healthy gums Archives - Eric B. Wong DDS

Helpful Tips Regarding Dental Health During Pregnancy

Most women understand how important it is to take care of themselves while they are pregnant. However, many women do not realize how important proper dental care is during pregnancy for the health of both the mother and the baby. Visiting the dentist before, during and after being pregnant is very important as well. Good hygiene during your pregnancy will help prevent infections, keep you comfortable and make you feel more refreshed, and most importantly, keep the baby healthy.

Dental disease can affect a developing baby. Research has found a link between gum disease in pregnant women and premature birth with low birth weight. Babies who are born prematurely may risk a range of health conditions including cerebral palsy and problems with eyesight and hearing. Estimates suggest that up to 18 out of every 100 premature births may be triggered by periodontal disease, which is a chronic infection of the gums. Appropriate dental treatment for the expectant mother may reduce the risk of premature birth.

Visiting Your Dentist

We recommend making a dentist appointment if possible before you are pregnant, or as early as possible in your pregnancy. We will check for tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems, and provide any treatment that is necessary. Women require special care and attention when pregnant, so be sure to tell your dentist when and if you are pregnant.

Pre-Pregnancy Dental Health

You are less likely to have dental problems during pregnancy if you already have good oral hygiene habits. These include:

Brushing your teeth at least twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
Flossing between your teeth.
Visiting your dentist for regular checkups.
Using an antimicrobial mouth rinse can help prevent gingivitis.
Brush or scrape your tongue daily to help remove bacteria.
Eat nutritious meals and healthy snacks.

During Pregnancy Dental Health To Do’s

Dental health associated with pregnancy can make some women susceptible to the following problems:

Gingivitis (gum inflammation) Symptoms include swelling of the gums and bleeding.
Undiagnosed or untreated Periodontal Disease
Gastric Reflux (regurgitating food or drink) or the vomiting associated with morning sickness.
Some pregnant women find that brushing their teeth, particularly the molars, provokes gagging.
Try using a brush with a small head. Slow down your brushing action. It may also help to close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Or try other distractions, such as listening to music.

Food Cravings While Pregnant

Some women experience unusual food cravings (and food avoidance) while they are pregnant. A regular desire for sugary snacks may increase your risk of tooth decay. Try to snack on low-sugar foods instead. If nothing but sweetness will satisfy your craving, try to sometimes choose healthier options such as fresh fruits. Rinse your mouth with water or an alcohol-free mouth rinse, or brush your teeth after having sugary snacks.

Food Sources That Will Increase Your Calcium, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C and Vitamin D During Pregnancy

You need to increase your daily amount of vitamins during pregnancy. Sufficient vitamins will protect your bone mass and meet the nutritional needs of your developing baby. Good sources of dietary vitamins include food products such as:

Milk
Cheese
Unsweetened yogurt
Calcium-fortified soymilk
Fortified margarine
Fatty fish, such as salmon
Eggs

We Love Helping Pregnant or Expecting Mothers Stay Healthy Before, During, and After Pregnancy

By seeing your dentist on a regular basis during your pregnancy, you can help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require more comprehensive or expensive treatment. Regular visits allow your dentist to monitor you and your baby’s oral health and recommend a dental health regimen to address any areas of concern. There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your oral health will be strong before, during and after your pregnancy.

If you’d like to discuss your oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be happy to help you with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request a dental appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. Our practice is built around your oral health, and we are ready to help.

Sensitive Teeth and How To Combat Them

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel that protects our teeth gets thinner and exposes the underlying surface, known as dentin, reducing the protection the enamel and gums provide to the tooth and root causing pain. In healthy teeth, enamel protects this underlying layer of dentin, which is softer than enamel. The tooth roots are protected by gums. But if the enamel is worn down or if the gum line has receded, then the dentin becomes exposed. Cavities, cracked teeth, gum recession, enamel, and root erosion can all cause the dentin to be exposed. There are many types of treatment available to combat teeth sensitivity, but research shows that no single treatment option works for everyone. Rather a diagnosis of the reason for the sensitivity by your dentist is essential before treating tooth sensitivity. To combat sensitive teeth check out the video and try the listed options.

1. Don’t Brush Too Hard – Use a Softer Toothbrush

It’s possible that your tooth sensitivity comes from brushing with too much force or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. When you do this over time, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose dental nerves. When these nerves are exposed tooth sensitivity and discomfort can result. The simplest solution here is to switch to a softer bristled toothbrush and go a little easier when brushing.

