Remedy Mouth Sores and Infections

Woman with a mouth sore on her lip

Infections and mouth sores can be especially bothersome, especially if your oral health problem is visible to everyone else. However, there are simple treatments you can follow to get rid of problems (such as canker sores) and accelerate healing with cold sores. Find out the top 8 oral health infections and how you can help remedy them as well as mouth sores!

 

Mouth Sores and Infections

Just like there can be many problems with your body as a whole, your mouth can suffer many problems as well. Mouth sores and infections are common in our patients. The most prevalent ones we see include:

  • Dental caries
  • Gum disease
  • Canker sores
  • Gingivitis
  • Thrush
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease
  • Herpangina
  • Oral herpes/cold sores

Some of these conditions are genetic, whereas others can be caught. However, problems such as canker sores simply happen as your body’s response to stress and health problems. With any mouth sore, you want to get them under control or work hard to prevent them in the first place. Many mouth sores and infections can actually be avoided with good oral hygiene. Dental caries (tooth decay), gum disease, oral bacteria and more never have to happen if you brush and floss away the gunk that likes to stick around in your mouth.

 

Tooth Decay Is An Infection

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common mouth infection you can have? Many people don’t even think about this as a mouth infection, but that may be because it’s actually an oral disease. In fact, tooth decay is the most common prevalent disease in children and adults alike according to the National Institutes of Health. That’s even more than cancer, diabetes and any other condition you can think of. If you don’t know what tooth decay is, then think of it by its other name: cavities. That’s right, cavities is an oral disease.

 

When you eat, bacteria in your saliva works to break down your food. However, bad bacteria also combines with sugars in your food and drink to make plaque. Plaque is acidic, sticky and clear, and it sticks to your tooth surface like crazy. You have to physically brush plaque away. Simply drinking won’t cut it. If not, plaque works like an infection. It will erode away your hard tooth enamel, getting inside your tooth. There it will attack your soft, pulpy tooth center where nerves and blood vessels are. Decay sets in, which leads to infections, tooth loss, toothaches, and more. The remedy for this problem? Seeing a dentist to remove the infection. Prevent decay in the first place by brushing and flossing your teeth every single day.

 

Woman having her mouth examined by a dentist

Remedy Canker Sores

One of the most common mouth sores is a canker sore. These come in various sizes and colors, and they can be quite bothersome for many patients. Some patients will luckily have very small canker mouth sores that go away quickly. However, other patients will have canker sores that grow to the size of dimes and are extremely painful. Stress is a common cause of canker sores. If you notice you get more of them when you’ve been under a lot of stress, that’s probably your body’s immune response to try to deal with your stress.

 

Studies show that most canker sores heal on their own within a week. But, who wants to wait a week for mouth sores to go away? You can get prescription medications from a dentist or a doctor to help speed up your healing process. However, there are also natural ways to make these type of mouth sores go away, and the answer is by using salt.

 

Salt is an amazing healing substance that people have used for centuries. Salt can take away the sting of mouth sores and make them go away faster. Simply fill a cup with warm to hot water and dissolve an ample amount of salt into the water. Water will have to be hotter to melt the salt, but you can let it cool a bit before swishing with it. Then, several times a day, swish the salt-water mixture in your mouth (making sure it is warm). Within a day, you should see less pain and your mouth sores getting better.

 

Woman doing a salt water rinse

Helping Other Mouth Sores

Canker sores aren’t the only mouth sores patients get. For thrush, herpangina, hand, foot and mouth disease, and cold sores, you will need medicine to make your mouth sores or infections go away. Always check your child’s mouth for mouth sores and oral problems, especially if they have been sick. Keep their mouth clean and yours to avoid problems in the first place. Gum disease happens only because patients don’t brush and floss their teeth. If you have gum disease or gingivitis, work closely with a dentist to get it under control.

 

Cold sores come from the herpes simplex virus. If you have it, this virus is not one to go away. When you start to feel mouth sores coming on, over-the-counter creams and medications can reduce how bad the sores are and how long they are around. Stress, sunlight, the cold, trauma and oral health problems can cause these to flare up. Use creams to help with pain and irritation and work with us or your medical doctor to control their intensity.

 

Seeing the Dentist

Who better to help you with oral health problems than a dentist? Dentists like Dr. Ania see patient’s mouth all day long, every day. We see mouth sores often and have remedies for them. When patients are healing from tooth extractions or similar oral health procedures, using salt-water rinses is one of the recommendations for patients who want to heal a wound faster. We recommend these because they work. However, patients might get mouth sores from other problems. You might have tons of mouth bacteria that cause you infections, decay, gum problems and more. But we’ve seen it all! If you have mouth sores bothering you, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: April 13, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Why Tooth Sensitivity Happens

Woman with a toothache

Have you ever bitten down on food and suddenly felt pain in a tooth? Tooth sensitivity and pain can happen suddenly or it can come on gradually over time. It depends on what is causing your tooth to be sensitive. Grinding teeth and daily habits can wear down your teeth over time, causing sensitivity. However, gum recession and tooth decay are the biggest culprits when it comes to that pain in your tooth. Find out why tooth sensitivity happens and what you can do to combat it!

