Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

Author page: dental blogger

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

The feeling of a cold heavy vest on your chest or a panoramic X-ray device scanning your mouth for examination makes you wonder how safe it is. When going through the test you are even told to hold completely still. It doesn’t help that the person administrating the test wears protective goggles and stands behind a door. While X-rays provide useful information that isn’t always visible, are you putting your health at risk by being subjected to the X-ray? What radiation safety requirements are in place for these scans? Are there special certifications that the dentist or dental assistant has to go through? These are legitimate questions; let’s explore the facts.

Most Common Dental Allergies

Most people can go to their family dentist, have procedures performed, and not experience allergic reactions. There are, however, a small percentage of folks throughout the country who are allergic to one or more dental procedures, mostly due to the types of substances that may be used in those procedures. Novocain, titanium, and other substances can cause dental allergies in some patients. That’s why it’s important to learn a little about some of these dental allergies. As with just about anything in this world, educating yourself about common dental allergies can help you to learn about them in order to be mindful of their signs and symptoms. Following is information from top dentists about some of the most common dental allergies and what to watch out for concerning their symptoms.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Why are they called ‘wisdom teeth’? Do they make you wise? Or are you already expected to be wise when they come in? There isn’t a whole lot of recorded history about why wisdom teeth, or as they were once referred to, ‘teeth of wisdom,’ are so called. But linguists seem to agree that they were nicknamed for wisdom because they appear in the mouth later in life than other teeth, typically between the ages of 17 and 21. Formerly known as third molars, wisdom teeth are the last four teeth to erupt in the mouth. Oftentimes they come in unnoticed. However, when there’s just not enough room to fit them in the mouth, or when they become impacted, wisdom teeth seem anything but wise. In fact, if you’re someone who’s suffered with an impacted or crowding wisdom tooth, you likely thought how stupid it was for that thing to try to muscle its way into your already cramped chops. So what are wisdom teeth anyway? What purpose do they serve? And what happens if you’re having problems with them? Here’s some information about wisdom teeth and what can be done with wisdom teeth that that are not coming in correctly. For more information about wisdom teeth contact a top dentist today, and they will be happy to answer all of your questions about dental health.

Common Questions about Baby Teeth

Babies sure are hard! If you’re a new parent, you probably have more questions than you have answers. And with every answer you find, it seems another 10 questions are right behind it! You’ve got questions about what the crying means, about 2 a.m. feedings, about cloth diapers versus store-bought … the list is endless. And near the top of the list is likely to be questions about your baby’s blossoming teeth. How do you clean your baby’s mouth? When do you start brushing? What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should you use? What do you do about pain when you’re baby’s teething? Following are common questions about baby teeth that new parents have and answers from dentists that will help your baby’s teething experience go a little more smoothly.

Types of Toothbrushes

If you’ve stood in the toothpaste aisle recently searching for a new toothbrush, you know that there are so many styles, brands, and bristle densities that it’s tough to choose just one. In fact, you may have even thrown up your hands in surrender and grabbed one just to get out of that dang toothpaste aisle! So just how many different kinds of toothbrushes are there? If you’re the person looking to purchase a new one, it may seem like there are thousands, but the truth is that there are just a few different types of toothbrushes from which all styles on the market have emerged. Following is information from family dentists about the various types of toothbrushes available and how to choose the one that’s best for you.

What Is a Root Canal?

You’ve heard it likened to just about any painful process that life has to offer. How many of us have uttered these words when faced with a difficult situation, “I’d rather have a root canal!” So just how painful is a root canal? Statistics show that most folks don’t experience much pain at all. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists recently conducted a survey, in which it was learned that root canals generally are only feared by those who haven’t had them. The survey showed that folks who had a root canal performed were actually 3 times more likely to say they didn’t fear another root canal over those who’d never had it done. What’s to be gleaned from this survey? That root canals aren’t nearly as bad as you think. Following is information from a good dentists about what a root canal is and what to expect during the procedure, as well as a checklist of actions you can take following your root canal to recover and speed up healing.

What Is Tooth Erosion?

Teeth have four layers. The first layer  is the enamel. The second layer is the dentin, or the inner layer. The third layer is the pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves. The fourth layer of teeth is the cementum, which is a calcified substance that covers the tooth root. The layer that is most affected by tooth erosion is the first layer, the enamel. When teeth erode, loss of enamel occurs that is irreversible. Tooth enamel is a pretty hard substance. In fact, it’s the hardest tissue in the human body. It’s mineralized hard tissue that covers the tooth and protects it. However, tooth enamel can become chemically dissolved by too much acid. Following is information from top dentists about tooth erosion, as well as recommendations on how to prevent its occurrence.

Diabetes and Dental Health

As with the sufferers of many health conditions, individuals who have diabetes must contend with numerous potential complications. If you’re a diabetic, you already know that you need to keep your blood glucose at the proper level in order to keep your diabetes under control and avoid complications that can be associated with your condition. What you may not realize, however, is that one of those complications can be dental health problems. In recent years, research has shown that poorly controlled diabetes can be linked to a greater risk of developing serious oral health problems such as gum disease and lost teeth. Diabetics are now shown to be more likely to develop these dental health problems than are non-diabetics. By the same token, dental health conditions such as gum disease are also associated with developing diabetes. Top dentists want both diabetics and non-diabetics to learn more about the link between oral health and diabetes.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Your teeth have four layers. The first is the outer layer, which is the enamel. The second is the inner layer, which is the dentin. The third layer is the pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels. And the fourth layer is the cementum, which is a calcified substance that covers the root of the tooth. When these layers are compromised, tooth sensitivity can occur. Many people throughout the country suffer from tooth sensitivity that causes pain, particularly when they eat cold or hot foods, or even when they breathe in cold air. Tooth sensitivity occurs when gums recede, enamel is worn, or when cementum is lost. In these instances, roots and nerves are exposed, and this causes sensitivity and pain. Here is information from top dentists regarding tooth sensitivity, as well as tips on how to prevent it.

What Is An Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth may not sound like such a big deal, but the fact is that an abscess is an infection that, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. An abscessed tooth is an infection that occurs in the pulp, which is the soft tissue found in the center where the blood vessels and nerves are in a tooth. Abscessed teeth can cause pus to form in surrounding tissue. Tooth abscesses are often caused by cavities or other tooth decay or chips, especially if they’re are not cared for properly. It’s vital that anyone who has a tooth abscess seek medical attention right away, as dental abscesses can lead to death if they go untreated. Following is information from top dentists about the symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention of an abscessed tooth.