Author: bwiley

How Missing Teeth Can Change Facial Shape & Increase Aged Appearance

Most of us realize that replacing missing teeth creates a nicer looking smile.  But did you know that replacing teeth is just as important for your appearance because missing teeth can essentially change the shape of the face?

In healthy mouths with no missing teeth, the roots of the teeth are supported by the jawbone. When teeth are missing, the jawbone is slowly shrinking, which results in decreased facial support. So, with every tooth that is lost, bone and facial muscle support are lost too, which can change the way you look. Without teeth to support, facial collapse such as sunken or sagging cheeks may start to show, which can make us look older than we really are.  

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth:

In addition to facial profile support, our teeth serve to aid in chewing, digestion, speaking, and even boosting self-esteem. Studies have shown that tooth loss can have a negative impact on our self-esteem. 

Since we know that teeth keep your facial muscles and bones intact, it makes sense that there is a relationship between missing teeth and signs of early aging. Without the support that your teeth provide, your mouth and cheeks can sink, shrink, and sag, which is often called, facial collapse.

Missing teeth also form gaps. While a few teeth gaps may seem insignificant, gaps allow for shifting of existing teeth, which affects facial support as well. So even if you lose only a few back teeth, those teeth can shift and cause a domino effect that can change your front tooth position as well. Gaps in front teeth can negatively affect our appearance.

Unfortunately, an aged facial appearance is not the only problem with missing teeth. Tooth loss also causes lifestyle changes as well. Without full tooth support, people find it hard to chew, speak, or smile. Rather than merely an inconvenience, tooth loss can become a major hindrance to each additional tooth loss.

Missing Teeth Can Make You Look Older:

Aging facial appearance is a lesser-known problem that people think about when they lose their teeth.  

Signs of premature aging due to tooth loss include the following facial profile changes:

• Facial angles – When we lose teeth, we also lose the height of the jawbone, which lowers the facial height too. Change in angulation can alter face shape and make noses appear larger. Loss of shape can make the face appear sunken or hallowed.
• Facial wrinkles – Facial angulation changes can cause increased vertical lines that make us appear older than we really are.
• Bite Changes – Tooth loss causes changes in how teeth come together. A deterioration in the bite can create a harsher facial appearance because the corners of our mouth lose shape.
• Frown Appearance – The loss of shape around mouth corners can make you appear unhappy or even angry without knowing it.
• Chin rotation – Bite deterioration can cause a forward shift in the chin that creates a pointed looking appearance.
• Cheek jowls – When some of the jawbone is lost, it causes muscle ligaments to weaken, which allows for the sagging of facial tissue.
• Thinning lips – Without teeth to support the appearance of full lips, they can appear thin. In addition, weakened muscles around the mouth with missing teeth can make lips appear longer rather than fuller, which makes us look older.

Help to Prevent Premature Aging by Replacing Missing Teeth:

While tooth replacement options have been available for a long time, traditional replacement options like partials and dentures do not address missing jawbone. While dentures replace the visible part of the missing tooth, they do not replace the roots that are within the jawbone. That means that dentures cannot prevent further bone loss even though they replace the look of missing teeth.

Fortunately, a replacement option called a dental implant is available that not only replaces missing teeth but also missing jawbone support as well. Dental implants actually act like tooth roots because they integrate with the jawbone to allow for full bone support just like your own teeth. After an implant is placed, your dentist places a crown over it, which then replaces the tooth root and visible missing tooth.

Having increased jawbone support through implant placement helps to preserve or reshape your face for a more natural and youthful appearance! Call us at 717-243-9020 for more information.

A Registered Dental Hygienist is an important part of your dental team.  Hygienists are dental professionals who have completed training at an accredited college, graduated with at least an associate degree, have passed both written national boards & clinical regional boards, and have obtained state licensure to practice. 

While state regulations for scope of practice may vary, most dental hygienists’ responsibilities include the following:

• Dental cleaning
• Patient screenings
• Preventative applications
• Oral health education
• Expanded dental roles

Your Dental Cleaning:

When you visit your dental office for a dental cleaning, the dental hygienist is the person you see. Hygienists clean your teeth by removing plaque, calculus (tartar), and stain from all your tooth surfaces above and under the gumline. Removal of these deposits helps to rid your mouth of not only visible stains but also harmful bacteria that could cause a serious oral infection called periodontal disease.

