What To Do With Sensitive Teeth

When you have sensitive teeth, simple tasks like eating, drinking, or brushing can cause pain to your teeth. Usually this is because the tooth enamel has been worn down by exposed teeth roots or by a cavity, chip or crack in the tooth. If you are experiencing sensitivity to your teeth, a visit to Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. may be in order. Upon your visit, the doctor and his trained staff may recommend some of the following options as treatment to alleviate your sensitivity symptoms.

Most tooth sensitivity is because you have exposed part of the dentin, which is the tooth area that conceals the nerve. This could be from gums receding or wear on your teeth. When the temperature changes or you eat very acidic or sweet food, this can cause pain in the mouth. Though the pain usually does not last a long time, it can be sharp and intense. Dentin actually is made up a series of pores that go from the tooth’s outside to the nerve at its center. These pores or ducts are easily stimulated by temperature or food types when the dentin is left exposed.

In order to help treat sensitive teeth, it is always best to make sure you are paying close attention to your oral health. That means brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, flossing daily, and using toothpaste with fluoride in it. Your dentist may ask you if you are using very coarse toothpaste or brushing too vigorously, both of which can lead to sensitive teeth. Another reason for the wearing down of the dentin can be bruxism, or tooth grinding, which a dentist like Dr. Alina Bergan can help fix with options such as mouth guards.

Watch What You Are Eating and Drinking

Other things to look out for include watching what you eat and drink. Certain foods like soft drinks, citrus, yogurt, or wine can eat away at tooth enamel. Avoiding large quantities of these foods and drinks can decrease the chances of teeth sensitivity. Also, remembering to rinse your mouth out with water after indulging in those items will help wash away those harmful acids.

Treatment Options

Depending on what is causing your sensitivity, Dr, Alina Bergan D.D.S has many treatment options. If it is periodontitis, or gum disease, that is the trigger, then a deep cleaning by the hygienists and dentist can help. If the dentist sees that your dentin is exposed though, he could apply a fluoridated varnish to help reinforce the dentin and the enamel of the teeth. Fluoride can also be applied directly to the teeth through a gel or foam, which sits on a tray in your mouth for a few minutes and helps to beef up those affected areas. Tooth bonding materials, usually used to restore the look of teeth cosmetically, can also be used to seal the top of the dentin and create a block to the nerves that cause it to be sensitive. If the sensitivity is very bad, a root canal or other dental care may be necessary. For home treatments, your dentist may recommend that you use very softly bristled toothbrush, highly fluoridated toothpaste, and may even suggest desensitizing toothpaste, which can help block the pain while your dentin heals.

If you think you may be experiencing any tooth sensitivity, please call us today at (800) 223-0801 and schedule an appointment.

Top 3 Signs of a Cavity

  We all hate hearing that dreaded word…CAVITY! These tiny holes in our teeth, although very common, can turn into much bigger issues if left untreated, leading to severe pain, infection or even the loss of the tooth. Don’t worry, there’s good news! Cavities can be easily treated if detected early. Here are a few common symptoms of potential tooth decay to watch for:

·       
The “Ouch” Factor – It’s common for all of us to get a small toothache here and there. But, if you are experiencing consistent pain in one spot this could be a sign the tooth is beginning to decay.

·       
Too Hot, Not Too Cold – Watch out for extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods. You should be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or a bowl of ice cream without pain.

·        The Dark Hole – Although it’s often very difficult to detect the actual cavity, sometimes you are able to see the formation of a hole or pit in your tooth. Be sure to schedule a dental appointment immediately if the cavity
becomes visible.

 However, don’t rely on self-detection alone. Often cavities are too small for us to see or feel. The best prevention method is to visit your dentist regularly and keep up with daily teeth cleanings at home. Please call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. today at (800) 223-0801 to schedule a checkup. 

Understanding the Causes of Enamel Erosion

Say hello to enamel, the thin outer covering of your teeth. This tough as nails shell ranks as the hardest tissue in the human body, and provides your teeth the strength and resiliency needed to munch, crunch and chew day after day. Enamel coats the crown of a tooth, the area that’s visible outside of the gums.

Enamel is translucent; you can see light through it. But the main part of the tooth, referred to as dentin, is the part most responsible for your tooth color – be it white, off white, yellowish or grey.

