YES….acid reflux is extremely harmful to tooth enamel. Acid reflux, GERD, and heartburn causes stomach acid to flow up from the esophagus into the mouth. Once the acid enters the mouth it mixes with saliva and creates an “acid bath” on the teeth. Although enamel is very strong, it cannot withstand the constant acid attack thus the breakdown of enamel occurs. GERD commonly causes dry mouth which causes an added risk of tooth decay because the acid does not rinse off of the tooth surface efficiently. One’s diet also affects acid rising in the stomach. A diet with excessive wine, spicy foods, and coffee can cause high levels of acid in the stomach which in turn causes high acid levels in the mouth. Acid reflux and GERD are often undetected by physicians because in many cases no symptoms occur. Our Riverside Dental Wellness Office often discovers undiagnosed cases of acid reflux and GERD with our clinical examination and Carifree acid level test. Depending on the level of acid in your saliva we may recommend that you visit your primary care physician for an evaluation. If it is determined that you have acid reflux or GERD your physician will place you on a medication to decrease the level of acid in the stomach. Using acid reducer medication along with acid neutralizing mouth rinse and toothpaste will help to protect your enamel. If you suspect that you may have tooth erosion or cavities from acid reflux or GERD please contact our Riverside Dental Wellness office at (951)686-3666.
There are many types of headaches that individuals suffer from on a daily basis. I myself have experienced that “head in a vice” feeling on multiple occasions. Also, waking up to later experience a tension headache is never a good way to start the day. Here at my Riverside Dental Wellness office, treating headaches is of top priority to our dental team. Headaches that appear on a daily basis are in many cases related to a “bite” issue or a “clenching/grinding” issue. This is where my expertise comes in to play as I examine your jaw alignment, teeth alignment, and determine if there is excessive wear on your teeth. If your condition is diagnosed as clenching or grinding then an appliance to wear at night while you sleep is recommended. If your condition is diagnosed to be a bite or jaw discrepancy, I will refer you to an Orthodontist for further evaluation. In many cases, adult orthodontics will fix these discrepancies. When a properly aligned bite or jaw is in place, headaches subside and your bite will be protected from excessive tooth wear. However, if wearing braces is not what you envision for the health of your mouth, don’t worry there are other methods I can use to treat your bite or jaw discrepancy. If you suffer from headaches, cluster headaches, and/or migraines please contact my Riverside Dental Wellness Office at (951)686-3666,
Tips on Preventing Headaches:
- Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water especially when it is hot and dry.
- Avoid caffeine. What caused caffeine headaches is a lack of caffeine in your body. Once you have broken your body’s need for caffeine, you will be able to determine if the caffeine is the cause of your headaches.
- Avoid eyestrain. Have your eyes checked by your eye doctor to determine if changing your prescription or adding glasses to your daily routine eliminates your headaches.
- Migraine headaches can be triggered by food. Common triggers are chocolate, wine, cheese, and nuts.
If these changes in your diet and lifestyle do not help your headache, please contact my Riverside Dental Wellness Office.
As parents, we strive to make the best decisions possible when it comes to our child’s health. Which is why in this blog I am going to give simple tips for parents on how to protect their infant’s oral health.
Infant Care:
Prior to the eruption of baby teeth, it is important to wipe off the gum tissue with either cotton gauze or a soft cotton towel. Beginning this routine of cleansing the mouth will allow the baby to get used to future mouth cleansing routines.
Infant’s teeth typically erupt around 6 months of age. Depending on the child, some erupt teeth soon after birth and some are toothless until 18 months of age. The earlier teeth are erupted the more prone they are to decay. As soon as teeth begin erupting through the gums, brushing should begin. Either a brush finger cover or baby (extra soft) toothbrush should be used to gently brush the teeth and massage the gums. It is not necessary to use toothpaste, brushing with a wet toothbrush will suffice.
Protecting your child from ECC (early childhood caries):
Dental caries/decay is a disease of the tooth caused by acid, bacteria, and sugar. Early childhood caries can occur in children under 6 years of age. The most common cause of ECC is the use of a baby bottle with breast milk, formula, milk, and/or juices during napping or bedtime.