Hygienists also perform a more advanced type of non-surgical periodontal treatment called, scaling and root planing, which is considered phase-1 therapy for the treatments of periodontal (gum) disease. 

Patient Screenings: 

During typical dental cleaning appointments, your dental hygienist is also provided important screenings that will be documented and shared with your dentist prior to your exam. They assess oral health conditions, review medical histories such as documenting medications and changes in health, providing oral cancer screenings and head & neck inspection, take vitals such as pulse and blood pressure, and chart dental documentation such as periodontal charting & hard tissue charting. 

Preventative Applications:

In addition to cleaning your teeth, hygienists also apply preventative treatments such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments, which both help to prevent tooth decay.  

Oral Health Education:

Dental hygienists are not just clinicians, but also educators. Everyday chairside, hygienists help their patients better understand subjects such as oral homecare, nutritional choices, and oral-systemic connections.  

• Oral home care – Hygienists customize suggestions for their patients’ oral homecare routine.  They recommend the use of power toothbrushes, water flossers, floss & additional in-between cleaning methods, recommend mouth rinses and toothpastes that best fit patient needs, and review methods of techniques.
• Nutritional choices – Your hygienist is also trained to discuss nutritional choices that may benefit your oral health because they have taken classes in nutrition in college and have spent most of their career discussing healthy food choices.
• Oral-systemic connections – Hygienists know that your oral health is directly linked to your overall health.  At appointments, your hygienist may discuss how certain health conditions may affect your mouth or how certain mouth conditions can affect your health.  For example, patients with Type 2 Diabetes have strong connections to oral health risks.  Your hygienist can discuss those links.  

Expanded Roles of Your Dental Hygienist:

Over the years, many states have expanded the scope of practice for dental hygienists.  In Pennsylvania, dental hygienists, if they choose, can obtain two additional dental hygiene licensures, Dental Hygienist Local Anesthesia & Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner.

• Dental Hygienist Local Anesthesia – For over a decade in PA, dental hygienists who acquire additional training can apply for this license that allows them to administer local anesthesia.  In order to gain this additional license, hygienists must become certified to administer local anesthesia by completing a 32-hour accredited program that meets the requirements of the PA State Board of Dentistry.  An accredited course typically includes the instruction of the mechanism of action of local anesthetic agents and vasoconstrictors, a review of oral anatomy, patient evaluation, anesthesia effects, and complications.  After the course, the hygienist must perform safe and effective local anesthesia administration techniques on clinical partners under the supervision of qualified faculty & take a written exam to be certified.

Having this additional license allows hygienists to administer local anesthesia, which gets a patient numb, for non-surgical gum treatments or other treatments that require pain management.

• Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner – According to the Pennsylvania Dental Hygienists Association (PDHA), the Public Health DH Practitioner is an additional certification that can bring rewards to hygienists who are looking to make a positive impact in access to oral healthcare for underserved areas in the state.  These hygienists can work in an expanded setting such as schools, nursing homes, and public health clinics where access to care is often limited.  

Hygienists Care About Your Oral Health:

While some patients may think of their hygienists as the person who cleans their teeth, hygienists are also so much more because they can provide services that not only clean your teeth but also promote overall health and wellness.  

Through years of dedicated training and service, your dental hygienists are here to help you achieve your best oral health!

You know that brushing your teeth is important. But did you know that you might be making mistakes that can cause more harm than good? Brushing mistakes can actually cause problems like gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and weakened tooth enamel.  

Here are some tips to remember when brushing your teeth:

Brushing Right After Eating/Drinking

• Contrary to the old saying of ‘brushing after every meal’, dental professionals now recommend that you wait 30 minutes to brush after you eat or drink. This is because when you eat, your own saliva pH drops from the normal neutral level of 7 to an acid level of 4.5 in merely the first 5 minutes of your meal. It takes 30 minutes after eating for your own saliva to go back to normal. Why is this important? It is because if you brush within the first 30 minutes, you are essentially brushing acidic saliva all over your teeth, which could cause enamel erosion. 

