The Dental Center At Easton Town Center

Impacted wisdom teeth are among the most painful and disruptive oral health issues anyone could experience. The pain associated with this condition is typically enough to highlight that something is wrong. However, identifying the problem as early as possible is essential. Below are some warning signs of impacted wisdom teeth:

Puffy Jaw

The initial swelling may be hard to notice; however, it will progressively increase and start to affect chewing motions and how wide your mouth can open.

Consistent Pain at the Sites

This condition could result in a pulsating pain radiating from the sites where the teeth should surface. If the condition worsens, the pain could spread to nearby teeth.

Cysts

Cysts are glaring indications that professional dental care is required. When your wisdom teeth become impacted, a sac could become filled with fluid. This could be quite painful and spread infections to adjacent teeth.

Aching Gums

Impacted wisdom teeth could result in your gums becoming extremely swollen and tender to the touch. In fact, bleeding could start if pressure is applied to the swollen areas. This could cause brushing, flossing and other everyday dental care practices to become tremendously painful. Additionally, impacted wisdom teeth are especially vulnerable to infection; therefore, gum disease could become a real possibility.

Headaches

The abrupt presence of headaches, particularly when combined with other impacted wisdom teeth symptoms, should not be overlooked. A headache could be caused from the temporomandibular joint. This is the area where your jaw and skull meet — the site where the wisdom teeth typically emerge.

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, please call (614) 414-0111 or log on to https://www.eastondentists.com/ immediately. The experienced experts at Easton Dentists will be happy to help. Only professional dental care can alleviate these symptoms. Any delay could result in spreading infection and worsening the condition.

Adults should visit the dentist twice a year irrespective of whether they have dental problems or not, the American Dental Association (ADA) explains. Additionally, you should start booking dental appointments for your baby once your baby’s first tooth erupts, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends. With that in mind, here are some of the most commonly asked dental questions:

How Do I Prevent Dental Problems?

You can easily prevent dental problems such as cavities, gingivitis and halitosis by eating healthy and observing good dental hygiene practices including flossing, brushing your teeth twice a day and visiting your dentist twice a year. Additionally, you should avoid chewing or smoking tobacco.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity or root sensitivity occurs when the enamel wears down, thereby exposing the dentin area of the tooth, which contains microscopic canals that connect to the dental nerves. The condition is typically characterized by dental discomfort or pain when cold, hot, sticky or acidic items touch the exposed nerves. Some of the things that could erode the crown and leave the dentin unprotected include acidic foods, aggressive brush, grinding teeth during sleep, tooth-whitening chemicals, excessive plaque, fractured/cracked teeth and orthodontics procedures. It is worth noting that most people will likely experience tooth sensitivity at some point in their lives because studies show that about four out of five people develop gum recession before reaching age 65. Gum recession exposes the dentin area.

How can I Change the Shape of My Teeth?

You can change the shape of your teeth using orthodontics techniques and devices including dental bonding, re-contouring, veneers and crowns. It is worth noting that orthodontics procedures typically vary in terms of cost, duration of the procedure, recovery time, and results. Because of this, you should consult an orthodontist before undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Conclusion

The three dental questions and answers discussed above can help you maintain good oral health.

You know you should see your dentist regularly, but there are also signs you should see a dentist as soon as possible. If you have any of these experiences, make an appointment for dental services.

1. A Dental Emergency

There are many dental emergencies that require immediate dental care. Some examples include persistent pain in your gums or teeth, an injury to your mouth, and dental appliances that become broken or damaged. Dental visits are more effective than trying home remedies that do not work.

2. Ongoing Issues

Tooth or gum sensitivity, bleeding gums, cavities, and pain when you eat certain foods are signs that you need a dental visit. Another example of an ongoing issue is experiencing pain when you brush or floss your teeth.

3. You Need Dental Work

A cavity may need to be filled, or you have lost a tooth and need a dental implant. Most types of dental work can be accomplished quickly and easily at the dentist’s office.

4. Concern About Your Appearance

If your teeth are stained, discolored, or dull, you do not want to smile or talk to people. A visit to the dentist for teeth whitening is the first step toward self-confidence. If the condition of your teeth is affected by your lifestyle habits, your dentist can recommend changes to keep your teeth healthy and white.

5. You Have Not Seen Your Dentist Lately

Individuals who do not have oral health problems should see a dentist at least twice each year. You can have a professional cleaning and a complete examination. It will also be your opportunity to ask questions about your oral health, and receive useful information.

