Dental Anxiety and Oral Health

Anxiety is a real disease. Doctors have categorized it as a mental health disorder. And to treat it properly, we need to treat it like a disease. However, most dentists are not trained to provide anxiety-free dentistry to their patients. Dentists for anxious patients understand that the patient is not just there for dental care. The patient is there because the dentist recognizes the link between dental anxiety and phobias, and knows how to manage the patient’s anxiety while providing dental care. Lack of regular dental care leads to poor dental health, which leads to medical complications. We’ll first look at how anxiety can impact overall health and oral health negatively. Then we will look at how a dental anxiety dentist can help the patient overcome these obstacles.

Anxiety and Health

Anxiety, stress and depression form a deadly trio impacting the oral health

Anxiety, stress, and depression often go together. And they all lead to physiological changes in the body which can impact the patient’s health negatively. These 3 represent the corners of a triangle forming a vicious cycle. Anxiety can lead to stress and/or depression. Depression can cause anxiety and place the patient under more stress. And stress can lead to feeling anxious which can also cause depression. You can see how these are so closely intertwined.

One of the common physiological symptoms we see as a result of anxiety is high blood pressure. This places a greater amount of workload on the cardiovascular system and increases the risk of heart disease or stroke. Stressed and anxious patients often have a high blood sugar levels. This can lead to diabetes in the long run. Stress also causes the body to slow down its metabolism. This in turn results in the body storing more of its energy backup in the form of fat. This weight gain can negatively impact a patient’s self-image, which can lead to depression. Anxiety also places a greater load on the body’s immune system. Since the body’s defense mechanism is stretched thin, this leaves the body more prone to developing different ailments (e.g. catching a cold). Who would have thought that mental health can have such significant health consequences?

Anxiety and Mental Health

Anxiety is classified as a mental health disorder. This means that poor mental health can lead to anxiety. And anxiety itself can make mental health even worse. To see this clearly, let’s make an analogy to heart disease.

Heart disease can cause high blood pressure. But it can also go the opposite way. High blood pressure (say in someone who enjoys a salty diet) can lead to heart disease. This person may have a healthy heart to start off with. Their high salt diet though causes their body to retain more fluids which then increases their blood pressure. This increase in blood pressure makes their heart have to pump harder which can lead to the development of heart disease. The same thing can be said regarding anxiety and mental health. Anxiety can lead to poor mental health the same as high blood pressure can cause poor cardiac health. Besides the medical and mental health consequences, anxiety places oral health at risk.

Anxiety and Oral Health

Anxiety impacts our dental health. We discussed how anxiety can lead to diabetes. People with diabetes are at an increased risk for periodontal disease. Gum disease leads to the accumulation of high levels of bacteria in the patient’s bloodstream. This increase in bacteria has been linked to heart disease. You can read about the medical consequences of gum disease here. Medical consequences aside, anxiety also takes a toll on mental health.

Oral health is greatly influenced by how well patients take care of their teeth. The better the patient cares for their teeth and gums, the fewer dental problems they will have. However, patients who suffer from anxiety are not the best when it comes to their oral hygiene. They will not be as diligent when it comes to brushing and flossing. Oral health is also influenced by the foods we eat.

Anxious individuals typically do not have a healthy, and balanced diet. Their dietary choices (e.g. processed foods, fast foods, etc.) lead to a higher level of dental plaque formation. This coupled with poor dental hygiene leads to faster development of dental caries and gum disease. And to top it off, anxious patients do not do well at the dentist. So even though they need the most help from a dental provider, they often postpone, delay and sometimes avoid going to the dentist altogether.

Anxious Dental Patient

An anxious dental patient will avoid going to the dentist as much as possible. Their only motivation for going is their pain. They will not go to the dentist to prevent problems. They only go when they have a problem. and typically these are huge problems by the time they walk into a dentist’s office. This is a typical mouth of an anxious dental patient when they first see the dentist.

Dentist for Anxiety and Anxious Patients

The medical profession has been slow to accept and treat mental health. They have only started giving mental health the attention it deserves in the last few decades. And with mental health having such far-reaching consequences in everyone’s life, they are finally recognizing its significance.

Most dentists also are not properly trained in dealing with dental anxiety. What they haven’t understood is that an anxious patient is very different than a patient with average anxiety. Anxious patients typically view the dentist not as their friend, but rather as an enemy. This can be based on a previous negative experience or an unrealistic fear based on what they have heard. Anxiety also heightens the patient’s perception of pain. So any small thing the dentist needs to do causes tremendous discomfort for the patient. And that’s why it’s important to consider these patients as candidates for sedation dentistry.

Dental Anxiety Management

Sedation, or “sleep” dentistry, has made dentistry possible for patients with dental anxiety and phobia. A dental anxiety dentist can not only fix the “dental” disease, but they can also help the patient manage their anxiety. Dr. Sonny Eslampour has treated many highly anxious patients successfully with sedation dentistry. He can do the same for you. Contact us now and start taking control of your anxiety.

May 24, 2022May 24, 2022

Knocked Out Tooth – Do This

knocked out teeth - list of things to do

Annually, over 5 million teeth are knocked out, or avulsed, in children and adults. And physical trauma is the only reason this ever happens. From the ice hockey rink to the basketball court, we have all seen players get their teeth knocked out. While getting a tooth knocked out is certainly not a fun experience, there are things that can be done to lessen the damage. You may even be able to save the tooth. But you must act fast.

