tooth enamel

Milk And Dental Health

Richard CardenasLeave a comment

Making dietary choices to favor your dental health can be challenging. You may wonder whether or not milk is good or bad for teeth. Is there any chance for milk to contribute to tooth decay? Several studies suggest that milk can be a great companion for your teeth. 

In this article, we will discuss things that you need to know to determine the appropriate use of milk to help your oral cavity.

The need for milk

Not only are milk and other dairy products are delicious, but they also contribute to overall health by supplying an ample amount of calcium to the body. This mineral supports metabolic processes in your body. Moreover, 90% of it is stored in the bones and teeth. The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends a daily intake of at least 200mg to 1,300mg of calcium for infants and toddlers. The amount can vary with age, depending on the requirements.

Dairy against tooth decay

Our dental health benefits from milk and dairy products. But do you know why? According to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, there are several benefits of having dairy products in your diet.

  • The first benefit is that those products contain casein protein, which contributes to the formation of a protective film on your teeth. This film protects your tooth enamel from acids and bacteria that can initiate tooth decay.
  • Dairy products are rich in calcium and phosphorus, both of which are the minerals that reverse damage to your teeth in various ways. These minerals are helpful, particularly when it comes to reversing the damage caused by bacteria and acids.
  • These products are usually pH-neutral, meaning that their intake can help reduce acidity in your mouth. You can consider having a glass of milk after a meal or snack.
  • Another one of the most significant benefits of dairy products is that they stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva washes away leftover food particles and harmful bacteria, allowing you to have healthy teeth.

Remember, having milk covers only one aspect of a healthy diet. You have to make sure that your diet is more balanced. For this purpose, you have to have vegetables and fruits in your diet plan.

Getting more milk

Calcium is present in many foods and drink. Milk, however, is the easiest and most accessible food that contains calcium in an ideal amount. And what’s even better is that the calcium in milk absorbs more quickly in the body compared to other resources.

If you are not a fan of drinking milk, you can still get calcium in a lot of other ways. Here are the dairy products that you can have in this regard.

  • Yogurt, with or without fruits
  • Cheeses
  • Buttermilk
  • Frozen yogurt and ice cream
  • Calcium-fortified soy milk

Milk instead of soda

If you want to have a beverage, let it be milk instead of soda. Soda can do exactly the opposite of what milk can do to your teeth. You can at least limit the consumption of soda if it is to avoid it at all.

Pre-Implantitis and the Protection of implants 

Richard CardenasLeave a comment

Dental implants are wildly successful, with a rate of up to 95%.   There are many replacement options for missing teeth, but this takes the cake. However, just like your own natural teeth, you do need to care for implants so that they last. 

Peri plantains is an infection of the areas around an implant, and they can develop when you’re not careful with the implants and give them what they desire. 

First, what’s a dental Implant 

Dental implants are made to replace your teeth.

There are multiple parts, which include an artificial root made of titanium, and a crown that sits atop this. 

They’ve become a very popular dental prosthetic option, with multiple advantages. 

They include: 

  • Offering you a chance to have a functional bite and an option to chew. 
  • They don’t come loose or slip, unlike of course, dentures. 
  • They look like natural teeth while not developing the activities that are there 

But dental implants are not immune to the buildup of plaque. 

In fact, the accumulation of plaque at the base of your implant is what causes peri-implantitits.   According to the American academy of periodontology, this s a gum infection that happens around your implant, and deteriorates the ties used, along with the bone that surrounds this implant. 

So how common is this? well, about 40% of the implants that are over five years old are susceptible to this. 

When you don’t treat this, it does lead to implant loss, which you have to be careful with. 

Caring for your implant 

The benefits of implants are that they last a few years, and they can save you the expense and disruption of some of the conditions that may happen. 

Now to prevent the inflammation of the area around your implant, you just have to have a good hygiene routine. 

This includes: 

  • Brushing and flossing twice daily. 
  • Depending on where the implant is and the number you have, use interdental brushes or water flossers to help with this 
  • Talk to the dentist and routinely check for healthy gums and bones 
  • Stop smoking. If you do smoke, this increase the chance of implant failure 

If you have diabetes or gum disease, there is a stronger chance of peri-implantitits developing, so talk to your dentist about further steps to take 

You can also prevent further decay on your natural teeth if you do prevent this on the implants. 

Symptoms and Treatment 

Now, if you’re worried you might’ve developed this, here are a few things to keep in mind: 

  • The gums will be tender and inflamed. 
  • They might bleed when you brush 

If you’re worried, you should talk to your dentist to figure out the concerns, and to report all changes during dental visits. If you do develop these symptoms, don’t hesitate to tell your dentist in order to resolve the infection and avoid the instances of implant failure. The treatments of this do vary based on what’s being treated, the implant type, the severity of this, and other small notes. Every treatment has benefits and drawbacks, so find out from our dentist what is right for you. 