Not Brushing Your Tongue

• Your tongue has a rough surface that can house the same harmful bacteria that settles in and around your teeth and gums. If that bacteria sits on your tongue, it is the leading cause of bad breath. To eliminate that odor-causing bacteria, simply brush your tongue each time you brush your teeth.

Brushing in the Morning Only

• While brushing in the morning is important, to brush at night is even more important because the harmful bacteria in your mouth is more active while you sleep!

Keeping Your Toothbrush Too Long

• The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you change to a new toothbrush every 3-4 months. After about 3 months, the bristles of your teeth start to wear and do not clean as well and can irritate your gums.  In addition, if you are sick, make sure you change your toothbrush.

Not Including Floss

• Your teeth have five surfaces, three surfaces that you can brush, and two in-between surfaces that your toothbrush can never reach. If you do not include floss into your cleaning routine, you risk leaving harmful bacteria behind that can cause cavities and gum disease.

If you ever have questions about brushing, our dentists and hygienists here at Noll Family Dentistry are always happy to answer questions and offer recommendations for you to get the best out of your brushing! Call our office at 717-243-9020.

While you may already know that smoking is bad for your teeth, you might wonder if vaping is safe. The answer is yes.  While some people switch from smoking to vaping because they may think vaping is a safer alternative to smoking, studies show that it is just bad for your teeth and gums. Vaping has the same adverse effects on your oral health as smoking and your dentist WILL be able to tell.

Sadly, many teens are also vaping and putting their mouths at risk. A recent survey shows up to 37% of high school seniors and over 17% of middle schoolers vaped in the previous year.  That’s why knowing the risks of vaping is so important.

Here are some reasons vaping can harm your oral health:

Nicotine Can Stain & Harm Teeth & Gums:

Although vaping does not contain tobacco, it does contain nicotine.  Because one cartridge of an e-cigarette is equal to smoking 2-3 packs of regular cigarettes, understanding the effects of nicotine on the mouth is important.

Nicotine is dangerous because mixed with your saliva creates yellow and/or brown tainted stains on your teeth which is bad for both dental aesthetics and health. As you continue to vape more and more, the stains will become more prevalent and harder to get rid of.

Studies have shown that nicotine has negative effects on the gums. Research suggests that nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor that affects blood flow to gum tissue.  Poor circulation because of nicotine is compounded by affects on immune cells that increase the user’s chance of developing gum disease. That means that nicotine use is associated with increased periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Vaping Causes Dry Mouth:

While nicotine also reduces the saliva flow in your mouth, so does the chemical, Propylene Glycol, which is an ingredient in vaping oils. This chemical absorbs moisture in your mouth causing dry mouth (xerostomia). The effect of less saliva in your mouth is a cause for concern since saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health by helping to rinse away food particles, bacteria, and acids that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. A dry mouth can increase the risk of these dental issues.

Tooth Staining & Cavities:

 Propylene glycol also breaks down into acids that damage enamel, which makes teeth more vulnerable to cavities.  Not only that, but the vegetable glycerin and other flavorings in the oils help bacteria stick teeth that are already damaged.  Those flavoring additives are known to decrease enamel hardness by 27%!

Mouth Burns:

While rare, vaping can cause mouth burns because they are generated by lithium batteries that can overheat or even explode.  

Palate Stomatitis:  

Vaping can damage the cell lining of the mouth, especially the tissue on the roof of your mouth. Becoming inflamed, which can lead to painful sores and lesions.

Oral Lesions:

There have been reports of vapers developing oral lesions, including canker sores and other mouth ulcers. While the exact cause is not fully understood, the chemicals in e-cigarettes may contribute to these lesions.

Tooth Damage:

Because nicotine is a stimulant, it can act as a muscle stimulant that can cause you to grind or clench your teeth, which is called Bruxism.  Bruxism can cause broken & damaged teeth, jaw pain, headaches, and is a risk factor for bone loss around your teeth.

Is vaping better or worse for your teeth than smoking?

It’s challenging to definitively say whether vaping is worse for your teeth than smoking, as both habits can have detrimental effects on oral health, and the long-term impacts of vaping are still being studied. However, it is important to recognize that while vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, it is not without risks, and these risks can include negative effects on dental health such as: tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, tooth decay, and even oral cancer.

