Tetrick Family Dentistry

Causes of Bleeding Gums

Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is an early sign and one of the main culprits of bleeding gums. Your gums are tender and swollen if they have gingivitis and bleed easily when you brush or floss. Continue to brush and floss properly with soft-bristled brush and see your dentist to seek treatment for your gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis can lead to the more serious periodontitis when not just gum bleeding occurs but possible destruction of gum tissue and jaw bones, and tooth loss.
Or when you haven’t floss for a time, you’d notice bleeding when you floss anew as food debris has built up in-between your teeth. Dislodging them may cause some short-term bleeding.

Your gums may also bleed from nutritional deficiencies like low vitamin C and vitamin K provided by citrus fruits and green, leafy vegetables. Pregnant women are also prone because hormonal and chemical changes in their systems encourage bleeding gums; this condition resolves on its own after giving birth, though. Also, if part of your medication includes aspirin and other blood thinners, your gums may bleed frequently as these drugs eliminate blood’s clotting factors.

Sometimes, it’s just harsh brushing and flossing that cause gums to easily bleed. A change to a gentle routine, soft bristles and gentle toothpaste may help resolve your situation. However, if bleeding continues unabated and in spite of your countermeasures, do not hesitate to consult with your dentist, the person you turn to in matters of dental concerns, including emergencies.

Emergency Dentist in Bellingham

For your emergency dental concerns, including unexplained gum bleeding, seek out your Bellingham dentists here at Tetrick Family Dentistry. We have seen and cared for all manner of dental emergencies in our 40 years in the community. Do not fear but do not tarry. Come see us soon.

Allergies in Dentistry

If you have allergies to specific items used in dental treatment, it shouldn’t mean that you will keep yourself away from receiving proper dental care. There are ways your dentist can provide alternative methods of care. To be certain you have true allergies to specific things, it is best you are tested by a medical doctor; sometimes people think they have allergies when in fact, they don’t.

Let us look at some allergies seen in dental practice. It is also good to know what it will mean to your dental management should you have true allergies.

Allergies to penicillin affect a small percentage of the population. With allergies to this drug, it means you cannot be given penicillin or any in the family of this class. Your dentist may give you an antibiotic that is stronger for you, in which case both of you will have to be watchful for side effects. A much lesser strength alternative might be too slow or weak in battling your infection which might lead to a lengthier dose regimen.

You might be allergic to certain metals which are commonly used in implants, bridges and dentures. Your dentist may have to fabricate crowns for you that are entirely devoid of metals which can make your appliance more expensive, weaker and prone to stresses. You will have to be more cautious in using your crowns.

Another allergic reaction is one some patients manifest towards latex gloves used by dentists and hygienists. Most reactions are immediate and can be handled safely in the dental office. Yet another is anaphylaxis which may result from dental anesthesia, though rare, or a drug-to-drug interaction with a medication the patient is currently taking.

Patient Safety first against Allergies

Bellingham dentistry practices safe dentistry. It is standard operation procedure to take all patients’ thorough medical and dental history; the littlest details are always considered. For your safety and well-being, our staff are highly trained and equipped in all manner of dental emergencies.

The Fearful and the Anxious

You might be one of those types who, because of a past painful or stressful experience in a dental chair, so going to the dentist is not the easiest thing to do. A small percentage of people, have a serious fear and will not seek preventive or restorative treatment for any reason. There are also patients that despite their anxiety, will only go for treatment when absolutely necessary.

Dentists understand this fear and take steps to alleviate patient’s unease. Firstly, a dental practice will have comfortable chairs, relaxing background music, lighting and decor, engaging or even fun activities for children such as reading, games, television, other pleasant distractions that keeps patients relaxed.

A huge part of managing patient fear rests in the able and compassionate interaction of the dental staff and the patient. Both dentist and staff take pains to explain prescribed procedures, what to expect, and their outcomes. If they make claims of pain-free, then it must be so. If something may be uncomfortable, they must say so and why. For sedation and pain-blocking, there are options like oral sedatives, local analgesia, IV sedation, and the tested nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, which is inhaled gas that sedates and relaxes.

No Fear, Gentle Bellingham Dentistry

Our Bellingham dentists and staff are some of the most welcoming professionals in the practice. We do our best to understand all patients’ concerns and welcome all who come for treatment and that includes those anxious visitors who range from kids to adults. We let our patients talk about their fears to be able to understand them and to anticipate concerns.

If you are anxious, or know anyone who needs dental services in Bellingham, come over to Dr. Tetrick’s and let’s talk about it.

When you break or lose a tooth, you may be a candidate for a bridge. This form of restorative dentistry comes in the form of an artificial tooth structure that is held in place by a pair of crowns installed on the two adjacent teeth. It is an effective solution for many dental problems, but it can pose its own set of challenges in terms of your daily dental care. So, how can you best take care of your bridge after it is installed?

It becomes particularly important to avoid tooth decay around your bridgework. Since the bridge is supported by the natural tooth structure of your adjacent teeth, any weakness in this structure can lead to a breakdown in the entire bridge. For the most part, you’ll be able to take care of your teeth as normal. However, it will be impossible to floss inside your bridge with conventional floss; you will therefore need a product known as a floss threader to avoid any decay in your hard-to-reach areas.

When you get a bridge installed by our Bellingham dentist, it should last you as much as fifteen years or more. This is only going to be true, though, if it is properly maintained. Talk to your dentist to learn more.