2. Stop Eating Acidic Foods

If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods such as tomato sauce, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, and pickles can cause pain. For some, avoiding these foods can help avoid any tooth discomfort. You may have sensitive teeth if hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks bother you. Or if breathing in cold air makes your teeth sensitive. Also watch out for soda, sticky candy, and high-sugar carbs. All of these treats attack our enamel and gums, reducing protection. Instead, snack on fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, cheese, milk, and plain yogurt.

3. Don’t Grind Your Teeth

Even though tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body, grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel. By doing so, you expose the dentin, or the middle layer of the tooth, which lead directly to your nerves and can cause pain. Ask your dentist about using a mouth guard to stop you from grinding. We have found that the best guards are custom-made to fit your bite.

4. Stop Using Tooth Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash Rinses

Many manufacturers add tooth-whitening chemicals to their toothpaste formulas, and some people are more sensitive to them than others. If your toothpaste contains whitening agents, consider switching to one that doesn’t. Like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive – especially if your dentin’s exposed, as noted earlier. Instead, try neutral fluoride rinses or simply skip the rinse and be more diligent about flossing and brushing.

5. You May Have Gum Disease – See Your Dentist

Receding gums, which are increasingly common with age (especially if you haven’t kept up with your dental health and do not see your dentist on a regular basis), can cause tooth sensitivity. If gum disease or gingivitis is the problem, your dentist will come up with a plan to treat the underlying disease, and may also suggest a procedure to seal your teeth.

6. If You Have a Cracked or Decaying Tooth – See Your Dentist

A chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain that goes beyond tooth sensitivity. Your dentist will need to evaluate your tooth and decide the right course of treatment, such as a crown or an extraction if the root is cracked. As you get older, fillings can weaken and fracture or leak around the edges. It’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid buildup and enamel breakdown. Be sure to see your dentist if you notice this type of tooth sensitivity.

We Love Helping Our Patients Stay Current With Their Oral Health

By seeing your dentist at least twice a year, you can help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require more comprehensive or expensive treatment. Regular visits allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and recommend a dental health regimen to address areas of concern. There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be happy to help you with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request a dental appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. Our practice is built around your smile. How can we help?

Make It a Happy New Year For Your Teeth

2019 Dental Health Resolutions That Will Make You Smile

People are already making new year resolutions like saving money, eating better, or starting a new business. Why not make one of your new year’s resolutions improving your dental health? Taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums is a worthy goal in and of itself. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease — and can help you keep your teeth as you get older lessening the chance of expensive replacement procedures. Understanding the importance of oral health and its connection to your overall health is our goal at Northgate Dental. Here are some strategies that if followed will give you a brighter, healthier smile in the coming year.

Cut Back on Sugar

Your body is a complex machine. The foods you choose and how often you eat them can affect your general health and the overall health of your teeth and gums, too. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks or meals, 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 by applying regular dental checkups and proper brushing and flossing. Tooth decay happens when plaque comes into contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth. Cutting down on sugar will help improve your dental health, giving you stronger, healthier teeth.

Eat Better

Eating well is important for your dental health. Poor nutrition can affect the entire immune system, increasing susceptibility to many common oral disorders, including gum (periodontal) disease. Antioxidants and other nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts improve your body’s ability to fight bacteria and inflammation, helping to protect your teeth and gums. In addition, crisp fruits and raw vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery help clean plaque from teeth and freshen breath.

Stop Using Tobacco

Using tobacco can harm your mouth in a number of ways, increasing your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities, gum recession, gum disease, and throat, lung, and oral cancer. Smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. It’s not just smoking tobacco that has negative effects on your oral health: use of smokeless tobacco can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

You may already know that excessive alcohol intake can have an effect on your overall health, but did you know that it may also affect your oral health? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, those who smoke, eat poorly and consume excessive alcohol also have increased gum recession (periodontal pocketing). Their studies show that smokers who regularly consume alcohol are less likely to brush their teeth on a regular basis and are less concerned about their basic health than nonsmokers. And for you wine drinkers, wine clings to and stains the plaque in your teeth, so brush it away before you drink to decrease your chances of a wine-stained smile.

Brush Twice and Floss Once

Brushing and flossing every day protects your teeth from decay and gum disease, which is caused by your teeth’s most persistent enemy, plaque – a sticky, colorless, invisible film of harmful bacteria that builds up on your teeth. Both brushing and flossing are equally important for good oral health. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, only flossing can remove plaque from between teeth and below the gumline, where decay and gum disease often begins. Because diseases of the mouth can affect the rest of your body, it is especially important to maintain good oral health.

