What Happens if I Lose a Tooth Filling?

Fillings are materials used to fill cavities in the teeth. Sometimes fillings fall out. In some cases, a filling 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 filling.

A lost filling may not be an immediate emergency. However, it can be painful because the exposed tooth tissue is often sensitive to temperature, pressure or air.

If you realize your filling has come out when it has happened and you haven't already swallowed it, you should remove it from your mouth to prevent yourself from swallowing it.

You should call your dentist as soon as you lose your filling to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to replace the filling or perform whatever treatment is necessary.

If you are not able to get to your dentist that day to have it refilled, you will need to keep that area of your tooth really clean. The cavity that was filled is now exposed again and could worsen or feel really sensitive. Brush your teeth carefully making sure to remove any food debris from the cavity so that harmful bacteria do not accumulate.

Your tooth may be sensitive after you lose your filing. This may be caused by exposed dentin tubules, which are tiny pathways of communication between the dentin and the pulp of your tooth. The dentin tubules provide a direct pathway from the inside of your mouth to your tooth. If you do feel pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Make sure you get an appointment to see your Dentist.

What can I do for Toothache Relief?

A toothache is a common reason for visiting the dentist. Pain from toothaches can affect the teeth and jaws. Tooth decay is a common reason for toothache, which won't usually get better on its own.

If you’re having continual mouth pain or discomfort, here are some steps to take to resolve the problem, or at least provide some temporary toothache relief until getting to the dentist:

• Brush and floss your teeth to remove food fragments on and in-between your teeth. Rinse with warm water.
• You may take painkillers for the pain, but DO NOT put an aspirin or any other painkiller directly against the gums near the aching tooth. This can burn and cause damage to the gum tissue. If the pain persists, call to see a dentist as soon as possible.
• Avoid very cold or hot foods as they may make the pain worse.
• Relief may be obtained by biting on some cotton wool soaked in oil of cloves. Oil of cloves is available at most pharmacies.
• It is important to know that persistent toothache pain may temporarily subside, but will usually return until the underlying problem has been addressed. Failure to treat these problems in a timely manner may lead to further deterioration and more costly treatment.

Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary. A root canal might need to be done if the cause of the toothache is found to be an infection of the tooth's nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection. An antibiotic may be prescribed.

See your dentist as soon as possible if toothache lasts longer than 1 or 2 days or if it is severe. Proper identification and treatment of dental infections is important to prevent its spread to other parts of the face and skull and possibly even to the bloodstream.

Importance of Flossing

It is very surprising that majority of people believe that regular brushing is enough to keep their teeth healthy. They don’t realize the importance of flossing. The fact is, brushing alone does not clean your entire mouth. Flossing is such an essential activity to maintain good oral hygiene.

Here are the health benefits of flossing:

• Flossing removes the tiny trapped food particles and also the plaque trapped between the teeth which a tooth brush cannot reach.
• It also prevents the formation of calculus or tartar which if formed can only be removed by your dental hygienist.
• With regular flossing, you reduce the growth of bacteria. 
• Flossing can help prevent bad breath. If bacteria and food particles are left in between your teeth it can actually cause really bad breath.
• Flossing regularly will keep your teeth looking whiter and shiny. With plaque buildup on the teeth, food and drinks stick and staining occur. By flossing you can remove the stubborn spots and food particles providing a cleaner, healthier smile.

Proper dental care begins at home. Make sure you are not only brushing regularly but flossing as well. You need to take the time to floss well at least once a day, and try to floss after meals to remove food particles. Brushing, flossing and the use of mouth wash will help you keep your mouth healthy and clean. It is also important to schedule regular visit to your dentist to give your teeth and gums a good deep cleaning.

Natural Remedies for Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, known medically as Xerostomia, is one of the main causes of halitosis (or bad breath). Dry mouth can be caused by a number of medical conditions. Most of these conditions are nonlife-threatening, making dry mouth more of a nuisance than anything else.

