Only one out of every 25 people get to keep all 32 teeth to chew our food; most of us end up with only 28, and a story to tell about our wisdom teeth!
Anthropologists and evolutionary biologists think the wisdom teeth have become non-functional due to evolution: we do not have the same diet of coarse, rough food that our ancestors did, who had larger active jaw muscles. Evolutionary history lead us to our smaller jaws which can no longer accommodate wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars, which usually start forming around age 10, and emerge in a young adult’s mouth between the age of 17-25, but often they are impacted or blocked by the second molars. Also, if the tooth is partially erupted, food can get trapped in the gum without access to clean. This leads to infection and decay. Wisdom teeth which come in tilted or remain tucked away can also lead to crowding or other problems. Completely impacted wisdom teeth can potentially develop into a cyst, forming a sac of tissue around the tooth leading to bone destruction.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted Wisdom Tooth
There are lucky big-jawed or small-toothed people who develop wisdom teeth that function properly, they do not need to see an oral surgeon for extraction, but most of us face the unavoidable trip to the oral surgeon to prevent or treat wisdom teeth complications.
Unfortunately, there are risk factors for removing your wisdom teeth as well. Besides common surgical complications (like swelling, pain and infection), paresthesia (numbness) of the lower jaw, lip, chin or tongue could be quite annoying. If the wisdom teeth are positioned very close to or are intertwined with nerves, the process of extraction can bruise or damage these nerves. Paresthesia is rare and usually temporary, but in some cases can be permanent. Dry socket, when blood of the socket of the extracted tooth fails to coagulate (or a blood clot becomes dislodged due to trauma like sneezing, or playing a musical instrument) can cause irritation, pain and inflammation, but generally heal within a few weeks on their own. To lower the risk factors of extraction, have your wisdom teeth removed at the appropriate time, when the root has formed two-thirds of the way (approximately age 18-24) for easier handling and fewer complications. Because bone density is less developed in teenage years than in later adulthood, it is less resistant, carrying fewer risks of extraction. With age, the jaw becomes dense and extraction becomes increasingly complicated.
So it is very important to have an examination and consultation with your dental professional regarding your specific situation. Clarify the elective removal of wisdom teeth, whether the potential risks associated with the procedure exceed the benefits, or whether it’s time to get them out – for a better environment for the rest of your teeth.
If you think mouthwash makes you more kissable, think again!
Don't use alcoholic mouthwash!
Over the counter mouthwash only temporarily masks your bad breath, but the alcohol contained in the mouthwash will dry your mouth out and eventually make your breath worse. Recent studies however have mentioned mouthwash and its potential link to cancer – scary!
Most mouthwash brands contain alcohol in their mouthwash formula. Rinsing your oral environment with any alcoholic substances make it easier for cancer-causing chemicals (like nicotine) to penetrate the oral tissue which lines the mouth, an extreme hazard for smokers. Some mouthwashes even contain alcohol amounts higher than drinks you can purchase in a bar, up to 26% (or 52 proof)! Particularly, ethanol contained in some mouthwash rinses dramatically increase the ability of cancer-causing substances to penetrate the lining of your mouth, and other harmful chemicals such as Acetaldehyde – which forms in a person’s mouth after using alcoholic mouthwash – are suspected to be carcinogenic. Some studies show an increased risk of oral cancer, particularly in the larynx, pharynx or oral cavity, of up to 5 times that of a non-alcoholic-mouthwash user, with alcohol and tobacco user risks even higher of up to 9 times, if alcoholic mouthwashes were used twice daily. Alcohol has long been established as a cancer risk; using alcoholic mouthwash, you have a much higher level of alcohol in your mouth, and combined with swishing it around in your mouth, it carries a very harmful effect on your mouth. More detailed research is necessary to substantiate these claims, but all alcoholic-mouthwash users should take caution.
Keep up your best oral hygiene with good habits: brush and floss twice a day and after every meal (2 minute count-down!), and clean your tongue once a day. Watch what you eat (no more Kimchi), and if you have postnasal drip or airway allergies (or a dry mouth), seek professional help. But what about mouthwash? Although it can benefit your oral cavity for a short period of time, not everyone should be rinsing with mouthwash that contains alcohol, particularly if you’re a smoker.
