General

Signs, Causes and Treatments

Some people keep a dead tooth or two in their mouths with a large cavity in it, a defective filling, or a discolored appearance. If such a tooth does not bother them, then no dental treatment is sought at all. It is properly known as a non-vital tooth as there is no longer any blood flow to it.

There are two symptoms that can tell you that a tooth is dead – pain and change in color. Pain from a dead or dying tooth is anywhere from non-existent to extremely painful. A dying nerve or an infection usually causes an increase in pain.

And why should there be pain when a tooth is considered dead or dying? Pain comes from very sensitive nerve endings around the outside of the tooth, the periodontal membrane. A combination of bacteria and dead nerve remnants, or pus, builds up in the pulp cavity and puts pressure on the periodontal membrane, which can cause severe pain. On the other hand, an infection may turn into an abscess and produce symptoms like bad taste or smell, swelling, or a pustule on the gums that can be clogged or infected.

A change in color, like yellowish to gray or black, may signify a tooth death. Red blood cells are dying, which is a very similar effect to bruising. If a dead tooth remains untreated the discoloration increases over time.

What causes a tooth to die?

It’s either tooth decay or tooth trauma. Tooth decay starts with an untreated cavity on a tooth surface inviting bacteria to enter and penetrate deeper, as far as the pulp which is rich in nerves and blood supply and cause inflammation. Pressure inside the pulp increases, cutting off the blood supply, starving the nerve, and killing the pulp. This can cause intense pain. Tooth trauma caused by sports injuries, accidents and blows to the mouth can cause blood vessels to burst and blood supply to be cut off. Eventually, nerve and other living tissues in the pulp die.

What are the treatment options?

It’s either one of two: root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Root canal is an effort of the dentist to save the tooth. It’s a long process of clearing the infection, cleaning debris and sealing the tooth permanently. A crown is fitted if extra support is needed. Tooth extraction removes the tooth completely if it is beyond saving.

Doing Something for a Dead Tooth in Bellingham

Don’t do nothing for a dead or dying tooth when you would like to save it. See us right away at Tetrick Family Dentistry in Bellingham, WA.

Oral Health and Overall Health Go Hand-in-Hand

Just brushing and flossing every day can help prevent disease in the rest of your body. It has been proved time and again that improving your oral health can prevent tooth decay and gum disease, which in turn can lead to serious medical problems. Oral diseases have been linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke; according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

When your dentist examines you, he or she can determine your medical condition in a certain way. That’s because your oral health can be a reflection of the overall health of your body. For instance, if you already have a chronic condition such as diabetes, you are at a greater risk for oral disease, such as gingivitis, oral yeast infections (thrush) and mouth ulcers.

The mouth is full of bacteria of different types, mostly harmless. If you practice good oral hygiene and are otherwise healthy, your body’s defenses can normally overcome infections. However, some factors may compromise oral health and allow an imbalance between the harmless and harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Some of these factors are poor oral hygiene which can lead to a buildup of bacteria; medications that decrease saliva, such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers and antidepressants, leading to a condition called ‘dry mouth’ that increases susceptibility to tooth decay; also, conditions that affect the immune system that allow bacteria to proliferate more easily.

There can be certain medical conditions that are linked to poor oral health. Conditions like cardiovascular disease have been found out to have oral bacteria links, and endocarditis, a potential fatal inflammation of the inner lining of the heart also have the same links. There’s also rheumatoid arthritis and head and neck cancers. Periodontitis has been linked to low birth weight and premature birth.

Minding your oral health is an investment in overall health. So practice good oral hygiene, eat a healthy, balanced diet, avoid excess sugar, stop smoking, and go for regular dental check-ups.

Taking Care of Your Oral Health in Bellingham

Know more about other medical benefits of good oral health when you visit us at Tetrick Family Dentistry, your friendly and experience oral management team in Bellingham, WA.

The Excesses of Sugar

While cutting off excess sugar from your diet can improve your health – weight loss, better skin, mental clarity – you also know that the same can benefit your teeth and other oral structures as well. Here are five great ways your mouth can benefit from if you remove excess sugar in your food and drink consumption.