Your Tooth Got Knocked Out – Now What

When a tooth is knocked out entirely, it may result in bleeding, pain, swelling, bruising, eyes watering, runny nose, and even a state of shock. But it typically is not life-threatening. Keeping a cool head and remembering what to do can make for a more desirable outcome.

Save the Tooth

First, you must save the tooth. Locate the tooth and pick it up by the part that you normally see in your mouth (e.g. the crown). Avoid touching or handling the root (or roots) of the tooth. Even though it probably looks like a bloody mess with stuff hanging from it, you don’t want to rub or scrub or touch the root. If the root appears dirty (e.g. tooth knocked out on a dirt or grass field), very gently rinse it with room temperature water.

Store the Tooth For Transport

Second, you must store the tooth. The best place to “store” the tooth is back inside the mouth, where it came from. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and see if you can get it to sit in the same spot it used to be, or as close to it as possible. If doing so causes great pain or is simply out of the question, as in the case of a child’s tooth, place the tooth in a cup of milk. You can even tuck the tooth inside your mouth by your cheek. Just don’t swallow the thing. The entire purpose here is to keep the root from drying out. The drier the root becomes, the less likely the tooth can be saved.

Get to the Dentist – Fast

If you can see the dentist within 30 minutes of the accident, that is the best-case scenario. But if you cannot, you want to get to one as soon as you can. The dentist can evaluate the condition more fully and present you with the next best steps to follow. Your dentist may splint the tooth to the adjacent teeth, or make you a temporary mouthguard to use. A root canal therapy may be necessary to prevent further root and nerve damage. For really complicated cases, a dental implant may be the next best option.

Our doctor has the necessary training and skills to help you with your knocked-out tooth and other dental emergencies as well. Contact us for an appointment.

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

Tooth Becoming Painful or Sensitive After a Filling

Why Is My Tooth Sensitive After a Filling?

We all get cavities in our teeth. And when a cavity is small it can be repaired with a “filling”. But why is it that after a filling some people experience pain or sensitivity? Is sensitivity after getting a tooth filled normal? How long should the sensitivity last? These are some of the questions we’ll be answering. But first, we need to understand how teeth are built to better understand the cause of sensitivity.

Tooth – Anatomy

Teeth are not made up of bone (contrary to what some people believe). Here we don’t want to talk about the chemical make-up of the tooth. Rather, we want to look at the tooth and all of its layers.

Teeth have layer of enamel, dentin, pulp and root

Our teeth are covered on the outermost layer by enamel. Enamel is the hardest material in the human body. Plus it has no nerve endings. This means that if the enamel is damaged it will not cause any sensation. So a patient will not “feel” a cavity that is confined to the enamel. In a sense, the enamel works like body armor (for the tooth). And much like body armor, it can protect the tooth against a number of problems, But it does have its weaknesses. It can be penetrated slowly over time. To learn more about cavities, read our article Most Common Tooth Diseases.

Underneath the enamel layer is the “dentin”. Dentin is not as impervious and strong as the enamel. Plus, it serves as an open communication channel with the nerve deep inside. The innermost layer of the tooth which is the “pulp” houses the nerve and the bloody supply. When the cavity penetrates the enamel all the way and reaches the dentin, that’s when most people start having symptoms like sensitivity to cold or sweets.

Biology of Healing

Our body is great at healing and repairing itself, most of the time. This process always takes time though. Let’s look at when we accidentally scratch our skin or get a cut. It’s painful for sure. We have to clean it and put medication on it and perhaps even a bandaid. But after all of this, the site is still painful. And that’s expected because the wound needs time to heal. The same happens when a tooth has a filling. Even though the decay has been removed, the tooth needs time to completely heal.

Of course, there are times when the healing doesn’t progress as expected. And this can be due to a number of reasons. But you know things aren’t going well if your symptoms don’t get a little better every day. Or worse yet, they start getting worse. Here are some signs you shouldn’t ignore:

moderate to extreme temperature sensitivity
difficulty biting down or chewing on the tooth
gums feeling swollen and red where the filling was done
pain from the tooth or the jaw

If the nerve inside the tooth is damaged, then a root canal treatment can stop the pain. If the tooth is fractured, then a crown may be necessary. Our dentist is trained in properly diagnosing and treating these types of cases.

Sensitive Tooth? Give us a Call

If you have a sensitive tooth that just won’t go away, contact us now for an appointment.

February 16, 2021May 18, 2023

Why Do My Teeth Feel Fuzzy and Rough

Teeth have a smooth outer layer called enamel. Sometimes though, our teeth feel fuzzy or rough. Which brings up the question: why do teeth feel fuzzy? The answer lies within our diet and our habits.

Why Do My Teeth Feel Fuzzy

This “fuzz” is due to the accumulation of plaque. Dental plaque is common among us all. Plaque formation requires three key ingredients. After we eat, our saliva plus the bacteria in our mouth and the broken-down cellular components of what we just ate form into this thin, mucus-like sticky layer that can stick onto the teeth, the gums, and the tongue. Does your tongue have a different texture or a whitish color closer to the back? Chances are your tongue is coated with dental plaque that has been accumulating over time. The initial layer of plaque is very thin and almost invisible. It can also be easily removed at this stage by rinsing with water or just drinking the water.

However, plaque is very sticky, and it covers the smooth enamel layer. In this image, you see the presence of plaque on the teeth. Because of its stickiness, other particles in the mouth and more plaque can form on top of the existing layer. Over time this leads to a sensation of fuzzy teeth.
When it comes to foods, there are certain types of foods that increase the rate of plaque formation. To see what plaque looks like under an electron microscope, see this article in the DailyMail. Plus, some foods contain ingredients that can cause our teeth to feel rough as well.