How do you choose a safe mouthwash? If you enjoy the refreshing sensation from swishing with mouthwash, read the label! There are non-alcoholic mouthwash products that work by neutralizing mouth odors (caused by volatile sulfur compounds) like Oxyfresh, Tom’s Maine Natural Cleaning Mouthwash, BreathRx and Tooth and Gum Tonic (my personal favorite), which is most effective at controlling bad breath. Tooth and Gum Tonic also carries an anti-inflammatory effect from the herbs and essential oil ingredients, which provide therapeutic sensations to gingivitis sufferers. And remember, if you can, quit unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking!
“Oh no! My tooth is bothering me, hopefully it will stop! I don’t want to see a dentist!”
You feel heat rising to your cheeks, your stomach tying into knots, a fear rising in your mind. Is this you? Dental anxiety is a very common phobia for many people. Not only can this fear be debilitating for a person’s mental well-being, but it can prevent people from receiving cleanings and other necessary dental services, compromising the person’s oral health!
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) describes dental phobia as a “marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable.” However, there are varying degrees of dental anxiety, from a slight hesitation to full-on fear and loathing. The most common causes of dental anxiety include bad experiences in the past with uncaring dentists, a history of physical abuse (either as a child or as an adult) or a fear of humiliation of the condition of a person’s teeth before visiting the dentist. This anxiety can affect not only a person’s preparedness to visit the dentist but daily life, sparked by even routine brushing and flossing, being reminded of an upcoming dental appointment (or fear to make a future appointment). It is equally important to understand that if you do suffer from dental anxiety, you are not alone! It is estimated that up to 75% of Americans experience some sort of dental fear or anxiety before visiting the dentist. This common anxiety is something that can be cured!
Finding the right dentist is key the key to the cure! Search for a dentist with a caring spirit who is in touch with and understands your fear, who is committed to using the latest pain-free technologies. When choosing a dentist, speak to friends and family in your area. Find out which dental offices can provide spa dentistry, a relaxing and soothing environment, and which dentists in your city are known for quality, pain-free treatment. There are also exercises a person can undertake themselves, on their own time, to help combat dental anxiety; behavioral treatments like breathing exercises, relaxation techniques and cognative thought-based techniques may help your anxiety greatly. By empowering yourself with the right dental practice to service your dental needs, you can stomp out dental anxiety.
You can also try baby steps to be completely comfortable with your dental professional: start off with a consultation and check-up visit, get a feel of the person, communicate and get to know the dental professional. Ask questions as well – lots of fears could come from unknown and uncontrollable situations. Equip yourself with knowledge and trust of your dental professional to relieve some anxiety.
Many patients look forward to coming into their dentist’s office to take care of their dental work, but some dental practices take into account the patient’s entire well-being. Yes, we are talking about providing a spa-like environment in the dental office.
The concept behind Spa Dentistry is to build a relaxing, cleansing and recharging dental environment in which a patient can feel safe and comfortable, leaving the office feeling recharged, not drained of energy. Providing a spa-like environment for a patient means not only catering to the mouth, but treating the whole person both physically and psychologically. Apart from attitude, how can this be achieved? Personal services and thoughtful touches to a patient’s treatment environment complimented by a caring, educated and well-trained staff. Services such as reflexology (zone therapy), aromatherapy, movie glasses and noise-canceling headphones (with a full iPod music library), food and drink menu service (including teas and smoothies) and concierge services work together to create a harmonious, energizing environment for the body and mind.
At my practice for example, our famous strawberry smoothies serve several purposes! The cool taste and smooth texture helps alleviate possible discomfort and soreness from work through which we have just put the oral cavity. Its delicious taste will neutralize any lingering taste of dental products used in the oral environment. Also, the immediate energizer (and mood elevator) in a smoothie is really great for those whose mouth has been numbed. When combined with a caring dentist with the right service attitude, little touches like this in spa dentistry combine to create a healthy, comfortable and enriching experience.