See Your Dentist for Regular Checkups

By seeing your dentist at least twice a year, you can help prevent any dental health problems before they cause discomfort or require more comprehensive or expensive treatment. Regular visits allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and recommend a dental health regimen to address areas of concern. There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be happy to help you with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request a dental appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. As always, our practice is built around your smile. So let us know how we can help.

Why Dental Checkups Are Essential

When it comes to healthy teeth, an ounce of prevention can go a long way. Regular checkups can help identify oral health issues early on before they become major problems later. These checkups help protect not only your oral health but your overall health as well. Visiting your dentist every six months may not be an appointment you are looking forward to, but it is one of the most important to keep. If you are thinking about skipping a dental checkup because of time or dental anxiety, make sure to consider all the risks. What you might end up paying in the long run for not visiting your dentist will likely be much higher, both for your wallet and your peace of mind. Here are some of the most important reasons you should see your dentist on a regular basis.

Dental Basics

At each dental checkup, your dentist first looks at the basics – do you have plaque, tartar or even cavities? What about signs of gum disease? In addition, regular checkups can discover early problems like chipped or cracked teeth, uneven wear or thinning enamel that if not treated early will get worse. A professional cleaning also helps keep your teeth and gums healthier.

Screening For Oral Cancer

An overlooked benefit of dental checkups gives your dentist the opportunity to screen for oral cancer and abnormalities in the mouth. In addition to doing a visual scan, your dentist can use a special tool that highlights areas of oral tissue that are more suspicious. This can be a real life saver.

Detecting Health Issues Early On

Tooth pain and gum disease are two conditions that can be caught and dealt with when you go in for regular checkups. Pain isn’t always caused by a cavity; in fact, cavities rarely hurt unless left untreated for a long time. But pain could be a sign you’re grinding your teeth or have a broken tooth or abscess. Gum disease can affect your whole body as well as your mouth. So checking for gum disease is one of our priorities.

Keeping Bad Habits in Check

There are many bad habits that can have a negative impact on your oral health. These include chewing ice, biting your nails, clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, eating particularly sticky or hard sweets, brushing your teeth too hard, drinking coffee and red wine, and of course smoking. When you go for regular dental checkups, your dentist can check for any oral damage caused by these or other habits which you may otherwise not have noticed.

Being Preventive

Oral health education is an important part of preventive dentistry. At Northgate Dental we show you and your family ways to keep your teeth and gums healthier while at home, helping you avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, gingivitis, and even periodontitis. Building and maintaining healthy smiles is our mission and the key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene and make regular visits to your dentist. By following the practice of Preventive Dentistry, we care for your teeth to keep them healthy before, during, and after your appointment.

Visit The Dentist Every Six Months

It’s standard to visit the dentist twice a year because brushing and flossing will only get rid of so much of the bacteria. At a certain point, bacterial growth becomes resistant, clinging to surfaces on and between the teeth, even after the most vigorous brushing and flossing. This is when it’s time to call in the professionals and go see your dentist who has specialized tools to manually remove this caked on tartar, making your teeth healthy and clean again.

There’s no time like the present to take control and ensure that your teeth will be beautiful, healthy and strong for years to come. If you’d like to discuss your family’s oral health please contact us at Northgate Dental. We will be happy to help you with any advice we can. Or if you prefer, request a dental appointment instead and we’ll provide a free consultation. As always, our practice is built around your smile.

How Preventive Dentistry Builds Healthy Smiles

B uilding and maintaining healthy smiles is our mission at Northgate Dental. And the key to keeping a bright, healthy smile throughout adulthood is to practice proper oral hygiene and make regular visits to your dentist. By following the practice of Preventive Dentistry, we care for your teeth to keep them healthy before, during, and after your appointment.

Getting to Know You and Your Teeth is Important

One of the main purposes of our regular hygiene appointments is to screen for any dental problems that may be developing, such as cavities, and to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. We believe that oral health education is an important part of preventive dentistry, so we show you and your family ways to keep your teeth and gums healthier while at home, helping you avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, gingivitis, and even periodontitis.

Preventive Dentistry Starts at Home

At Northgate Dental we want to help you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible while at home and between appointments. Children, teens and adults can get cavities as well as gum disease that can lead to serious dental problems like periodontitis. We recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily or at least 4 times a week to remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gum line, before it can harden into tartar. We also recommend limiting sugary or starchy foods, especially sticky snacks. And of course, visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups is a must. Waiting to see your dentist until you have a tooth ache or another issue is not a good long term strategy for your family’s oral health. Let us know how we can help keep your family smiling.