 

The Makeup of Your Teeth

Your teeth are the hardest substance in your body, even harder than bone. They are made up of about 96% mineral, most of which is calcium and phosphate. Even though the teeth are hard, you can still get problems such as tooth sensitivity when inner layers of the teeth are irritated.

 

The outer layer of your teeth is the hard enamel. This is the hard part of your tooth. Inside that layer is the dentin, which is a bit softer. This is the layer that surrounds your tooth root, as your hard enamel is only on the crown of your teeth, or the part you can see. The dentin is also that yellow inside that tends to start showing through as a person ages. Inside the dentin is the tooth pulp. This is the sensitive tooth center that houses delicate blood vessels and nerves. When you get tooth sensitivity, it’s those nerves that signal to you to you that something is wrong. If you get tooth sensitivity, that means there’s some sort of problem with your teeth that needs to be addressed.

 

woman drinking water that has tooth pain

Problems with the Teeth

Even though your teeth are primarily made up of hard material, they still have a soft center that is very sensitive. Plus, your hard tooth enamel can weaken and erode over time depending on the foods and drinks you consume. If you take care of your teeth, they can maintain their hardness throughout life. However, if you don’t practice good oral hygiene, your teeth can actually become very weak and brittle.

 

When you eat, sugar mixes with mouth bacteria and makes plaque. That plaque is very sticky and acidic in nature, and if it sits on your teeth, it erodes the hard outer enamel. Without proper brushing and flossing, you will start to have small cracks and fissures in your teeth. That’s how plaque and bacteria get in. This leads to many problems with the teeth such as tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay is also known as “cavities” and is a part of a tooth where bacteria and acidic plaque have decayed your enamel. In fact, tooth sensitivity is an indication of hidden tooth decay or internal tooth infection.

 

What Exactly Is Tooth Sensitivity?

No matter how hard your teeth are, they can still become incredibly sensitive. We stated that tooth decay is a major reason you might have tooth sensitivity. When your tooth is getting eaten away by acidic plaque, it’s bound to make your tooth sensitive. You may not feel your tooth sensitivity until a surface cavity has become an internal cavity. This is because of that soft, pulpy center that’s become infected. The infection signals your nerves that something is wrong, and your tooth begins to hurt. If your tooth sensitivity is caused from tooth decay, there is no way to truly get rid of it unless you have a dentist fix it.

 

A dentist will have to go in and remove all of the decayed part of the tooth, plus the infection if there is any. If there is an infection, you may need a root canal, which is a cleaning of the entire tooth root. Tooth sensitivity can also come from a cracked or fractured tooth, old fillings that break, worn or thin tooth enamel and an exposed tooth root. Fillings are not meant to last forever. If you bite down on hard foods and an old filling comes out, you may have slight tooth sensitivity. If you break or fracture a tooth, this is a serious dental problem, as it quickly leads to infection. Call us right away if you know you’ve broken a tooth or if you have a bad toothache. It must be fixed or infection will build up quickly and can even go to your blood stream.

 

Woman having her teeth looked at by a dentist and hygienist

Fix Tooth Sensitivity

An exposed tooth root can also cause tooth sensitivity and is due to gum recession. You get this if you don’t brush and floss enough. Your gums will become irritated and will start to recede. Then, your dentin layer of your tooth becomes exposed, and your tooth will hurt with hot and cold. That includes hot and cold air as well as liquid. You get seasonal tooth sensitivity for this reason. If your teeth are more sensitive in the winter with winter air and being around heaters, use a sensitive toothpaste. We also have liquids that we can coat your teeth with to provide 6-12 months of sensitivity relief for exposed tooth roots.

 

The only real way to know the true cause of your tooth sensitivity is to see the dentist. A dentist can check for cracks, breaks, tooth decay and gum problems. Then, they can provide rapid treatment to fix the problem. Teeth can become sensitive with treatments such as teeth whitening. Reduce that sensitivity by having your whitening done in one session in-office instead of with over-the-counter products. Also, watch your use of acidic foods (citrus and sodas) that weaken teeth and cause decay. Whenever tooth sensitivity strikes, call Dr. Ania’s office right away at 303-443-0998 to get your pain under control!

Posted: April 6, 2018 By: Comment: 0

More Sugar Means More Cavities

picture of dental tools and sugar

If you take a look at the food your child eats throughout the day, you might be surprised that the “healthy” foods you buy have more sugar than you might think. Not only can this damage their health over time, but more sugar means more cavities for your little one. Children should not consume more than 3 teaspoons of added sugar a day. However, children often are eating more than 20 teaspoons of the sweet stuff. It’s no wonder cavities are so prevalent in young children! Find out the facts about sugar, how they cause your child tooth decay, and why you should limit their sugar for better oral health.

 

Sugar Is Everywhere

When people start new diets, they tend to focus on cutting out foods with lots of fat or carbs. However, it’s the sugary foods that kill diets quickly. Sugar is not actually a nutrient you need in your diet. It provides no nutritional value, and actually can severely hurt your nutrition, not to mention your oral health. Studies show that sugar makes your body store extra fat than it otherwise would, and all over your body. A diet rich in sugar leads to chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, tooth decay and gum disease, to name a few. It affects your cholesterol, the amount of insulin in your blood, how good your skin looks and can even be addictive.

