Receding Gums

Gums that recede to expose the root surfaces of teeth is a common condition in adults over the age of 40. Many consider it to be just a sign of aging, and in some cases it is essentially that -- often the result of wear and tear or years of aggressive tooth brushing. However, sometimes receding gums can be a sign of something more.

In many cases, receding gums are caused by periodontal disease (gum disease). Three out of four adults have some form of it, and in most cases, it doesn't cause any pain and goes unnoticed.

Common in adults, gum disease starts when bacteria containing plaque builds up on the teeth and gums. When the plaque is not removed daily, it produces toxins that irritate and inflame the gums. Eventually the inflammatory process destroys the gums tissues, causing them to separate from the tooth and form spaces called pockets. The pockets hold more bacteria, which only compounds the problem.

In the early stages, gum disease (gingivitis), marked by red or swollen gums that bleed easily, is reversible and can be detected and treated by your dentist or dental hygienist during regular check-ups. As the disease progresses (periodontitis), it can destroy the bone and soft tissues that support the teeth. In advanced stages of periodontitis, teeth can become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a dentist. In fact, periodontitis is the culprit in 70 percent of tooth loss in adults over 40.

The good news is these gum conditions can be prevented by good daily oral hygiene habits. Receding gums are best prevented by brushing with a soft toothbrush, using a mild-to-moderate pressure and small circular or very short back and forth motions. Avoid hard toothbrush bristles and long horizontal brush strokes with excessive pressure on your toothbrush.

If your gums have receded, it is sometimes possible to graft tissue to cover a portion of the exposed root surface and to reinforce the fragile, receding gum tissue to protect from further recession. Also common to receded gums is sensitivity that results from the exposed root surface. Your dentist can apply medications in the office, and/or recommend products for you to use at home that will help reduce sensitivity of these root surfaces and help protect the now vulnerable root surface from decay.

Remember, with daily brushing and flossing and regular visits to your dentist, adults can look forward to keeping their natural teeth throughout their lifetime.

Your Child's First Trip To The Dentist

By 2 1/2 most children have cut all of their baby teeth, so toddlerhood is a great time to instill good dental habits. Baby teeth are important because they hold space for permanent teeth.
Decay in baby teeth also increases the risk of decay in permanent teeth. Although dentists now recommend that kids see a dentist for the first time by their first birthday, twice-yearly dental checkups and proper care at home are the keys to ensuring pearly whites throughout childhood. For toddlers, however, the first dental visit can be a scary proposition. Strange instruments, loud noises, and new faces can upset even the most nonchalant 2-year-old. But with careful preparation (and plenty of prizes), a first trip to the dentist can actually be fun.
Before You Go
Your first impulse may be to take your child to your own dentist. Ask if they see children or if they can recommend a pedodontist (children’s dentist). (Friends with children are another good source of recommendations.) Or call the American Dental Association (312-440-2617; www.ada.org), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (312-337-2169; www.aapd.org) or your local dental society for an accredited pediatric dentist in your area. Then make an appointment to tour the office with your child. Observe how the staff handles children, and make sure you're comfortable with all procedures. Parents should be in the examining room with the child and a dentist should stop working if a child gets upset or nervous. Provide the dentist with a list of any medical conditions your child has or medications he takes. Keep your pediatrician's phone number handy, too, in case the dentist needs additional health information.
If your child has a sucking habit, be it thumb, pacifier, or bottle, let the dentist know, as it may affect your child's teeth and jaw. Also, be aware that sleeping with a bottle of milk or juice can cause tooth decay. During sleep, liquids in the mouth -- which are full of sugar and bacteria -- pool around the teeth and erode them.
Talk to your child about what's going to happen. You can purchase books, specifically written for children, which explain to them what will happen (our office can provide one for you once you schedule an appointment). Practice brushing with your child beforehand, too, so she will be used to having a toothbrush in her mouth.

Xylitol and Your Teeth

You may have noticed that many gums are now advertising that they have Xylitol. What is Xylitol? Pure xylitol looks and tastes like sugar. It has been used in foods since the 1960's. On food labels it is classified broadly as a carbohydrate or more narrowly as polyol. It is a popular sweetener for the diabetic diet in some countries. In the U.S., xylitol is approved as a food additive in unlimited quantities for foods with special dietary purposes.

Over decades of testing in widely different conditions confirm that xylitol is the best sweetener for teeth. It reduces tooth decay rates both in high-risk groups (those with poor hygiene and poor nutrition) and in low risk groups. Sugarfree chewing gums and candies made with xylitol as the principal sweetener have received official endorsements from six national dental associations.