Twice-annual visits to the dentist are necessary for oral health. However, if you experience any of these other issues, you can make an appointment at any time.

Imagine it’s still winter…not hard to do in Ohio since it changes so quickly… you’re standing at the door, ready to brave the cold. You’re layered-up with three shirts and a sweatshirt, your heavy winter coat, and two layers of socks underneath your waterproof winter boots. Then you’ve got those awesome jeans with the flannel on the inside, your comfy hat, scarf, and gloves. You’re set! But wait. As you step toward the door, you suddenly realize you have an itch … and it’s deep down … buried beneath all those layers. And, try as you may, every attempt to reach that bugger-of-an-itch fails. Defeated, you realize the only relief you’re ever gonna’ get is to remove each one of those layers. Where are we going with this?!

The Tongue

We’re going inside your mouth, of course, to your tongue – this is a dental article, after all! Because whether you know it or not, like you in the wintertime, your tongue is also “all covered up” – buried beneath layers of bacteria, fungi, and food residue that can inhibit your ability to taste, let alone cause your tongue to appear various shades of yellow, white, or green! Remove the bacteria, though, and your food will once again directly interact with those taste buds, and return to its natural hue. So how does one do that? With a tongue scraper, of course!

WHAT is a tongue scraper?

A tongue scraper is a U-shaped device designed to “scrape” the top layer of scum from your tongue. They have been in use since ancient times, and have been made of everything from wood to whalebone. Nowadays, they are made of more hygienic material, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors.

WHY use a tongue scraper?

The residue on your tongue includes things like the cavity-inducing Streptococcus mutans bacterium, fungi, rotting food (that’s not good), and what’s referred to as “volatile sulfur compounds.” In other words, sulfur – that “rotting egg smell.” Talk about ew! So, as you can see, there are several reasons why you’d want to get rid of this gunk in your mouth. Let’s tackle them one by one:

• Reduce bad breath: ‘nuff said! We have had many patients thank us so much for this little tip because it dramatically improves their overall life! Get a little closer…
• Reduce your risk of periodontal disease and cavities: Bad bacteria contribute to plaque and tartar on teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. Bacteria build-up can also lead to inflammation of gum tissue (gingivitis). If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which means a more expensive dental visit (plus other unwanted consequences!). Speaking of avoiding an expensive dental visit, when was the last time you came in to see us? Come see us now if it’s been awhile, by calling in at 614-414-0111.
• Make room for good bacteria: see our article here on probiotics for your mouth.
• Prevent heart disease? While the debate is still up in the air, many studies suggest there could be a correlation between gum disease and heart disease.

HOW does one use a tongue scraper?

In general, make sure to rinse your tongue scraper before and after use. Apply the tongue scraper to the back of your tongue and drag it forward. Then, rinse and repeat. Make sure to get the sides of your tongue as well, not just the center!

Make sure not to press too hard or you can cause yourself to bleed. And, if you’re wondering if you should scrape your tongue while recovering from a dental procedure, that’s a good question … ask your dentist for the best advice particular to your situation. Still not sure how this thing really works? The next time you’re in ask Julie, Kate, or Lindsay for a quick tutorial!

WHERE do I buy one?

Your first choice is, believe it or not, us! We may even have a sample we could provide to you at no cost. Tongue scrapers are relatively inexpensive, and can also be found at any local drugstore. It doesn’t matter the material, color, or brand – just find the one you like and get scraping!

Have you ever wondered why your hygienist starts rattling off a series of numbers in the middle of your cleaning? 2, 2, 3, 2, 4, 5! What’s going on there? What your hygienist is doing is checking the depth of gum tissue pockets that surround your tooth. It’s a proactive way to identify your risk for gum disease, and when done regularly, can help catch it early. Dental probing is a pretty interesting exercise in dentistry, can save you from surgery and extractions, and here’s why.

Dental Probing Catches Problems Early

One reason to visit the dentist regularly is to identify problems in your mouth that you are completely oblivious to. Subtle changes in the health of our gum tissue can be missed by the naked eye, and some people – even those who visit a dentist regularly – can be prone to an excess buildup of plaque and tartar that can result in gingivitis and periodontal disease. Thankfully, your dental team can catch these changes early through the use of X-rays and the practice of dental probing.