 

There is a reason that so many people crave the sweet stuff, as it can be addictive the more you eat it. Some studies show that it can be just as addictive as street drugs, or even more so. This is because when you or your child eats sugar, your brain releases chemicals from it’s pleasure center, causing you to feel good. Over time, you need more and more sugar to have that feel-good emotion. This is how a person’s diet can go from little sugar to high amounts of sugar over time. You may think you are also getting an energy boost from sugar intake—which can happen—but you are also crashing within a half hour of eating sugar. You don’t want all of these health changes in you or your child from something as simple as sugar. The problems are endless when it comes to sugar, and most people don’t even know! That is why there are health guidelines set for how much sugar a person should be having each day.

 

depiction of tooth decay using cubes of sugar

How Much Is Too Much?

You may think your child is eating healthy, but they may be consuming tons of sugar. Watch out for secret sugary foods such as bread (especially whole wheat bread), yogurt, granola bars, nut butters, milk, pre-packaged foods and more. The American Heart Association and many other health organizations have set sugar guidelines for you and your child. These guidelines help significantly reduce your child’s risk for chronic conditions and can save them from having many cavities that sugar causes.

 

The guidelines for each age group are:

  • Men: No more than 9 teaspoons, which is 36 grams or 150 calories a day.
  • Women: No more than 6 teaspoons, which is 25 grams or 100 calories.
  • Children: Less than 6 teaspoons if you’re under 18 years.
  • Newborns/Toddlers: 0-3 grams, or as little as possible.

Studies show that toddlers and children get between 12 and 20 grams of sugar a day and those between 18 and 25 get 34 grams or more a day.

 

dental hygienist looking at a patient's teeth

More Sugar Means More Cavities

Why is sugar such a concern? Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease, which are some of the most prevalent chronic diseases among children and adults. Gum disease affects more than 64.7 million American adults alone, and many more people have tooth decay. When you eat, sugars in your food combine with bacteria in the mouth to form plaque. Your mouth makes this sticky, acidic substance every single time you eat. That means, the more sugar you eat, the more plaque you make. Plaque sits on your teeth because it’s so sticky and erodes your tooth enamel. If it sits there long enough, you will get cracks and open areas of your teeth, where plaque then gets inside your tooth and decays it. That decay is known as “cavities”, and cavities can lead to tooth loss.

 

Plaque also irritates your gums, causing them to become red, swollen, and to bleed easily. The gums try to get away from plaque, so they pull back (or recede). This can eventually lead to tooth loss. This is gum disease. You can significantly reduce your risk for cavities and disease by brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day, and especially after meals. However, not enough people brush and floss during the day—or at all—meaning that millions have cavities.

 

Reduce Sugar to Reduce Cavities

We urge every patient to have a set oral hygiene routine each day. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day, if not more. If you tend to eat a lot of sugar, we urge you to brush 3 or 4 times a day and to come see us for comprehensive exams. Your best option to avoid cavities is to reduce the amount of sugar you eat, while brushing and flossing more often. If you want to know more about how sugar damages your teeth, or if you need help with your oral hygiene, call Dr. Ania’s office anytime at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: March 22, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Why Do You Have Bad Breath?

Older man with bad breath talking to a child

Do you have bad breath or think that you might? Many people worry about having bad breath when most people have little to no odor on their breath. However, there are also many others that actually do have bad breath and don’t know it. The odor of your breath can signal the type of underlying cause you have for your breath. Most people can avoid problems with their breath if they stick to an oral hygiene routine and remember to brush their tongue. Others won’t be able to rid themselves of a mouth odor unless they address a specific oral health problem. Find out the reasons you might have bad breath and what you can do to make it go away!

 

What Is Bad Breath?

Bad breath is something that everyone has dealt with at some point or another. Studies show that Americans spend over $10 billion dollars a year on oral hygiene products to keep their mouth clean and their breath smelling fresh. One of those reasons is to keep bad breath under control. Simply eating certain foods such as garlic or onions can give you foul-smelling breath that you yourself can smell. However, that smell will go away if it’s simply from food.

 

Only about 25% of people actually have bad breath that sticks around. This type of bad breath is clinically termed “halitosis” and is generally the result of poor oral hygiene. Bad breath starts in the mouth, and for people who have this as a chronic problem, it is a sign that something is wrong. There are many causes of bad breath. You will have to seek the help of a medical or dental professional to determine the exact cause if you have bad breath that’s not caused by food or oral hygiene problems.

 

Doctor holding a sign that says "halitosis"

What Causes the Smell?

