brushing

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH?

The American Dental Association recommends brushing 

at least twice a day for at least two minutes!

Does Diabetes affect oral health?

When you have diabetes, high blood sugar can take a toll on your entire body including your teeth and gums.

The good news?

Prevention is in your hands. The higher the blood sugar,the more starch available to cause cavities.

Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria making you more susceptible to gum disease. Gum disease in turn can raise your blood sugar.

Make a commitment to monitor your blood sugar levels

Brush twice daily

Floss daily

Schedule regular dental visits

Look for early signs of gum disease including: Redness, swelling and bleeding gums

Don’t smoke 

Erosive Wear

Erosion of teeth due to acidic foods 

Flouride

Enamel is composed of crystals of hydroxyapatite. The hydroxyl can be replaced by fluoride ions making your enamel into a much harder mineral more resistant to wear

_{Colgate Education Network}

The eventual outcome of dental erosion is severe loss of dental hard tissues that adversely affects function and esthetics. In patients with extensive dentin exposure, transient as well as persistent pain due to dentin sensitivity and pulp pathology may further aggravate quality of life deterioration. Severe erosive tooth wear requires restorative therapies.

Composite resin and ceramics can be used for partial and full coverage restorations and restore the esthetics and function of the teeth. However, if the restored teeth continue to be subjected to severe erosion challenges that caused the original teeth wear, the restorations may fail in due course following marginal deterioration and continued loss of surrounding dental hard tissues. Therefore, preventive measures for dental erosion are not only essential for early intervention and primary prevention of erosive tooth wear. It is also important for secondary prevention of erosion around the restorations.

-Colgate Education Network

Saliva is our #1 Defense

Consumption of Soda

An average American consumes more than 56 gallons of soft drinks per year, averaging one and a half 12oz cans per day. Sports drinks, including carbonated beverages, fruit juices are most exclusively acidic in nature in order to maintain a fresh and fizzy mouth feel and prevent rapid growth of bacteria. They are the main cause of softening and eroding of your enamel.

                         

5 Steps for Saving a Knocked Out Tooth

A knocked out or avulsed teeth require immediate attention from a dentist in order to save the tooth.

If you have knocked out a tooth or a tooth has accidentally fallen out, follow these steps in order to increase your chances of saving your tooth and preventing extensive dental restorations.

Hold the tooth by the crown:  If the tooth has fractured into multiple parts, collect all pieces of the tooth.

Gently rinse the tooth: Using warm water, gently rinse the tooth or pieces of the tooth. Do not use soap or chemicals to wash the tooth as these can damage the tooth and prevent saving the tooth.

Try to replace the tooth in the socket

Keep the tooth moist:  keep it moist in a small container of milk, saliva, Dr Jain recommends avoiding regular tap water to store the tooth.

Seek immediate help

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Over time, routine wear, decay, and accidental trauma can damage teeth, causing them to crack and fracture. While early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing problems, some patients may not notice symptoms that are indicative of larger dental issues, leading them to put off treatment until it is too late. In particular, cracked tooth syndrome is a fairly common condition that can lead to long-term damage if left unaddressed.

What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?

Common among patients who grind or clench their teeth, individuals who have poor alignment, as well as patients with large fillings, or those whom have undergone root canal treatment, cracked tooth syndrome occurs when a tooth has a crack that is too small to show on digital x-rays. While patients may experience sporadic pain when chewing or if the tooth is exposed to heat or cold, many often disregard the need for treatment, as there is no visible damage to the tooth.  

What are the Long-Term Consequences of Cracked Tooth Syndrome?

If left untreated, the crack will continue to grow in size, leaving the inner tooth systems vulnerable to bacterial infection and decay. Late detection can also limit treatment options, requiring more extensive solutions in order to regain oral health and oral function.

Location of the crack also plays a role in the long-term impact and methods of treating the condition. If the crack occurs outside the tooth or below the gum line, periodontal treatments may be required in order to retain gum health. In contrast, if the crack has occurred within the tooth and has impacted the inner pulp and nerve, a root canal may be needed to save the tooth.

Crack Tooth Syndrome Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of this condition also depend on the location of the crack. Patients with inner tooth cracks often experience sharp spikes of pain when chewing, as well as sensitivity to changes in temperature, while patients with cracks on the crowns of teeth often find themselves sensitive to temperature changes and sweet foods. Meanwhile, patients with cracks near the gums may experience tenderness around or near the tooth.

Treating a Cracked Tooth

Early diagnosis and treatment is the first step to preventing further damage and saving a tooth from extraction. At Smiles of SanMarcos, we recommend patients come in to our San Marcos dental practice if they find themselves experiencing painful chewing, temperature sensitivity, or other symptoms of a cracked tooth. During your visit, our dentist uses advanced technologies to comprehensively examine each tooth for damage. When it comes to restoring a cracked tooth, we use metal-free fillings and crowns to ensure lasting results and improved oral health and function. To learn more about the importance of treating cracked teeth and your available treatment options, contact our San Marcos dentist today.