Dental Hygiene during Pregnancy

Reasons Why Oral Care Is Important During Pregnancy

Good oral health during pregnancy is important because it is important to your fetus. Some researchers have suggested that the serious stage of gum disease, periodontitis, could cause premature birth and low birth weight.  
Reference:

McGaw T. Periodontal Disease and Preterm Delivery of Low Birth Weight Infants. J Can Dent Assoc 2002;68(3):165-9.

There are several other reasons such as:

Frequent Eating
During pregnancy, women are likely to eat and drink more frequently throughout the day. And with the more frequent sugar intake comes an increased risk for cavities, so it’s especially important to stick with a sound tooth brushing and flossing routine.

Hormonal Changes
Some women may be more likely to develop red, puffy gums during pregnancy because the additional amount of the hormones in the body causes a strong reaction to normal amounts of plaque. If your gums are especially sensitive, try soft floss that slides easily and comfortably between teeth or a specialty interdental cleaning tool.

One of the most common dental problems associated with pregnancy is a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis, which usually occurs during the first trimester. Symptoms of pregnancy gingivitis are usually bleeding, swollen, red and tender gums.

Radiation Avoidance
Although some pregnant women may have a dental emergency that requires a dental x-ray, taking good care of your teeth during pregnancy reduces the odds that you will need dental x-rays, and you can avoid exposing your baby to radiation. But if you do need x-rays, don’t panic. Your dental professional will minimize your exposure by having you wear a leaded apron and thyroid collar.

Of course, proper nutrition is part of good dental hygiene, and pregnant women in particular should be sure to eat a variety of healthy foods and get plenty of calcium, phosphorous, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C.

Contrary to a popular myth, you won’t lose calcium from your teeth during pregnancy if you aren’t getting enough calcium in your diet. A growing baby will take calcium from a mother’s bones, not her teeth. But that’s all the more reason to eat healthy while following a strict routine of good oral care.

If you’re pregnant and would like a consultation with one of our general dentists, call the clinic and request an appointment!

Lost a Filling or a Crown?

Fillings are materials used to fill cavities in the teeth. Crowns cover the tops of damaged teeth. Sometimes, fillings or crowns fall out. In some cases, a filling or crown may come loose because there is decay underneath it. The decay destroys part of the tooth, so it no longer has a tight hold on the crown or filling.
 

If you lose a filling or a crown, it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to temperature, pressure or air. If you lose a crown, put it in a safe place and make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as you can.
Don't wait too long. What is left of the tooth will not be as strong as your crown. It could be damaged more without the crown to protect it. Also, when a crown is missing for a long time, your teeth may move into the space where the crown was. If this happens, your crown may no longer fit.
At the dentist’s office:
Decay may have changed the shape of your tooth. Usually, this means that your dentist will need to prepare the tooth again to ensure the new crown will fit. If the crown does not fit securely, it will come off again.
If you lose a filling, your dentist will remove the decay that developed between the old filling and the tooth, and place a new filling. If decay has progressed too deep, a root canal treatment may be required.

If you need emergency dental care to put back your lost filling or a crown, please call our dental clinic in NW Calgary.

Crooked Teeth and Misaligned Bites

Causes
•    Oral habits such as sucking finger or lower lip - Many bad oral habits can be the cause of future problems with misaligned bite. Avoidable habits such as sucking fingers, constant sucking or biting of the lips, and holding objects in the mouth can lead to crooked teeth and a misaligned bite.
•    Incorrect swallowing, laying a tongue between teeth, disorders of jaw muscles functioning
•    Bruxism - This is a periodical contraction of masticatory muscles while sleeping, accompanied by grinding teeth.
•    Tooth loss - The loss of a tooth leads to the slope of all neighboring teeth to the side of defect. In this case dentists observe misaligned bites.
It is important to note that not all tooth and jaw problems are caused by bad childhood habits. Problems could also be caused by:
•    genetic peculiarities of facial bones
•    subluxation or jaw trauma
•    dental treatment
•    diseases of periodontium

Treatment options:

If you are suffering from crooked teeth or a bite that is off, there are several treatments for crooked teeth and misaligned bites which include:
•    Orthodontics
•    Veneers – thin, tooth-colored shells that are bonded, or cemented to the front of your teeth
•    Braces
•    Enamel Shaping – your dentist can “reshape” your teeth by contouring tooth enamel, the outer layer of the tooth.
•    Crowns – the outer part of the tooth is removed and a crown (cover) is placed over it. The crown can be made to look similar to your other teeth.
Talk to your dentist. He/she can decide the appropriate treatment for your teeth or misaligned bites.

Extruded (Partially Dislodged) Tooth

When a tooth is partially loosened or dislodged from its socket, dentists call it an extruded tooth. As long as the nerve and blood vessels remain intact, an extruded tooth may be saved without root-canal treatment, depending on how displaced it is.
To save the tooth, you must see your dentist right away. Leave the tooth in your mouth even though it is partially out of the socket. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or apply a cold pack or ice to relieve pain until you reach the dental office.
Your dentist will clean the area and try to reposition the tooth. He or she may use a plastic splint or orthodontic wire brackets to keep the tooth stable until it has a chance to heal.
If the nerves or blood vessels were damaged, your dentist may recommend root canal treatment to prevent the tooth from developing an abscess, which is an infection. The dentist will do a series of tests to determine if the nerve has been damaged. These tests also may have to be done at follow-up appointments because the tests may not be accurate right after the tooth is injured.