Rough Teeth and Sticky Foods

picture of load of bread as a source of carbohydrates which causes teeth to feel fuzzy and rough

When it comes to sticky foods, we’re not so much talking about the food itself being sticky like caramel. We are talking about the broken-down ingredients of the food. Carbohydrates are a group of foods that contain bread, rice, pasta, pastry, and more. As you can imagine, this food group causes the most amount of plaque formation compared to proteins or fats. That’s why people with a low-carb diet typically have less plaque than someone who doesn’t.

Some foods, like spinach or kale, leave our teeth feeling gritty, rough, fuzzy, or chalky afterward. The reason is that these green leafy vegetables contain oxalic acid. This acid blocks the absorption of calcium by our body. Since our saliva contains calcium, combining it with oxalic acid forms tiny little crystals which can then adhere to the teeth. Fortunately, this sensation can be relieved by eating an orange or merely rinsing and brushing the teeth afterward.

Fuzzy Teeth – How to Prevent

There are steps you can take to minimize the fuzzy or rough feeling on your teeth.

Good Home Hygiene –

Daily brushing (at least twice) with mild toothpaste and flossing are 2 of the most important steps you can take. An electric toothbrush like the highly recommended Rotadent toothbrush is an excellent aid in removing plaque daily. Water picks are also useful for this purpose. When we brush or floss the teeth, we interrupt the plaque colonies and bacteria from growing too rapidly. We are also removing some plaque, but disrupting their growth is the key to the fight against plaque.

Eating a Healthy Diet –

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you cannot eat what you love. You have to balance that with foods that are good for your dental health and overall health. You also have to accept that you need to spend more time doing your daily hygiene if you eat carbs. We must also emphasize the benefits of healthy drinking water, not just for the teeth but our entire body. For tips on a nutritious diet, please read our article on Acidic Diet – Destruction From the Inside.

Regular Dental Visits –

No matter how hard you try, there are parts of your mouth that you cannot clean properly. That’s why visiting your dentist is necessary for maintaining optimal dental health. At Platinum Dental in San Marcos, our dentist recommends dental cleanings at least twice a year and more for patients with gingivitis or periodontal problems.

We Are Here For You

If you haven’t been to a dentist recently, what’s keeping you? Just pick up the phone and give us a call. If you prefer, you can also fill out the form below and we’ll reach out to you. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment for you with our doctor. We can help you eliminate the fuzzy teeth sensation and help you achieve your ideal dental health.

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021

Most Common Teeth Diseases

Diseases of the Teeth

Diseases can affect any organ in our body. Our teeth are no exception. When it comes to teeth, we need to understand that the infection can spread across the surrounding structures and eventually impact other organs in our body. And since not all teeth diseases hurt, we may not even know that there is a problem. Let’s look at the most common tooth diseases.

Cavities – Tooth Decay

Almost everyone has had a cavity or more in their lifetime. And that is because we love sweets. Plus, we may not be the best when it comes to brushing and flossing. The bacteria causing tooth decay use the sweets and plaque as fuel. The more sweets we eat and the more plaque we leave on our teeth, the more active these bacteria become.
Enamel contains no nerve endings. The enamel layer is on average 2-3 mm thick. Since the decay eats at the enamel layer very slowly, it will be a while before you “feel” anything.

Once the tooth decay reaches the dentin junction, that’s when you start feeling like you have a cavity. Sensitivity and pain to sweets and cold are two common symptoms of a tooth cavity that has reached the dentin layer.
The dentist can fix a cavity when it is small quite easily. However, delaying the treatment results in the cavity growing bigger. The reason is that the cavity doesn’t stop growing once it reaches the dentin. Tooth decay can extend into the nerve and the blood supply.

Abscessed Tooth – Infection in Blood

A tooth’s cavity grows at different rates depending on what the patient eats and their dental hygiene. The layer where the cavity is located also makes a difference in how rapidly the cavity gets bigger. A cavity in the enamel layer grows slower compared to dentin. And the reason is the chemical structure of enamel is more impervious to decay than dentin’s chemical makeup.

Once the decay reaches the nerve, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream causing an infection. A tooth that has nerve damage becomes sensitive to heat. As the nerve damage progresses, the tooth starts throbbing and even causes sleeping problems. Pain while chewing is also common at this stage.

When bacteria enter our bloodstream, it leads to the development of an infection. We first develop a localized fever, redness, inflammation, and aches. If left untreated, the swelling will keep growing.

Sometimes this swelling gets so severe that it causes breathing difficulties by placing pressure against the airway. And as the number of bacteria increase, our body enters a state of septic shock. At this stage, we have a real medical emergency. Compromised airways or infected blood don’t go away with aspirin or a filling.

Tooth cavities and decay attack the tooth itself. Other tooth diseases affect the supporting structures of the tooth.

Gingivitis – Gum Disease

The teeth and the jaw bone are not fused. Instead, teeth are attached to the jaw bone by a thin layer of connective tissue. A cavity attacks the tooth structure. In contrast, gum disease attacks this connective tissue, not the tooth itself.

In tooth decay, the bacteria release acids that destroy the enamel and cause the cavity to form. Whereas in gum disease, the bacteria cause our body to initiate a defensive immune response, which results in damage to the gums and the connective tissue.
The disease of the tooth’s supporting structures eventually leads to the loss of the tooth. You can think of gum disease as soil erosion around a tree. When the soil decline gets severe enough, the tree falls. And much like the tree example, this damage doesn’t happen overnight. Learning how to clean the teeth properly is the best defense against gum disease.