The effects of smoking and vaping can take a toll on your teeth, gums, and oral tissues, so it’s important to have regular oral cancer screenings if you regularly use these products.

The Bottom Line

Even though e-cigarettes don’t have tobacco, their oils still have nicotine, which causes mouth problems like smoking.  The other ingredients in vaping oils can cause damage to your teeth too.  

The misconception is that e-cigarettes are healthier than smoking, or that vaping isn’t bad for your teeth. So, if you vape or smoke, just know that the habit can cause some serious problems for your teeth & gums.

If you vape, stay on top of your oral health, and always keep regular dental checkups at your local dentist. And if you want to quit, talk to your dentist for cessation options and to learn about how to best protect your teeth and gums from the effects of nicotine on your oral health.

The goal of our team is to provide comprehensive and compassionate dental care to the Carlisle, PA community while ensuring your safety during the current coronavirus pandemic. During these new and uncertain times, we are still providing regular dental checkups to cleanings, advanced dental care, and restorative procedures. Our team is very experienced and prepared to help you every step of the way, whatever your dental needs may require in a safe and secure environment.

Maintaining Your Oral Health

We are all experiencing a lot of change right now due to COVID-19, and we need to stick together and practice adequate health practices. Because of the high spread of coronavirus, it is crucial to maintain good oral health practices as much as we can. Oral health is more important now than ever as the mouth is the primary entry point to pathogens.

How to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene During Corona Virus

With the many changes going on in the world right now it can be hard to focus on our oral hygiene more than usual. With working from home and or online learning, a focus on dental health is easy to forget, but that’s why it is all the more important. If you are someone who has pre-existing medical conditions that leave you immunocompromised, and or is elderly, you are at a much higher risk to coronavirus than some and should be even more careful. Most of us know that wearing a mask is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread, along with sanitization. According to the Mayo Clinic on the recommended N95 masks, “it can filter out both large and small particles when the wearer inhales. As the name indicates, the mask is designed to block 95% of very small particles… (that may contain germs)”. Along with mask-wearing you should also take additional steps to prevent infection, and have the best oral hygiene you can to combat any contagions that do come in contact with orally.

This may include but is not limited to:

• Washing your hands before contact if your eyes nose or mouth.
• Brushing your teeth for longer and or more frequently.
• Flossing your teeth more to prevent gum disease and a higher infection rate.
• Have a well-balanced diet set in place to avoid cavities caused by excessively sugary foods and or drinks.
• Avoid smoking, as this increases your chance of inhaling airborne pathogens as making it easier for bacteria to enter into your body.

Taking some of these easy steps to prevent the spread and contraction of coronavirus will put both your mind and body at ease. You are helping out your peers and yourself by maintaining good oral hygiene and health procedures.

As a community we all know that times are hard right now in this continually changing environment of COVID-19. With such changes remember the dental community is doing the best we can to adapt and improve with you. Along with your help at home improving your oral hygiene, we will continue to evolve with federal and state guidelines to ensure a safe and secure environment for our patients and community alike.

When you think about going to the dentist, do you usually think of visiting every six months for teeth cleaning and check-up? While regular dental visits twice a year are common, did you know that your personal need for an exam & cleaning may be different than twice a year?

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you not only visit your dentist regularly but also that you allow your dentist to determine the cleaning interval that best meets your need to optimal oral health.  Their recommendation is based on a 2013 study in the Journal of Dental Research that researched patient risk status and frequency of preventive visits on tooth loss.  The ADA says that patients should consider their frequency of dental cleaning & exam be based on their dentist’s assessment of their individual oral health condition, health history, and oral disease risk.

The Research Study

The study, which was from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, researched patients to analyze the link between tooth loss and the frequency of preventative dental visits such as dental cleanings.  For this study, researchers used patients who had oral-systemic link risk factors such as smokers and patients with diabetes and other inflammatory diseases.  