You lower the incidence of tooth decay. Bacteria is normally and unavoidably present in our mouths so that they attack sugar in food debris left on tooth surfaces and crevices. Later the mixture will turn acidic and destroy tooth enamel. Some experts say that it’s not necessarily about how much sugar is consumed but at what speed you’re consuming it at. The longer the teeth are exposed to sugar, the more time the bacteria in your mouth has to create the acid and rot your teeth.

You improve overall health. With less tooth decay and less chance of cavities, tooth loss is minimized. This proves beneficial to overall health as well. Many studies have linked oral hygiene to heart health. A recent study even showed a link between gum disease and risk level for getting heart disease. With less sugar in your diet, you keep your mouth in shape, that in turn positively affects the body.

You’ll have less tooth discoloration. Sugar can cause cavities which in turn cause dark discoloration. This is not like tooth stain which can come from coffee or tea. So if the mouth is clean and as cavity-free as possible, there should be no worry about your teeth turning dark or black from decay and cavities.

Your breath becomes fresher and better. Sugar feeds the bacteria that cause bad breath, so the more sugar you’re eating the more bad breath you’re creating. With less sugar, breath will improve, is fresher and better. Sugar-free candy or gum is a better option than chewing mint gum.

You’ll have a healthier mouth. People are mistaken when they think that fruit juices are not as bad or not as sugary as soda, but sugar is sugar whether it’s coming from fruit or candy. Unless it’s xylitol, researched to hinder tooth decay, any kind of simple sugars are going to affect oral hygiene. From a dentist’s perspective, if you’re not able to completely eliminate sugar from your diet, as long as a healthy mouth is maintained – brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, regular and timely cleanings – your teeth will last.

Ensuring Healthy Mouths in Bellingham

We think of healthy mouths and healthy bodies when we think of less sugar. While that’s a tough act to follow we should at least perfect our oral hygiene and come for regular visits to your Bellingham dentist.

Undeniable Benefits of Flossing

As your dentist say, tooth brushing and flossing go hand in hand in maintaining oral health. Can’t do one without the other. Both are a part of daily hygiene routine. Flossing cleans those parts of the teeth which the toothbrush can’t reach. To ignore it can lead to problematic dental issues that you are trying to avoid. Here are the top benefits when you floss.

Flossing removes plaque. Plaque forms on tooth surfaces, in between your teeth, and even under the gum line. While brushing can take out that sticky coating, a result of food debris and bacteria mix, on visible surfaces even before they turn to plaque, it can also remove some that lodge between your teeth. Some, but not all. Flossing removes that when you slide your floss in between. Daily flossing also prevents plaque formation and its accumulation, known as tartar or hardened plaque.

Flossing prevents bad breath. When plaque hardens between teeth and is not completely removed by brushing, it can emit a foul odor. Bad breath in the mouth results from unattended plaque and plaque buildup in between your teeth and under the gumline.

Flossing makes toothbrushing more effective. Flossing and brushing are more efficacious than brushing alone. It is actually best to floss first and then brush. Flossing removes food debris and left over plaque from the sides of teeth and other tooth surfaces making brushing easier. Brush bristles, with the aid of toothpaste and the proper motions, reach every part of the tooth surfaces and scrape off film and debris well. Using a mouthwash after flossing and brushing makes the routine perfect.

Flossing and oral hygiene keeps you healthy. If your oral hygiene routine is thorough, which includes flossing, you tend to enjoy better oral health. You keep gum disease at bay which starts off as gingivitis.

It is a widely rampant condition of the gums and if left to take its course can lead to its more serious form – periodontitis. The condition is well documented to link with some serious medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Flossing saves a lot of money. Regular flossing protects your teeth and gums enabling you to preserve your tissues for longer. You tend to keep potential dental issues at bay, such as caries, decay, bad breath, mouth sores, gingivitis, and more. While regular visits to the dentist, at least every 6 months, can spot potential problems, it is also an occasion to have teeth in-office cleaning. While the visits contribute to maintenance of oral health, flossing is still a personal endeavor that saves you money in the long term.