Periodontal Disease – Infected Gums – Gum Abscess

Periodontal disease results from untreated gingivitis. And what separates the two is the damage to the foundation of the tooth. With gingivitis, the damage is only to the gum tissue around the tooth. With periodontitis, the damage extends further into the bone and down to the connective tissue. Teeth look longer as the gums pull away. Gums bleed and are generally tender. Some teeth will become noticeably looser. And there will come a time when the teeth are so wiggly that nothing can save them.

Gum abscess can occur during periodontitis. What happens is that the infection and pus keep building up underneath the gums. Since the pus is growing in a closed space and can’t drain away, the pus volume keeps increasing. The buildup of this infection causes the gums to bulge out as a result of the pressure.
Gum disease leads to tooth loss. The disease is also tied to other systemic ailments like heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications. Gums disease starts with the formation of plaque on the teeth. When the patient doesn’t remove the plaque, the gums start getting out of control.

Impacted Teeth

Baby teeth erupt into the mouth in a specific sequence. They then are replaced by adult teeth over the years. The specific eruption pattern helps the jaw bones to grow and develop to their standard size. However, sometimes a baby’s tooth becomes so severely decayed that your dentist removes it. When that happens, the growth of the jaw is compromised. As is often the case, the neighboring teeth start collapsing into the newly vacated space. The dental collapse leads to a physical blockage to the eruption path of the adult teeth. Consequently, the adult tooth then becomes trapped or impacted. But this is not the only way teeth get impacted.
At times, the jaw doesn’t grow enough to accommodate all of the adult teeth. Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth that come into the mouth. As such, there may not be enough room left for them to come in straight. It is not uncommon to see the wisdom teeth tipping forward and jamming up against the front tooth. These teeth often cause pain and discomfort to the patient and need to be removed.

Missing Teeth

Our genetic code is responsible for the creation of our organs, including our teeth. If the genes are missing or altered somehow, the teeth made by those genes will be affected. Sometimes teeth turn out misshapen, and at times the teeth are completely missing. Our upper front side teeth are typically the ones that are affected by this congenital condition. The missing teeth often impact the smile negatively.

Other Dental Diseases

There are many other diseases of the teeth. Here, we talked about some of the major ones. For more on common dental diseases, check out this cool article on WebMD.

Teeth Diseases – Multiple Solutions

The dentist can treat and correct the disease affecting the teeth in many ways. Tooth bondings, white fillings, root canal therapy, crowns, dental implants, and dental bridges are a few ways the dentist can help the patient. Our dentist, with over 20 years of experience, can treat all of these conditions. If you or a loved one is suffering from a tooth disease, contact us, and we’ll schedule a consultation with the doctor for you.

January 24, 2021January 24, 2021

How Many Teeth Do Adults Have

How Many Teeth Do Humans Have?

As your local family dentist in San Marcos, our patients are often asked this very question. The short answer is 32. But our adult teeth and baby teeth preceding them have such an impact on our life. Their presence and location determine how the lower half of the face develops in relation to the rest of the face. In essence, the teeth impact our looks, the way we breathe, and what we can eat. Let’s look at how important teeth are to our daily lives by diving into the tooth anatomy.

Teeth Have Many Layers

The Enamel Layer

Anatomically speaking, a tooth has three layers or parts. The outermost layer, which we can see with our eyes, is the enamel. Enamel is the toughest, most robust material in the human body. It protects the teeth against damage and trauma. As the enamel layer contains no nerve endings, small cavities don’t hurt.

The Dentin Layer

Underneath the enamel is the dentin layer. Dentin is not as strong as enamel. It acts as a buffer between the outer glass-like enamel layer and the nerve bundle located deep inside the tooth. While it contains no nerve endings, the dentin communicates with the tooth’s nerve using tiny little channels (like tunnels). When a cavity reaches the dentin, it leads to tooth sensitivity, such as cold and sweets. As the cavity gets bigger, the symptoms become more severe and last longer too.

The Pulp Chamber

The pulp is located in the innermost section of the tooth: the pulp chamber. The pulp includes the nerve and blood supply to the tooth. It is responsible for bringing nutrients to the tooth and transmitting sensation (e.g., toothache, biting the tip of the fork. etc.) When a cavity gets to the nerve, severe pain is usually a common symptom. Infections also become an issue as the bacteria can now invade the bloodstream.

The Root

There is another part of the tooth not often discussed. And that’s because it’s on the root of the tooth. The root’s chemical structure is different than the other layers. It is a cross between the enamel and dentin layers. Typically the roots are not visible to the naked eye as they are usually covered by the gums and embedded in the jawbone. You can start seeing the root surface when the gums recede and pull away.

The tooth root acts as an anchor and holds the tooth attached to the jaw. It is more prone to tooth decay than enamel. It is also more sensitive and may result in nerve damage. All the nerve and blood vessels travel thru the center of the root and culminate in the pulp.

Now that we have a better picture of what a tooth looks like let’s talk about our first set of teeth: the baby teeth.