To minimize dry mouth:

•     Drink water frequently to keep your mouth moist and loosen mucus. Carry water with you to sip throughout the day and keep water by your bed at night.
•       Suck on sugar-free hard candies, ice chips, or sugar-free popsicles. Chew sugarless gum (gums containing xylitol). These sucking and chewing actions help stimulate saliva flow.
•       Moisten foods with broths, soups, sauces, gravy, creams, and butter or margarine. Eat soft, moist foods that are cool or at room temperature.
•      Avoid commercial mouth rinses or mouthwashes that contain alcohol or peroxide. These ingredients may further dry out your mouth.
•      Avoid salty foods, dry foods (for example, crackers, toast, cookies, dry breads, dry meats/poultry/fish, dried fruit, bananas) and foods and beverages with high sugar content.
•      Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine. Alcohol increases water loss by triggering frequent urination. Alcohol, as well as caffeine, also dries out the mouth. Also avoid acidic beverages, such as any fruit juices.
•      To prevent or treat dry mouth, you can protect your teeth by brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and scheduling regular dental checkups. Oral cavities can lead to the growth of unhealthy bacteria, which eventually leads to dry mouth and bad breath.

Do You Have To Be Young To Have Really White Teeth?

It is true that your pearly whites lose their luster as we age. Some common foods, drinks and even mouthwashes can stain teeth. But, Do-it-yourself remedies can help whiten teeth, and avoiding substances that stain teeth can stop further discoloration.

Use these steps to whiten your teeth:

• Home teeth whitening – Talk to your dentist about home tooth whitening products like kits, strips and toothpastes may lighten stains. But, for deep stains, you may need to seek your dentist’s help.
•      Home remedies – Some people prefer the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears, and carrots trigger lots of saliva, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth. Chewing sugar-less gum is also a tooth-cleansing action.
•      Tooth whitening and dental work – Approach tooth whitening with caution if you have lots of bonding, fillings, crowns, and bridges. Bleach will not lighten manufactured teeth, so they will stand out among newly whitened natural teeth. In order to match your whiter teeth, you may need new dental work, including veneers or bonding.
•      Preventing teeth stains – As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel may wear away. The underlying layer, called dentin, is yellower. That’s why it is important to try to avoid staining teeth. If you take care with foods and drinks that discolor teeth, the results of whitening can last longer.
•      To keep teeth white, don’t light up – Smoking is one of the worst offenders, when it comes to staining teeth. Tobacco causes brown stains that penetrate the grooves and pits of tooth enamel. These stains are hard to remove by brushing alone.
•       Foods that cause teeth stains – Some common foods, which discolor teeth, are coffee, tea, dark sodas and fruit juices. These teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age. Deep color fruits and veggies such as blueberries, blackberries and beets leave their color on teeth as well. Eat them for your health and prevent tooth stains by brushing teeth and rinsing mouth immediately after eating.
•      Think as you drink – A glass of red wine, cranberry juice or grape juice also stains teeth easily. Remember to rinse your mouth after you have these drinks.
•      Don’t forget daily maintenance – One simple strategy can help maintain white teeth: brush. Brush at least twice and floss at least once daily. Brushing helps prevent stains and yellow teeth, especially at the gum line.
•      Visit your dentist – See your Calgary dentist for regular checkups and professional cleaning. The abrasion and polishing methods dentists use can remove many teeth stains caused by food and tobacco.

How Do I Get Started with Invisalign?

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign may be used as an alternative to metal braces. They consist of a series of clear tooth. They are removable aligners and gradually straighten your teeth.

Invisalign can help treat conditions such as:

•     Crowded teeth
•      Spaced teeth
•      Crossbite
•      Overbite
•      Underbite

How do I get started?