Learn how to floss properly. Ask our Bellingham dentist during your appointment. Need to make an appointment? Make an appointment online.

Toothpaste Shopping Tips

Choosing the Right Toothpaste is Easy

Playing a critical role in oral health, the right toothpaste choice needs a few guided tips so that you end up with the most suitable one for your needs. Here are some methods to follow through.

Check fluoride content. The ADA and most dentists consider fluoride to be an essential ingredient in toothpaste as it has been proven to combat caries and tooth decay. It is likewise known to protect children’s and adult’s teeth from caries.

Look for the ADA approval. If a toothpaste product carries the ADA approval, it meets the ADA’s strict requirements for fluoride content and active ingredients to improve oral hygiene, it’s free from sugary flavoring agents, and scientific evidence to support its safety and effectiveness.

Read the label. Since not all types of toothpaste are suitable for everyone, especially for children, check for ingredients to avoid specific chemicals that may cause sensitivity. Examples are: saccharin, calcium carbonate and silicates, glycerol, and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Check the RDA level. The level of abrasiveness of a paste, known as its relative dentin abrasivity (RDA), varies from product-to-product. All ADA-approved toothpaste must have an RDA of 250 or less. A higher RDA may damage the teeth.

Choose depending on your specific needs. For example, you might need a desensitizing toothpaste for sensitive teeth, whitening toothpaste for safe and effective teeth whitening, or tartar control toothpaste for preventing tartar buildup. You might need a natural-base toothpaste which typically does not contain fluoride and may contain natural abrasive agents, such as baking soda, rather than chemical ones.

When selecting a toothpaste brand, base your choice on your individual needs and preferences, including those of the members of your household.

Best Toothpaste Advice in Bellingham

Having a toothpaste choice dilemma? There are so many toothpaste out there and not every toothpaste is for you. Ask your Bellingham dentist about which toothpaste suits your needs best. Get the most out of your dental visits because we give great tips here in Bellingham.

Challenging Activated Charcoal

With heightened awareness about oral health these days, that comes along with healthy living, natural foods, active lifestyle, and the like, it’s little wonder that consumers are deluged with lots of brands, advertisements, and influencers riding on the bandwagon of dental health. One such trend, which began not too long ago and is buzzing again, is activated charcoal toothpaste for whitening teeth.

No, it’s not the same as the charcoal we commonly use to barbecue meats. Activated charcoal has been safely used in the treatment of drug overdoses, poisoning, bloating and flatulence, lowering cholesterol, and even preventing hangovers. It’s considered as a universal antidote. Any organic material with a high carbon content like coal, wood, peat, coconut shells, sawdust and others can be made into activated carbon. The material is grinded, binded for hardness, recompacted and crushed to desired size. The resultant product is very porous and can trap toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores. Amazingly, one pound of carbon has a surface area equivalent to six football fields.

How does activated charcoal toothpaste whiten teeth?

Activated carbon whitens teeth by adsorption, not absorption. Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions or molecules from a gas, liquid or dissolved solid to a surface. The compound adsorps plaque and microscopic debris that stain teeth, whitening them. It changes the pH balance in the mouth, helping prevent cavities, bad breath and gum disease.

It’s a brilliant idea and though it technically works, it’s the long-term effects that experts are worried about. Charcoal toothpaste is good as a pre-treatment before home whitening kits, it shouldn’t be an everyday toothpaste. Due to its abrasiveness, it can wear the enamel, especially at the gum line of the tooth. Enamel is thinnest here and can cause sensitivity and irreversible enamel loss. Use this to make a quick polish of your teeth, but shouldn’t be overused. You might be an aggressive brusher and with everyday use, you can have irreversible enamel loss in a matter of few uses.

Sure, you can use charcoal toothpaste but do so in moderation. Otherwise, it’s like applying sandpaper on your teeth. Rather trust your regular fluoride toothpaste, your floss and mouth rinses for daily care.