The reason for probing is straightforward. As periodontal disease progresses, the visible markers of the disease (plaque and tartar) migrate down along the side of the tooth into the natural “pocket” between the ridge of the gumline and the tooth’s enamel. This inflames the gum tissue and widens this naturally slim gap between the tooth and gum. As this gap becomes wider, even more bacteria are allowed access to the sensitive tissue fibers along the root’s outer surface, causing more damage. This process may result in bone loss, and the need to extract a tooth. This is why probing is so important. We regularly have new patients come see us that have good looking teeth, but they have ignored gum care for so long that they lose those good teeth because the bone can no longer support the teeth. We want to prevent that from happening!

How Does Dental Probing Work?

“Probing” is quite simple and is accomplished by using a dental “probe” to measure the depth of a tooth’s pocket. The probe acts like a ruler, and has markings along its side measured out in millimeters. To measure the depth of your tooth’s pocket, your hygienist gently places the probe into this pocket and makes note of the depth. Those numbers you hear are the millimeter depths of your pocket. Six measurements are taken per tooth, three along the outside, and three along the inside of each tooth. A depth of three millimeters or under without any bleeding is generally accepted as healthy. Above that number, we will suggest more thorough gum therapy, including scaling and root planing, or something even more comprehensive if the number is above a five and nearing ten. We are so committed to setting you up right, that we set aside extra time to make sure you understand your treatment!

So, as you can see, maintaining pocket health is critical, and proper brushing and flossing can help clear away plaque and prevent the tartar buildup that expands a pocket. Your dentist also plays a critical role in ensuring you’re staying ahead of gum disease, so be sure to keep your regular appointments – particularly if you have been identified as having periodontitis (gum disease) and recommended for more frequent, thorough gum therapy. With a good routine and frequent visits to the dentist the only numbers you’ll be hearing moving forward should be 1, 2 and 3! Keep up the good work.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is more than annoying. It can cause oral health problems, and can even affect your general health.
Signs And Symptoms Of TMJ

If you have developed TMJ, you may notice symptoms that affect your mouth. When you close or open your mouth, a grating or popping sound may occur. You may experience difficulty closing or opening your mouth.

Some TMJ symptoms may be present in your jaw. Your jaw can lock, and your jaw muscles may become swollen or painful. You may notice a numb or tingling sensation.

Pain from TMJ does not only affect your jaw. You may feel pain in your neck or ear, and you may develop headaches.

How To Prevent TMJ

While TMJ can be treated, and symptoms may disappear, it is easier to prevent this condition than to treat it afterward. If you are experiencing symptoms, consult with your dentist as soon as possible. Prompt treatment can prevent further problems.

One of the main causes of TMJ is clinching or grinding your teeth. Not only does this put pressure on your teeth that can damage your tooth enamel, it is harmful to your jaw. If you have this habit, ask your dentist for advice on how to stop.

In many cases, clinching and grinding occurs when you are dealing with stress. There are healthy ways to relieve stress that do not harm your oral health.

In some cases, though, it occurs during the nighttime. If you grind your teeth when you are asleep, you may not be aware of it. Perhaps your spouse, parent, or other family member has brought this problem to your attention.

Nighttime grinding can be prevented by wearing a mouth guard. Ready-made mouth guards can be purchased from sporting goods stores, but a better approach is to obtain one from your dentist. It will be the correct fit for your mouth, and you can learn how to care for it properly.
The best approach to TMJ is to prevent it before it develops. You can have good oral health.

New Year and resolutions go hand in hand. These resolutions are promises people make to themselves to get rid of a particular bad habit or develop a specific good habit. However, most resolutions don’t stand the test of time as they’re unreasonable or difficult to start with. Therefore, it’s important to take up a resolution that adds value and is also easy to implement. Teeth whitening can be one such New Year resolution. If you believe a fresh, white smile is what you need, the following teeth whitening treatments shall help you.

1. Tray and Gel

A tray-and-gel setup is a potent teeth whitening method that you need to work on with a dentist. The gel contains 10 to 15 percent hydrogen peroxide, which is the primary constituent of every teeth whitening product on the market. The dentist will custom fit the mold with your mouth and give you the whitening gel and tray for use at home. The tray makes sure the gel is applied evenly, ensuring some extremely impressive results.

2. Whitening Treatment Course

Another popular teeth whitening treatment option dentists provide is a series of treatments that last 10 to 15 minutes. You’ll require multiple sessions before you could notice results. This treatment is more expensive and more effective than the previous method as the hydrogen peroxide content here is 35 percent.

