Jawbone Loss

One of the most important reasons to replace a missing tooth is to prevent bone loss in your jaw. Besides anchoring your tooth in your mouth, your tooth roots play a critical role in stimulating the underlying jawbone every time you bite and chew. When a tooth is lost, that stimulation stops, and bone loss begins. In fact, in the first year of losing a tooth, you can lose up to 25% of your jawbone density in the area.

Without proper stimulation, your jawbone will continue to deteriorate, weakening neighboring teeth and compromising overall oral stability. In more advanced cases, bone loss can even change the shape of your lower face, creating a prematurely aged or sunken appearance.

Shifting Teeth and Bite Misalignment

Your teeth are designed to work together as a team. When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth no longer have the support they need. Over time, the teeth around the empty space may begin to drift or tilt into the spot where the missing tooth once was.

When your teeth shift, it can throw off your bite alignment, leading to uneven pressure when chewing. Misalignment of your teeth or bite also creates hard-to-clean areas, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease. What started as a single missing tooth can gradually become a larger oral health concern.

Functional Challenges

Missing teeth can affect more than just your smile. You may notice changes in how you chew or pronounce certain words. If you begin favoring one side of your mouth, you may place extra strain on your jaw joints, potentially leading to discomfort or tension over time.

Cosmetic Considerations

Even if the missing tooth isn’t visible, you may still feel self-conscious about gaps in your smile. Replacing a missing tooth restores symmetry to your mouth and can improve your confidence in both social and professional settings.

Replace Your Tooth, Protect Your Smile

Replacing a missing tooth (or teeth) isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about preserving the strength of your jawbone, protecting the surrounding teeth, and maintaining the health and balance of your entire smile. To explore your tooth replacement options, schedule a consultation with your dentist today.

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Foods That Can Harm Your Teeth

Sugary Snacks and Beverages

It’s no surprise that candy, cookies, and sweetened drinks can damage your teeth. Sugar feeds harmful oral bacteria, and these bacteria produce acids that weaken your tooth enamel and increase your risk of cavities. Sticky sweets like caramel or gummy candies are especially problematic because they cling to your teeth longer.

Acidic Drinks

Soda, sports drinks, citrus juices, and even flavored sparkling waters are highly acidic, which can erode enamel over time. Once the enamel thins, your teeth become more sensitive and more vulnerable to decay.

Refined Carbohydrates

Highly processed carbohydrates, such as white bread, chips, and crackers, quickly break down into sugars in your mouth. When these foods get lodged between your teeth, it gives sugar-loving bacteria more time to produce enamel-damaging acids.

Smile-Friendly Alternatives

Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables

Crunchy snacks like apples, carrots, and celery work to naturally stimulate saliva production, which in turn helps rinse away food debris and cavity-causing bacteria. These snack choices also provide essential vitamins that support your gum health.

Water

Plain water, especially when fluoridated, helps wash away food particles and supports strong tooth enamel. Swapping sugary beverages for water is one of the simplest ways to protect your smile.

Nuts and Lean Proteins

Almonds, walnuts, chicken, and fish provide essential nutrients that help promote healthy teeth without feeding harmful bacteria.

Keep Your Smile Bright and Healthy

Small nutritional changes can significantly impact your oral health. Pairing smart food choices with daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits will keep your smile healthy, strong, and bright for years to come.

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Why Should Kids Wear Mouthguards When Playing Sports?

Sports like football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and martial arts can come with a real risk of dental injury. Even non-contact sports can lead to accidental collisions. A mouthguard helps cushion any hits to your child’s face, reducing their chances of tooth damage and soft-tissue injuries. For kids with braces, mouthguards are especially important, because they prevent sharp metal brackets from cutting their cheeks and protect orthodontic appliances from breaking. Wearing a mouthguard is a simple step that can save families from everything from significant pain and stress to dental expenses.

Types of Mouthguards

Stock Mouthguards

These come pre-shaped and ready to wear, but often feel bulky and offer limited protection because they can’t be adjusted to fit properly.

Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards

A popular option for kids, these soften in hot water and mold around their teeth for a better, more secure fit than stock versions.

Custom Mouthguards

Made by a dentist from impressions of your child’s teeth, custom mouthguards offer the best comfort and protection. They are ideal for kids who play contact sports regularly or wear braces.

What Should I Look For in a Mouthguard For My Child?

When choosing a mouthguard, look for one that is comfortable, well-fitting, and durable enough for repeated use. It should stay securely in place in your child’s mouth, allow for unobstructed breathing and easy speaking, and be made of shock-absorbing, BPA-free material. 