Ask our Bellingham Dentist about Charcoal Toothpaste

Learn more about the benefits and risks with use of charcoal toothpaste from your Bellingham dentist. Remember, moderation is key in oral health protection.

Concerned about the blood?

If blood regularly shows up on your toothbrush or dental floss, it requires some serious concern. Let’s look at some instances that can cause gums to bleed and how you can put a stop to it.

Reasons Why Gums Bleed

You might have gingivitis. It’s a mild form of swelling, tenderness or inflamed gums. It’s totally treatable and reversible if addressed quickly enough. In most cases gingivitis is painless and that’s the reason why it is mostly ignored. If left to progress it can lead to periodontal disease. Gum tissue is destroyed and can lead to loss of teeth. Good oral hygiene practices and dental visits can keep gingivitis at bay.

You are a smoker. Chronic smokers can suffer from bleeding gums. Smoking can lead to periodontal disease as cigarette toxins can irritate the gums and teeth. Oral hygiene routine may not be enough. Likewise, you can compromise your health, lower you immune response to infection with decrease oxygen supply to your gums. Better to quit as early as you can.

You suffer from a poor diet. Having a balanced diet is an excellent defense and maintains a healthy body and mouth. Look over your present diet and see if it lacks important vitamins and minerals from their proper food sources. Your gums need their nutrition to maintain their natural consistency, shape and color.

You are undergoing hormonal changes. Women experience hormonal changes brought on by menstrual cycles and pregnancies which can lead to sensitive, bleeding gums. It can lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease. Must ask your dentist for advice on how to adapt your oral health routine.

You are taking certain medications. Be aware that many drugs can affect mouth health, like increasing the risk for bleeding gums. Anticonvulsants can cause gum swelling, high blood pressure meds and immuno- suppressants can cause gum inflammation and bleeding, while antihistamines, sedatives, antidepressants can cause dry mouth, a trigger for gum problems. Your dentist will still encourage you to keep up with good oral hygiene and keep hydrated. Ask your doctor about meds that do not impact much on your gums.

You have poor hygiene practices. This can’t be more emphasized. Regular and proper brushing and flossing are the cornerstone of good oral health.

Treating Bleeding Gums in Bellingham

If you experience that your gums bleed consistently, it’s about time you pay your Bellingham dentist a visit. The condition may be cause for concern but your apt response can help you reverse the effects in time.

The Problem With One-Use Plastic Straws

Did you know that 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the US? It may or may not count the unknown number that are washed up into our oceans and do much damage to the marine environment. And to think that these one-use plastic items are not degradable, at least in the next 300 years. Also, these products fill up our landfills, consuming space and wasting resources for disposal. While disposable plastics feed our growing desire for convenience, millions and millions of homes, restaurants, hotels and others the world over are contributing to a major environmental hazard that is already upon us.

Plastic Straw Ban

Many cities have already banned the use of plastic straws at public establishments, yet there are quarters of dissent. For example, many people use straws to drink their sugary beverages, including coffee and tea and wine, to prevent staining their teeth. What do dentists say about that? Dentists once believed that drinking from straws reduces the contact between liquids that stain and the teeth, which prevents teeth going yellow. However, things have changed a bit.

Some dentists point out that sipping with straws can avoid direct contact between the drink and the teeth, other activities or habits can discolor teeth as well. Eating curry, tomato sauce, soy sauce can stain teeth, as well as smoking and chewing tobacco, and treatments like chemotherapy. So drinking with a straw certainly isn’t going to prevent discoloration itself and can’t be said to protect teeth entirely.

Aftercare is more important than resorting to straws. Rinsing your mouth with water immediately after drinking something that stains is much more helpful and must be habitual. Tooth brushing, mouthwash rinses and chewing on sugarless gum remove stains better.

Plastic disposable straws are much more beneficial to people who have disabilities. If you need to drink with a straw, for convenience, then use an eco-friendly straw or your own personal straw that’s reusable. Or better scrap it all together, and know you are saving our oceans doing that.