Foods to Avoid

There is a negative correlation between certain foods and whiter teeth. Some foods cause the teeth to lose their pearly white hue and are called “staining foods”. They are dark soups, dark chocolate, beets, dark marinades, tomato and soy sauces, blueberries, and dark beverages (coffee, wine, colored juices, etc.). Generally, Indian and Spanish cuisine could darken teeth thanks to their higher use of curry and tomato sauces.

It’s hard to imagine not eating these aforementioned food items forever, but you can certainly keep the consumption and frequency as low as possible. Also, these foods are strictly not recommended right after a teeth whitening session.

Conclusion

You may try at-home teeth whitening remedies, but remember they won’t be as effective or safe as in-office teeth whitening treatments since some foods are acidic and may cause tooth sensitivity issues. Needless to say, it’s not wise to experiment with your already vulnerable teeth.

Should you like to schedule an appointment for teeth whitening at The Dental Center please call 614-414-0111.

What To Do In A Dental Emergency: Trauma

Teeth are typically strong, but trauma to the mouth can cause a tooth to chip, break, or be removed entirely. Should something like this happen, you need to know what to do. In many cases, it may be a dental emergency and a visit to your dentist is a necessity.

Here is what you should do in an event of a dental emergency:

Assess the Damage

If a tooth is broken or chipped due to trauma, the gums may bleed, so rinse the area with warm water to help stop the bleeding. If it continues to bleed, biting down on gauze will help with clotting. Once the bleeding is under control, assess the damage if possible. If the tooth has a small chip with little pain, you may not need an emergency dentist. However, if there is significant damage, this may be a dental emergency, and emergency treatment would be necessary because waiting will result in excessive swelling and pain.

The Pain Level

Another aspect to keep in mind if you have damaged a tooth is the pain level. Sometimes when trauma is involved, it is difficult to see the actual damage with your own eyes. If you experience a lot of pain, the damage could be to the roots or the tooth cracked under the gums. If you’re in a great deal of pain, it’s important to call a dentist that offers emergency care. If the trauma occurs outside of normal business hours, odds are you will likely need to call for after hours dental emergencies or go to the emergency room.

What to Expect at the Dentist

If you need to call for an emergency dental visit, the first question your dentist will ask is what happened. This is important because it helps to visualize the damage that may have happened to your tooth that cannot be seen visually.

Your dentist will visually inspect your tooth. In almost all cases where trauma has resulted in teeth damage, an x-ray will be performed to see if there is damage to the roots or if the tooth split vertically.

After your x-rays are examined, your dentist will go over what happened and what needs to be done in order to fix or replace the broken tooth. You may be given an antibiotic along with pain medication before and after the procedure.

Any dental emergency such as an injury to the teeth or gums or extreme discomfort can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem may greatly increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive dental procedures in the future.

When emergency issues arise, it is important to have an emergency dentist who accommodates your needs.  At The Dental Center at Easton Town Center, Dr. Gilmer and our experienced staff understand accidents and dental emergencies happen. The Dental Center provides a convenient location in Columbus, Ohio for your emergency dentistry needs. By offering extended business hours and a location central to the Columbus, Ohio area, the Dental Center is the premier choice for emergency dental services.

Do you wake up some mornings with a headache of origins you can’t define? Do you experience vague muscle pain in your face? If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of bruxism. What’s bruxism? You likely know it by its more informal name – two names, actually: “clenching” and “grinding.” It’s also not something you’ll want to ignore, because bruxism wears down the surface of your teeth and sets you up for cavities and tooth fractures. Severe cases can even contribute to tooth loss. Let’s find out how to stop this menace in its tracks.

What Causes Bruxism?

At The Dental Center at Easton, we’ve seen many factors can combine to create a bruxism habit. Stress and anxiety are believed to be leading causes, as are a misaligned bite, missing teeth, and sleep abnormalities. Some medications can also trigger episodes, as can neurological or musculature illnesses. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort due to bruxism, give us a call at (614) 414-0111.

Why Should I Be Concerned About Teeth Grinding? Isn’t It Normal?