•      Talk to an Invisalign provider - Your treatment begins after you schedule your initial consultation. This is an important dental and financial decision. During the consultation, you and your doctor will discuss your case to determine if you're a good candidate for Invisalign. Your doctor will determine if Invisalign is right for you. If not, you will be referred to an orthodontist.
•       Create a customized treatment plan - Your dentist will take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, which Invisalign will use to create a digital 3-D image of them. From these images your dentist will map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth, and tell you the approximate length of treatment. Every case is unique to each patient, therefore treatment times can vary.
•        Receive your custom aligners - Based on your individual treatment plan, a series of custom-made, aligners is then created specifically for you. Simply wear them throughout the day and night, and remove them when you eat or to brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gradually begin to shift into place. And because they're  hardly noticeable , most people won't even know you're wearing them.
•       Wear a new aligner every two weeks - Approximately every two weeks, you will begin wearing a new set of aligners, advancing you to the next stage of your treatment. To monitor your progress, you will also have checkups with your doctor, usually every two to six weeks. For best results and a timely outcome, you should wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, throughout your entire treatment.

If you want to find out more about Invisalign or to learn how Invisalign may be a choice for you, contact Expressions Dental™ in NW Calgary.

The Benefits of Regular Visits to the Dentist

Visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings can help prevent many dental problems as well as to help you maintain optimal oral health. Don't wait until you have a toothache before you call your dentist. You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months.

What happens during a dental visit?

• Clinical dental examination - Your dental professional will check for cavities and to see if there is plaque or tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.

Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper.
The check-up should also include your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble, swelling, or cancer.

• Dental cleaning – During the dental visit, your dental professional cleans your mouth by removing any plaque and tartar, polishing your teeth and flossing.

Once your examination and cleaning have been performed, they’ll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and then make any additional recommendations. It’s important that you see your dentist every six months for a routine examination and cleaning. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Make Your Child Love the Dentist

Going to the dentist starts long before your child’s first appointment. If you have hesitation about going to the dentist, he/she will sense this and be apprehensive as well. Believe it or not, some children actually look forward to going to the dentist, but this takes preparation and teamwork to make this happen.

You can prepare your kids by reading books about visiting the dentist. Books explain why we need to visit the dentist and what happens at the dental clinic, from arrival to the waiting room to the equipment used and what the dentist will do. One of the main reasons children might fear the dentist is the unknown – if they have an idea of what to expect it makes it easier for them. Secondly, be a positive role model. Visit the dentist regularly yourself and brush your teeth with them.

Children may have any number of dental health problems over the years. For instance, they may require braces to help with straightening their teeth. They could need to have fillings put in to prevent worsening of cavities and further damage to their teeth. Very young children will need to be taught good oral hygiene practices, and the dentist’s office is the perfect place to reinforce what they are learning at home. 

How Your Diet Can Impact Your Oral Health?

Your body is a complex machine. The foods you choose and how often you eat them can impact your general as well as your oral health. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, but the good news is that it is entirely preventable.

Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. To control the amount of sugar you eat, read the nutrition facts and ingredient labels on foods and beverages and choose options that are lowest in sugar. Common sources of sugar in the diet include soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries. Your physician or a registered dietitian can also provide suggestions for eating a nutritious diet. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, it may be more difficult for tissues in your mouth to resist infection. This may contribute to gum disease. Severe gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is potentially more severe in people with poor nutrition.

For good oral hygiene, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein (e.g. lean beef, fish, dry beans, peas), low-fat and fat-free dairy products

Avoiding following types of foods is a way to maintain good oral hygiene:

• Carbohydrates - Refined carbohydrate-laden foods (chips, bread, pasta, crackers, etc.) can be as harsh on your teeth as candy.
• Chewy, sticky foods such as raisins, jellybeans, caramel, honey etc.
• Sugary snacks
• Candy and gum
• Carbonated soft drinks
• Fruit and vegetable juices
• Sports drinks

Limit the number of snacks you eat. If you do snack, choose something that is healthy like fruit or vegetables or a piece of cheese. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth than eating lots of snacks throughout the day, because more saliva is released during a meal. Saliva helps wash foods from the mouth and lessens the effects of acids, which can harm teeth and cause cavities.