I am grateful to work with a wonderful team that has the same caring and “full of life” attitude that embodies this concept of spa dentistry. Relaxing smells, music and laughter make coming to work like going to the spa – even though we are the care takers! Love is in the air, which really makes all the difference.
While blogging a few days ago on my last entry regarding eating disorders (and hearing the news about “Mountain Dew Syndrome“) I was prompted to discuss how dietary influences affect teeth erosion, which is often overlooked until the detrimental damage has been done – and affects your life!
Yes, all soft drinks (including regular and diet soda, lemonade) and even pickles and salad dressing are acidic, which can potentially cause erosion of your teeth: it’s like the process of creating frosted glass from acid etching.
Approximately two thirds of our body is composed of water, which needs to be continuously replenished. Our body signals us to take in liquid, and it’s up to us to decide which liquid is best for our body. All carbonated soft drinks will lead to dental erosion, but sodas containing citric or phosphoric acid are highly corrosive to teeth. Once the protective enamel layer is eroded (from the acid in a person’s diet), your teeth will become porous. Plaque and staining will set in easily, and your teeth will become much more prone to cavities and sensitivity.
pH (potential of hydrogen) is the unit of measure for any liquid’s acidity. The lower the pH, the higher the acidity of said liquid, and the more damage it will cause to your teeth. Pure water has a pH value of 7. Your mouth averages between 6.2 and 7 pH, with corrosive damage taking place when liquids are consumed below a pH of 5.5 – the average soda carries a pH level of 2.47 – 3.6. Gastric acid and battery acid have a pH of 1.
The typical American drinks over 50 gallons of acidic cola each year – far more than healthier liquids like fruit juice. On average, sodas are up to 10 times more damaging than fruit juice to your teeth’s enamel, according to a study by the Academy of General Dentistry, however the content of common phosphoric and citric acids found in soft drinks are not the only factor that contributes to enamel decay. The sugar, additive and organic acid content of these liquids can all dissolve tooth structure. The leaching effect of phosphoric acid can also weaken your bone. The impact of excess caffeine in soda can potentially raise your blood pressure, and also form habits causing soda addiction. Once a person stops drinking soda after building an addiction, you will suffer symptoms like headache and depression (withdrawal). Children who drink soda regularly are at a substantially higher risk over children who drink milk or water, a much healthier alternative, not only for the teeth but for the well being of the body! Preteens and adolescents, who have underdeveloped tooth enamel, are at an especially high risk and should avoid cola drinks at all costs.
So please, avoid eroding your teeth whenever possible! Things you can do to help your body include substituting soft drinks with water, milk or fruit and veggie sticks, drinking soda with a straw, drinking soda with meals instead of by itself, using fluoride treatment, as well as brushing and flossing soon after eating and drinking. Save your favorite carbonated beverage as an occasional treat – you will save your teeth, your body and your peace of mind.
I looked at Jenny, as I have with many similar pretty young ladies, and really felt for her.
“Jenny, you will be fine – you are here to make sure you can have a healthy and beautiful smile. It is challenging, but work with me – together we can get your mouth back in shape.” And we did.
Jenny is not alone. Among the susceptible figure-conscious young female group, eating disorders are quite common, and teeth erosion is a side effect of the acidic oral environment resulting from either purging or a poor diet.
Eating disorders, including bulimia (binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting), anorexia and poor dieting habits carry side effects which are detrimental to your bodily and mental well being – they can also rot your teeth. Studies have shown that up to 2.1% of males and 7.3% of females purge (self-induced vomiting) at least once a week, and the numbers are even higher for adolescents.
Tooth surface loss from erosion caused by chemicals such as dietary, gastric or environmental acids typically wear away tooth enamel, which leads to sensitive teeth, caries or gum disease. If untreated, these effects can exacerbate leading to teeth grinding and gastric reflux disease. Soft tissue lesions, malnutrition, a suppressed immune system, low self-esteem, an addictive personality (smoking, drinking or drugs), peptic ulcers and esophagitis are common among people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia. Oral damage from such disorders can include a severe breakdown of the teeth or their supporting structures which can affect the facial muscular system, negatively affecting your daily quality of life; the effort to restore a damaged mouth can become extremely challenging and costly.