There are many causes of bad breath that include:

  • Tooth Decay – Tooth decay is perhaps the most common cause of bad breath. You know this term by other words such as “cavity” or “dental caries”. When you eat, sugars in your food mix with mouth bacteria to form plaque, a sticky, acidic substance that sticks to teeth. If you don’t brush and floss daily, that plaque will erode your teeth and decay them, causing a foul odor.
  • Gum Disease – This goes hand-in-hand with tooth decay. Plaque sticks to the teeth right at the gumline. If you don’t brush and floss, plaque’s acidic nature will irritate your gums, causing them to be red, swollen and irritated. They may even bleed easier and will start to recede. Gum disease can make bad breath from tooth decay even worse.
  • Poor Oral Hygiene – Tooth decay and gum disease are caused from poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss or see the dentist, you will likely get one or both of these problems, which can become quite chronic.
  • Certain Foods – Garlic, onions, and many different spices will give your breath a different smell. However, if your bad breath is caused from food, it should go away soon after, especially if you brush your teeth and tongue.
  • Tobacco or Alcohol Use – Tobacco products (especially chewing tobacco) will cause countless problems in your body and your mouth is no exception. Alcohol will also give you bad breath and will cause you tooth decay, among many other problems. Avoid both if you want to keep your mouth and body healthy and if you want to avoid bad breath.
  • Medical Conditions – Acid reflux will give many people bad breath because there are acids constantly coming up towards your mouth. Diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, sinus infections, lung or throat problems and more will also give you bad breath. If your bad breath is chronic and you have good hygiene, seek help from a medical professional to determine if a medical condition is causing your bad breath.

 

Family brushing their teeth together

Preventing Common Oral Health Problems

You largely determine if you will have chronic bad breath or not. Choosing to eat foods that are free of garlic, onions and spices can reduce mild smelly breath. Eating healthy can help reduce chronic conditions you have that affect the mouth. However, as we mention, bad breath starts in your mouth. You have to have great oral hygiene habits to avoid tooth decay and gum disease, which are major causes of foul breath. The American Dental Association recommends that every person brush at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Brush for 2 minutes at a time, and then floss your teeth, making sure to scrape the teeth to rid them of plaque.

 

These two habits alone will significantly reduce your risk for smelly breath. Seeing the dentist at least biannually for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings can help to completely clean your mouth. If you have bad breath that doesn’t go away, we will help you determine the cause and treat any tooth decay that is present.

 

Break Free From Bad Breath

You have 1440 minutes in a day. You only have to use 2 minutes a few times a day to keep your mouth clean. That very short amount of time can help you avoid many chronic oral health problems. You would think that it would be so simple for people to take that time, but studies show that many people don’t brush or floss during the day. If that is you, make a resolution to start having great oral health. It will likely help you get rid of bad breath and will make your mouth and the rest of your body cleaner and healthier. If you would like to be seen by a dentist, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: March 12, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Teaching Children to Brush and Floss Their Teeth

Dental hygienist showing a child how to brush her teeth

If you are a first-time parent, knowing how to teach your child about brushing and flossing can be difficult. It can even be difficult to teach your children how to brush and floss even if you are an experienced parent. Everyone—not just children–needs a proper oral hygiene routine to avoid major oral health problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing and flossing can help you avoid even more problems than that. The key is to teach children how to brush and floss when they are young and how to do it correctly. Find out what the oral hygiene guidelines are for toddlers, children, adults, and how to teach them to your children!

 

Teaching Children to Brush Their Teeth

Brushing and flossing are the basics of having great oral health. You can’t only do one and expect to avoid tooth decay and gum problems. You need both, plus visits to the dentist, good nutrition and more. To brush properly, a child needs to brush for about 2 minutes, at least twice a day. You will have to monitor that brushing to make sure it’s not done in 20 seconds instead of 2 minutes. Many parents set a timer or play a song for their children and they have to brush the entire duration of the song. Have them brush their top teeth the first minute and the bottom teeth the second minute.

 

It’s important to teach children that they have to brush all of their teeth every single time they brush. They should brush back and forth, but also change the angle that they brush, so they get the gum line and get food out that is stuck. It helps to also brush in a circle on the back teeth that are bigger. Many people forget to brush their tongue, which is a haven for bacteria. Make sure your child brushes their tongue after brushing their teeth and that they rinse off their toothbrush after every brushing. Kids need about a pea-size amount of toothpaste, but can increase the amount they use as they age. Letting your child pick out their toothbrush can help them to have the desire to brush their teeth. Making charts that help them or reward them if they brush and floss is also helpful.

 

Parents brushing their teeth with their child

Teaching Children to Floss Properly

Flossing is an integral part of having good oral health. Children must brush and floss to avoid cavities. If they only do one, odds are that they will get cavities, which means their teeth will decay. That also means a dentist will have to take out the decay and fix their tooth, which they don’t want. Explain that preventing cavities is much easier than getting a cavity and having to have a dentist fix it. Flossing is easy for adults, but can be difficult for small children. You will have to start flossing your child’s teeth for them as soon as the teeth are too close together for the bristles of a toothbrush to get in between them.

 

Teach children how to wrap the floss around either their pointer or middle fingers. Make sure that they don’t wind the floss too tight around their fingers. Show them how to floss in between all the teeth. We have found that many children do well with the small handheld tooth flossers until they have the dexterity to use floss like adults do. You can get bright, colorful flossers that can help children have the desire to floss.

 

Mother and daughter brushing each other's teeth

Take the Time to Teach

Teaching children how to take care of their oral health takes time. However, it only takes time when they are small. If you take those few minutes every day to teach children how to brush and floss correctly, they will be able to eventually do it by themselves forever after. Not enough children are taught the basics of brushing and flossing and why both of these habits are so important to their health. That is probably the reason that so many adults have tooth decay and gum disease. When taught young and taught correctly, a child is more likely to have better oral hygiene habits and stick to those habits as they grow into an adult.

