Dental Care From (Before) Day 1
Pregnancy and its related hormonal changes exaggerate the effects from plaque irritants. And the acids in plaque can lead to tooth decay, gingivitis, and if neglected, eventual tooth loss. A healthy diet, daily tooth brushing and flossing, and a continued- even increased- schedule of regular dental hygiene visits are especially important for pregnant women. Please advise your dentist if you are expecting, before your dental appointment commences.
Once baby arrives, you will need advice on dental care for his or her gums and primary teeth.
Believe it or not, research reveals that cavities are contagious, especially for babies and younger children! Children can develop tooth decay from being exposed to certain bacteria passed on from their parents. The transmission can come from sharing utensils, or any other activity that might transmit even a minute particle of saliva transferred from one mouth to another. By keeping their own teeth clean, healthy and free of decay, parents can help reduce their children’s exposure to decay- causing bacteria, and therefore reduce the chances of cavities in their children’s early years.
Are You Under A Lot Of Stress? You May Have TMJ Problems.
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is referred to as the ‘jaw joint.’ You use this joint to talk, chew and yawn. But stress can cause problems with this joint. Clenching or grinding your teeth can lead to pain or stiffness in the joint. You may also experience some clicking, popping, or grating noises when opening or closing your mouth. This may lead to problems with chewing, and even to tension headaches and migraines. People with TMJ problems also put a great deal of stress on the teeth, causing cracks on the teeth, fractured teeth and dental work, and very worn down teeth. Sensitivity often results, and the teeth will be much more susecptible to the need for root canal therapy.
If any of this sounds familiar, please see Dr. Lembree for a TMJ evaluation. If you indeed have TMJ, you may need a custom- fit ‘bite splint’ that goes over your lower teeth and is worn at night. It is quite comfortable, and relieves symptoms quickly. Other ways of dealing with TMJ include a bite analysis/ adjustment, eating softer foods and ceasing gum-chewing, anti-inflammatory pain medicines, moist heat on the jaw joint area, relaxation techniques, and in a small percent of cases, surgery in the jaw joint.
As I said before, stress is a large contributor to TMJ problems, but if you have had braces in the past, a history of arthritis, crowded teeth, your wisdom teeth extracted, or trauma to the head area, you may be more susceptible than usual.
Cavity Prevention
I thought a good way to start my new blog would be to go over some guidelines for cavity prevention.
- Reduce the FREQUENCY of sweets. It’s not the quantity of sweets, but the amount of time the sugar is on your teeth.
- Brush and floss thoroughly, 1-2 times a day.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Rinse with a fluoride rinse for 60 seconds 1-2 times a day (not for children under 6.) One of these rinses should be immediately before sleep. Do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after rinsing. A couple good rinses are: ACT (best for kids), and Listerine with fluoride (the purple one).
- Chew sugar-free gum, one with Xylitol is best.
- See your dentist to have any existing cavities removed. Cavities are an infection, and as long as the cavity causing bacteria is in your mouth, you will continue to get more of them.
- Replace any old, leaky, defective fillings and crowns, and fix any ‘food traps’ between the teeth.