Baby Teeth – And When We Lose Them

Humans have two sets of teeth. “Baby” teeth are the first of two groups. The first baby tooth starts coming into the mouth when the infant is about six months old. The last of the baby teeth come in when the child is about two years of age. In all, there are twenty baby teeth by the time the child is about two years old. Girls often teeth faster than boys. Baby teeth are important for ideal facial development

As more baby teeth erupt, the child can chew more solid food and transition from baby to adult foods. Baby teeth are responsible for the jawbones growing proportionally. When a baby tooth comes in crooked or is lost prematurely, the jawbones do not develop naturally, leading to complications in breathing, chewing, and facial development, not to mention confidence.

Baby teeth are similar to adult teeth, with one exception. Baby teeth are smaller and have shorter roots. Their smaller size helps the tooth shedding process as the baby tooth slowly loosens up and falls out once the adult tooth is ready to come in. There are times that baby teeth do not fall out on their own. The dentist must remove the over-retained tooth. Delay in removing these teeth can harm the child’s dental and physical development.

Teeth Adults Have On Top Jaw

Adult teeth are important for eating, esthetics and airway maintenance An adult tooth replaces each baby tooth. And on top of that, we get 12 more adult teeth with no baby teeth counterparts. There are a total of sixteen teeth on the top jaw of a human adult. These teeth are larger than the baby teeth, and there are more of them, promoting further jaw growth and development. The top teeth have a significant impact on the lip support, the esthetics of the smile, and the extent to which the lower jaw develops.

Teeth Adults Have On Bottom Jaw

There are sixteen adult teeth on the bottom jaw, similar to the top. And like the upper teeth, the lower teeth replace the ten lower baby teeth and then some. These teeth have a tremendous impact on the length of the face, chin position, lip prominence, and airway and chewing. If some teeth come in crooked or missing altogether, it usually leads to a shift in the lower jaw to one side or another. The same holds if the upper jaw is missing a tooth. Shifting of the jaw too much leads to symptoms like TMJ and headaches.

Furthermore, missing teeth lead to underdevelopment of the jawbone. The tongue, being attached to the lower jaw, lives within its confines. If there is not sufficient room for the tongue, it starts getting pushed up and back, leading to interference with our breathing. These patients have a higher risk for snoring and developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Adult teeth start erupting about six years of age. Once again, girls get their adult teeth faster than boys. And while most of our adult teeth come in by about 12-14 years of age, our wisdom teeth don’t erupt ‘til we’re in our late teens.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last of the adult teeth to erupt into the mouth. They’re referred to as “wisdom” teeth reflecting the older age of the individual and that somehow they are wiser just because of their age.

Regardless of their name, wisdom teeth are considered molars. And specifically, they are the third set of molars to erupt into the mouth. Sometimes they are regular-sized (which is still smaller than the first two sets). And at times, like a spare car tire, they are tiny.

For a long time, wisdom teeth were slated for extraction as a rule. So much so that patients always ask if they need to have their children’s wisdom teeth pulled. To this day, when one joins the armed forces, the military will pay for your wisdom teeth to be removed, and declining is not an option. This trend, however, has been changing for some time now, at least in civilian life. Nowadays, wisdom teeth are typically left alone until they start to cause issues. When the extraction is necessary, it is often due to a lack of space and angulation with respect to the jawbone and other teeth. The patient’s symptoms, potential developmental issues, and surgical considerations play a significant role in making this decision.

TEETH – FACIAL AND AIRWAY key

Healthy teeth help in developing a beautiful smile Teeth have a tremendous impact not just on our smile but also on our survival and quality of life. Even though we have 32 adult teeth, to begin with, most of us end up with 28 (after removing the four wisdom teeth). Some of us even lose more teeth because of braces, leaving only 24 teeth. And there are lots of people that have one or more teeth pulled or missing for other reasons than the ones we talked about already. If our finger is hurting or broken, we don’t even begin to consider cutting it off. Why is it that people often have a “bad” tooth extracted without a second of doubt? Is it because we have so many more left? When we consider each tooth’s importance in the mouth, we realize that removing teeth is not a good choice. At Platinum Dental, Inc., our doctor carefully monitors your teeth’ health and the other essential functions that the teeth are performing. If it has been a while since you had your teeth checked, or if you suspect something is going on, contact us, and we’ll get you an appointment fast.

January 6, 2021August 10, 2021

Gappy Teeth? Treatment Options

Gapped Teeth? Many Ways to Fix

Gappy Teeth Before Treatment Do you have a gap in your smile? Do gappy teeth take away from your smile and self-confidence? Well, fret not. Gaps between the teeth can be corrected in many ways. In this article, we’ll talk about the various reasons why gaps exist between teeth. We’ll also review different treatment options when it comes to fixing gappy teeth and smiles.

Gaps Between Teeth – How Does It Happen

Gapped teeth because of small tooth size

Gaps between teeth can be due to many reasons. Sometimes the teeth are too small relative to the face and the jaw.

gappy front teeth

Sometimes, the teeth are the right size, but the jaw bone is too long, leaving space in between the teeth. And sometimes, the teeth are just going off in different directions.

Congenitally missing tooth leaving a big gap in the smile There are cases where the teeth and the jaw bone are both the right size, but there are congenitally missing teeth causing excessive spacing to remain.

Tooth loss that goes untreated leads to remaining teeth shifting and a gap developing where there were no gaps. Certain habits can lead to the development of the gap. These habits can include nail-biting and biting on straws or pencils, for example. Thumb sucking (usually seen in younger patients) leads to gappy teeth. Some patients place excessive pressure on their teeth with their tongue. Classified as a myo-functional problem, this results in the development of gaps between teeth as well. When patients lose their back teeth, they change the way they chew their food. This places more stress on remaining teeth, which causes the teeth to shift and gaps to develop.

