Having loose teeth as an adult isn’t normal. Many people go their whole lives without any problems with loose teeth. Others have loose teeth conditions get worse over time. What causes loose teeth, and why do some people suffer from this while others have no much healthier teeth?
Poor Dental Hygiene
One main cause of loose teeth is poor dental hygiene. Your dental hygiene needs to be good from the time you’re a child all the way through your entire life. Unfortunately, many adults fail to maintain good dental hygiene for one reason or another. They may suffer from dementia, which inhibits personal care habits, or they may just have fallen into bad habits in general. Whatever the reason, not brushing, flossing and rinsing can lead to loose teeth.
The reason this happens is that bacteria end up eating away at the teeth below the gum line. A pocket is then formed where the tooth meets the gum line. This is a place where food gets stuck, which in turn feeds more bacteria. Eventually, the gum tissue is no longer tight against the tooth, and the tooth gets loose.
Prescription Medication
Surprisingly, some prescription medications have side effects that can lead to loose teeth. The reasons may be unclear, but the results are the same. If you have loose teeth and are on prescription medication, check the fine print on your labels. Consider talking to your doctor about possibly changing medications if you feel the two are related.
Malnutrition
Older adults in America sometimes suffer unknowingly from malnutrition. This may be because of alcohol abuse or a lack of good eating habits. This malnutrition can lead to loose teeth. Unless vitamins and minerals are reintroduced back into the diet, the problem will persist and severe tooth loss may occur. If you suspect that malnutrition is a root cause of your tooth problems, consult with your personal physician as well as your dentist.
If you have one or more loose teeth, you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist may be able to save your teeth, or they may be able to offer you a solution such as dental implants. Contact us today for more information about your options in the even of loose teeth.
This is the Right Way to Brush Teeth
/in Dental Health /by University Family DentalIt’s probably been a very long time since anyone talked to you about the correct way to brush your teeth. If you’re like a lot of people, you’ve likely developed some bad habits over the years that have resulted in less than ideal brushing techniques. A refresher course in tooth brushing certainly won’t hurt. Following is the right way to brush teeth to maximize dental hygiene.
Start With a Sterile Brush
How many times have you used your toothbrush and then just laid it back on the bathroom sink or stuck it in a cup? Dozens of times? Many more times than that? The quality—and cleanliness—of your toothbrush is integral to your dental health. If you keep using the same brush again and again without sterilizing it, you’re just reintroducing bacteria into your mouth each time you brush. Consider replacing your brush at least once every two weeks. In between, you should be sterilizing your brush each night. Talk to your dentist about effective toothbrush sterilization methods.
Use Plenty of Toothpaste
Some people brush their teeth with just a tiny dot of toothpaste, while others try to emulate the amount demonstrated on television commercials. Somewhere in the middle is the correct amount. You want enough toothpaste to apply to each tooth, but not so much that it’s overwhelming. Finally, make sure you use a fluoride toothpaste, as fluoride has been proven to help prevent cavities.
Brush Vertically, Not Horizontally
When you brush horizontally, you could simply be grinding food debris deeper into your gums. That’s not the direction you want to go. Instead, brush vertically, starting from the gum line and working your way upward. Focus on brushing each individual tooth in this fashion, angling the brush about 45 degrees so the bristles capture food debris and bring it up and away from the gums.
Don’t Forget the Insides
Although you get the most visible satisfaction from your pearly whites on the outside surface, you need to pay attention to the insides. Swing the handle of the toothbrush upward and brush each tooth, starting from the gum line and moving upward.
Finally, rinse thoroughly. This will help to ensure that all dislodged food debris is swept out of your mouth. For a practical lesson in person on teeth brushing techniques, talk to your dentist.
What Causes Loose Teeth?
/in Dental FAQs /by University Family DentalHaving loose teeth as an adult isn’t normal. Many people go their whole lives without any problems with loose teeth. Others have loose teeth conditions get worse over time. What causes loose teeth, and why do some people suffer from this while others have no much healthier teeth?
Poor Dental Hygiene
One main cause of loose teeth is poor dental hygiene. Your dental hygiene needs to be good from the time you’re a child all the way through your entire life. Unfortunately, many adults fail to maintain good dental hygiene for one reason or another. They may suffer from dementia, which inhibits personal care habits, or they may just have fallen into bad habits in general. Whatever the reason, not brushing, flossing and rinsing can lead to loose teeth.
The reason this happens is that bacteria end up eating away at the teeth below the gum line. A pocket is then formed where the tooth meets the gum line. This is a place where food gets stuck, which in turn feeds more bacteria. Eventually, the gum tissue is no longer tight against the tooth, and the tooth gets loose.
Prescription Medication
Surprisingly, some prescription medications have side effects that can lead to loose teeth. The reasons may be unclear, but the results are the same. If you have loose teeth and are on prescription medication, check the fine print on your labels. Consider talking to your doctor about possibly changing medications if you feel the two are related.
Malnutrition
Older adults in America sometimes suffer unknowingly from malnutrition. This may be because of alcohol abuse or a lack of good eating habits. This malnutrition can lead to loose teeth. Unless vitamins and minerals are reintroduced back into the diet, the problem will persist and severe tooth loss may occur. If you suspect that malnutrition is a root cause of your tooth problems, consult with your personal physician as well as your dentist.
