Tooth decay is the most common cause of lost teeth. It is also the common reason for people to visit the dentist. When tooth decay becomes severe, it can lead to extreme discomfort, sending even those who have avoided the dentist for years to pursue treatment.
With conscientious oral hygiene, however, this kind of emergency dental visit can be avoided completely. To keep your teeth healthy and to prevent decay, observe the following guidelines.
Daily brushing and flossing. As a general rule, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing at least daily is even better. Regular brushing helps remove food particles from the surface of the teeth, and flossing removes particles from between the teeth. Without these particles to feed on, decay-producing bacteria are not as likely to build up on the teeth. These bacteria become plaque, which can then harden into tartar—both substances with high acidic content that cling to the teeth and cause decay.
The types of food you eat can also contribute to tooth decay. To help prevent extensive decay, avoid sugary foods, sugary drinks, and foods that stick to the teeth. These types of food provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Highly acidic foods can also increase the possibility of tooth decay by eroding the enamel that naturally protects the teeth.
In addition to at-home dental care, you should be sure to see your dentist regularly. To be sure your teeth remain strong and healthy for many years to come, please make a regular check-up appointment with a dentist in Fort Worth.
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Everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth. Sugar-free candies and treats, then, should be easier on the teeth, helping reduce decay and other problems. However, recent studies indicate that sugar-free offerings may be just as damaging to the teeth, if not even more so.
Causes of Decay
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria on the teeth feed on substances such as sugar or other food particles. The acidic by products of this process erode the enamel and other portions of the hard tissues of the teeth, creating cavities. The process also causes the build up of plaque and tartar, which can contribute to gum disease and gingivitis.
How Sugar-Free Foods Contribute to Tooth Decay
Although sugar-free foods do not supply sugar for bacteria to feed on, they often contain higher levels of acid than their traditional, full sugar counterparts. This higher level of acid can erode the enamel, leading to increased sensitivity. Acid also removes vital minerals from the enamel. Under normal conditions, saliva helps replace these minerals, but higher levels of acid tilt the balance the other way. With weaker enamel, teeth are more vulnerable to other causes of decay, and may even eventually have to be covered with crowns or veneers due to enamel loss.
Your dentist can help you determine if you or your children are consuming too many sugar-free treats. At your next visit to the dental office, be sure to ask about the possibility that sugar-free foods are eroding your natural tooth enamel.
For answers to additional questions about tooth decay, gum disease, and the effects of sugar-free foods, please contact a dentist in Fort Worth to make an appointment.
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Temporomandibular jaw disorders, often referred to as TMJ, result in significant jaw pain and can also lead to headaches and neck pain. TMJ also is frequently characterized by clicking or popping noises in the jaw. The condition can affect a patient’s ability to speak, chew and swallow, and in severe cases, even the ability to breathe. According to the TMJ Association, some 35 million Americans suffer from TMJ.
The jaw is a complex structure that is comprised of a number of ligaments and muscles, along with bones and the two termporomandibular joints, which are located in the lower jaw bone, or mandible. Because the jaw is so complex, a problem with any of its components can lead to a TMJ disorder.
TMJ can occur for a variety of reasons. Some sort of injury to the jaw may cause its onset, or TMJ may be the result of arthritis. Malocclusions, or misalignments of the bite, can be responsible for TMJ, as can stress and grinding of the teeth.
Fortunately, TMJ patients need not suffer in endless pain. The condition often responds to a number of treatments that require nothing more than a visit to the dental office. If you are experiencing pain in the jaw or other areas of the face, your dentist will take x-rays and conduct a physical examination of the jaw. The findings of these exams will give your dentist guidance on how to treat the condition.
Depending on the source of the TMJ, your dentist may recommend any of the following strategies to alleviate your pain:
- Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications or over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen.
- Dietary changes, such as introducing more soft foods that reduce the need for chewing
- Relaxation techniques to reduce stress in the jaw muscles
- A custom-made bite plate or splint to eliminate grinding of the teeth.
- Orthodontic treatment to correct a malocclusion
If you are experiencing jaw pain, schedule an appointment with your Fort Worth DDS as soon as possible. Treatment can improve your quality of life significantly.
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