The conclusion of the study suggested that by considering risk factors individually, dentists could recommend individual visit frequencies that could help to prevent periodontal disease, which is a gum infection that can not only lead to tooth loss, but also negatively affect your overall health..  Therefore, patients at higher risk could benefit by having more frequent dental visits while patients at low risk can maintain health with the usual bi-annual visits.  

Conclusions suggested that more frequent preventative visits may reduce dental costs over a long period when reducing costs of treating oral diseases such as periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Personalized Dental Care

Individualized care is a team approach to dental care that involves you as part of the team, which is necessary for your best oral health!  

Discussing your risk factors with your dentist is the first step to determining your own dental care needs.  This team approach also encourages you to work closely with your dentists and hygienist to identify any potential risk factors that would determine the need for and frequency of preventative visits to enhance the outcomes of your dental health.

Frequency of Visits

Because a dental cleaning removes harmful bacteria from your teeth and gums, having those cleanings at proper intervals can prevent damage to your oral tissues.

The goal of determining the how often you should have a cleaning is to be able to ward off bigger and more costly problems.  Tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease can both lead to pain and even tooth loss.  They are also more costly than adding a few additional dental cleanings per year.

Typically, patients at low risk for oral disease can maintain good oral health by visiting their dental office every six months.  Patients who are at higher risk can prevent or reduce risk of oral diseases by having their cleanings increased to 3-4 times per year.  

How Does a 3-4 Month Cleaning Help?

Three or four cleanings a year can help reduce harmful bacteria that forms under your gums.  Although plaque bacteria build in our mouths daily, it takes about 3-4 months for the bacteria to become strong enough to start the infection that causes destruction of your dental tissues.  Therefore, having your teeth cleaned frequently does not give the bacteria the chance to cause create those serious dental problems.  

More Frequent Visits Monitor Oral & Overall Health

While more frequent dental visits are targeting prevention of oral disease and stabilization of periodontal disease, it is also important to know that your dental professionals are also monitoring your mouth for signs of more than just gum disease.  

A 2014 study found that people who had periodontal disease and other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis spent 41% less money on medical appointments related to their diseases if their periodontal disease was maintained.  

In addition to the possibility that more frequent dental visits can assist in maintaining better overall health, monitoring your mouth can also lead to discoveries of medical conditions and a referral to your physician.  For example, pale gums can sometimes be a sign of anemia.  Dry gums can indicate immuno-deficiency issues such as Sjogren’s syndrome or lupus.  And unusual changes in your gums such as more bleeding and inflammation can be signs of diabetes. 

With more frequent visits, your dentist can serve as an important link between you and your doctor in helping to maintain your overall health.

Your Carlisle Dentist is Here for You!

We are here to help you decide how often you should visit our office.  Rest assured that we are committed to personalized treatment that meets your needs for your best oral health!

Finding a new Dentist can be an understandably difficult task, whether it be that you just moved to the Carlisle area or simply that you are looking for a change in local dentists, it is important to consider the many options you have available to you. Keep in mind that dentists are here for you and want the best for your oral health. This article will guide you on how to find a dentist in Carlisle that is best suited for you and allow you to begin your journey to a brighter and healthier smile.

1. Ask Around

This may be the simplest yet most effective step in beginning your search for a new dentist and it is, well, ask around! Your easiest resource for finding a new dentist is all around you. Ask your friends, family, co-workers, because chances are high that they have a dentist that they regularly see. By asking around for referrals and advice you will soon gather a list of potential dentists that you then could do further research on.

2. Research

After you have a list of a few potential dentists now is your opportunity to research them and their practices. There is a very good chance that their practice has a website readily available with the necessary information that can be found by a quick internet search of their name. On their website there will likely be a list of their credentials and formal education. Your research on the dentist’s name, in general, may also bring up reviews on both their practice and of their experience as a whole, this could help greatly in understanding how previous and or current patients viewed their care.

3. Cost

As you start to narrow down your search you need to make sure you take into account cost. It is crucial that you ask one of the most important questions such as, do they take your dental insurance? By asking this and or finding this information on their site you will ensure there are not any unwanted surprises when you get too far into your search.