 

If you have a busy schedule, then monitor your child’s brushing and flossing while you are doing the same thing. You can both benefit from brushing and flossing together morning and night. Children are more likely to do something if they see their parent or guardian doing the same thing as well. Your example is the best asset you can give when teaching children to brush and floss. Remember that you will have to brush and floss your child’s teeth for the first few years and help them when they are toddlers until they learn how to properly brush and floss themselves. If you are struggling with teaching a child how to brush and floss, we can help! Call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998 for all you and your child’s oral hygiene needs.

Posted: March 8, 2018 By: Comment: 0

Prevent Broken Teeth

woman with a tooth problem

Many patients won’t break a tooth during their lifetime. However, many patients will have this type of dental emergency. A cracked or broken tooth can lead to infection, decay and even the loss of a tooth if you don’t seek dental care right away. If you break a tooth, it can also be a sign of internal tooth decay that grew too large. We can help you know what to do at home if you break a tooth and what we can do to save your tooth. Prevent broken teeth with our help and fix your smile through restorative dentistry if you have already cracked or broken a tooth.

 

Habits that Weaken Teeth

Did you know that your tooth enamel is perhaps the strongest tissue in your body? However, inside each tooth is a soft, pulpy center full of nerves and blood vessels that nourish your tooth and make it strong. Even the strongest materials can weaken over time if they are not properly taken care of, and your teeth are no exception. Everyday, your teeth have the potential to weaken from the foods and drinks you consume. If you take a close look at your teeth, you may notice a sticky, clear film on them. This film is plaque, and it is made when the sugars in your food mix with bacteria in your mouth.

 

That film will stick to your teeth like glue and because plaque is acidic, that film will also work to erode and weaken your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day, if not after every meal. Not enough people do this though, as studies show that many Americans will only brush their teeth once during the day, if at all. Millions don’t even floss or can’t remember the last time they brushed their teeth. Studies also show that only about 65% of people see the the dentist each year as well. It’s no wonder that tooth decay is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases plaguing children and adults! Tooth decay easily leads to broken teeth, cracks, chips and tooth loss.

 

Toothaches

Not everyone will have a dental emergency during their lifetime. However, many people will, and you want to seek help for these dental emergencies right away if you want to keep your tooth. People who wait to get help generally end up losing their tooth, when that doesn’t have to happen. Even a toothache is considered a dental emergency. A toothache is a sign of severe tooth decay in many cases. This happens if you don’t always brush or floss your teeth to remove plaque from your tooth surface. That allows tooth erosion to happen, and plaque can get inside the tooth, decaying it. This will result in a toothache. However, tooth sensitivity and pain can also simply happen because of changing weather or because you are drinking too hot or too cold of drinks. We can help you know the cause so we can fix it.

 

Dental Emergencies

Here’s what you need to know about these dental emergencies such as broken teeth:

  • Broken Teeth – You need to take action immediately with a broken tooth so you don’t lose it. Rinse the area with warm water and put a cold compress over the facial area to reduce swelling. Call our office immediately and recover any broken tooth fragments for us. Broken teeth will generally lead to lost teeth if you don’t have us look at it and restore it in time before the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth are damaged.
  • Cracked Teeth – A crack is also no joke. Cracks in teeth generally go below the gumline. If this is the case, an infection can start where your nerves and blood vessels lie, and you could lose a tooth.
  • Chipped Tooth – A chip isn’t quite as bad as broken teeth or a cracked tooth. Chips can be fixed through restorative dentistry. If you chip off a filling, you should get it filled again so tooth decay doesn’t happen inside your tooth.
  • Knocked-Out Tooth – Recover the tooth and hold it only by the crown so you don’t damage the root nerves. Rinse, but do not clean or handle it more than necessary. Either reinsert it into your socket and hold it in place with gauze or carry it to our office in a cup containing milk or water. Knocked-out teeth may need to be replaced.

 

chipped front tooth

Prevent Broken Teeth

The best way to prevent broken teeth is to do more for your oral hygiene routine and avoid hard foods and bad oral health habits. You should be brushing and flossing at least twice a day, per the ADA recommendation. Limit the amount of carbonated drinks you drink, as carbonic acid in carbonation erodes your tooth enamel. Avoid citrus drinks and limit citrus fruits as well, which contain citric acid. When you floss, make sure you are using the floss the also scrape the surface of each tooth, removing stuck-on plaque. The more you reduce your risk for tooth decay, the less of a chance you have for broken teeth.

 

You should also visit the dentist at least twice a year if your oral health is in good shape and even more often if you already have problems with tooth decay and gum disease. Only a dentist can find cracks and chips that are hidden as well as tooth decay. Only a dentist can repair broken teeth in time for you to not lose a tooth. However, broken teeth generally cause a lot of pain immediately, so you’ll want to seek dental help anyways. As we mentioned, a cracked tooth is also something you don’t want to wait on, as it can be just as bad as broken teeth. When you have broken teeth or any other dental emergency, call Dr. Ania’s office right away at 303-443-0998 and we’ll do all that we can to restore your smile!