What do you think of when you think of foods that rot your teeth? If you’re like most people, you probably know enough to limit your intake of sugary candies and sodas. However, there are many other substances with the potential to quickly encourage tooth decay. One of the more surprising of these may be pickles.

This revelation is coming to us from a British study from 2004. Researchers took a look at the eating habits of a broad cross section of English teenagers, finding that many teenagers with excessive wear on their teeth consumed a large quantity of of pickles. It would seem that the problem with pickles is the vinegar, a highly acidic substance that has the same potential to weaken your tooth enamel that the acid produced by your oral bacteria dies.

If you’re a fan of pickles, the good news is that you’re probably not doing much harm to your teeth unless you eat a significant number of pickles more than once a day. So long as you are keeping up with your daily oral care routine and making your regular visits to our Bellingham dentist, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to enjoy pickles.

A fractured tooth is an important problem. When your tooth fractures, bacteria and acid can penetrate right through your enamel and dentin to rot away the fragile insides. If left untreated, a fractured tooth may call for a root canal. Unfortunately, you may have a fractured tooth without even realizing it for a long period of time. It may feel normal to the touch, and you might not even experience any symptoms until your pulp becomes infected. To avoid such problems, be on the lookout for these warning signs:

• Any erratic pain in your tooth that manifests or becomes worse when you chew or clench your teeth.
• Pain that comes from temperature changes in your mouth, particularly cold temperatures.
• A pain, swelling, or pocketing in the gums around your tooth.
• A rough or sharp feeling on your tooth.

Should you ever suspect that you have a fractured tooth, don’t wait to call our Bellingham dentist. Prompt treatment may make the difference between needing a filling or needing a root canal.

Everybody knows that drinking soda is unhealthy for your teeth and gums. All of the sugar in sodas create a feeding frenzy for your oral bacteria, fostering cavities and gingivitis. Knowing this, there are many people who try to dodge this bullet by opting for only sugar-free sodas. But is this really the fix that they think it is? The answer may surprise you.

The unfortunate truth is that sugar-free sodas have just as much potential to rot your teeth that conventional sodas do. After all, it’s not only the sugar in a soda that is breaking down your enamel. Carbonated drinks are always highly acidic, and this acid serves to weaken your tooth enamel in exactly the same way the acid produced by your oral bacteria does. In many drinks, the acid is responsible for more damage than the sugar is. So, if you drink sugar-free sodas, you should be taking as much care as you would with normal sodas; try following your soda with a drink of water or something calcium-rich, like milk, to neutralize the acid. You can also avoid or decrease the consumption of sodas and other sweet drinks.

Talk to our Bellingham dentist to learn more about how to keep your teeth healthy.

If you are struggling with diabetes, you may find that you have particular problems managing your oral health. This is a condition that puts you at greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

One of the big problems with diabetes is that you develop poor circulation. What this means for your teeth is that you have a reduced ability to fight against infections, including those that affect your teeth and gums. Further, your saliva is more saturated with sugar than it normally would be if you had a normal ability to control your blood sugar. The bacteria in your mouth can feed off of this sugar and bring about decay and gingivitis. Finally, the medication you take to manage your diabetes may give you dry mouth, which encourages the growth of oral bacteria.

To make matters worse, gum disease can further aggravate your blood sugar level. This can bring about a vicious cycle, with your diabetes fostering gum disease and your gum disease aggravating your diabetes. To avoid this cycle, take care to never miss one of your regular check-ups with our Bellingham dentists, Dr. Jill Tetrick and Dr. Gary Tetrick.

Green tea is a great way to enjoy many strong health benefits. If you’re a regular tea-drinker, you’re probably already aware of the way green tea protects the cells of your body from aging and disease. However, many people are not aware that the same tea can also help you foster a strong, healthy mouth.

This is according to a study which determined that the antimicrobial agents in green tea serve to kill off the bacteria that are responsible for tooth decay and gingivitis. Participants in the study who reported drinking at least a cup of green tea on a daily basis were found to be 19% less likely to lose teeth as they aged.

Certain other drinks were found to have similar benefits. Oolong tea was found to feature the same antimicrobial catechins, but to a lesser extent. Meanwhile, green tea that is sweetened with sugar apparently loses much of its benefits. Coffee exhibits no such benefits, while sweetened coffees are quite harmful to your teeth.

To learn more about how you can foster clean and healthy teeth and gums in your daily routine, talk to our Bellingham dentist.

Do you or someone in your family suffer from asthma? If so, your regular oral hygiene should be all the more important to you. This unfortunate condition has a lot of potential to foster tooth decay and other dental problems.

Asthma and Dental Health

The main problem with asthma, as far as your dental health is concerned, is that it encourages you to breathe through your mouth when you are short of breath. This causes your mouth to dry out. At the same time, dry mouth is often a side effect of the asthma medication that you might take. Since your saliva is an important part of your mouth’s ability to clean itself and fight infections, any drying in your mouth is making it easier for your oral bacteria to break down your teeth and gums.

If you struggle with asthma, be sure to tell us when you come to our Bellingham dentist’s office. Some people with asthma have particular trouble in the dental chair when they feel dental anxiety. By communicating openly with us regarding your discomfort, you can help us to help you remain comfortable and avoid any difficulties during your cleanings.