Gappy Teeth Because of Receding Gums

Some patients have an abnormal swallow pattern, which places undesirable forces on the teeth causing them to shift. Sometimes gaps develop due to receding gums or as a result of gum disease.

While this list is nonexhaustive, these are the most common reasons why gaps exist in between the teeth. But is treatment essential to treat gappy teeth? The answer: it depends.

Gappy Teeth – Is It Always Bad?

gaps along baby teeth Gaps between teeth exist due to several reasons. However, your dentist doesn’t need to treat and fix all gaps between teeth. For example, children usually have gapping between their “baby teeth.” This serves 2 purposes. One, it reduces the chances of cavities in between the teeth as it allows for easier brushing. The second reason is that “adult” teeth are wider than their baby teeth predecessors. The spacing in a child’s mouth, due to this reason, usually corrects itself as the child grows and gets the grown-up teeth. In rare instances, the front teeth have a small piece of soft tissue (called the frenulum) in between them. Your dentist may recommend removing the frenulum depending on its severity.

Gapped Teeth Treatable by Invisalign and Braces

Picture of gapped teeth treated by braces Thanks to advances in orthodontics, the gaps among teeth may be treated successfully with orthodontics. In these cases, patients are given the option of traditional braces (i.e., brackets and wires) versus removable braces (i.e., Invisalign). Your dentist can close the gaps between the teeth slowly and in a specific sequence to help shorten treatment time and improve results.

Traditional braces require meticulous daily maintenance to keep the gums and teeth healthy. The reason being that food and plaque left behind lead to other dental problems like cavities and gum disease. This problem can be easily avoided using Invisalign. Keep the aligners in all the time. Remove them when you want to eat and do daily hygiene.

Gapped Smile Treated by Crowns

Gaps between teeth treated by cosmetic dentistry Cosmetic dentistry has enabled the dentist to treat gappy teeth when the patient may not need or want orthodontic treatment. The amount of spacing and gaps will determine how many crowns are necessary. The challenge here is to keep the teeth proportional to the face and each other. Closing a large gap between 2 teeth without involving more than 2 teeth often results in the front teeth looking abnormally wide. That’s because the proportions are violated, and the beauty is lost. Beautiful and natural-looking results are possible when the dentist follows the right principles and treatment routines.

Crowns and veneers are meant to last for years with good care. Unlike braces, where treatment may take up to 2 or more years, cosmetic dentistry for closing gappy teeth is typically completed in weeks to months.

Gappy Teeth Treated by Dental Implants

Gap in teeth treated by dental implant image There are times that a combination of treatment options yields the best results. For example, in a congenitally missing tooth (usually a front tooth), the dentist can close the space using orthodontics. While possible, this treatment by itself would probably end up causing other problems such as gum issues and even chewing difficulties.

However, if braces are used to keep the available space from being lost, using that space for a dental implant to replace the lost tooth is a far better treatment option. The results will be more esthetic, more functional, and less time-consuming.

Unless dental implants were used temporarily, dental implant therapy usually lasts a lifetime. Couple a dental implant and a porcelain crown, and the results are beautiful and long-lasting.

Gappy Teeth – conclusion

Gaps between teeth not only affect the function of the teeth, they also affect the esthetics tremendously. Fortunately, there are treatment options to treat this condition successfully. Our dentist has experience in orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and implant therapy. With a keen eye for esthetics, you will have a treatment outcome that is both functional and beautiful. Contact us today to schedule your consultation to see how we can help you treat this unsightly condition.

October 13, 2020June 26, 2023

Acidic Diet – Destruction From the Inside

Acidic Diet & Disease Risk

Science has shown that an acidic diet leads to all sorts of diseases in the body. In the mouth, an acidic diet leads to premature destruction of the enamel at best and to severe dental disease at worst. We, the dentists, have always promoted a diet that is low on the acidity scale for the sake of helping you protect your teeth. Turns out that an acidic diet (foods, drinks, medications, etc.) sets the ground for developing disease in other body parts as well. To better understand the impact of our diet on our health, let’s first look at what happens when there is a disease in any tissue.

Disease & Acidity

There are so many diseases that we cannot talk about each single one of them. So we’ll look at them as a whole and ask the following question. What do all diseases have in common? The answer is an acidic environment. You see, any time there is a disease in any of our bodily tissues and organs, the organ and the surrounding environment become more acidic. Research has shown that disease can only be present in an acidic environment. This acidic environment is highly toxic to our tissue and organs. So much so that our tissues begin to change at the cellular level. These changes have detrimental effects depending on what tissue or organ is involved.

So if any disease needs an “acidic” environment to thrive, it follows that an anti-acidic (e.g. alkaline) or at least neutral pH environment is best to prevent the disease from forming. Now that we see the link between acidity and disease, let’s look at our diet and our body’s pH.

Diet & pH – Alkaline vs Acidic

Any food or beverage or medication has a certain pH associated with it. “pH” is simply a measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is. The scale goes from 1-14 with high numbers representing an alkaline state and low numbers an acidic environment. Neutral is at the midway point or 7 meaning not acidic or basic. Certain foods and beverage measure very acidic on this scale. Some examples of acidic beverages are sodas, energy drinks and alcohol. A similar analogy can be made for foods and vegetables. Steaks, tomatoes, and oranges are some examples of acidic foods and vegetables. We also have foods and beverages that are alkaline.