If you have one or more loose teeth, you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist may be able to save your teeth, or they may be able to offer you a solution such as dental implants. Contact us today for more information about your options in the even of loose teeth.
Difference Between Dental Cleaning and Dental Polishing
/in Dental Information /by University Family DentalYour dentist offers many treatment options to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Two of the treatment options that your dentist offers are dental cleaning and dental polishing. When booking an appointment at your dentist, it’s important to understand the difference between dental cleaning and dental polishing so that you can have clear expectations of the treatment.
What is Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleaning is a thorough teeth and gum cleaning that the dental hygienist may perform. The purpose of dental cleaning is to get rid of tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth and below the gum line. In order to perform the dental cleaning treatment, the dental hygienist may use a variety of tools, including some motorized tools. Dental cleanings are not invasive. Most people do not need any kind of numbing agent in order to get a dental cleaning. However, if there’s been several years since you’ve visited the dentist, you may need a more thorough dental cleaning that may even take up more than one dentist visit. In this case, you may want to inquire about getting sedated for the dental cleaning process since it will be more involved.
What is Dental Polishing?
Dental polishing is a treatment that help that helps to bring out the natural shine of your teeth. The hygienist may perform this treatment or the dentist may do it. Dental polishing is also noninvasive. The motorized tool for dental polishing is a gentle buffer that is used on the surface of your teeth. While it doesn’t chemically whiten your teeth, dental polishing does make your teeth sparkle. After you have a dental polishing treatment, you will definitely notice an improvement in the whiteness and brightness of your smile.
Remember, it’s always important to have a regular dental visits. When you do so, you can rest assured that your dental cleaning treatments Will be very straightforward. In addition, with regular dental visits you can have the benefits of dental publishing treatments as often as you like as long as your dentist approves. For more information about dental cleaning and dental polishing treatments, please contact us today.
Should You Have Your Mercury Fillings Removed?
/in Dental FAQs /by University Family DentalAs time has gone on, more information has become available about the dangers of mercury fillings. Mercury in general is a hazardous substance. But in the past, it was commonly used as a dental filling because of its durability and ease-of-use. Almost everyone in over a certain age has mercury fillings in their mouth if they ever had a cavity filled. It is now possible to have mercury fillings removed and replaced with amalgam fillings, which are considered to be safer. But there are hazards associated with removing mercury fillings, just as there’re hazards associated with keeping mercury fillings in. So what is the right choice tonight? Should you have your mercury fillings removed?
The Dangers Of Having Mercury Fillings Removed
Mercury is a substance that releases vapors when is disturbed. One situation where papers could be released is when you have mercury fillings removed. The vapors could theoretically cause some health issues which you may not have previously had if you had kept your mercury fillings in place. So one of the main dangers of having mercury fillings removed is that those vapors will be released.
The Safety Of Keeping Mercury Fillings In
The other side of the argument is to keep your mercury fillings as they are. If your mercury fillings are not causing any problems if your health we’re with your dental health, there is a safety that should be considered in keeping mercury fillings in. In other words, there’s really no reason to fix something that isn’t broken.
Talk to Your Dentist
If you are seriously concerned about the dangers of mercury fillings, you should talk to your dentist. Your dentist will have more information about the arguments on both sides of keeping your mercury fillings or having them removed. In addition, your dentist can conduct a thorough visual examination of your feelings see if they are damaged in any way. If there is damage, your dentist make talk to you about the possibility of having your mercury fillings removed.
Alternately, the choice of whether to have your mercury fillings removed or keep them is to be made by you and your dentist. Always follow the advice of your dentist when it comes to your health. For more information about mercury fillings, please feel free to contact us.
3 Ways to Prevent Cavities
/in Dental Health /by University Family DentalCavities aren’t fun for anyone, yet they seem to be very common. If you think that cavities are a necessary part of life, though, you’re mistaken. Some people have never had a cavity in their lives. Others get cavities very often. Why is it that some people never experience cavities while others can’t seem to be rid of them? The answer is that some people practice certain dental hygiene tips that prevent cavities. Here are the best ways you can use to prevent cavities, too.
1. Floss After Each Meal
You already know you should brush after each meal, but did you know you should floss after each meal, too? Flossing gets rid of food debris that gets stuck in between teeth. If you don’t floss after each meal, that left over food debris could lead to the development of cavities.
2. Avoid Sugar
Bacteria feed on sugar. When you eat sugar-laden foods, bacteria in your mouth have plenty of sugar to eat, and then the bacteria count grows in number. When you have more bacteria, that means they will end up eating into your teeth, which means you will likely develop cavities. Avoiding sugar means much more than not opening up a sugar packet. You should start reading the labels on the foods you eat to check for added sugars. Unfortunately today, many processed foods do contain added sugars. To be on the safe side, just eat whole foods as much as possible and cook your own foods from home.
3. Get Dental Sealants
Dental sealants is a treatment that is available through your dentist’s office. It’s basically a clear coat that helps to fill in pits and cracks in your teeth that can be an entry point for bacteria to cause cavities. Dental sealants also create an added layer of protection over your teeth enamel. The dental sealants treatment is completely non-invasive and 100% painless. If you’re interested in dental sealants treatment, contact your dentist.
It’s hard to prevent cavities, but not impossible. Use the three tips mentioned above to help keep cavities from forming in your mouth.