Occasionally beverages like fruit juice, red wine, soda, tea and coffee can stain the color of enamel, making your teeth appear less bright. Fortunately, scheduling regular visits with our doctors at Mountainside Family Dentistry for checkups and cleanings can help remove most surface stains and make sure you teeth and gums stay healthy and strong.

Enamel’s Role

Enamel works to protect your teeth from the daily stresses they experience from grinding, crunching, biting and chewing. While enamel is remarkably strong and resilient, it can crack and chip when weakened or stressed. Enamel also helps to insulate teeth from potentially uncomfortable hot and cold temperatures and irritating chemicals.

Unlike a broken bone that the body can repair, once a tooth becomes chipped or broken, the damage becomes permanent. The body cannot repair damaged enamel because it has no living cells. This makes protecting the health of your teeth’s enamel vitally important to maintaining strong oral health.

Causes of Enamel Erosion

Tooth erosion occurs when acids erode away tooth enamel. Enamel erosion can occur as the result of the following conditions:

·         Drinking soda – which contains high levels of citric and phosphoric acid – on a daily basis

·         Drinking fruit drinks – which are also highly acidic – on a daily basis

·         Low saliva flow or dry mouth

·         Diet high in starches and sugar

·         Acid reflux disease

·         Gastrointestinal problems

·         Medications that cause dry mouth as a side effect

·         Genetics

·         Stress

If you regularly engage in any of these habits or suffer from any of these medical conditions, you may have a higher risk of suffering from enamel erosion.

Environmental Causes of Surface Erosion

Wear and tear, friction, corrosion and stress – or a combination of these effects – can cause erosion to occur to the surface of a tooth. Clinically, these effects can be described as the following conditions:

·         Attrition: A naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth friction that happens when you grind or clench your teeth, attrition generally occurs involuntarily while asleep.

·         Abrasion: A physical wear and tear of the surface of a tooth that occurs as a result of aggressive brushing, incorrect flossing, biting down on hard objects – such as pens, bottle caps or fingernails –, or the use of chewing tobacco.

·         Abfraction: A condition that occurs as a result of stress fractures in the tooth as cracks from bending or flexing of the tooth.

·         Corrosion: A condition that occurs chemically when acidic materials interacts with the surface of a tooth such as with medications like vitamin C tablets or aspirin, foods high in acidity, acid reflux disease and frequent vomiting from alcoholism or bulimia.

Preventing Enamel Loss

To prevent enamel loss and keep your teeth healthy and strong, it’s important that you take the time to properly brush and floss daily. It’s also important that you schedule regular appointments with Alina Bergan D.D.S. to undergo routine checkups and cleanings. You can also cut back on the number of sugary or highly acidic foods and drinks you consume as part of your diet, and make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

By making these small changes to your daily routine and diet, you can greatly reduce your risk of enamel erosion so you continue to smile brightly for years to come. Please call our office today with any questions at (800) 223-0801.

The Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth

Our goal at the office of Alina Bergan D.D.S., is to restore normal function, comfort, aesthetics, speech and health to our individuals who are missing teeth.  As our population is aging and growing, an increasing number of people are being affected by the loss of teeth.

Tooth Loss can affect:

·         The way you feel psychologically.

·         Function.

·         Health.

·         Facial aesthetics.

It is not so much about teeth as it is bone.  Bone surrounding and supporting your teeth require the necessary stimulation that comes from your teeth.  The small stresses transmitted through prompts the bone to remodel and rebuild continually.  When a tooth is lost, due to the lack of stimulation causes bone loss.  As bone loses width, it loses height, and gum tissues also gradually decrease.  Ability to chew and speak can be impaired.  This is what leads to serious aesthetic and functional problems.  Toothless people appear unhappy when their mouths are at rest because their lips, too, have sagged; unsupported by teeth and gum tissues they just caved in. To prevent bone loss as you age, a solution is available that has high patient satisfaction, dental implants.

A dental implant is a tooth root replacement to which a crown is attached.  Dental implants are compatible with your jawbone and looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth.  There is no risk of decay and improved aesthetics and physiological advantages.

To see if dental implants are right for you, call our office at (800) 223-0801 to schedule a consultation.