4. Hygiene

This might sound a little absurd, as you may think that dentists, doctors and any medical practice would automatically have some of the most hygienic locations. The truth is, that not all medical practices take the highest precautions against preventative spread of sickness at their locations. This is especially important with the current Corona Virus Pandemic, you want to make sure you find a dentist and practice that has put out a message to their patients that they are doing the utmost in regards to hygienic practices to keep you safe.

5. Scheduling

Once you find a dentist that you feel comfortable and well acquainted with now is the time to make an appointment. Before you call, keep in mind your schedule and potential availabilities so you can easily find an appointment date that works best for you. You should then be able to find their offices phone number on their website and make an appointment.

If all goes well after your first appointment with your new dentist then you will have a service relationship that will last for years to come! If by chance that dentist isn’t best suited for you, remember you have many more to choose from. Use this time to feel comfortable in your decision and you’ll be sure to find the dentist that is right for you!

Although body piercings are a form of self-expression, oral piercings such as those of the tongue, lip, and cheek can harm your teeth and gums.  Complications from piercings should be considered before considering getting piercings or continuing to keep an oral piercing. 

While you might already know some of the risks, you may be surprised by others.  Oral piercing complications can arise during the oral-piercing procedure, immediately after its completion, or over a longer period. 

Under guidance from the American Dental Association (ADA), your dental professionals want you to know the risks of oral piercings.

What are the Complications?

Complications that result from oral piercings include:

• Pain & Swelling – Because piercing involves puncturing through healthy tissue, the affected area reacts with pain and swelling.  While the pain & swelling may subside, while it is active, patients may be unable to thoroughly clean their teeth & gums.  Swelling may interfere with eating & speaking.
• Bad breath – Because piercing jewelry covers oral tissue, proper brushing is more difficult.  Without proper brushing, plaque bacteria & food debris can accumulate around piercings causing bad breath.
• Infection – An overaccumulation of bacteria can lead to infection around the piercing.  Signs of infection can be redness, swelling, pain, and a foul odor.  Without treatment, oral infections can lead to serious health issues.
• Changes in saliva flow – Oral piercings can increase saliva flow. Typically, healthy saliva flow is a good thing because it helps to prevent tooth decay.  However, too much saliva flow can sometimes cause more buildup of calculus (tartar), which is calcified plaque that hardens on teeth and under gums.  Calculus can only be removed with professional dental cleanings.
• Dental appointment challenges – Not only can oral piercings cause challenges for your dental professional during cleanings & fillings, they can also interfere with diagnostic tools such as x-rays.
• Gum recession – Because the metal of the piercing can rub against gums when speaking, chewing, or moving the piercing out of habit, it can cause gum tissue to recede.  Gum recession sometimes requires gum surgery to correct.
• Gum disease – Because harmful bacteria can accumulate in a mouth with oral piercings, periodontal disease (gum disease) can result.  Periodontal disease is an infection that can lead to the need for surgery.  Left untreated, it can cause tooth loss and affect your overall health.
• Tissue trauma – The ADA has reported instances of the jewelry becoming embedded in surrounding oral tissues, requiring surgical removal.
• Damage to teeth & dental work – Because oral piercings are a foreign metal material that can shift and move within the mouth, they can chip teeth and crack or damage existing dental work. 
• Changes in speaking & chewing – Oral piercings act as an obstacle that can impede one’s normal chewing ability.  Speaking can also change, especially for those with tongue piercings.
• Formation of scar tissue & keloid formation – Because of the puncture trauma of a piercing procedure, scarring can form.  A more noticeable and raised kind of scar called a keloid can also form which can grow quite large and may need to be surgically removed.
• Obstructed airway – Swelling from infection can cause breathing problems.  In addition, if a piercing dislodges while sleeping, speaking, or chewing, it may get lodged in the back of the throat and cause airway obstruction or choking danger.

Are the Complications Common?

These complications are more common than you may think, according to a review by the American Dental Association (ADA).  They report that in a recent study, close to 50% of individuals with lip or tongue piercings had gum recession.  In addition, in those with tongue piercings, 26% showed some level of tooth damage. 

One alarming and cautionary tale that the ADA reported involved a 25-year old patient who developed Ludwig’s angina, a rare skin infection of the floor of the mouth.  This infection spread throughout her mouth just days after a tongue piercing.  Swelling from the infection was so severe that the patient required hospitalization and intubation to open her airway.  Although she was given antibiotics, they did not resolve the infection.  The only way to decompress the swelling was to surgically remove the barbell-shaped tongue piercing.  

