Teeth Grinding Does More than Make Noise!

Bruxism is, simply put, teeth grinding.  It’s a condition where people habitually clench and grind their teeth without noticing.  In some cases it can occur while sleeping and is given the aptly named diagnosis of ‘sleep bruxism.’  Depending on how severe the bruxism is can determine the level of treatment required, but it is important to be aware of the symptoms to know if this condition affects you!

• It’s not pretty - Bruxism causes dental erosion that affects the look of teeth and flattens them.  And, because teeth are grinding and gnawing, it may also loosen past dental work.  
• No rest for the weary - Sleep Bruxism can cause pain in the head and neck because jaw muscles are not enjoying the rest and relaxation that should be associated with sleep.
• Ouch! - The grinding of your teeth wears them down and causes loss of the enamel.  With that protective layering gone teeth are now painfully subjected to the elements.
• The gums aren’t happy either - After enamel loss causes tooth sensitivity the gums raise the white flag.  A receding gum line often follows enamel loss.  
• Even the cheeks aren’t safe - While your teeth are grinding they may pinch the inside of your cheek and tear at it.  This small wound can lead to ulcers commonly known as canker sores.

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms please see a dentist for a plan to combat the effects of this condition.  Your dentist may decide your case is light and requires no immediate action but will monitor the progress over your next checkups.  This level of severity is known as ‘mild bruxism.’

If they decide this is a cause for concern be prepared to answer a few questions.  The underlying cause of bruxism widely varies and in order to properly treat your case the dentist needs to know whether you smoke, regularly drink alcohol, or are taking any medication.  Each of those may be the cause of your plight, but the list of factors does not stop there.  Stress and anxiety could be a major component to nighttime clenching and grinding.

Once the cause has been identified, your dental professional can develop the best treatment option for you.  It may be as simple as cutting back on coffee or cigarettes, or the dentist teaching you how to bite properly without stressing your jaw.  In some cases a night splint may solve the problem by spacing the upper and lower teeth and allowing you the rest you deserve!

Do not attempt to self treat this problem if you think you may have it.  Dentists are trained to treat this condition and can bring you the relief you deserve. Call Dr. Samuel T. Bander for more information or to schedule an appointment to identify and treat Bruxism or any other dental concern.

Toothache Problems 101

Your teeth may not seem very memorable on the surface. Sure, we think about them twice a day when we brush, once when we floss, and when we smile for photo ops.  It’s important to remember that our teeth are with us through all of the good times, but, if not shown the care and attention they deserve, they can be the cause of the bad.  If it gets to that point, teeth will ensure that they won’t be forgotten again with an undeniable toothache.

If you want to know how best to handle this painful situation, you need to focus on it.  As uncomfortable as it may be to analyze your pain, it is necessary.  The type of pain and discomfort can tell you what the issue is and how best to treat it.  Here’s what you should note:

• Is it a sharp pain?  Sharp pains generally occur when biting and are instantaneous.  The pain subsides when the bite is released.

• Where is the pain?  Is it isolated to one tooth or are several teeth affected?

• Is it triggered?  Is the pain coming from something hot (like coffee or tea), something cold such as ice cream, or perhaps a sweet candy when it contacts the tooth?

If you experience sharp pain when biting, you should schedule to see your dentist IMMEDIATELY.  That is a warning of a very serious problem.  This could be caused by loose dental work, a cavity, or even a cracked tooth.  Or maybe even a more serious problem - an infected root!

The whole tooth is made up of parts:  The part you see called the crown, the part that lies under the gum line acting as an anchor called the root, and the part with nerves and blood vessels known as the pulp.  When sharp pain occurs when biting it could mean the pulp is infected. In order to correct problems within the pulp area, root canal therapy is often the process of choice in order to prevent tooth extraction.

If the pain is set off by a certain type of food you can pretty easily isolate what that something is and avoid it.  While it may be incredibly hard to remove that cup of coffee from your routine, the pain it will bring is not worth it.  These issues do not require a trip to the Dental ER, but should still be addressed by professionals before they worsen.

  

If the pain is on multiple adjacent at the same time it may be caused by sinus issues. A dentist will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend the best treatment for dental matters concerning sinus problems.

It is important to remember that a toothache that lasts for more than a few days should be addressed with your dental provider. The sooner the problem is corrected, the better. If dental phobia keeps you from scheduling a visit, remind yourself that dental problems don’t go away on their own. Dentists can help you with discomfort and problems associated with phobias.

Let Dr. Bander care for your toothache. Maintain routine visits to help catch problems before they begin to ache. Schedule an appointment today!

All In a Day’s Cleaning

You keep up with your teeth, that’s good!  Brushing and flossing twice a day is a great routine for the upkeep of good oral health. It also helps to visit the dentist for a routine cleaning at least once a year. Dental hygienists are professionally trained and have advanced tools to get all those hard to reach areas. It takes team and daily effort to keep your smile bright!

There are some conditions that occur no matter how well your dental hygiene is cared for.  Let’s talk about what your hygienists cleans that normal brushing can miss.

Plaque is a clear film of bacteria that is on the tooth and interacts with the sugar in foods to thrive.  

Tartar is what plaque becomes if left unbrushed for too long.  Also called calculus, this white coating is hard and will often form at the gum line, especially in the backs or in between teeth. Once the tartar has formed, it cannot be removed by normal brushing.

When you go in for a routine cleaning you can rest assured you are in good hands. Let the professionals do all the work!  Here’s a brief overview of the cleaning process so you know what is going to happen when you’re in the chair:

The spray is the first step in the process.  A high powered, concentrated water stream is moved along the teeth to break up any stubborn food particles and loosen plaque and tartar.

An ultrasonic cleaner is then used to clean off tartar.  This process uses tiny ultrasonic vibrations to clean off what your toothbrush failed to, but don’t worry - the sound waves are higher than human ears can pick up!  This tool, also called a scaler, shoots a stream of water to clean away the particles once they are free from the tooth.

The hand scaler is the last tool used, and perhaps the most recognizable of the dentist’s toolkit.  This thin metallic hook may be uncomfortable when used to get the remnants of tartar that was left by its ultrasonic cousin, but it is absolutely necessary.  If left unchecked tartar can affect the gums and lead to gingivitis or periodontitis.

Polish it off for good measure. After all the tartar is removed, a polisher is used to get your smile bright.  A small rubber cup holding a specialized gritty paste is spun at high speeds to scour your teeth and deal the final blow to any lingering plaque that may have thought it had escaped the cleaning!

So now that you’re in-the-know a teeth cleaning is nothing to be afraid of.  Let Dr. SamuelT. Bander help you on your road to the brighter smile of tomorrow! Call the office today and schedule your next routine cleaning.