06 Nov
Dental Cleanings, Dental Exams, Wadesboro Dentist, Wadesboro General Dentist

Wadesboro Dentist Explains Seriousness of Gum Disease

Gum disease doesn’t seem very serious. After all, tooth decay is the major need for dental repair, isn’t it?

Gum disease begins very subtly, and, unlike decay, doesn’t cause much discomfort at first. This is why gum disease can become very serious without a person being aware of the condition.
A general dentist discovers gum disease through a routine cleaning treatment, but dental cleaning treatments may seem rather unnecessary if a person’s teeth appear to be in good condition. This is where the fallacy lies. Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Gingivitis
In the early stages of gum disease, called gingivitis, plaque builds up and hardens on the necks of teeth. Plaque build-up is a feature of most Western dietary customs. Refined foods are a large part of Western eating habits, and refined food intake quickly attaches to the necks of teeth unless mechanically removed. Other factors that may contribute to gingivitis are pregnancy, substance abuse, certain medications or immune deficiencies.

Plaque on the necks of teeth and its toxins promote a chronic, inflammatory response in which the gums swell and become red. They gradually separate from the teeth, creating pockets, eventually destroying tooth enamel and bone.

Periodontitis
Without an examination by a general dentist, the condition of gingivitis is often overlooked, until periodontitis occurs. Chronic periodontitis happens when the inflammation and detachment of gum tissue undermines the tissues and bone supporting a tooth. As this support gives way, the tooth becomes loose and falls out. Often, this loosening is very painful, because serious infection from the toxins emitted by harmful bacteria is now pocketing within the gum tissue and underlying bone. Death of the tissues and systemic inflammation is almost certain at this point. Arterial inflammation is a common side-effect of periodontal disease, resulting in reduced blood flow, heart attack or stroke.

How to prevent gum disease
Gum disease prevention begins right at home. Flossing between the teeth is the most effective way to prevent gum disease. Flossing is not simply drawing a string between two teeth. The flossing must be performed so that the floss is drawn up along the necks of the teeth, cleaning them of plaque from bottom to top. Then the teeth need to be carefully brushed, with an eye towards thoroughly eliminating plaque and debris from each tooth. Rinsing the mouth with peroxide is often recommended.

A professional cleaning is advised for every six months, especially if bleeding of the gums has occurred. Click here to request your appointment now to see our Wadesboro, NC dentist.

Gum disease is a major contributor to adult tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing, combined with professional cleaning, is an effective way to prevent gum disease.

05 Oct
Dental Cleanings, General Dentistry, Wadesboro Dentist, Wadesboro General Dentist

Kick Bad Breathe to the Curb with These 5 Easy Solutions

Do you have a stinky breathe? 

The mouth is the area in the body that gathers the most refuse. It is, after all, the part that we use for ingesting food, and as a result germs can accumulate here if proper care is not taken. When that happens, the mouth can give off a bad odor. Human beings are, after all, “hard wired” to respond adversely to the smell of an unhealthy body part so that they can remedy the situation. Here are five dental hygiene tips to keep the mouth healthy and smelling pleasant. Our Wadesboro general dentist will also discuss oral hygiene, cosmetic dentistry, and other solutions to rid your mouth of bad breath.

Tip #1: Brush and floss your teeth regularly.

The importance of brushing at least twice a day is, of course, one of the first things that a child learns. The brush should be replaced at least every two months; one that is too old will be too hard on the teeth.

In many ways, flossing is more important than brushing in maintaining a healthy mouth. Food particles can get trapped between the teeth, where a toothbrush cannot get. It is the buildup of tartar from such particles that causes gingivitis. Trench mouth, a painful gum infection in which the mouth has an extremely bad odor, may also result.

Tip #2: Brush your tongue.

Many people do not realize this, but brushing the tongue is an essential part of brushing your teeth. Germs that can cause halitosis and tooth decay are ever-present here, and this stuff can stink very badly. The American Dental Association recommends using a tongue scraper rather than a toothbrush for the purpose.

Tip #3: Do not smoke or chew tobacco.

Tobacco is one of the worst things for your gums.

Tip #4: Chew sugar-free gum.

This is a good thing to do if you are in a situation where you cannot brush or floss. As it presses against the teeth, it absorbs some of the buildup of food residue.

Tip #5: Visit your dentist regularly.