Teeth grinding may be common, but it’s not “normal,” per se. Because the stresses of bruxism affect the entire jaw, this pressure can create cracks and chips in teeth, and over time can contribute to a shortening of lower face height due to bone loss. If that sounds scary, it should. It’s also a change you’ve seen before – in individuals who have lost all their teeth and do not wear dentures. We’re pretty sure that’s not a look you’re aiming to achieve.

How Do I Know I Have a Problem, and What Treatments Are Available?

In many cases, we’ll be able to see evidence of bruxism in your X-rays – and on the surface of your teeth – and will alert you to the problem long before you exhibit a single symptom, particularly if you sleep alone.  Occasionally however, you may start to clench and grind between visits and begin to notice symptoms on your own. If that’s more like your situation, and you find that you often wake with a sore jaw, a headache that goes away shortly after rising, or if a loved one tells you your teeth are making clickity-clankity noises all night, mention it the next time you’re visiting us.

As far as treatment goes, because the causes of bruxism are varied, the treatments vary as well. If we determine stress is the primary cause, we’ll likely recommend you abstain from excessive caffeine and alcohol, and attempt some form of daily relaxation. Even something as simple as a warm bath before sleeping can work wonders.

If your bite is a concern, we may suggest you visit an orthodontist for an evaluation, and if prescription medicine or neuromuscular illnesses are believed to be the cause, referral to the appropriate specialist would be part of your plan to break the habit.

In each of these cases, though, we’ll likely recommend a splint, or occlusal mouth guard to protect your teeth and bone from further damage. These protective devices are easy to wear, and contrary to what you may believe, will not impede your ability to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, they tend to enhance the quality of your sleep so you’ll wake up more refreshed.

So, the next time you’re sitting in one of our super-comfy chairs at The Dental Center at Easton, ask if some sort of guard may be right for you. Many people go years without being aware they’re clenching and grinding since it takes time for symptoms to show in your mouth. Getting a mouthguard or splint once you know you have this habit, though, will help you with headaches and muscle pain now – and tooth trouble down the road. And, we make some beautiful, comfortable mouthguards at The Dental Center at Easton!

If your little one’s teeth have begun to fall out, and their permanent replacements appear to be lagging far behind, you may wish to consider a space maintainer to minimize future orthodontic work. Believe it or not, the absence of your child’s teeth might seem cute now, but those tiny little gaps can cause deep gouges in your pocketbook as you watch them fill up with teeth that don’t belong there. Space maintainers are simple to use, kids get along fine with them, and they have become the de-facto standard for protecting the cosmetic and functional aspects of your growing child’s mouth.

Why Your Child Might Need a Space Maintainer

When a child’s tooth is lost early due to trauma, tooth decay, or nature’s insistence that it drop out before its permanent replacement is due, a space maintainer can be used to hold back the natural inclination of teeth to move forward. Without preventing this movement, teeth that should be in the rear of our mouths end up along the sides, and take up precious real estate destined for another tenant. The result is overcrowding, and in some cases impacted teeth. In the end, it’s always easier to save the space now, then create it later.

How They Work

Space maintainers are very similar in purpose and design to an adult “bridge,” but instead of placing artificial teeth over the gap, the space is kept open to accommodate its future resident. At The Dental Center, we make most space maintainers out of metal, (sometimes both metal and plastic), and custom-mold them to the shape of your child’s mouth. In most cases, the maintainer is made up of a metal band attached to a rectangular-shaped wire that butts up against the tooth across the gap. This acts to temporarily preserve the space where the baby tooth once was, so its replacement can erupt without obstruction. To some, the final product looks like an old Radio Flyer® snow sled, or a shoe horn you might use to maintain the shape of unworn shoes.

Does My Child Need One?

It’s important to note that dental space maintainers are not required for all childhood tooth loss, and that we’re not going to suggest you create a decade worth of space maintainers as each tooth falls out of your child’s mouth. Our bodies are quite effective at saving space for the loss of our front teeth as well as our incisors – it’s the teeth along the sides of our mouths that tend to cause the majority of complications. Of course, each mouth is different, so be sure to discuss with us the best course of action for you and your child. If your child has recently lost a tooth, or several teeth, and it’ll be awhile before they’re scheduled to see Dr. Gilmer, give us a call at (614) 414-0111 to see if you should come in a little earlier.

Using a space maintainer is an affordable and effective way to ensure your child’s teeth come in where they are supposed to, and when they’re ready. It can have a positive effect on your wallet, reduce the amount of time your child needs to wear braces, and control the cosmetic appearance of your child’s teeth and mouth.