Avocadoes, nuts, fish, and cheese are examples of alkaline foods. Alkaline drinks can include milk, soy products, some low-sugar yogurts, and of course, alkaline water. And by the way, not all alkaline waters are the same. Learn about “ionized” alkaline water versus bottled alkaline water.

Diet & Health – The Ignored Link

We’ve all heard the expression “You are what you eat.” To a certain extent, this is very true. But it doesn’t take into account “what you do” after you eat. However, everything else being equal, it is accepted that food that is high in calories leads to weight gain compared to food low in calories. Also, foods high in cholesterol like certain sea foods result in a high cholesterol level in our body. Using these commonly accepted correlations, it follows that an acidic diet leads to an increase in the acidity level in our body.

Healthy Diet & Water

Eating the right foods and water will keep our bodies in a more alkaline condition. The alkalinity will also reduce the likelihood of disease and ailments in our body. Since this is an “additive” effect, the longer we eat and drink healthy, the more the benefits. Conversely, a lifelong diet of acidic foods and beverages will result in all sorts of ailments as we age. If you want to stay out of doctor’s offices when you hit your golden years, it’s best to start on a healthy diet journey while you are still young.

Our diet has a tremendous impact on our long-term health. The sooner we accept this fact the better we can protect ourselves from the detrimental effects of an acidic diet on our health.

August 11, 2020December 28, 2020

Diabetes – COVID-19 – Gum Disease

Diabetes – COVID – Gum Disease

The recent pandemic has shed light on the detrimental effects of diabetes. People with diabetes are more likely to suffer from serious complications if they contract COVID-19. The same is true for prediabetic patients. Gum disease is also a risk factor for developing diabetes. To better understand this relationship we need to first see what diabetes is and how it affects us.

Diabetes – A Hormonal Deficiency

Diabetes refers to a group of disorders where our body is not able to use what we eat for energy. This disease affects almost 10% of the US population. And of these, one of every four don’t even know they have diabetes. There are 2 main types of diabetes. The first affects younger individuals. The other affects the older population and is the most prevalent form. In short, diabetes interferes with our body’s ability to use food for energy and storage.

The foods we eat fall into one of 3 categories: carbohydrates (i.e. pasta, bread, rice, sugars), proteins (i.e. meat, chicken, etc.) and fats (oil, butter, etc). Our bodies though cannot use the food in this form. Before our body can use the food for energy, our digestive system needs to break down these foods into their smallest digestible form. Glucose is a common end product of digestion that our body can use for energy. We need insulin (a hormone) to be able to use this glucose. When our body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when our body becomes resistant to insulin, it cannot use the glucose circulating in our blood. This results in an elevated blood sugar level, which is a common finding in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.

Diabetes and COVID-19

It’s not what you think. Having diabetes doesn’t mean you’ll contract COVID-19 automatically. But it can cause some serious problems if you do get COVID-19. To better understand this let’s imagine the following scenario. If you were to have a twin, you and your twin will be identical in every way genetically. Let us also assume that you and your twin lead the same exact lifestyle, eating same foods, exercising the same, etc. In this case if you two contracted COVID-19 somehow, you’ll have similar symptoms and reactions. But if one of you is diabetic or pre-diabetic, they will likely have more serious complications from COVID. Diabetes negatively impacts our immune system and that is why we see patients with diabetes have more serious and life threatening complications from COVID-19.

Diabetes – Gum Disease – Root Cavities

Gum disease is the most common form of oral disease affecting the diabetic population. In fact, gum disease is considered a risk factor for developing diabetes. 1 out of every 5 diabetics have serious gum disease. And there are multiple reasons. Gum disease starts in between the teeth, usually because of inadequate or no flossing whatsoever. This disease, like all other diseases, causes inflammation. Consequently, more blood is pumped into the gums because the body is trying to fight the disease. That’s why the gums look red and swollen in patients with gum disease. However, this response by our body actually results in destruction of the bone around the teeth. Gum disease challenges our immune system. And diabetic people have a compromised immune system. This extra load on the immune system makes the body more susceptible to contracting other diseases and ailments. Furthermore, gum disease like other diseases, causes further rise in our blood sugar. This spells even bigger problems for diabetic patients placing them at risk for hyperglycemia which can lead to shock. It is also important to look at the link between gum disease and heart disease. Diabetes also decreases the amount of saliva we produce. As a result of decreased saliva our teeth are more likely to develop cavities especially on the root surfaces.

Controlling Gum Disease

Considering what we have just discussed, any diabetic patient should heed their doctor’s advise to control their blood sugar levels by taking the appropriate measures. Preventing disease in the body to reduce the load on the immune system should also be a priority. Treating gum disease and preventing its return is essential to the diabetic patient. Your dentist can help treat gum disease and help you maintain healthy gums. This way your body will be better prepared to deal with other diseases and ailments. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while or you don’t have a dentist simply contact our staff. We will get you an appointment to evaluate your dental health and help prevent bigger problems with your overall health.

May 15, 2020December 28, 2020

What Foods Reduce Anxiety

Foods to Reduce Anxiety

Let’s face it. These are highly anxious times for most people. As if we didn’t have enough normal anxiety to deal with on a regular basis, the current environment lends itself to anxiety overload. And “anxiety” is considered a medical disorder, similar to for example, high blood pressure being a medical disorder. And while there is no definitive cure, there are steps that can be taken to minimize and reduce our anxiety level. So what we decided to do is put together a short list of foods that help reduce anxiety, for everyone to benefit from during these times and beyond.