Treatment of the problem, besides education and being supportive to the person suffering from the disorder, involves precise dental management; controlling the oral environment, drinking water or healthier juice instead of diet soda, eating healthier (as opposed to binge eating and purging) are all part of the solution. Getting prescription strength fluoride from your dentist to harden and desensitize your teeth and maintaining your oral hygiene by brushing and flossing at least twice a day is also crucial. if you regurgitate or vomit, rinse your mouth out right away. Adding baking soda to your brushing can also neutralize the acidic environment.
Regarding dental treatment, additive compositebonding to cover exposed dentin or to replace lost tooth surface is a possibility. Getting a custom-fitted night guard to prevent further loss of tooth structure from bruxism and maybe veneers or crowns to restore your mouth to ideal health are other possibilities. Of course, a professional assessment would be the first step of the process. The earlier you start treating the problem the better. A healthy mouth is essential for a healthy life.
It is exciting when you are loosing your baby teeth and welcoming in your permanent adult teeth, but that should be the end of a person’s teeth loss! For the majority of us, we need 28 teeth to support our facialmuscular system. If one tooth is missing, it could lead to a physiological domino effect, in which a simple problem becomes exacerbated. A missing front tooth is unthinkable to live with – it must be restored ASAP. A missing back tooth, however, is sometimes ignored. This can lead to surrounding teeth shifting and tilting, during which the dentition can later cause gum, tooth and bite problems. At that point, restoring the mouth is not only a one-tooth job, but concerns multiple teeth, gum and bone. It is much easier to handle one missing tooth and not deal with such tremendous consequences.
What are the causes of missing teeth? Congenital missing teeth (teeth which never formed), severely broken down and non-restorable teeth due to dental diseases, lack of supporting bone for teeth due to advanced gum disease and physical trauma from a serious mouth injury are all common reasons. Once you do loose a tooth, your oral environment is severely affected! Besides smile-phobia, speech impairment for missing front teeth, diet complications (in which you can’t properly bite and chew food – especially with foods rich in fiber which require a good set of teeth to digest), and bite force can all be severely affected. Shift and tilt on existing teeth when the jaw exerts pressure lead to uneven loading creates jaw tension and possible accelerated wear and tear of the teeth. Additionally, tilted and shifted teeth make it more difficult to clean , which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Thankfully, dentistry has greatly advanced in recent times, and you do have multiple treatment options for a missing tooth! If just one tooth is missing, dental implants are a great option which can replace the missing tooth without affecting the adjacent teeth, and preserve the bone as well. Dental implants are made of bio-compatible titanium, which are surgically placed into the jaw to preplace the missing root structure. Then, a post and crown is built on top of the implant. Other options include a dental bridge, which needs capping (a crown) of neighboring teeth to help support the artificial tooth replacing the missing one. It is stationary and feels natural (if made properly), but connected teeth need a special tool for flossing. Full or partial dentures are generally the least expensive treatment option, especially if many or all of a person’s teeth are missing. This option involves false teeth being set into a plastic base, which fits over your gums.
What will be the best treatment option for you? Please consult with your dental professional, the sooner the better!
Do you suspect you have a cavity because you have a sensitive tooth? Do you stay away from ice cream, even though your teeth are not your waist line?
Tooth sensitivity is a common problem. It can be brought on from temperature change, applied pressure or touch; each sign and symptom tells a different story. There are two types of tooth sensitivity :
Dentinal sensitivity is quite common and is caused when the dentin, the layer of the tooth beneath the enamel, is exposed to your oral environment. As your teeth are used and abused, the outer enamel layer of the teeth becomes worn. Night grinding (bruxism), tooth decay, gum recession and damaged dental work (such as fillings) will all eventually cause the dentin to become exposed. Because of dentin’s porous nature, when the protective enamel layer of your tooth is compromised, any food or temperature stimulation will affect the nerve endings within the tooth’s core, causing varying levels of pain.