Our bodies produce up to 15 grams of xylitol from other food sources using established energy pathways. It is not a strange or artificial substance, but a normal part of everyday metabolism. Xylitol is widely distributed in nature in small amounts. Some of the best sources are fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce and corn cobs. One cup of raspberries contains less than on gram of xylitol. In the amounts needed to prevent tooth decay (less than 15 grams per day) xylitol is safe for everyone.

Chewing is a natural process and chewing gums provide some exercise lacking in a refined diet. If chewing is uncomfortable for you, xylitol mints or candies can also stimulate saliva, the natural tooth protector.

Meth Mouth - How Methamphetamine use affects your mouth.

Various reports link the tooth decay associated with meth to the acidic and corrosive effects of the chemicals found in the drug, such as anhydrous ammonia (found in fertilizers), red phosphorus (found on matchboxes) and lithium (found in batteries), which when smoked or snorted might erode the tooth's protective enamel coating; however, it's more likely that this degree of tooth decay is brought on by a combination of drug-induced mental and physical changes resulting in xerostemia (dry mouth), extended periods of poor oral hygiene, frequent consumption of high calorie, carbonated beverages and tooth grinding or clenching.

Some users describe their teeth as blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling or falling apart. The extent of tooth decay varies widely among meth users. Studies have found that users who snorted the drug had significantly worse tooth decay than those who smoked or injected it, although all types of users suffered from dental problems. Often, teeth cannot be saved and must be removed.

If you use methamphetamine or know someone who does, a visit to a medical doctor and a dentist is recommended as soon as possible.

Q: What is Baby Bottle Syndrome?

A: Your baby's teeth are at risk for Baby Bottle Syndrome or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay if their teeth are exposed to any liquid containing sugar including milk, formula and juice for extended periods of time. This happens most often when babies fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth or ...a small amount of formula or breast milk remains in their mouth after falling asleep. It can also happen with pacifiers that have been dipped into sweet liquids such as honey or syrup.

Q: What steps can I take to prevent Baby Bottle Syndrome?

A: The easiest way is to not allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle. Sometimes this can be difficult as they need a bottle to fall asleep. In this case, take the bottle away after they have fallen asleep.See More

Dental Emergencies

Our rule-of-thumb for dental emergencies: if you think it's an emergency, we do, too. If our office is not open leave a message with our 24-hour emergency number and we'll respond as quickly as we can. In the meantime, here's what to do until you get to our office.

BROKEN FILLINGS. Save the filling so we can have a look at it. Rinse your mouth gently with lukewarm water to remove debris - dissolved table salt or baking soda is soothing. If the tooth is sensitive, protect it with dental wax (you can purchase it at drug store or use canning wax) or, in a pinch, sugarless gum.

LOST CROWN. Displaced crowns can sometimes be reused; hang onto it. Try to affix the crown with denture adhesive or, if it won't stick, use dental wax to keep the tooth away from air.

KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH. Don't panic. If we can treat you within about an hour, chances are we can reseat the tooth for good. Don't touch the tooth root--this could damage delicate nerves. Gently replace the tooth where it belongs if you can, or keep it moist in milk.

DAMAGED BRIDGES, DENTURES, PARTIALS. Do not risk home repairs. Glue can destroy composition materials and cause tissue erosion. Keep all the pieces, even the smallest, and call us. We can usually return an emergency repair to you in 24 hours.

TOOTHACHE is common and nasty. Toothache tells you something is wrong that needs attention. Rinse your mouth with warm water and try to floss away any food particles. Don't lodge aspirin near the tooth--it will irritate, even ulcerate, gum tissue. Ice packs or a numbing agent may make you more comfortable while you're scheduling an appointment. Toothaches may "go away," but the source of the pain won't.

LACERATIONS OR JAW DAMAGE require immediate treatment at a hospital facility or an oral surgeon's office. Take such injuries seriously. Delay may result in further damage.

Single Visit Crowns, Veneers, Inlays, and Onlays

Traditionally if you needed a crown, the procedure required two visits. The first visit, the area is numbed, the tooth reshaped for a crown, an impression is made, and a temporary crown is placed on the tooth while the final crown is being made at a dental lab. You would then return for a second visit to have the crown bonded in place.

In our Fresno Dental Office we are proud to offer an alternative. Using Cerec Cad Cam Technology we are able to provide you with a very precise, strong, natural crown that blends in with your smile and fit your bite comfortably. First, the area is numbed and the tooth is prepared for a crown. But, instead of an impression made by having you bite into impression material, an optical impression is made with a special intra-oral camera. Using state of the art computer software the doctor designs a crown that will fit your tooth. This design is then sent to a milling machine in our office that will fabricate your crown while you watch from a cermic material. The crown is then polished and bonded in place. There is no need for a temporary crown. This is all down in one visit !

For more information please visit our website at www.tmdds.com/technology.shtml.