When selecting boil-and-bite mouthguards, look for brands that have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. The ADA Seal confirms the mouthguard meets strict, science-based safety and effectiveness standards that have been independently verified to ensure they offer reliable protection for young athletes. 

For kids who have braces or other dental needs, a custom mouthguard made by your child’s dentist is typically the safest and most reliable option. 

Learn More About the Benefits of Mouthguards for Kids

Help protect your child’s smile this season. Schedule a visit with your dentist today to get personalized mouthguard recommendations and ensure your young athlete stays safe, confident, and game-ready.

Sources:

https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/athletic-mouth-protectors-mouthguards

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Tips to Choose Products for Tooth Sensitivity

If you wince even *thinking* about ice cream or hot coffee, you likely need to focus on dental products formulated for sensitive teeth. 

• Look for toothpaste containing potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride, which help block pain signals from reaching the nerves inside your teeth. 
• Avoid harsh whitening toothpastes that can wear down your tooth enamel and worsen sensitivity. 
• A soft-bristled toothbrush is also essential to prevent additional enamel abrasion and gum irritation.

Best Products for Orthodontics

Braces, aligners, and other orthodontic devices create extra challenges when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene. Food particles and plaque can easily collect around brackets or between tight spaces. 

• Choose an orthodontic toothbrush or an electric brush with an oscillating head for more effective cleaning. 
• Interdental brushes, floss threaders, or water flossers can help remove trapped debris in hard-to-reach spots. 
• Fluoride mouthwash is another smart addition—it can strengthen enamel and reduce the risk of developing white spots around your brackets.

How to Choose Products for Gum Disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontal disease, the focus of your dental hygiene routine should be on reducing bacteria and inflammation. 

• Use an antimicrobial mouthwash with ingredients like chlorhexidine to target plaque. 
• A toothpaste containing fluoride and antibacterial ingredients can further support gum healing. You may want to invest in an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor to ensure you’re brushing effectively without causing irritation. 
• For advanced cases of gum disease, your dentist may also recommend professional-grade mouth rinses or prescription-strength toothpaste.

Finding the Right Oral Health Products to Keep Your Smile Beautiful

Your dental health is unique to you, so your oral care routine should be too. Consult with your dentist to take advantage of their expert guidance in finding the best products for your specific needs.

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Tongue exfoliation—also called tongue rejuvenation—is a treatment that addresses bacterial buildup and biofilm that regular home care is ineffective at removing. So, what is tongue exfoliation, and how does it benefit tongue health?

Understanding Tongue Biofilm

Your tongue’s textured surface creates the perfect environment for bacteria to accumulate and thrive. Over time, bacteria, food particles, and dead cells form a stubborn biofilm on your tongue—similar to the plaque that builds up on teeth [1]. This biofilm becomes increasingly difficult to remove with regular brushing or even tongue scrapers purchased at the store.

The buildup on your tongue is essentially the same type of bacterial film that hardens into tartar on teeth. Just as we need professional cleanings to remove tartar buildup from teeth, our tongues require specialized professional treatment to eliminate years of accumulated biofilm.

The Hidden Impact on Your Health

This bacterial buildup on your tongue affects more than just oral health. The biofilm on your tongue is often the primary source of persistent bad breath, creating volatile sulfur compounds that cause unpleasant odors [2]. Many people struggle with chronic halitosis despite excellent oral hygiene habits, not realizing their tongue is the underlying culprit.

Certain foods contribute significantly to tongue biofilm formation. Dairy products, coffee, wine, and foods with sauces leave residues that feed bacteria and accelerate biofilm development. These everyday consumables create an environment that allows harmful bacteria to flourish, leading to increasingly problematic breath concerns.

Professional Tongue Rejuvenation Process

Professional tongue exfoliation involves the careful mechanical removal of accumulated biofilm using specialized instruments and techniques. This process reaches deeper into the tongue’s surface crevices than any home care method can achieve, eliminating bacteria that produce odor-causing compounds.

The initial treatment consists of two comprehensive sessions scheduled within one week. During these appointments, a specially trained hygienist thoroughly removes years of bacterial buildup while providing personalized instruction on maintaining your newly cleaned tongue at home.

Following the initial treatment, patients return every 3 to 6 months for maintenance sessions. These regular appointments prevent new biofilm from becoming established and help preserve the dramatic improvements achieved during the initial treatment.

