can be lost from tooth decay, periodontal disease, or from a serious injury, so no matter what your situation, your dentist can construct dentures for you that are natural-looking, and will give you the confidence you may have been missing.
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Dentures can also help to improve your health, because when you don’t have the correct amount of teeth anymore naturally, the face will start to sag and become misshapen. So, dentures can actually make you look younger!
You’ll also be able to eat more foods with the dentures in your mouth; most people are not able to eat solid foods for a while after a mouth injury or periodontal disease, so getting dentures can definitely make life easier for you.