It is ideal to wean your child from nursing, bottle, or drinking from a sippy cup prior to bedtime. Many parents find this task difficult; therefore replacing the drink with water if possible will help in decreasing the amount of acid produced in the saliva overnight. Our Riverside Dental Wellness office does not recommend systemic fluoride for infants.
Eliminating thumb sucking and Pacifiers:
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do in regards to thumb sucking until 3 years of age. However, the pacifier, which is a great tool for parents when soothing their child, can be taken away. We recommend taking away the pacifier away unless for sleep and distress at the age of 12 to 18 months.
Frequency of Dental Visits:
Your child’s first visit to our Riverside Dental Wellness office should be ar (more…)
Root canal procedures require at least one or more visits to either our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office or a referred Endodontist. The first step to the procedure is taking an X-ray of the tooth in question. The x-ray is critical in diagnosing the trauma to the root and surrounding bone of the root and tooth.
Root Canal treatment:
Once the tooth is diagnosed as needing a root canal, anesthesia is placed for comfort and ease. The tooth is kept isolated from saliva by using a rubber dam to ensure a dry working environment. An access hole is drilled through the tooth to remove the bacteria and debris from the infected pulp. The root canal(s) is cleaned with root canal files ranging in diameter which “scrub” the canal clean. Sodium Hypochlorite and distilled water are used to “flush” any remaining debris and bacteria prior to closing the access hole. Depending upon the condition of the tooth, a medication may be placed in the tooth for one week prior to permanently sealing the tooth. Thus, another visit is needed to complete the root canal. Once the tooth is sealed and healed it is ready for either a filing or a crown. Teeth saved with root canal procedures have an excellent success rate.
Will you feel pain?
With modern technology and pain medicaments, little pain/discomfort is noted. Pain medicaments will be prescribed to ensure your comfort. However, when a “hot tooth” is involved it typically can be more difficult to numb and treat due to severe infection. Also, the tooth that has been worked on may be tender while eating or resting in the days and weeks following the root canal procedure. If there is persistent pain past a few days, contact our office or the office of the Endodontist to whom we referred you to for further evaluation.
Is there and alternative treatment to root canals?
The alternative treatment to a root canal procedure is an extraction. Removing the infected tooth is typically the last resort when it comes to dental therapies. Our dental team believes in retaining teeth for as long as possible. At times, the best option for a patient is extracting their tooth to alleviate the pain and rid the body of infection. Please contact our Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office if you think you may need a root canal and/or you would like more information 951-686-3666.
What is a root canal?
A root canal is a dental treatment used to save a badly injured, infected or decayed tooth. During a root canal procedure the nerve and pulp chamber are removed. The pulp of the tooth is the “meaty” part of the tooth where the nutrients and blood supply are located. The nerve of the tooth lies in the middle of the pulp chamber, which on x-rays look like the “legs” of the tooth. The purpose of the pulp of the tooth is sensory and has nothing to do with tooth function. Once the pulp is cleaned it is sealed and no longer has vitality.
Why does the tooth pulp need to be removed?
When the pulp of the tooth is damaged it begins to break down and bacteria begin to form. If left for too long the bacteria can cause an abscess which can lead to a more severe infection destroying the bone surrounding the tooth resulting in tooth loss. Swelling of the face can also occur if the abscess is large.
What can cause a trauma to the root?
- deep/large decay
- repeated dental procedures on same tooth
- crack/chip in tooth or filling
- trauma to the face
What are the signs that a root canal may be needed?
- Severe tooth pain that is persistent with pressure
- Prolonged sensitivity to hot/cold
- darkening of a tooth
- Swelling/tenderness adjacent to the tooth in question
- Pimple on the gums near the infected area
Depending upon the condition of the tooth in question the root canal procedure will either be done at my Riverside Cosmetic and Dental Wellness office or referred out to an Endodontist (root canal specialist) whom I trust. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms please contact us at (951) 686-3666. Also, please visit the blog for part 2 of my series on root canals where I discuss what you the patient may experience during a root canal procedure.