Long-Term Benefits

Patients who undergo professional tongue rejuvenation often experience remarkable improvements in breath freshness and overall oral health. The treatment creates a cleaner baseline that makes daily home care more effective and helps prevent the recurrence of stubborn bacterial buildup.

While tongue exfoliation is not a cure-all for halitosis, it works synergistically with regular dental cleanings, proper brushing and flossing, and appropriate oral rinses to create comprehensive oral hygiene that addresses all sources of bacterial accumulation [3].

Who Benefits Most From Tongue Exfoliation

This specialized treatment is particularly beneficial for people concerned about persistent bad breath despite good oral hygiene, those with visibly coated tongues, and people who have tried over-the-counter solutions without lasting success. Anyone whose profession or social life makes breath freshness particularly important can benefit from this advanced treatment.

Ask Your Dentist About Tongue Rejuvenation

Professional tongue rejuvenation represents a breakthrough in comprehensive oral care, addressing concerns that traditional dental practices often overlook while helping patients achieve confidence in their breath and overall oral health. Could you benefit from tongue exfoliation? Ask your dentist about this specialized service during your next appointment!

Sources:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14513303/ 
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-022-00364-2

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346746336_The_Influence_of_Tongue_Cleaning_Habit_on_the_Occurrence_of_Adverse_Halitosis_Outcomes_A_Review_of_Literature_on_the_Current_Evidence

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What are some foods you could stop eating for better oral health? Eliminating these foods from your diet can help you have a healthier, brighter smile for long-term confidence and dental health.

The Mouth-Food Connection

First, it’s important to understand the connection between diet and oral health. Your mouth is the first stop in your digestive system, which means everything you eat comes into direct contact with your teeth and gums.

Some foods leave behind residues that feed harmful bacteria, create acidic environments, or physically damage tooth structures. Understanding these interactions can help you make smarter dietary choices for your oral health.

• Candy

Hard candies, caramels, gummies, and other sticky treats are particularly harmful because they linger in the mouth for extended periods, getting stuck on teeth [1].

Sticky candies adhere to teeth surfaces and get trapped between teeth, providing a sustained food source for bacteria that produce cavity-causing acids.

Hard candies pose the additional risk of tooth fractures if you bite down on them improperly. While candy may taste good, there’s nothing good about it for your oral health!

• Chips

Chips and other refined carbohydrate snacks like crackers and bread quickly break down into simple sugars in your mouth, causing the pH of your mouth to drop and causing harm to tooth enamel, leading to a higher risk of cavities [2].

In addition, chips, crackers, and bread also get stuck in the tiny spaces between teeth and in the deep grooves of molars. Here, the bacteria in your mouth continue to break them down, producing acids and damaging your teeth.

• Dried Fruit

While fruit is generally very healthy, dried fruit is a different matter. Dried fruit has had water removed, meaning the sugar from the fruit is more concentrated. Water also acts as a buffer between the acids your oral bacteria produce when breaking down sugar in the oral cavity and your tooth enamel.

Without its water content, fruit can be harmful to teeth. In addition, dried fruit can be very sticky, causing food particles to get trapped between teeth and increasing the risk of tooth enamel damage and cavities [3].

• Granola

Granola and granola bars can be healthy foods but are often packed with sugar. Some granolas can also be crunchy and contain nuts, leading to potential damage to teeth. Like chips, bread, and candy, granola can stick to teeth, especially in the crevices of molars, and be difficult to remove, leading to a higher potential of tooth enamel damage.

Take Action for Your Smile

Remember, dietary changes work best as part of a comprehensive oral health strategy that includes proper brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups. Ready to take your oral health to the next level? Schedule an appointment with your dentist to get personalized recommendations based on your specific oral health needs. Your healthier, brighter smile starts with the choices you make today!

Sources:

1. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=1&contentid=4062
2. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/nutrition-and-oral-health
3. https://adanews.ada.org/huddles/top-three-worst-foods-for-your-teeth/

The post 4 Foods You Could Drop for Better Oral Health appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

As such, it can be difficult to tell if a cracked or chipped tooth is a true dental emergency. While some dental issues can wait for a regular appointment, others might need immediate attention.

Understanding when a cracked or chipped tooth constitutes a dental emergency can help you take the proper steps to protect your oral health.

Assessing the Severity of the Damage

The first step in determining whether your cracked or chipped tooth is a dental emergency involves assessing the severity of the damage.

A minor chip might only require cosmetic repair, while a more significant break could expose the inner layers of the tooth, which can cause pain and bleeding, requiring more immediate care [1].

How can you tell if your tooth needs emergency attention?