Anxiety – Prevalence and Symptoms

Foods can help reduce our stress and anxiety levels

Anxiety is currently classified as a mental illness. And that is probably because people in medicine haven’t figured out any other organ or physiologic function which can cause this disease. Now whether you (or I) agree with this classification or not, one thing is clear. Anxiety is for sure a medical condition, but a mental disorder? Nevertheless, it affects almost 20% of the population. Given its prevalence though, only about 60% of these patients seek care, meaning there a lot of people with un-diagnosed anxiety walking around and dealing with it on their own. One reason for this maybe due to the fact that people may not want to be diagnosed with mental illness of any nature because of external or internal beliefs. Another reason is people have come to accept feeling anxious as a normal feeling.

Anxiety can cause symptoms like: chest tightness, muscle tension, heart palpitations, elevated heart rate, increased body temperature, tremors, difficulty concentrating, fear, tension and irritability. If you have been dealing with anxiety you know these symptoms well. Some level of anxiety is healthy (i.e. feeling anxious when taking a test), but too much anxiety can be detrimental to our immune system and health.

Treating Anxiety

If you have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder chances are you have been given some exercises and possibly even some medications to combat this disease. Valium (or Xanax) is a common anti-anxiety drug which is prescribed for people with anxiety. There are also a number of other drugs with rather serious side effects which are prescribed as well. The problem with this approach is that it primarily focuses on relieving the symptoms by synthetic pills and drugs with side effects which make one wonder, is this a medication or a poison?

Our body responds to the environment and surroundings daily. When it’s hot, we sweat. When it’s cold we shiver. It also responds to what we put in it. This applies to both what we ingest and what is artificially introduced into our system (i.e. injections like flu shots or other medications, or a cut that serves as an open door for bugs to enter). You eat a high salt diet and chances are you’ll develop hypertension over time. You love seafood? Chances are your body will have elevated mercury levels as well as high cholesterol. By the same token, when we eat good foods, we do not develop these kinds of issues. So the question is do foods have an impact on our anxiety? And the answer is yes. Eating more of these foods will help reduce your anxiety level naturally, with none of the harmful side effects of synthetic medications.

Foods Help Reduce Anxiety

If you still don’t agree with the concept of our diet having a long term impact on our health, at least consider its proven short term impact. If you eat something that has gone bad without realizing it, your body will respond by rejecting it (along with a lot of fluids and such) out of any possible orifice. If you are allergic to peanuts and unknowingly eat something that contains peanuts, then once again your body reacts by an allergic reaction. So let’s focus on this as if the benefits of the following anxiety-relief-foods were only short term. The following foods are listed in no particular order.

Dark Chocolate – Aside from tasting great, dark chocolate is rich in anti-oxidants (which help reduce aging). In some studies it has been shown to reduce the level of “stress” hormone in our body. Not only does it taste good, it’s good for you. Just watch the quantity and the sugar content. Invest in good quality dark chocolate to truly reap its health benefits.
Carbohydrates & Fibers – Carbohydrate is a fancy word that covers a wide group of foods such as rice, bread, pasta, cookies, etc. Fibers are also carbohydrates, but a large percentage of their content is not absorbed into our body. That is why anyone with digestive health issues (especially bowel movements) are placed on a high fiber diet to help things move along. The trick here is to eat more “complex carbohydrates”. Meaning avoid simple carbohydrates like sugar and cookies. Instead opt for non-processed, non-refined forms. Some examples are: brown rice, sweet potatoes and whole grain bread. It’s been shown that consuming carbs helps our body release “serotonin” which is a stress-reducing hormone. Fiber is necessary for a healthy functioning digestive system as discussed. And research has shown that a healthy digestion helps reduce the stress on our body at a physiological level (e.g. reduction in oxidative stress).
Avocados –This fruit contains an amazing amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados have been shown to boost concentration, decrease stress and improve the mood. No matter how you eat it (guacamole or sliced), it’s full of good stuff. And it tastes good too.
Fish – Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids along w/ the healthy oil that our body needs. If you don’t like fish there are other foods that you can substitute. Seaweed, chia seeds, walnuts, flax seed and fish-oil supplements are some examples. Not all forms of fish are healthy though. Fatty fish like Herring, Salmon, Tuna top the healthy fish list while Shark and Swordfish may contain higher levels of mercury and should be avoided.
Milk – The main ingredient here is calcium. Not only is a calcium rich diet good for the health of our bone, it also helps reduce depression. If you don’t like milk or are lactose intolerant, there are other substitutes like: yogurt, cheese, canned salmon, almonds, sunflower seeds and green leafy vegetables.
Nuts – Not only are nuts like almonds, pistachios and walnuts rich in Vitamin B, they also contain high levels of good oil/fat that our body needs. Nuts are also high in magnesium which has been linked to reduced anxiety.
Citrus – Studies have shown that high levels of vitamin C help ease stress. Not only are they good for your immune system, they help reduce anxiety too. Examples are strawberries, oranges and grape fruits.
Probiotics – We need these for healthy functioning guts. Probiotics help our gut (digestive system) in many ways. And research has also shown that improved digestive health helps reduce stress and anxiety. Probiotics can be taken in pill form or from foods like yogurt, fermented yogurt drinks and kombucha.

In Closing

So there you have it. A good list of natural and healthy foods that can help our body in many ways and reduce our stress and anxiety levels. Mix these in with your regular diet and start improving your stress and anxiety level. Less stress and anxiety helps our immune system remain stronger and we can all use a stronger immune system, especially now-a-days.

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