Posted: February 21, 2018 By: Comment: 0

What’s Your Toothache Telling You?

Woman with a toothache

Have you ever had a toothache before? In many cases, a toothache is a sign of tooth decay that is hidden under the surface of your tooth. However, a cavity isn’t the only reason you might have a toothache. You could have a piece of food stuck in your gums or you could have receding gums that are sensitive. Even problems such as the temperature outside or a sinus infection could be causing your tooth pain. Find out why a toothache happens and how you can remedy it!

 

Tooth Decay Is a Major Culprit

Tooth decay is one of the reasons you might have a toothache. When you eat, sugars in foods and drink mix with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque. This sticky, acidic substance coats your teeth and erodes your tooth enamel. It does this by weakening your hard enamel, creating small cracks and fissures that you can’t see. If that plaque gets inside your tooth it spreads decay like wildfire, which will give you a severe cavity and/or infection. You avoid tooth decay by brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day so that plaque never gets the chance to destroy your teeth.

 

toothache

Have You Damaged a Tooth?

There are many other reasons you might have a toothache. A toothache is a sign of damage or sensitivity if it’s not caused by tooth decay. Anything hurting in your mouth is a sign that something is not right and needs to be evaluated. Our patients get toothaches for reasons such as:

Tooth decay. If the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth, you probably have severe damage that is causing you pain. For severe decay, we sometimes have to perform a root canal or a dental extraction.

Injured tooth. If the problem isn’t tooth decay, then we look at the structure of your tooth. If you chew on ice or other hard foods, it’s easy to chip, crack or break a tooth. You can chip some of your tooth right off the top or even break a filling that is already present. Sometimes our patients realize that they have done this as soon as it happens. If you chip a tooth, you will have a slight ache. If you’ve broken or cracked a tooth, that toothache will be more severe. Never wait to get dental help, as infection sets in quickly with broken or cracked teeth.

Winter cold. With changing seasons, we have patients that get a toothache here and there. Cold air hitting the teeth will cause sensitivity in many patients. Running heat directly in your face in a car or other small space can also irritate your teeth. Patients tend to drink more hot beverages in the winter, which can cause tooth sensitivity. Limit these habits or try venting the heat more, as well as drinking warm beverages instead of hot ones.

Gum recession. Plaque and tartar buildup will damage your teeth and irritate your gums. That irritation causes gum recession, which exposes part of your tooth root. This root will be sensitive to hot or cold foods and beverages, which can cause you sharp, sudden pains.

Bruxism and TMJ. If you clench or grind your teeth at night, you may wake up with headaches and a toothache in one or more places. We will look to see if you are clenching or grinding or if you need treatment for dysfunction of your temporomandibular joint.

 

Reduce Your Toothache Risk

We mentioned that tooth decay is one of the reasons you might have a toothache. When you eat, sugars in foods and drink mix with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque. This sticky, acidic substance coats your teeth and erodes your tooth enamel. It does this by weakening your hard enamel, creating small cracks and fissures that you can’t see. If that plaque gets inside your tooth it spreads tooth decay like wildfire, which will give you severe tooth decay and/or infection.

 

You avoid tooth decay by brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day so that plaque never gets the chance to destroy your teeth. Keeping your teeth clean will reduce your risk for decay and infection and will remove food that is stuck in your teeth and gums. The cleaner you keep your mouth, the fewer problems you will have, as tooth decay is one of the most common causes of toothaches.

 

woman with a toothache using a ice pack

Remedy a Toothache

A toothache should never be something you commonly get. A healthy mouth is one that is pain-free and clean. When you start to get an ache in one of your teeth, monitor it throughout the day. If it doesn’t go away or gets worse, call our office right away, especially if it’s getting close to a weekend. If your toothache is caused by tooth decay, we want to remove that decay as soon as possible or your aches and pains will get worse.

 

Until you can see us, use a cold compress on your face by applying it to your cheek 15-20 minutes on and 15-20 minutes off. You can also take an over-the-counter painkiller such as Tylenol to help with the pain. However, never touch aspirin or other painkillers straight to your gums or the area that hurts or you could end up with burns or other oral health problems. For help with your toothache or other oral health problem, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998

 

Posted: February 7, 2018 By: Comment: 0

It’s Not Too Late: Adult Orthodontics Can Restore Your Smile!

Adult male with braces

Advancements in dental technology are encouraging adults everywhere to take advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too! In the past, the thought of having metal braces as an adult discouraged many from receiving treatment, but today there are many options for adults besides traditional metal braces, including: ceramic, invisible, and lingual (behind the teeth) braces. Explore your options for orthodontic treatment as an adult by visiting our office!

 

Adult Orthodontics

When you think of braces, you probably picture teenagers with metal brackets. However, millions of braces wearers are children and adults. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 1 in 5 patients that receive braces is over the age of 21. Add that to the more than 4 million people that wear braces each year, and you have almost a million people over 21 sporting orthodontic appliances. That means, if you do choose to get braces, you won’t be alone. Adult orthodontics is simply orthodontic treatment for adults, which is very similar to what a teenager or child would receive.