Some are more effective when they work well with other treatment options for you too. Some treatments have some good benefits too, and they do work well. 

Antibiotics are the first option, as this can help right around the implant. 

Sometimes, you might need to use mechanical removal. There is also laser therapy for destroying the bacteria at the source. 

Finally of course, there are surgeries that are used as a last resort. 

Crowning front teeth 

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For some people, they might need a dental crown in some cases. In some instances, it may be needed directly on the front teeth.  Some also get crowns for different cosmetic reasons too.

Most normally, crowns are put on teeth for the reasons below: 

  • There’s a lot of damage, including big cracks 
  • It’s super decayed 
  • There’s been a root canal done on it 
  • It’s broken 

When it comes to molars, they usually offer either porcelain or a metal crown, or a combination of both, which has porcelain that’s over the top of metal.

When it comes to front teeth, you might get porcelain or ceramic options for front teeth, as they offer a natural color that’s better than others. 

You may wonder how strong these can be? Well, while porcelain fused to the metal is much stronger, the front teeth don’t require the chewing capabilities that the back teeth do, so durable metal in most cases is not needed.  If you need a specific type of crown, you can always talk to your doctor, and see if they can get you something that will help them. Crowns are great, but always remember that they cannot be a replacement for actual teeth, so make sure that you continue to take care of your teeth as best as you could to keep them nice and healthy for as long as possible. 

Minimizing Front Crown Appearance 

A lot of dentists will match the crowns to one’s natural looking teeth so they’re not out of place. 

However, keep in mind that they won’t be able to be whitened.  You should get a whitening prior to the crown being placed. If it’s matched before they’re whitened, they’ll look much darker than the other teeth.

Hollywood smile with porcelain crowns and veneers

The materials also tend to make sure that you have a look that’s realistic. Porcelain is the most natural looking of these, and usually, this, along with the metal bonded ones are the main choices. However, metal bonds are far less realistic, due to the opaque nature of these. Then there are the tooth colored ones which are the most realistic of them all. 

Caring for this 

Crowns are a little bit fragile, so it’s imperative that you take care of these with as much care as you possibly can. Try to brush this twice a day, especially with some fluoride, and make sure to use floss to clean between each tooth daily. Interdental devices also work for this.

You also need to make sure that you see the dentist as much as you can, to make sure that they’re not damaged, and are completely stable. 

You should always make sure not to crack the crown, because there are habits that are harmless which can crack or chip this porcelain there. biting your nails, chewing on some ice, and using teeth to open things are examples of habits that can harm your teeth.

You should also make sure to avoid anything that stains the teeth, including but not limited to red wine, tea, and coffee.  Also, if you smoke, try not to do that, as this also stains the teeth. While porcelain is not easy to stain, the teeth next to it start to get stained, so the crown will be much more obvious.

If you’re worried about crowns potentially ruining the smile, don’t be. Crowns are great for helping you keep your smile intact. Plus, with the technology we have today, you don’t have to worry about it possibly looking weird, because new precautions are taken every single day to ensure that it’s in place. 

Do Tooth Worms Exist? 

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Did you ever wonder if there is a “tooth worm” that eats at the teeth inside, which is what creates the toothache? While the tubules and dentin within the pulp that’s disease do look like a worm, there’s not actually worms in your teeth, even though they do look like this.

The Tubules 

Tubules in dentin are little tubes that are hollow and sometimes cause diseases. They’re seen only with a microscope, and they do look like worms according to the ADA. The dentin tubules have a specific job which is pretty important. That is to conduct the sensitivity that’s there when exposed to heat or cold on the surface of the tooth all the way to the nerve. 

But there are some instances where discomfort and pain occur when you expose the tubules.  They do look like worms at first when you look at them with a microscope. However, they are not actually worms. 

The Cause of Dental Disease 

If it’s not tooth worms or problems in gums, what’s causing these toothaches? 

The most common cause is bacteria, or plaque that forms on the teeth. They decay and play the part of the villain for people. 

Plaque is where it forms when there is a lot of buildup near the bacteria that’s within the teeth. It leads to gingivitis and gum disease. It also causes periodontitis, which affects over half of Americans that are above 30 years old. 

The treatment for Caries 

While there’s no actual worms there, there are treatments that come with this.

Some of the treatments include: 

  • Cleaning out the teeth, filling them with restorations 
  • Preventing the pulp that’s there from being hurt further and dying, with a capping of the pulp 
  • Performing root canals on affected areas 

If there is a lot of decay there, to the point where it can’t be salvaged, more than likely they’ll just take it out via extraction.  Usually, they replace this with implants, or bridges. Ideally, it shouldn’t get to that point, but you never know. 