When a Cracked or Chipped Tooth Is an Emergency

• The tooth is visibly cracked into pieces or has a substantial chunk missing, exposing the sensitive dentin or pulp [2].
• You have severe pain, heightened sensitivity to temperature, and discomfort when biting down.

If you observe these symptoms, call your dentist right away. Ignoring a significant break or crack can lead to complications such as infections, which can further damage the tooth and surrounding tissues.

When a Cracked or Chipped Tooth Can Wait

A minor crack or chip may not be a dental emergency. These include cases where the chip may be just a tiny piece missing from the tooth, or a crack may not be noticeable at all. In these cases, you may experience very little or no pain.

While it’s still crucial to have these injuries evaluated by a dentist, they usually don’t require immediate attention and can wait for a regularly scheduled dental visit. However, if your injury gets worse or you experience severe pain, sensitivity, or bleeding, contact your dentist right away [3].

What to Do Next

If the crack or chip seems to be an emergency, there are steps you can take to protect your tooth while seeking professional care:

• Rinse your mouth. Use warm water to rinse the area gently, keeping it clean and reducing the risk of infection.

• Control bleeding. If there is bleeding, gently press a piece of gauze to the affected area.

• Manage pain. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever, but avoid aspirin if there is bleeding, as it can exacerbate the issue.

• Protect the tooth. If possible, cover a sharp or jagged edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum to prevent injury to your tongue or cheeks.

Seeking Professional Care

After assessing the damage and managing immediate symptoms, the next step is to contact your dentist. Even minor chips and cracks can lead to complications over time, and only a dental professional can provide a comprehensive treatment plan. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to ensure proper care.

Contact Your Dentist Today

Remember, when in doubt, it’s always safer to consult with a dentist who can accurately diagnose and treat the problem. Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse—get in touch with your dentist to ensure your cracked or chipped tooth receives the attention it needs. Your prompt action can make all the difference in preserving your smile and oral health!

Sources:

1. https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/coronavirus/covid-19-practice-resources/ada_covid19_dental_emergency_dds.pdf
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21628-fractured-tooth-cracked-tooth
3. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/ 

The post How to Determine if a Cracked or Chipped Tooth is a Dental Emergency appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

However, if you also have misaligned teeth or bite issues, you might wonder: can orthodontic braces be applied over dental veneers? Here, we explore the potential relationship between braces and veneers.

What Are Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers are thin shells, usually made of porcelain or resin composite, that are custom-fitted and bonded to the front surface of natural teeth [1]. They are effective for correcting issues such as:

• Discoloration

• Chipped or worn teeth

• Irregularly shaped teeth

• Gaps between teeth

Veneers are primarily aesthetic and do not alter the structure of the natural tooth significantly, making them a popular choice for people looking to improve their smile in just a few dental appointments.

Can You Get Braces with Veneers?

It’s definitely possible to get orthodontic braces on teeth that have dental veneers [2]. While getting orthodontic treatment with veneers will require a few additional considerations, such as bracket placement to protect the veneers, braces and veneers can coexist to give you a beautiful smile and comfortable bite.

Braces can also be used before getting veneers to ensure your smile is ready for a picture-perfect look. If you’re thinking about veneers or it’s getting close to the time that you need to replace your existing veneers and you’re considering braces, this is an excellent time to do so!

When Veneers and Braces Are Not the Right Choice

It may not be a good idea to get braces with veneers if your veneers are old or damaged and need to be replaced or if you need significant orthodontic work done. However, each case is different, so to determine if braces are a viable option with your veneers, it’s essential to consult an experienced orthodontist.

Alternatives to Traditional Braces When You Have Veneers

If you have dental veneers and want to correct alignment issues without traditional braces, there are several alternatives to consider:

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are a popular choice for adults seeking a less visible orthodontic option. These aligners are removable, and since they do not use brackets or wires, they lessen the risk of damaging dental veneers.

Limited Orthodontics

In some cases, cosmetic orthodontics, also called limited orthodontics, can provide a solution without significantly altering the existing dental structure. This method may involve minor adjustments to improve alignment without the need for traditional braces.

Composite Bonding

In situations where braces wouldn’t be the right choice with veneers, your dentist might suggest composite bonding. This technique can reshape teeth and address minor alignment issues without affecting existing veneers [3].

Should You Get Braces With Your Veneers?

Before making a final decision, it’s crucial to consult your dentist or orthodontist. They can provide a personalized assessment, discussing the health of your veneers and whether braces or alternative treatments would be appropriate for your situation. Ready to transform your smile? Contact your dentist today to discuss your options and take the first step toward the smile you’ve always wanted!