 

Studies show that you can benefit from getting braces at any age. For adults, they can improve their success and confidence by receiving adult orthodontics. Many studies have shown that straightening your smile makes you appear more attractive, successful, wealthy, healthy and more. In studies, people even perceived others as 73% more trustworthy if their teeth were straight. You are more likely to land a job over your competition as well if you have straight teeth. The benefits of adult orthodontics are endless, and so are your possibilities if you choose to receive this life-changing treatment.

 

Invisalign treatment

Should You Get Braces?

You may think that it is too late to get braces once you are an adult, but that is not the case. In many patients, it’s easier to correct bite and alignment problems when young. This is because the jaw continues to grow until your teenage years. After that, bite and alignment problems become more difficult to treat, but nowhere near impossible. However, when it comes to straightening teeth, it’s easy to do whether you are an adult, child or teenager. For all patients, we say that it’s never too late to straighten your pearly whites. Why? Because you will improve your health by doing so no matter your age.

 

When you straighten your teeth, you reduce your risk for tooth decay, gum disease and oral health problems. Crooked teeth are teeth that are harder to keep clean. Because of this, you end up getting plaque and tartar buildup on different parts of your teeth. This leads to your teeth decaying in those areas and your gums receding. Those with crooked teeth (even adults) have a higher chance of having cavities and gum problems. Crooked teeth also lead to cracked, chipped and broken teeth over time because there is uneven pressure on the teeth when you bite, chew and speak. Breaking or cracking a tooth could eventually lead to losing that tooth, which you want to avoid. Straightening your teeth can remove or seriously reduce your risk for all of these problems.

 

Adult woman with orthodontics

You Have Options

Did you know that metal brackets aren’t your only option for adult orthodontics? In the past, metal brackets were all that were available to patients, but now there are also lingual braces, clear braces and Invisalign treatment.

  • Metal braces – This is the most economical choice for adult orthodontics if you are on a tight budget. These braces are the the ones with metal brackets and wires attached to the front of your teeth.
  • Lingual braces – A discreet option for adult orthodontics is lingual braces. These are metal braces that are custom-fit to the back of your teeth instead of the front. This option is perfect for adults who want braces, but want to hide them.
  • Clear braces – These are braces that mimic the look and feel of traditional metal braces, except they are made of white ceramic material. That material is made to match the whiteness of your teeth. Even the archwire can be made white to match your tooth shade.
  • Invisalign – We love Invisalign treatment for our patients, especially when it comes to adult orthodontics! Invisalign is the most discreet way to straighten your teeth. This is a series of transparent aligners that we custom-make for your mouth and that you switch out every week. Over time, these clear trays gradually shift your teeth straight. The best part is that no one will even know you are wearing an orthodontic appliance. Plus, you can remove your aligners for eating, drinking, sports, physical activity, and cleaning your teeth like normal. This is the best option for adults wanting adult orthodontics, but who don’t want everyone to know they have braces.

 

A Better Smile Today

Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too! If you are interested in exploring your options for orthodontic treatment as an adult, please contact us to schedule an appointment. For your free consultation, call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: January 28, 2018 By: Comment: 0

The Advantages of Same-Day Dentistry

appointment for a dental crown

Enjoy the convenience of same-day dentistry with our state-of-the-art dental systems! At our office, we have a cutting-edge dental system that alleviates the need for traditional impressions, temporaries and second appointments. This saves you precious time and elevates your overall dental experience. Two major technological advances makes same-day dentistry crowns a real possibility: digital scanners and in-office milling machines. Find out how these machines help you get in and out of the office in record time!

 

What Does Same-Day Dentistry Mean?

Judging by the title, you will assume that “same-day dentistry” means that you will have a service done that same day. You are correct in this assumption. However, we are talking about dental crowns when we talk about same-day dentistry. A dental crown acts like a cap for your tooth. It covers and protects a tooth that has been damaged by decay and infection. Dental crowns are a great way to improve the appearance of your teeth and preserve tooth enamel, however, the usual process is lengthy. In the past (and still at many dental facilities), receiving a dental crown was time consuming. It takes at least 2 office visits and up to several weeks of waiting for your crown to be made in a lab.

 

Same-day dentistry eliminates the need for two office visits. In the past, we would remove your tooth decay and provide you a temporary crown for your tooth. You then had to wait up to two weeks to get your crown and have it placed. Fortunately, advanced technology now allows a handful of specially-trained dentists to take digital impressions of their patient’s mouths and create a crown in-office the same day. That is why we refer to this as “same-day dentistry”. There’s no waiting several weeks and you get a sturdy, supportive dental crown that will help make your mouth stronger.

 

dental crown model

Same-Day Dentistry Appointment

We know that your time is valuable, especially if you are working. That’s why we have same-day dentistry crowns! When you come in for a dental crown, we will take digital scans of your teeth. This will take an exact impression of your existing bite and will provide us images of how your teeth look. Our digital scanner replaces the need for old-fashioned, gooey impressions we did in the past. Dr. Ania will use that digital image to create a crown that is customized for your mouth’s exact needs.

 

We use our in-house milling machine to create a custom crown while you wait in our office. Dr. Ania does this by sending the digital image to a milling machine that creates the crown, and then places the crown in an oven to crystallize. Once your crown has been made, Dr. Ania takes the time to bond the crown to your tooth and to protect your natural tooth from any elements or further tooth decay. The entire procedure from start to finish takes about 2 hours and there is no need to worry about temporary crowns.