The tooth needs to be secured in its original position by connecting it to the healthy teeth on either side. There are three ways to do this:
•    Using a wire and bonding it with a composite resin material along the length of the wire
•    Bonding an orthodontic bracket to each tooth and then connecting these brackets (braces) with a wire
•    Using a synthetic cloth or metal mesh and bonding it to the back of the teeth involved
These materials will be left on for 7 to 10 days while the tooth heals in the socket.
It is critical to follow up with your dentist 7 to 10 days later. If the tooth's nerve or blood vessels were damaged, your dentist may want to do root canal treatment. Your dentist will test in the next weeks and months to see whether the nerve was damaged. These tests are not always reliable right after a tooth is injured.
If the dentist decides that root canal treatment is needed, you may need to have the tooth crowned (capped) after the root canal. In some cases, it may not be possible to save the tooth. In this case, it will have to be removed. Your dentist will help you decide the best way to restore the space created by the missing tooth.

Gum Problems

Most People will experience gum problems at least once in their life. Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected.

If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. This stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place. If periodontitis is not treated, the bone in your jaw can resorb and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth. Your teeth can become loose and may eventually fall out.

Causes of gum disease
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria, which forms when you eat and drink.
Some bacteria in plaque are harmless, but some are very harmful for the health of your gums. If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing them, it will build up and irritate your gums, leading to redness, swelling and soreness.
See your dentist
You should make an appointment to see your dentist if your gums are painful, swollen or if they bleed when you brush your teeth. Your dentist can carry out a thorough dental examination to check the health of your gums, which may involve inserting a thin metal stick with a bend in one end (periodontal probe) between your teeth and gums to take depth measurement. In some cases, a number of x-rays may be needed to check the condition of your teeth and jaw bone.
In most cases, your dentist or dental hygienist will be able to give your teeth a thorough clean and remove any hardened plaque (tartar). They will also be able to show you how to clean your teeth effectively to help prevent plaque building up in the future.
Complications of gum disease
If you have untreated gum disease that develops into periodontitis, it can lead to further complications, such as:
•    gum abscesses (painful collections of pus)
•    receding gums
•    loose teeth
•    loss of teeth
If you have an increased risk of developing gum problems – for example, if you smoke or have diabetes – you may be advised to visit your dentist more often so your teeth and gums can be closely monitored.
It is important to have regular dental check-ups so that any problems with your teeth and gums can be detected and treated early.

Why Consider Invisalign Aligners?

Some people aren't aware of an alternative to braces for getting perfectly straight teeth.  Aligners can be used to fix crowding, bite imperfections, and spacing issues. If you're considering getting braces, check out these reasons why you may want to consider aligners as an option as well.

1.    Easy to clean - aligners are easy to pop out and clean. You won't have to worry about flossing or brushing in between brackets and wires because aligners are completely removable.

2.    No food restrictions – Because aligners can easily be taken off your teeth, you're allowed to eat whatever foods you'd like without having to worry about damaging your aligners.

3.    Comfortable - Although they may be uncomfortable when you first get them, the aligners  typically become more comfortable to wear as you wear them more. You are given multiple sets of aligners that you change every two weeks. Each aligner is slightly adjusted from the one previous, and you may feel a minor tightness that lasts only a day or two after you put in a new set of aligners.

4.    Virtually invisible - These aligners are made out of clear plastic, so they're hardly noticeable when you smile.

Not everyone is eligible for Invisalign. Call to book an appointment to see if it is an option for you.

Braces? At My Age?

If you feel a little self-conscious about your crooked teeth, you are not alone. Thankfully, braces aren’t just for kids any more. Today, adults make up nearly 20% of brace wearers.

So why get braces as an adult?

· A straighter smile
· Shifting teeth - Just because you had braces as a kid doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Teeth tend to move a little throughout your life. Your teeth may shift a little back toward their original positions. If you don't wear your retainer.
· Better oral health - It’s no surprise that straight teeth are easier to brush and floss. So if you’re doing your part — expect healthier gums.
· Braces can help people manage some more serious issues, too, like bite problems that cause jaw pain. In some cases, braces are necessary to change the position of neighboring teeth for a new bridge, crown, or implant.

Available options
Today’s braces options are barely noticeable. They include:
· Ceramic brackets made of a clear material.
· Brackets attached to the back of teeth to hold the wires that pull teeth into a new position.
· Customized plastic aligners that fit like tooth guards over teeth, gently moving them into a new position.
· Metal Brackets

Treatment
How long you’ll need to wear braces depends on what needs to be accomplished. Most treatments range from 12 to 44 months. Adult teeth sometimes take longer than children’s teeth to move into new positions. Once teeth are in the desired position, you are likely to need to wear a retainer. Many dentist or orthodontists now recommend long term retainers wear. For more information contact a dentist in NW Calgary.