Pulpal sensitivity is an inflammatory reaction of the pulpal tissues, including blood vessels and nerves in the center of the tooth. The causes of this type of sensitivity include tooth decay or infection, recent dental work, night grinding or injured and broken teeth.
To have your dental professional assess your dental condition, you must have a proper diagnosis! Afterwards, your dentist will provide you with proper treatment options, which could include a proper oral hygiene program, cleaning the mouth after every meal using a soft tooth brush and appropriate toothpaste (containing fluoride or potassium), and brushing and flossing twice a day. Home fluoride rinse or gel can be used to desensitize and remineralize your teeth. A night guard can be custom fitted to your mouth to protect your oral structure (worn while you sleep). A proper diet (eliminating sweets and/or acidic foods and beverages) will help prevent sensitivity. Your dental professional can work with you to harmonize and balance your bite so all teeth receive proper loading force as well – a proper fit and selection of dental restorations will assure integrity of pulpal health.And there is possibility for root canal therapy or Gum treatments if the problems are more advanced.
It’s time to start taking care of yourself – get the proper treatment for your tooth sensitivity and be worry free!
Recently, two guys from completely different backgrounds came into my office asking for the same laser frenectomy, to alleviate their tongue ties, for completely different reasons!
Biker David complained about his tongue-tie condition, noting “it hurts when I kiss.” Yogi Mark wanted to be able to position his tongue to the back part of his palate to reach a certain state of enlightenment. Both men suffered from the restriction of the tongue-tie condition, but it affected their lives in different ways. A happy ending came as both were smart in finding the most comfortable and effective way to rid themselves of their tongue-tie problems.
Tongue ties can affect children and adults of all ages; it is estimated that up to 4.8% of the American population suffers from a tongue tie. What happens is the frenum (the excessive fibrous attachment connecting your tongue to the floor of your mouth) is thicker than it should be, resulting in your tongue’s inability to move about freely. Not only is this physically uncomfortable, but your speech, eating habits and even oral health can be adversely affected! Spacing between the two front teeth can occur due to improper tongue movement, and gum recession can also occur.
Treatment of a tongue tie is a relatively simple procedure, however great advances have been made from the days of scalpel cutting. A laser frenectomy, the most effective treatment for a tongue tie, is the surgical release of tension of the frenum with laser energy. This procedure will enhance the stability of a corrected diastema, gum recession or alleviate a tongue tie. Because the treatment is done with a laser, the laser energy produces a precise, blood-free cut (the energy actually seals the blood vessels and nerve endings), so the procedure is painless, heals quickly and is complication free. Most people will immediately enjoy the benefit of normal free tongue movement; people who suffer from a speech impairment due to the tongue-tie may need training to speak properly.
You can contact the Academy of Laser Dentistry to find a qualified laser dentist to help you if you have a tongue-tie. My two patients were smart in finding a comfortable and effective way to ridthemselves of their tongue-tie problems.
There’s no doubt about it – women are sweeter than men! Unfortunately, this tooth truth means women do indeed get more cavities than men. Now hear me out!
John Lukacs, an anthropologist at the University of Oregon recently uncovered both modern and prehistoric dental records which have revealed women have more dental health issues than men. Both sexes experienced a boost in cavities because of dietary changes associated with society becoming more agricultural.
The explanations include hormonal changes in women. The female sex hormone estrogen, which is produced in great doses during pregnancy and puberty promotes dietary changes, and may reduce secretion of saliva, which cleans your teeth. Female roles in the kitchen also increase opportunities of sampling food, leading to the possibility of an oral environment harvest bacteria. During pregnancy, not only does the body increase blood circulation to accommodate certain changes, but dilation of the blood vessels makes the body more vulnerable to bacterial invasion, including the gum and bone support your teeth. Cravings and constant nibbling also promotes an acidic oral environment, leading to tooth erosion and the further harvesting of bacterial growth (which breaks down your tooth structure).
The important message here is to be aware of timely cleaning of your mouth after meals and all nibblings to prevent cavities (it is best to clean your teeth within five minutes after food consumption).
Read the First Comment 