 

dental crown

Why You Need a Dental Crown

Not every patient needs a dental crown. Patients who have had a dental emergency or severe tooth decay are the patients who will need a dental crown. When tooth decay is small, we can easily remove that decay and provide you with a tooth-colored cavity filling. We simply use our drills and other tools to remove the decayed part of your tooth and fill it like new. However, it is possible for tooth decay to spread so fast that it decays a large part of your tooth. In this case, a patient will need a root canal to clear the tooth of decay and any infection that has formed. This leaves your natural tooth in a vulnerable state, where it will be very sensitive and could develop decay again.

 

We never want to simply remove your natural tooth, so we will perform that root canal and then provide a dental crown to cover your natural tooth. We shape your dental crown to look like your real tooth—so much so that no one will ever know the difference. If you’ve got a tooth that has been seriously weakened or damaged, a strong dental crown is a highly-effective and attractive cosmetic dentistry solution.

 

How You Benefit

Same-day dentistry works amazing well for our patient’s schedules. It takes one simple office visit, where you can then return to work or home. If you have had a toothache or oral health problem, don’t wait to come into the office! If your dental work requires a dental crown, we can perform this with a same-day dentistry appointment. To have your free consultation, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: January 12, 2018 By: Comment: 0

What to Expect with Laser Dentistry

laser dentistry

Laser dentistry and tissue treatment offer you the best tools from today’s science and dental technology. Dr. Ania’s practice is one of just a few practices that currently offers this innovative laser tissue treatment. Laser dentistry sets a high standard with its superior precision, minimized bleeding, reduced risk of infection, and accelerated healing. Patients also report significantly less pain and discomfort during and after treatment. If you dread getting dental work done, you might be surprised to find out how easy and comfortable laser dentistry can be. Change your dental experience today by receiving laser dentistry services!

 

Avoiding Cavities

Most people don’t like having cavities and like getting them fixed even less. Did you know that cavities are actually 100% preventable if you take care of your oral health? The National Institutes of Health reports that tooth decay (which are cavities) is one of the most “prevalent chronic” diseases in children and adults alike. Your risk for cavities increases as you age, so not only do you have to be vigilant with your oral health as a child, but you also have to be adamant about brushing and flossing as an adult!

You can avoid cavities fairly easy if you brush and floss your teeth. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day. We would even take it a step further and suggest that you brush your teeth after every meal (especially if you get cavities easy).

laser for dental office

What Is Laser Dentistry?

Most people think of probing tools and needles when they think about getting a cavity filled. However, laser dentistry is a popular method of performing dental procedures that is much better than using tools and needles. Laser dentistry involves using an instrument that gives off a very narrow beam of intense light energy. We have found that lasers can clean your teeth without hurting you or damaging your teeth.

Laser dentistry is not a new concept. It’s actually been around since 1990 and is becoming more popular each year amongst dentists. Dr. Ania uses lasers in her practice for:

  • Deep cleaning gingival pockets (for laser decontamination)
  • Diseased tissue removal (laser-assisted periodontal therapy)
  • Sterilization of root canals
  • Gum recontouring (which is reshaping the gums for cosmetic purposes)
  • Crown lengthening
  • Cold-sore treatment
  • Laser tooth whitening
  • Dental implant exposure

Laser Cavity Detection

Lasers can be used for cleaning the teeth easier and more comfortably than other methods. Did you know that we can also detect cavities using lasers? We call this “laser cavity detection.” Tooth decay can be difficult to diagnose, especially with probing tools alone. X-ray detection can be very beneficial for finding cavities, but in many cases, the cavity has to be large. There is a better way to detect cavities with lasers. Using a “Diagnodent” laser—which is a pen-like wand—we can scan your tooth surface for signs of hidden tooth decay.

Using lightwave reflection, we pass the laser over each tooth to discover tooth decay. If your tooth is healthy, the laser light will pass through your tooth. However, if there is a cavity, the light will be reflected. This way, we are able to know the exact size, shape and location of a cavity no matter how big or small it is. Using lasers in dentistry can help us fix a tiny cavity before it becomes large and needs a more in-depth procedure.

Why Choose Laser Dentistry?

Dr. Ania often applies the use of lasers in her dentistry practice to offer a speedy and more pain-free treatment for certain procedures. She can use lasers for treatments that may not have been possible in the past. She can treat unsightly cold sores with low-intensity dental lasers that reduce irritation and minimize healing time. Lasers can detect and treat cavities, enhance a smile by reshaping gums, eliminate benign tumors, whiten teeth and more.

The benefits of choosing laser dentistry over hand-held instruments include extreme precision, which allows Dr. Ania to remove only diseased tissue without disturbing surrounding tissue. Laser treatment is notorious for quick healing because the laser instantaneously seals the blood vessels. Patients love that as well as the fact that light-energy sessions don’t usually cause bleeding. When you need dental work done, it’s easy to use laser dentistry services and then return immediately to your normal activities. If you want to learn more about laser dentistry and what it can do for you, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

 

Posted: December 28, 2017 By: Comment: 0

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