Mind Your Roots!

As people live longer and keep their natural teeth, their risk of developing root cavities significantly increases. As teeth age they lose their natural sensitivity and roots become increasingly exposed.

Like any cavity, this form of decay attacks a tooth’s exposed root. Root cavities are typically not as painful as other cavities, and therefore, can go unnoticed until they are in an advanced stage. These roots become exposed over time as the gum line receeds. However, this condition is not caused by age. There could be several causes for receeding gums and exposed roots, such as:

• Years of heavy-handed toothbrushing scrapes away the gum tissue and exposes a tooth’s root.
• A life-time of ‘wear and tear’ from a misaligned bite.
• A ‘soft food’ diet that tends to be composed mostly of sugary, high-carbohydrate foods. Decay-causing bacteria feed on carbohydrates.
• Medication-induced xerostomia, or dry mouth. Saliva helps wash decay-causing bacteria off of teeth, and it helps replenish minerals that sugary foods dissolve from tooth enamel.
• Dexterity and other physical limitations that hamper the ability to brush and floss properly.

 If you have an elderly loved one in a care facility, inquire about the facility’s oral care program. If your elder lives alone, visit regularly and assist with oral care, if necessary. Regular check-ups are important whether the elder person lives at home or in a care facility. Schedule check-up appointments and provide transportation for your elder to keep that appointment.

What A Pain!

Migraine headaches can be utterly debilitating. There are so many sources of migraines that most people just skip straight to the treatment without considering the cause. One common but usually overlooked cause of migraines is the constant tension of a misaligned jaw known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).

Chronic and increasing strain on the large nerve clusters surrounding the jaw can cause a multitude of problems including headaches and migraines. This constant compression can make the nerves become painfully inflamed. This inflammation can manifest as migraine headaches.

TMD can be easily diagnosed and treated by your dentist using x-rays, jaw and muscle measurements and recording sound or electrically activity in your jaw muscles. After a diagnosis is made, there are multiple treatment options based on your individual needs. One of the most common treatments is use of an oral appliance designed to take the pressure off of the jaw called a Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition tension suppression system (NTI-tss) designed to take the pressure off of the jaw. Another option is Occlusal Equilbration which involves modifying the chewing surfaces by grinding.

TMD can also be the cause of chronic earaches, uneven wear on your teeth, neck pain and tinnitus.
So, if you’ve tried everything for your migraine headaches, come see us. We can check for TMD or other jaw misalignment issues that could be causing you more than proverbial pain.

Those Stuborn Stains

Staining may be wonderful for wood surfaces but can be troublesome for your pearly white teeth. Chromogenic agents are those often delicious foods and drinks that have a nasty habit of staining your teeth. The staining effect is caused by pigments from the foods becoming trapped in your enamel layer and building up with continued exposure. Pretty much any foods that would stain your tablecloth will stain your teeth.

Keeping your teeth clean and white is a daily process but you can make it easier by avoiding the top culprits of staining. One type of staining is a yellowing or browning process that is created by continuous exposure to foods and consumables like:

    •    Tea
    •    Coffee
    •    Cola
    •    Red Wine
    •    Tobacco Products

Unfortunately, even some healthy foods can be hard on your teeth. The other type of staining is a colouring from heavily pigmented foods such as:
    •    Blueberries
    •    Cherries
    •    Cranberries
    •    Blackberries
    •    Soy Sauce
    •    Beets
   
The degree of staining is based on the frequency and amount of exposure to staining agents. The occasional blueberry muffin won’t cause a lot of discolouration but a pack-a-day smoking habit will yellow your smile in short order.

Help to minimize your risks by rinsing your mouth with water after consuming a known staining agent. Using a straw can help by allowing the staining culprit to sneak past the teeth. If it’s too late for minimizing and time for removing stains, give us a call to discuss options.