Overall, your dentist will give you the right treatment. If there is periodontitis, then chances are they’ll also have you get a scaling, which is a deep cleaning of the mouth. This can prevent further worms from burrowing in, giving it a deep cleaning that’ll really work its magic. 

Keeping the Mouth Healthy 

While you shouldn’t worry about worms, you’ll want to make sure that you keep the mouth clean and healthy. 

The best way to treat caries is to prevent them before they get worse.  What’s the best way to prevent this though? 

Well, the best ways are as follows: 

  • Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes with a fluoridated toothpaste 
  • Floss once a day to get in between the teeth 
  • Rinse out with a mouthwash that’s antibacterial, and ideally alcohol free so that you don’t dry out the mouth and invite the cavity causing bacteria in 
  • See the dentist every six or so months to get a checkup and to look for any possible problems that might occur 
  • Have the teeth that are damaged examined and taken care of as soon as possible, in order to mitigate the damage that’s there 

With a lot of advancements in modern medicine and dental science, you want to make sure that you take the time to ensure that this is properly taken care of. 

Practice good oral hygiene practices, and from there you won’t have to worry about the dental worms. They’re for the birds then, rather than for your teeth. 

The role of Abutments in Dental Implants 

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When we think about implants, we rarely focus on the nitty gritty. That is, until you’re the one who needs the implant.  Suddenly, you start to look at this and wonder just what abutments are, and why they’re going to be in your mouth. 

If you’re going to replace your teeth, you may wonder what some of the important parts of it are, which we’ll go over here. 

What Abutments are 

Abutments are a connector made of metal, and for dental procedures, they’re put into implants after it’s been healed.  The abutment basically screws directly into the implant, and is the middleman between the implant itself, and the crown, or fake tooth, that’ll be there. 

For those with dental bridges, the crowns are put on two of these abutments, and then are connected to these other teeth that are replaced called pontics, that will sit over the gums. 

Abutments are usually created in labs, made of gold, titanium, zirconia, stainless steel, or even polyester ether ketone.  Placing the abutment is a small procedure, and usually, they’re done with only local anesthesia for pain. 

What are implants 

Well implants are basically metal fixtures that work like tooth roots, and they’re put into the gums and jawbone.  Essentially, they get anchored to your bone through the process of osseointegration where ethe bone gets directly fused to your metal. 

It offers stability to both the abutment and crown, which is on the same level as actual teeth.  It can take up to 12 weeks for these to heal once you get implants. 

If you have a dentist that says that the jawbone isn’t strong or thick enough for support of this implant, then a bone graft might be recommended. In this, oral surgeons take bones from another part of the body or will use synthetic bone in order to attach this directly to the jawbone.  This offers a sturdy support for these replacements until the bone is able to heal tightly around this implant. 

Regardless of Type, you need good Hygiene 

One thing that’s important is regardless of the implant, or a crown or even a bridge, you have to practice good oral hygiene. 

The implants work in the same manner as your regular teeth do, where you’ve got to brush this twice daily, along the gums and then sweep towards where both biting parts of the teeth are. 

Cleaning between the teeth with water flossing or interdental brushes at least daily is important, and you should have tongue scrapers or antimicrobial mouth rinses. 

When you do this, always check with a dentist for a regular appointment, not just for keeping the teeth perfectly right and to get rid of bacteria, but also for the implant’s health.  You should take some x-rays in order to check the bone area around the implant.  You should also look at the gum tissue that’s near this area, ensuring that it’s free from the inflammation which may be there. 

Now that you know a little bit about implants and abutments, you’re in for a treat, and you’ll be able to have good, informed conversations with dentists. Good luck with this, and make sure that if you have replacement teeth, always take care of them like you would with regular teeth, so that they work just like the real thing. With the right care, these replacements can last the rest of your life, which is definitely something to smile about. 

Protect your teeth, and protect them all, so that you can have the best oral health that you can, in the best ways possible. 

The Importance of Mouthguards 

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Sports are something vital for both kids and adults to enjoy, and it allows them to be healthy and happy. The problem with sports, however, is that while they’re fun, there is a risk for breaking something.  Chipping and breaking a tooth can increase your dental bills by a lot, but one way to prevent this is a mouthguard. We’ll go over why here. 

Why are they important? 

Why should you wear a mouthguard? While you might wear a helmet to protect the head against head trauma, a mouthguard is great to prevent any further injuries to the mouth and the face.

When they’re made of a soft plastic, or even a laminate, this is something that prevents injuries that happen when you have something hit your mouth. They also protect the gums, the cheeks, and also your jaw.