Sources:

1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10662840/
3. https://aacd.com/proxy/files/Dental%20Professionals/jCD/Vol.%2036/Issue%203/Brown_CE_36_3.pdf 

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Liquids such as milk, juice, breastmilk, and formula contain natural sugars. While not harmful in and of themselves, your child’s oral bacteria will convert these sugars into acid which can attack tooth enamel and cause your child’s teeth to be more vulnerable to decay [1].

Your child is at risk for tooth decay as soon as their first teeth appear, which is generally by their first birthday. What can you do to prevent baby bottle tooth decay and protect your child’s smile?

Avoid Sharing Saliva

Your own oral bacteria can proliferate in your child’s mouth to cause tooth decay. So if you have any existing oral bacteria that can cause tooth decay, you can pass these onto your child.

This is why it’s important to avoid sharing saliva with your child whenever possible [2]. This means not sharing utensils and not cleaning their pacifier with your own mouth. By doing so, you can keep your child’s oral bacteria healthy and help prevent tooth decay.

Clean Your Child’s Mouth

Even if your child doesn’t yet have their first teeth in, you can still clean their smile to keep their oral cavity healthy and ready for those first teeth. Before your little one has their first tooth, you can simply wipe their gums clean with a clean cloth after each feeding. However, once your child has their first tooth, you can begin gently brushing their teeth with a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste. And, once your child has two teeth that touch, you can start flossing!

Be Mindful of When Your Child Eats

To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, it’s essential to not let your child go to bed with a bottle, not even for a nap. This exposes your child’s teeth to sugars that can contribute to tooth decay for a longer period of time. You can also discourage your child from walking around with a bottle or sipping on it throughout the day, which can also overexpose the teeth to sugar.

Encourage Drinking From a Cup

As your child gets older, encourage them to drink from a cup. By the time your child reaches their first birthday, they should be able to drink from a cup and you can consider discontinuing the use of a bottle. However, if your child is still breastfeeding, be sure to gently clean their teeth after each feeding if possible.

Have Questions? Follow Up With Your Dentist

Baby bottle tooth decay isn’t always obvious, but it can be painful for your child when cavities develop [3]. Preventing baby bottle tooth decay is important to protecting your child’s teeth to set the stage for a healthy adult smile. Have questions about your child’s oral care? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatric dentist!

Sources:
1. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/baby-bottle-tooth-decay
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535349/

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But what exactly happens during your appointment? Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for your regular teeth cleaning!

An Exam of Your Oral Cavity

First, if you need x-rays, your dentist may suggest to do these before your cleaning. Generally, x-rays are taken once a year for patients. X-rays are needed to identify any potential decay between your teeth, which dentists can’t spot with the naked eye.

Next, your dental hygienist will examine your smile, looking for signs of gum disease, tooth decay, or other problems in the oral cavity, such as a damaged dental restoration. Your dentist will do an oral cancer screening, which is a painless screening that involves checking the face and oral cavity for any abnormalities. Your dentist will also ask you a few questions about any symptoms you may be experiencing. Oral cancer screenings are typically done once a year [1].

Clearing Plaque

After checking your mouth for any potential problems, your dental hygienist will then use a tool to remove plaque and tartar from your oral cavity. While regular brushing and flossing at homes helps remove plaque before it has a chance to turn into tartar, it’s difficult to remove all the plaque from your mouth. Your dental hygienist will remove plaque or tartar from places you may have missed or places that are hard for you to reach.

Plaque and tartar not only increase your risk for gum disease, but can make it more difficult for you to properly clean your teeth [2]. This scraping process shouldn’t be painful and generally only takes a few minutes.

Cleaning Your Teeth

After scraping plaque and tartar away, your hygienist will then use a paste similar to a toothpaste, but a bit more abrasive, to polish your teeth. While not the same as a professional teeth whitening, this polishing process can remove surface stains to make your teeth look brighter [3].

Once your teeth are cleaned, your hygienist will floss your teeth. This may feel a bit different than the flossing you do at home—your hygienist will do a thorough job to ensure all plaque is removed from your gumline and in-between your teeth. Finally, your mouth will be rinsed out and you’ll be all set!

When Did You Last Get Your Teeth Cleaned?

While every patient is different, a general guideline to get a professional teeth cleaning is every six months. When was your last professional teeth cleaning? If it’s been longer than six months, it’s time to call your dentist!

Sources:
1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth
2. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017175

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