Remember to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings – typically twice a year.

For good dental health, always remember to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and visit your dentist regularly. With regular dental care, your dentist can help prevent oral problems from occurring in the first place and catch those that do occur in the early stages, while they are easy to treat.

How common is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected and most people experience it at least once. It is much less common in children. As per Canadian Dental Association (CDA), 7 out of 10 Canadians develop gum disease at some time in their lives. The incidence of gum disease is very high. It is seen in all types of people, all races and cultures, regardless of where they live or their level of education.

People who do not go to a family dentist are frequently unaware they have a problem -- an estimated 20 per cent of Canadians have active periodontal disease and do not know it.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic infection that can result in a number of health problems, from mild inflammation to severe gum damage to tooth loss, if left untreated. In addition, gum disease can affect your overall health, and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

It is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth and, is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar.

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 periodontists can develop. This affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place.

Signs of Gum Disease:
Your oral health is critical to your overall health. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek care from a dentist who is knowledgeable about treating gum disease:

• A sour taste in your mouth or persistently bad breath
• A change in how your partial dentures fit
• A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite down
• Bleeding gums
• Gum tissue that pulls away from your teeth
• Loose teeth or increasing spaces between your teeth
• Pain when chewing
• Unusually sensitive teeth
• Swollen and tender gums

Gum Disease Treatment Options:

• Regular professional deep cleanings
• Medications that are either taken orally or are inserted directly into infected tissue pockets
• Surgery, in more severe cases of gum disease.
• Good oral hygiene home practices i.e. brushing + flossing.

Despite following good oral hygiene practices, people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. If anyone in your family has gum disease, it may mean that you are at greater risk, as well. If you are more susceptible to gum disease, your dentist or periodontist may recommend more frequent dental check-ups, cleanings, and treatments to better manage the condition.

Broken or Cracked Tooth

Any trauma to the mouth that causes bleeding and lacerations to the gums, tooth fracture and/or dislodging of teeth, may require immediate attention. If you take longer to see your dentist, it will reduce the chance of revival of the tooth.

Causes

Whether the result of an accident or biting on a piece of food that’s too hard, mouth injuries can cause teeth to become cracked, broken, or knocked out/dislodged. It is important to see a dentist because if left untreated, a dental emergency can lead to serious complications.

If the tooth is just chipped, you should make a non-emergency dental appointment to have it smoothed down and filled. If the tooth has been knocked out or is badly broken, see a dentist immediately. Find your nearest dentist who offers emergency dental appointments.

While you wait to see a dentist, you can follow these dental tips:

• If you still have a knocked out tooth, handle by the tip of it (crown) and avoid touching the root. Do not scrape or brush the tooth. If that tooth is dirty, rinse with milk or salt water. The sooner a knocked-out tooth is re-implanted, the more likely it is to embed itself back into the gum. If you don't want to be left with a gap, make an emergency appointment to see your dentist. Usually, your dentist will want to re-implant your tooth as soon as possible, ideally within an hour of it being knocked out. If you have already attempted this yourself, they will check that the tooth is in place correctly.

• In case of lost tooth, most people will choose to have it replaced. Different dental treatments are adopted for tooth replacement. Your dentist can replace the tooth with a denture, a bridge or an implant.

• If you have broken your tooth, do not try to re-implant the fragment back into your gum – store it in a clean container and cover the fragment with milk or saliva until you can see a dentist. It may be possible to reattach the broken fragment to the tooth. If you have broken a tooth halfway down and damaged the network of blood vessels and nerves in its center (the pulp), root canal treatment will be needed to remove the damaged pulp from your tooth, as this can become infected. The space will then be filled and the tooth sealed with a filling or a dental crown.

Unlike broken bones, the crack in a tooth will never heal completely. It is still important that you get treatment. Our dental team at Expressions Dental™ will be able to tell you more about this problem and recommend treatment for a broken or cracked tooth.