The last of our dental hygiene tips is naturally the regular dental checkup. You should have two of these annually.

A general dentist can help spruce up your mouth so that it both looks and smells attractive to others. Our Wadesboro cosmetic dentist can do porcelain veneers and teeth whitening in addition to general dental work.

08 Aug
Dental Exams, Dental Sealants, Wadesboro Dentist, Wadesboro Family Dentist

Our Dentist in Wadesboro Shares FAQs Regarding Dental Sealants

What are Dental Sealants?

Dental sealants are thin coatings that are made out of plastic. They are placed over the teeth in order to prevent them from decaying. They help keep the food particles and germs out of the grooves of the teeth. Sealants are considered preventative dentistry.

Are Sealants 100 Percent Effective?

Some studies have shown that sealants can be 100 percent effective. The tooth will be protected as long as the sealant remains in place.

Can you see Sealants?

Sealants are clear and white. That is why they can only be seen up close.

How Long do the Sealants Last?

The sealants can potentially last for several years. In some cases, sealants can last over 10 years.

Are Sealants Expensive?

Sealants are affordable. Because they can prevent tooth decay, they can also help you save money on dental care. Your general dentist will discuss the cost of sealants.

Will my Teeth Look Different?

One may feel the sealants on their teeth. However, because the sealants are thin, they do not cause discomfort.

Who Needs Sealants?

The best candidates for sealants are children because their permanent teeth have just come in. However, older patients may also benefit from getting sealants. If your general dentist believes that you are at a higher risk for getting tooth decay, then you may need to get sealants.

Will I Still Need Fluoride Treatments?

Fluoride treatments are still needed. It helps strengthen your enamel and provides additional protection from tooth decay.

Why do I Need Sealants?

Decay can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Sealants help you save time and money by protecting your teeth. It is also important to remember that a filling is not an easy fix for a cavity. A tooth gets weaker every time that it is drilled.

If you are interested in getting sealants, then you will need to contact our dentist office.

04 May
Cavity Fillings, General Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Wadesboro Dentist

Tooth-Colored Fillings vs. Silver Fillings: Which Should I Choose? Ask a Wadesboro Dentist

So you have a tooth that has a cavity and needs a filling. Now what?

Most people know that the two most common options are tooth colored fillings (called composite fillings) and silver fillings (called amalgam fillings).  And most people would agree that the composite fillings are much more aesthetically pleasing than the amalgam fillings.  Some patients prefer not to have amalgam fillings because they contain mercury.  However, it is important to note that ongoing scientific studies conducted over the past 100 years continue to show that amalgam fillings are not harmful.  Sometimes the aesthetic outcome is reason enough to choose a tooth colored filling, especially when the tooth is one that is visible when the patient smiles.

But there are other important reasons that most Wadesboro Dentists these days are choosing to use tooth colored composite fillings rather than amalgam.  And these reasons have to do with the major difference in the way they are placed in the mouth.

Composite fillings are resin-based and are chemically bonded to the tooth.  Amalgams are not.  They are held in place due to a physical retention.  This means that after the dentist removes the decay, he also has to remove additional healthy tooth structure in order to create the proper undercuts and retention grooves to hold the amalgam in place.  This process leaves less remaining tooth structure.

The good thing is that amalgams usually lasts for a really long time.  The bad news is that when they do wear out, they tend to cause larger problems because there is less tooth structure remaining to work with. That is why it is common for a very large amalgam to be replaced with a crown.

If a tooth has a composite filling, the dentist is able to be very conservative in how much tooth structure

he/she removes other than the decay.  This could mean that years later when the composite filling eventually wears out, hopefully another larger composite filling can be placed, rather than a crown.

Another common issue is that teeth with old amalgams tend to develop more cracks.  Because the amalgam filling is not bonded to the tooth, the enamel surrounding the filling is unsupported.  Over time, that unsupported tooth structure microscopically flexes when stress is placed on the tooth.  Years of this flexing can cause cracks to form. These cracks can lead to more extensive (and expensive) treatment, such as a crown,  a root canal, or even loss of the tooth depending on the severity of the fracture.

Whether you have composite or amalgam fillings it is important to maintain your regular cleaning and check-up appointments with your Wadesboro dentist. He/she can keep you informed about the condition of your fillings. That way when one does wear out (and they will, because unfortunately no dental work lasts forever), you can be pro-active, which typically leads to a less expensive and more conservative outcome.