Helping The Environment Bellingham Way

So if you think using plastic straws can help your teeth from staining, get into the healthier, eco-friendly habit of mouth-rinsing and tooth brushing instead. It’s so much more chic, says your Bellingham dentist.

Daily Habits to Better Oral Health

You might not be aware that some small everyday items can assume major roles in your dental health if you just let them.

Sugar-free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals and snacks has been proven to help keep teeth healthy. According to the Oral Health Foundation, chewing on sugar-free gum stimulates the production of saliva which in turns helps to neutralize plaque acids. It increases the amount of saliva we produce, which is the body’s natural defense system for our mouth and teeth. It helps wash away food particles before they become trapped on, around or in between our teeth. It also helps remineralize tooth enamel, which helps to strengthen our teeth. Gives fresh breath, too.

New Toothbrush

Replacing your toothbrush at least every 3 months or as soon as you start to see wear on the bristles can do your health a lot of good. A new, good quality toothbrush can do better work. Dentists sometimes recommend using an electric toothbrush as it has proven to be quite effective in helping clean our teeth. Remember to be gentle on your teeth and gums. Hard brushing can destroy enamel and bruise soft tissue.

Fluoride in Toothpaste

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and increasing the rate of the remineralization, thus strengthening the teeth. It helps to discourage the growth of bacteria. Check the presence of fluoride in the toothpaste you buy and have regular mouth-wash with fluoride in them also. Know if your community water supply is also fluoridated; studies show that there is lowered incidence of cavities and decay in areas where the water system incorporates fluoride.

Flossing

This is another simple, everyday tool that contributes to oral health. At least once-a-day flossing before retiring to bed can assist your tooth-brushing routine. With proper flossing, you remove food debris stuck in-between your teeth as well as under the gumline. This removes the chances of bacteria starting in surfaces your toothbrush cannot reach.

Knowledge is Power in Bellingham

Know more about simple stuff that play major roles in good oral health. More importantly, keeping your dental appointments enables you to really be on top of things where your teeth and gums are concerned.

COPD Patients Ignoring Oral Health

A small observational study published in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Journal of the COPD Foundation found that people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have poor dental hygiene practices and reduced quality of life that is oral health-related. In the context of poor dental health, the greater number of patient’s teeth involved correlated with worsened daily respiratory symptoms.

Patients with COPD are reported to have poor oral hygiene and dental problems. With worsening symptoms, patients are unable to obtain adequate dental care possibly due to impaired mobility due to illness, use of oxygen, continued smoking, or poor access to dental insurance.

The small 60-day study included healthy controls and patients with COPD. Participants were 40 years or older. The COPD group had to have specific spirometric findings and at least a 10 pack-year smoking history. The healthy controls had to have no airflow obstruction and no current smoking. 30 participants were recruited (10 healthy controls, 20 with COPD). All 10 healthy participants completed the study, and in the COPD group, 3 dropped out.

Both groups had similar teeth brushing habits, at least once a day. More of the healthy controls had more frequent dental visits. Healthy controls also usually flossed once per day, while COPD participants, none. They also had a history of more dental infections, tooth extractions and higher prevalence of dentures, as well as fewer teeth. The COPD group had higher average amount of plaque on tooth surfaces but not statistically significant. Breathlessness was also positively correlated with the number of teeth had a positive correlation with percentage of days with cough, and wheeze, and sputum production.

The researchers noted that the microbiome of the lungs resembles the oral microbiome. The more diseased teeth a patient has potentially provide a large reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae, in saliva, which could create worsened respiratory symptoms. In addition, chronic periodontitis is a common inflammatory disorder and has previously been described in patients with COPD, but was not measured in this study.

Knowing Your Health

Bellingham dentistry is well aware how dental health can be impacted by certain medical conditions as serious as COPD. We monitor patient’s medical conditions whilst we treat their dental concerns. It’s always good to let us know health concerns or issues, especially history, before treatment.