While not every patient has complications, understanding the risks is important for anyone considering an oral piercing.  And for anyone who already has oral piercings, being able to recognize risks is important for prevention of a potentially serious condition.

Can Risks Be Reduced?

If you decide to have your mouth pierced or you choose to keep an existing oral piercing, be aware that you must pay more attention to your mouth than you would otherwise. Talk to your dental professionals about whether you should schedule more frequent dental visits. You may need to visit the dentist three or four times a year to make sure you do not develop permanent damage to your teeth & gums.

Proper oral hygiene is necessary to rid the area of harmful bacteria that could cause an infection. Be sure to remove food and debris around the piercing site after every meal. Good oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing daily are essential to reduce your risks.  Avoid playing with your piercing against your teeth or gums because that may cause gum recession or tooth fracture.

Contact your dentist immediately if you show any signs of infection such as pain, swelling, redness, or unusual odor or discharge. Your dental professionals are here to answer questions so that you can make the best decision for your oral health!

Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common complaints that dental professionals hear from their patients. According to studies, tooth sensitivity affects over 12% of adults and over 33% of adults have untreated decay.  Although enamel erosion and untreated decay can be a common reason for sensitivity, many other reasons for tooth pain & sensitivity also exist.

While sometimes, sensitivity requires professional dental treatment in the office, some types of sensitivity can be reduced with some simple homecare modifications.  

The first step in reducing your tooth sensitivity is understanding its causes and symptoms so you can begin to find relief for your sensitivity.

So, let’s talk about sensitive teeth, shall we?

What Causes Sensitivity?

Tooth and gum sensitivity can be caused by the following reasons:

• Enamel erosion: Also called dentin hypersensitivity happens when the enamel is exposed to wear and tear by acids or mechanical forces, which can thin enamel and expose the next & more sensitive tooth layer called dentin.
• Tooth decay: Commonly referred to as cavities, tooth decay is a softening of the tooth enamel that leads to holes in the tooth in which bacteria can infect.
• Infected tooth nerve: If decay is left untreated, bacteria can infect the dental pulp, which is the nerve of the tooth.  The nerve becomes infected and can cause pain that must be treated with a root canal.

• Tooth or filling crack: Even small unseen cracks in teeth or fillings can cause sensitivity.
• Recent dental procedures: Having recent dental procedures can temporarily stimulate the tooth nerve, which can cause sensitivity for a few weeks following the procedure.
• Tooth whitening: Ingredients in common tooth whitening products can cause temporary tooth sensitivity.
• Gum recession: If gums recede, they are unable to protect the roots of the teeth, which can result in root sensitivity.  Also, if gums recede, bacteria that cause gum infection can rest at the gum line and cause gum sensitivity.
• Gum infection: Gum infections such as gingivitis and periodontal disease can be the source of gum sensitivity.
• Bite Issues – Grinding or clenching: Forces that are created by grinding, clenching, or an unbalanced way that our teeth align can cause stresses to your teeth and oral tissues that lead to tooth and gum sensitivity.
• Sinus infection: Because the roots of upper teeth are close to our sinuses, when sinuses are infected, they can become inflamed and put pressure on tooth roots, which can cause teeth to feel achy or painful.

What are the Symptoms of Tooth & Gum Sensitivity?

When you feel sensitivity in your mouth, the first thing to determine is if your sensitivity is coming from your tooth or gums.

Tooth Sensitivity

If your sensitivity is coming from a tooth, the next step is to determine if your tooth is sensitive to hot, cold, or sweets because each time of sensitivity can have a different meaning.  Are you sensitive to?

• Hot?
• Cold?
• Sweets?
• Intermittent Dull Ache?
• Sharp or Throbbing Pain?

The type of sensitivity that you have can indicate different problems.   For example, hot sensitivity can indicate problems with the nerve of your tooth.  Cold sensitivity can indicate exposed root surfaces, worn enamel, or even a cracked filling or tooth.  Sweet sensitivity can indicate that you have tooth decay (a cavity).  

