Ways to Treat Sensitive Teeth From Your Local Dentist

When visiting your local dentist office, let us know if you are struggling with sensitive teeth.  This is a common condition that tends to get worse with age. Many of the seniors we treat complain of their teeth hurting when drinking something cold like iced tea, eating a bowl of ice cream, or brushing their teeth.  While common, this can still be inconvenient, and we can help your teeth to feel better.

Before you treat sensitive teeth, it is important to understand why teeth become sensitive in the first place.  Your teeth are protected by a layer of enamel and underneath your gums they are protected by cementum.  These two elements cover the dentin that your teeth are made of.  When they wear away, the dentin is exposed.  The problem with dentin is that it is full of holes that contain root endings.  If you were to look at dentin under a microscope, you would see something that looks like a bunch of small round holes had been punched through it.  Understandably, when this is exposed – your teeth become sensitive.

Over time, the enamel wears away through a process called demineralization. What you eat and drink is largely to blame, and you can combat it by eating a healthy diet with nuts, veggies, dairy and lean protein along with taking care of your teeth overall. Regular teeth cleanings at our dentist office will also help to preserve your enamel. 

Other causes of tooth sensitivity are cavities and gum disease.  If you have an infection in your mouth, it will cause your teeth to become more sensitive and potentially painful.  If we see any signs of cavities or gum disease, it can be treated in our office so that you can feel better right away.

At home, you can feel better by brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush and desensitizing toothpaste.  This will block sensations from being transferred through the dentin and to the roots of the tooth.  While this will block the pain, you must also address the root of the issue.  If your pain is caused by due to losing enamel, you should brush with a fluoride toothpaste or request an in-office fluoride treatment.  This places a mineral directly onto your teeth and strengthens them so that the dentin will not be exposed in the first place.  You may also want to have a bonding procedure completed where a tooth colored substance is bonded to your teeth in order to protect the dentin.

Teeth that require more serious treatment can have dental crowns placed onto them.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely and prevents anything from touching it.  This way you can eat, drink, and brush your teeth without feeling pain because nothing actually touches the tooth.  Before this procedure can be completed, we must diagnose and treat any other infections that may be present. 

By following these steps at home and visiting the dentist, your teeth will start to feel better. 

A Dentist Review of Boston University’s Study on Gum Health and Coffee

As a local dentist office, we pay attention to research studies that can shed light into additional ways our patients can stay in good oral health.  We focus on preventative oral health care and sometimes by changing a routine slightly; the risk of an oral infection can be reduced.  Recently, we read an interesting report published by Boston University.

In this particular study, 1,000 men were observed for 30 years.  This was a long and ongoing study to determine how coffee impacts the health of teeth and gums.  Researchers found that men who drank one or more cups of coffee a day had less bone loss in their teeth than others within the group.  Bone loss is a common symptom of gum disease and can eventually lead to teeth falling out.  Interestingly, they found a direct link between drinking coffee and better long-term oral health.  Given the duration of the study, the findings are significant.  Additionally, they did not find any oral health consequences to being a heavy coffee drinker.

As a dentist, we understand that caffeine can have benefits to the gums and the body overall, when used in moderation.  The report was published by Raul Garcia, D.M.D., who came to the conclusion that the anti-inflammatory agents in coffee were likely responsible for the improved gum health.  Basically, if you drink coffee, you have less of a risk of your gums swelling.  Swollen gums can be uncomfortable and lead to further complications like bleeding.  Both diabetics and pregnant women are naturally at an increased risk of swollen gums since they tend to suffer from reduced blood flow overall.  Drinking a cup of coffee may have additional benefits for people with these risk factors, though only men were studied.

The results of the test may apply to other types of drinks with caffeine such as tea.  Caffeinated green tea may be a better option simply because it won’t stain your teeth as much as coffee will.  As a dentist, it is important for us to point out that coffee does stain teeth so if you drink a lot of it – you may need our teeth whitening services in order to brighten your teeth and remove yellow stains.  Fortunately, this is an easy procedure so if you want the benefits of coffee without the stains – you can.

Coffee is not a solve-all for gum disease so make sure to still practice good oral hygiene at home.  This includes brushing and flossing throughout the day to remove sugar, bacteria and plaque.  You should also drink a lot of water because coffee can make you dehydrated, and hydration is important for the health of your body and for producing the saliva that is necessary for a healthy mouth.   We also recommend that everyone have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  This allows us to remove bacteria and plaque that weren’t removed with at-home care.  As with most things in life, balance is important.  Adding a cup of coffee to an existing healthy routine, can be good for your gums and help your teeth to stay healthy for years to come.

As a Local Dentist We Provide Painless Dentistry

Millions of adults have anxiety at the thought of visiting the dentist.  The level of anxiety or fear is different for each person, but those with severe anxiety may find it difficult to even have their teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, this can make the situation worst because without ongoing preventative care, cavities and gum disease may develop.  

We make it a priority to help our patients feel comfortable and overcome their fears.  This starts by being gentle and kind.  We listen to our patients so that we can understand what they are going through and what concerns that they may have which enables us to tailor their treatment plan accordingly.

Recently, a new patient visited our dentist office. He hadn’t been to the dentist in around ten years because the last time he went in to a different dentist; it was painful and he became afraid to go back.  Because of this fear, he didn’t schedule an appointment when his tooth started hurting.  He kept brushing it off and hoping it would stop feeling bad.  As with many oral infections, the pain actually got worst.  After hearing about our office, he finally gave in and scheduled an appointment.  When he walked in, our staff could tell that he was distraught and offered him some water to help him relax.  Knowing that the patient was uncomfortable, Dr. Rado saw him right away and offered a mild sedative to help him relax.  The transformation was instantaneous and he was able to start breathing slowly and carry on a conversation with Dr. Rado and our staff.

As an expert in painless dentistry, Dr. Rado was able to treat the tooth infection while keeping him comfortable.  After the procedure was over he was so relieved and could hardly believe that the tooth had been treated so easily.  After experiencing the difference that painless dentistry can make, he has continued to have his teeth cleaned on a regular basis and is no longer fearful of coming in for treatments.

This is the type of transformation that we see on a regular basis.  Too often people have had a bad experience when they were younger or due to a dental professional that isn’t gentle.  Once they experience painless dentistry, most patients change their mind about what a teeth cleaning or dental treatment can feel like.  Our goal is to make patients feel as comfortable as possible from the moment they walk in the door to when their treatment is being performed and afterwards.  By putting our patients first and ensuring their comfort, we hope to give them a new definition of what dentistry can be and are delighted when people that once feared the dentist are happy to come in.

Many of our patients have been so pleased with their experience that they are willing to share their story.  If you are worried about getting your teeth cleaned or having dental work performed, let our office manager know.  We can connect you with another patient that can explain their story and how Dr. Rado took care of their dental needs in a painless and comfortable way.