So why do they wear these? Well, regardless of the age, the gender, or the level of skill, everyone’s at risk of getting a n injury to their mouth. While this is scary, a mouthguard can help prevent this from further getting worse. It actually reduces the prevalence of the trauma that happens with athletes during contact sports.

A lot of people will benefit from the protection that a mouth guard offers, especially if you’re in a high contact sport. In fact, over 41% of people who play sports wear this.

Now, you might wonder how it protects, and we’ll go over that here. 

Using mouthguard for Sports 

While mouthguards can’t prevent elbows from hitting you when you’re in the middle of a game. Those things happen. But what it can do is prevent the injuries from getting worse over time. They reduce the impact through spreading it out, and also reduces the damage to both individual teeth, and the mouth as a whole. 

The way that they’re made also ensures that there is some protection of the shock of the force. 

During sports, you’re bound to get injured. In fact, over a third of all the injuries that happen during sports occur near the mouth and the face.  The good thing about this though, is that while it’s hard to fully prevent injuries, you can mitigate the effects of this.

Mouthguards are in fact far cheaper than any other protective elements that are used. In fact, they’re so cheap you can get them at the drugstore for less than 20 bucks.  For just 20 dollars, you can prevent thousands in dental treatments from injuries.

The problem with mouthguards is that so few sports require them. While you have to wear one for high contact sports like football, those that are not as high contact like baseball  and basketball might not require it.  a lot of players wear them when they play, because if you get hit by an elbow, it could knock out the tooth if you’re not careful. 

Mouthguard Types 

You’ve got a couple of different mouthguard types out there, and it’s important to consider all of these.

A good thing to keep in mind is that the better the mouthguard fits, the better the protection you will be getting.

If you’re strapped for cash, you can get stock, as they’re cheap, but they don’t fit comfortably or have protection 

There is also boil and bite, which is where you boil the guard, bite it, and then leave an impression. These are middle-level types. 

Finally, you’ve got custom made, which are the most expensive, but protect the best.

Regardless, try to get your child a mouthguard, especially if sports are their jam, but injuries are not. 

Pain in tooth Crowns 

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Dental professionals do need to put crowns on teeth that are decaying or damaged, and most of the time, it’s relatively painless.  However, there are some cases where if you add a tooth crown, it causes more sensitivity. For those with some level of sensitivity around teeth that are capped, you might want to know how to fix this, and the steps to improve this.  we’ve got your answers. 

What Crowns Are 

Crowns are basically a cap put over the tooth that’s decaying, damaged, or weak, in order to keep the size, shape, strength, and the appearance. They can last anywhere from five, up to 15 years, depending on the wearing of this, and how well you take care of them. 

Reasons for Crown Pain 

There are certain reasons for pain in the crown.

Some of them include the ones listed below. 

A nerve that’s traumatized or infected c and causes this.  This is because there might still be some nerve damage, even after the pulp of the tooth has been removed, and the pressure of the crown on this.  In this case, you might need to get a root canal and the removal of the crown.  They’ll get an access hole put in, do the root canal without having to replace this. While it’s complex, it saves money on the crowns as they can’t be used again once removed. 

Another reason is that you’re grinding your teeth. This is especially true if you grind at night, or if the teeth aren’t properly aligned.  The areas that are there on the teeth will start to rub together, and from there, you’ll experience some pain within the jaw muscles as well. sometimes, this long-lasting and occasional type of pain in the lower portions of the jaw and face. 

In order to prevent this, you’ll want to relax the jaw with a moist, warm washcloth prior to sleeping. Meditation can be used to reduce anxiety and stress, providing relief as well.

Mouth guards can also be another way to treat this.

If you’re still having trouble with grinding your teeth, then you’ll want to discuss this with your dentist.  Sometimes, biofeedback, which uses different sensors to look at the muscle contraction, can help you become aware of the clenching that you do with your teeth. You’ll be able to control your jaw tension and clenching as well through this. 

Finally, what you might also have been an issue with the crown. It might be damaged, and that would require you to replace this. 

What you should do 

You should definitely first and foremost take some over-the-counter medicine to help with the pain.  Cold and hot foods can also cause sensitivity in the teeth, so try to keep the foods mostly moderate in temperature. There are also mouth rinses and toothpaste made for teeth that are sensitive. They usually numb the endings of the nerves, which can help prior to getting a treatment and diagnosis. 

If you’ve got pain in the crown which continues to persist, you should see your dentist right away. the sooner the better, as they can look at the issue, and find it as quickly as they can.

Remember that the pain doesn’t normally go away just by waiting for it to. It’s better to go to the dentist, get the help that you need, so that you’re not in pain, and you’ve got something worth smiling about when it comes to your oral health and teeth.

Try it today and get the help you need to take care of your teeth better than before.