 A dull ache and sharp or throbbing pain may indicate an infection within the tooth or possibly a sinus infection.

Although these symptoms and problems are common, they are not always the same and may need different treatment for relief.

Gum Sensitivity

Gum disease affects half of American adults!

If your gums are the culprit of your sensitivity, try to check the area.  Do you see or feel?

• Bleeding?
• Redness?
• Swelling?
• Gums Pulled Away from Teeth?
• Intermittent Gum Ache?

If gums appear pulling away from your teeth, that can indicate gum recession that may require professional treatment.

Gum sensitivity & the above symptoms can be signs of an early gum irritation or even a more severe gum infection.  Failure to identify and treat gum infections can lead to infections of the jawbone that can become painful, cause harm to your overall health, and cause tooth loss.

Can Tooth Sensitivity Be Treated at Home?

Sometimes, tooth sensitivity, particularly cold sensitivity that is caused by enamel erosion or gum recession can be alleviated at home. Mild gum irritations can often be treated at home with simple homecare modifications.  Some common home remedies include:

• Sensitivity Toothpaste: Over-the-counter toothpaste for sensitivity block the tubules that send sensations to the tooth nerve.  If sensitivity is caused by enamel erosion, these kinds of toothpaste may be effective
• Homecare Modifications: Modifications such as using only a soft toothbrush may reduce dentin hypersensitivity.  Increased homecare such as flossing, water flossers, or antibacterial mouth rinses may reduce bacteria that cause mild gingivitis.
• Dietary Modifications: Avoiding highly acidic foods can help to reduce tooth sensitivity.

When Should I Call My Dentist?

While having sensitive teeth is not usually considered a dental emergency, teeth that are causing you prolonged sensitivity should be examined by a dentist to diagnose the causes or rule out some of the more serious causes mentioned here and offer treatment and advice.

If at-home remedies do not alleviate sensitivity or sensitivity increases, you should call your dentist for an appointment to evaluate the problem.   Your dentist can examine your mouth to determine if you have a tooth or gum infection and provide appropriate treatment.

Keep in mind that sensitivity is not the same as pain.  If you experience dental pain for longer than 48 hours, you should contact your dentist immediately as it may be the sign of a serious infection that could affect your overall health.

As your dental professionals, we are here to answer your questions and help you find the best ways to alleviate your dental sensitivity!

Smoking can wreak havoc on your oral health. Smoking impacts your teeth and gums in several ways. These impacts can be quickly identified by your dentist. So, yes, your dentist will know if you smoke. Among the telltale signs include yellow teeth, plaque, receding gums, and more. Keep reading to learn how smoking affects your oral ecosystem.

Yellow Teeth (Nicotine Stains)

Similar to your skin, your teeth have pores. These pores absorb the things you eat, drink, or in this case, smoke. Nicotine and tar in tobacco have qualities that allow it to stain materials very easily. Mixed with your saliva, smoking or tobacco use will cause yellow or brown stains to develop quickly. The stains caused by smoking seep deeper into the enamel, making them more difficult to remove. These stains are often too visceral to be removed through drugstore whitening products, and regular professional whitening is needed.

Plaque and Tartar Buildup 

The chemicals in tobacco products affect the way saliva flows through your mouth. One of saliva’s main functions is to protect tooth enamel and prevent decay. When the natural flow is disrupted, the beneficial proteins and minerals in the saliva are unable to do their job, leading to plaque buildup. In excess, this plaque becomes tartar, a calcified form of plaque. 

Other Impacts

Smoking can be harmful in other ways. For one, it can cause cancer of the mouth, throat, or lips. About 90% of people who were diagnosed with one of these forms of cancer used tobacco products. The chemicals in cigarettes will also give you bad breath. Smokers also tend to have gum lines that recede more than normal.

Bottom Line

Smoking, tobacco, and even vape use all have a plethora of negative effects on your health, but your dentist isn’t here to judge your lifestyle habits. Instead, they’ll be happy to offer solutions and helpful advice to assist you in quitting and restoring better oral health! Your dentist knowing you smoke is no reason to skip your cleaning or appointment! More than anything, they’re going to be thankful to see you and happy to help!