Is Tooth Sensitivity Wreaking Havoc On Your Life?

If biting into an ice cream cone or drinking from a cup of hot coffee creates a painful experience, you may have sensitive teeth. Let’s take a closer look at this condition.

Teeth sensitivity is one of the main issues that dental patients report. Enjoying anything that is hot or cold can lead to extreme discomfort for some patients, while others have no issues with temperature but find smiling in the wind unbearable. Whatever the trigger, too many sufferers put off their hygiene appointments due to the fear of uncomfortable teeth cleanings.

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of your teeth—the part above the gum line. Under the gum line a layer called cementum protects the tooth root. Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin.
Dentin is less dense than enamel and cementum and contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). When dentin loses its protective covering of enamel or cementum these tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. Dentin may also be exposed when gums recede. The result can be hypersensitivity. See more at Mouth Healthy

Communicate With Your Dental Team

If you are experiencing any sensitivity issues, the best thing you can do is let your dentist and hygienist know. Take note of where and when your sensitivity issues occur so you can describe the circumstances during your next dental visit. Your dental team can use the clues you provide to start the search for the cause, determine why it is happening and set the best course of treatment. Helping your teeth look and feel their very best is what Dr. Robert Harrell and his talented team at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne do every day.

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth can be caused by the following dental issues:

• Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush and using a hard grip while brushing aggressively.
• Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages.
• Tooth decay, worn leaky fillings and broken teeth that expose the dentin of your tooth.
• Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed.
• Grinding your teeth at night.
• Post dental treatment sensitivity – common, but temporary, especially with procedures such as crowns, fillings and tooth bleaching.

 

Preliminary Dental Treatment

Having a conversation with your dentist is the first step in finding relief from your discomfort. Describe your symptoms, tell your dentist when the pain started and let him or her know if there’s anything that normally makes it feel better, such as warm compresses.

After your dentist determines the reason for your sensitivity, he or she will treat the underlying cause. Treatment may be as simple as fixing a cavity or replacing a worn filling. However, if your discomfort comes from gum loss exposing root surfaces, your dentist may suggest a gum graft that a periodontist would conduct to protect the root surface and support of the tooth. More details at Colgate

Unknown Night Grinders

Tooth grinding is another major cause of sensitivity. Many patients are shocked to find out that they grind their teeth because they only do it while sleeping. The tell-tale smooth grooves and flat, worn crowns typically lead to this surprising discovery during a regular dental check-up. If you are experiencing sudden sensitivity, sleep apnea, headaches or a sore jaw upon waking, it might be time to make a near-date dental appointment, even if your regular cleaning is just a few months away. The grinding at night can lead to exposed root surfaces that cause sensitive teeth. Wearing a custom mouth guard to sleep can help you protect your teeth.

Voted one of Charlotte’s best dentists year after year, Dr. Harrell is ready to give you the brilliant, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed of. Call Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne today at 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to set up a new patient exam or dental cleaning. We look forward to hearing from you.

The post Is Tooth Sensitivity Wreaking Havoc On Your Life? appeared first on Dentist Charlotte NC 28277 | Cosmetic | Sedation | Dental Implants | Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne.

http://ift.tt/2bwLm2V

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2bs0sCE

Road closed – Alternative Entry until ~Aug. 22

The Stonecrest side of our Business Park (Colony at Piper Glen) will be closed from August 1st – approximately August 22nd.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Here is the alternative route:

1. Drive towards Rea on Piper Station Drive
2. Left onto Rea Road
3. Left onto Ballantyne Commons Parkway
4. Make 1st U-turn and head southwest on Ballantyne Commons
5. Make immediate right into Colony at Piper Glen

 

The post Road closed – Alternative Entry until ~Aug. 22 appeared first on Dentist Charlotte NC 28277 | Cosmetic | Sedation | Dental Implants | Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne.

http://ift.tt/2b0gKCB

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2apZDKo

Fruit Sugars: The Secret War On Your Teeth

How many times have you gone to your dental checkup expecting perfect results only to discover that early decay has been detected? Many patients are shocked to learn that a follow-up appointment for tooth-colored fillings looms in the near future. “But, I hardly eat any candy and never drink sugary soft drinks,” is a common response by bewildered patients. Many have no idea just how much sugar they are actually consuming on a daily basis. In fact, one common source of excess sugar is considered very healthy by conventional wisdom.

Fruit Sugars: Hidden Gremlins

If you believe your teeth are free from the ravages of sugar because you don’t partake in daily cupcake consumption, think again. For example…

If you take away the most nutritious parts of a fruit, what are you left with? Sugar water and natural flavors, aka fruit juice.

When a fruit is juiced, all of the sugar comes out of it and into the solution of juice.  This sugar is no different than much of the sugar that is in candy today.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry even recommends restricting the amount of fruit juice that you give your small children to less than one cup per day.  They have recognized the devastating effects that fruit juice can have on kids’ teeth.

Is Dried Fruit Good for Your Teeth?

Dried fruit is a convenient, portable snack. It would be an ideal alternative to eating fresh fruit if it weren’t for one thing: Dried fruit is not good for your teeth. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that grapes have relatively little affect on your teeth, but when dried into raisins they can cause cavities. Let’s take a closer look at why dried fruits are an issue.

1 – The sugar is super-concentrated. When you dry fruit, almost all of the water is lost, but no sugar is lost.

2 – Dried fruit is very sticky. I used to eat dried mangoes all of the time and found that they kept getting stuck in my teeth.

3 – When fruit is dried, it releases a lot of the intrinsic sugars from inside of the fruit. These sugars are then available to feed the bacteria in your mouth, which can hurt your teeth.

4 – Dried fruit often has added sugar. This is another one of the ways that manufacturers can sneak sugar into our diet. Popular dried fruit like Craisins Dried Cranberries and many brands of dried mangoes contain added sugar. Read more at Oral Answers

Beware: Sugar is Everywhere

Whatever you do, don’t get into the habit of crawling into bed or falling asleep without completing your nighttime brushing and flossing routine. Not making time to brush for as little as a few weeks can wreak havoc in your mouth.

Q: How bad is falling asleep without brushing your teeth?

A: Most people are shocked to hear this, but going to bed without brushing your teeth is like going to bed with poop in your mouth.

How can that be? Every time you have a meal, the bacteria that naturally reside in your mouth feast on the food you eat. Just like every other living organism, these bacteria excrete waste after a meal. This waste is highly acidic and breaks down tooth enamel, causing root decay and cavities.

When you hit the sack without brushing, plaque starts to harden and calcify on your teeth. Once plaque has calcified, it’s impossible to remove with a toothbrush and floss and can only be removed by the hygienist during a teeth cleaning. More details at Ask The Dentist

We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon

At Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne you can count on receiving the most advanced, most relaxed dental visit possible so schedule your checkup today. If you are unhappy with the quality of your smile for any reason, let Dr. Robert Harrell know. He will explain your cosmetic dentistry options and help you decide which best suits your needs. In addition, a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how your smile will look when your cosmetic dental work is complete. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to schedule your exam or consultation appointment.

The post Fruit Sugars: The Secret War On Your Teeth appeared first on Dentist Charlotte NC 28277 | Cosmetic | Sedation | Dental Implants | Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne.

http://ift.tt/2aXxPwO

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2aK3vcy