Dental Tips
What Jaw Pain Could Mean
Having jaw pain is never fun. In fact, if you are experiencing jaw pain than you could be experiencing issues eating, drinking, and talking. There are many different explanations for jaw pain. Here are some possible causes of jaw pain: TMJ or TMD Sinus problems Toothache Infections Tooth grinding Periodontal disease A dentist cannot address all of these problems, but can set a treatment plan for some of them. For issues such as tooth grinding your dentist may recommend a mouth guard or a night guard to put an end to your grinding. This takes pressure off the teeth and … Continue reading
How Family Dynamics Effect Oral Health in Children
The connection between physical and mental health is one of the most confusing and difficult to research connections in medicine today. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence that suggests poor mental health can lead to poor physical health, but little specific evidence. However, a 2011 study conducted by the New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) seeks to back this connection with hard data. The study was designed to assess the link between dental health and family dynamics in children. They were testing to see if there was an actual physiological effect of poor parenting on oral health. In a … Continue reading
The Signs of Gingivitis
Gingivitis is known as the early stage of gum disease. Gum disease is a serious condition that affects the soft tissues surrounding your teeth. Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from gum disease, which is preventable for most patients. Before gum disease, known as periodontal disease sets in, it can be seen in the early signs of gingivitis. Some of the signs of gingivitis include gums that bleed easily, bad breath, and red, swollen, and tender gums. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then a trip to the dentist is warranted. There are many things that can cause … Continue reading
What a Dentist Can Tell by Looking in Your Mouth
When your dentist looks into your mouth, teeth are not the only thing they see. In fact, your dentist can tell a great deal about your health by looking into your mouth. Many dentists call the mouth the window to the body, and rightfully so. Your dentist can diagnose you with various illnesses by looking into your mouth. A dentist can tell many different things just by having you say “ah,” but here is a list of a few of them. 1. Pregnancy When your dentist is examining your mouth, he may come across red growths on the gums and … Continue reading
What Smoking Does to Your Oral Health
We all know that smoking is bad for our health. For years, smoking was seen as a trendy, social activity, but then the truth came out about its cancer causing carcinogens. Now, people who smoke run a high risk of illness and disease as well as poor overall health. It is most commonly associated with its negative effects on our respiratory health. In fact, the CDC reports, that in 2011, 156,953 people died from lung cancer. While you may be aware of how bad smoking is for the lungs, you may not realize how bad it is for the mouth. … Continue reading
Social Anxiety and Teeth Grinding
Thousands of people suffer from anxiety; in fact, it is fairly common for people to suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders usually affect the lives of sufferers in many ways and can be very difficult to manage. But, something that anxiety sufferers may not have realized is that their anxiety could be affecting their oral health. Roughly one in six adult Americans are affected by an anxiety disorder, and this number encompasses anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. A new study done by Tel Aviv University researchers found that anxiety … Continue reading
The Impressive Roots of Dentistry: Centuries-Old Evidence of Natural Fillings
Dentistry is not a modern invention but an ancient form of medicine practiced by our ancestors. About 100 years ago, a 6,500-year-old man’s jaw was found in Slovenia. However, it was only recently that a close examination revealed a layer of beeswax lodged in one of his teeth. Although this is not the first known evidence of dental work, it is the oldest discovery of a therapeutic dental filling to date and possibly the most ancient example of prehistoric dentistry in Europe. Researchers are now searching for similar cases in other Neolithic remains. If evidence can be found showing that … Continue reading
New Material May Fight Cavities, Gum Disease
Dreadful bacteria buildup is always an issue we are concerned about with our oral health. New research, however, suggests that there may be a new material out there that can help fight gum diseases and prevent cavities! Graphene oxide is known to be extremely effective at eliminating certain types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria! This new study, published in the ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal, has found that although dentists give patients old-fashioned antibiotics to eliminate bacteria buildup, there has been an increase in antibiotic resistance. If this so-called material of graphene oxide is present, however, it has the potential to … Continue reading
Why You Should Probably Switch to an Electric Toothbrush
If you are using a regular toothbrush you’ve probably wondered at least once if you should switch to an electric toothbrush. If you’re using an electric brush you’ve probably wondered if you really need one. Both are legitimate concerns as you will see. In the most general terms it is probably better to have an electronic toothbrush. Research has shown that a group using an electric tooth brush had 20% less plaque than a group using a manual toothbrush. This research was done almost 20 years ago, by now electric toothbrush technology has probably reached a point where there is … Continue reading
Filling Fun
Getting a filling isn’t usually a fun endeavor, in fact, most people hate it, but if you have to get a filling then you might as well know what you’re working with. There are a lot of materials to choose from when getting a filling. It is important to keep in mind all of your options when choosing what is best for your oral health. Composite fillings: Composite fillings are great because they can be matched to the normal color of your teeth. They are great for cavities that are small or medium in size and for teeth that do … Continue reading