Recognizing and Treating Oral Thrush

Recognizing and Treating Oral Thrush
Oral thrush, also known oral candidiasis, is a condition that occurs when a fungus called Candida albicans builds up on the lining of your mouth.

Anyone can develop oral thrush, but babies, young children, older adults, or anyone with a compromised immune system due to an illness such as HIV are more susceptible. Conversely, candidiasis lesions can be an early sign of an HIV infection.

The main symptom of oral thrush is creamy white lesions in the mouth, usually on the tongue or inner cheeks. In some cases, the lesions may appear on the roof of the mouth or on the back of the throat.

Interestingly, oral thrush is not caused by poor oral hygiene. Thrush is caused when the naturally occurring fungi in the body get out of balance, which is why the very old, very young, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk. Good oral hygiene, however, is an essential part of treating oral thrush. Healthy adults and children can recover fairly easily from the infection, especially if they follow a complete oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily proper flossing.

To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686BetterImageDentistry.com

Tooth Anatomy

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

• Crown- the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.
• Gumline- where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
• Root- the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.
• Enamel- the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body - yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.
• Dentin- the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin - where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.
• Pulp- the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?
Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

• Incisors- the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.
• Canines- sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.
• Premolars- these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.
• Molars- used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface

 

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686

BetterImageDentistry.com

Tartar

Tartar is a deposit that forms when plaque hardens on the tooth. Individuals vary greatly in their susceptibility to tartar buildup. For many, these deposits build up faster with age. Tartar is easily noticeable because of its yellow or brown color on teeth.

What Causes Tartar Buildup

When plaque accumulates and is not removed from teeth, it can harden and turn into tartar. Because tartar buildup bonds strongly to enamel, it can only be removed by a dental professional.

Help Prevent Tartar Buildup

While tartar can only be removed by a dental professional, you can avoid tartar buildup by removing plaque. To help prevent tartar, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice daily, preferably with a tartar-control fluoride toothpaste like many from Crest, and floss once a day with a product like GlideÆ. And visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings.

Above article from: Crest.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686

BetterImageDentistry.com

What are the Stages of Gum Disease?

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing, plaque can build up and the bacteria infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. This can cause them to become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.
There are three stages of gum disease:

• Gingivitis: this is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. You may notice some bleeding during brushing and flossing. At this early stage in gum disease, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.
• Periodontitis: at this stage, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gumline, which traps food and plaque. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage.
• Advanced Periodontitis: in this final stage of gum disease, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which can cause your teeth to shift or loosen. This can affect your bite and, if aggressive treatment can't save them, teeth may need to be removed.

Read the rest of the article at Colgate.com to learn more about how to know if you have gum disease and how gum disease is treated. 

 

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com

Tooth Decay and Sensitivity

What Causes Tooth Enamel Damage?

What happens when tooth enamel is damaged? The exposed part underneath becomes vulnerable to decay. Cavities aren't the only problem.

Teeth with damaged enamel can become sensitive to extreme temperatures. Suddenly, eating ice cream or sipping hot coffee can be painful or unpleasant.

Above article from: WebMD.com/oral-health

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686

BetterImageDentistry.com

Causes and Treatment of Canker Sores

Cold Sores and Canker Sores Compared
It’s easy to confuse cold sores and canker sores.

Unlike a cold sore, a canker sore is not contagious, and it appears on the inside tissues of the mouth rather than the outer surface of the lip (which is where cold sores appear). A canker sore, also known as an apthous ulcer, looks like a small, round or oval lesion that has a white or yellowish center surrounded by red. They tend to be indented, like a crater, rather than raised, like a bump.

Canker sores most often appear on the inside of the cheeks and lips or at the base of the gum. Canker sores are not usually associated with bleeding gums, so if you are experiencing bleeding gums you should see your dentist to be evaluated for possible gum disease.

The majority of canker sores are mild. Mild canker sores are less than one-third of an inch long and usually heal on their own after a few weeks.

But major apthous ulcers, defined as larger than 10 mm in size, can take more than a month to heal and can cause scarring when they finally do heal. So it’s important to visit your doctor or dentist if you have a canker sore that has persisted for more than a few weeks. These large ulcers are most common in young adults after puberty, and they are more likely to recur than smaller sores. Older adults are more prone to herpetiform lesions, in which dozens of tiny lesions group together to form a large ulcer.

The exact cause of canker sores remains uncertain, but possible factors include an allergic reaction to bacteria in the mouth, a minor injury to the inside of the mouth due to dental work or poorly fitting dental appliances, food allergies or health problems, such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Although most canker sores resolve on their own, if you have a large or stubborn lesion, your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic mouth rinse, topical paste to apply to the lesion, or a nutritional supplement if poor nutrition may be the cause of the canker sore.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com

Tooth Abscess Symptoms And Treatment

Symptoms And Treatment Of Tooth Abscess
If you have a toothache that goes beyond mild to moderate tooth pain and reaches a level of severe, throbbing pain, it could be a sign of a tooth abscess. A tooth abscess is a pus-filled lesion at the roots of a tooth, and is caused by an infection. The first sign is a throbbing toothache that won’t go away.

At first, the tooth will likely be sensitive to chewing and biting, as well as to heat and cold. You also may develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes in your jaw or neck, or swelling on your face.

If the abscess ruptures, you’ll know because of the nasty-tasting discharge in your mouth. Although the pain may recede if the abscess ruptures, you still need to be treated by a dentist in order to get rid of the infection, save the tooth and avoid complications. If the abscess doesn’t rupture, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. This is not a problem to ignore.

Treatment will likely include draining the abscess if it hasn’t ruptured. Your dentist also may recommend that you take over-the-counter pain relievers, rinse your mouth with warm salt water, and take antibiotics. More severe abscesses may require a root canal to remove infected tissue, and the worst cases require extraction of the tooth.

A tooth abscess can get its start as an untreated tooth cavity, so the best way to prevent an abscess is to prevent the cavity in the first place by following a consistent oral health routine of twice daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. Regular visits to your dentist are important too, especially if you’ve been treated for an abscess. This allows your dentist to confirm that the infection has cleared.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com

Children's Dentistry

 

Your Kids and Our Care
Our doctors use the latest techniques to make your child's dental care comfortable and efficient. They deliver treatment with thoughtfulness and compassion, putting their young patients at ease to relax and enjoy their visits.

Our team teaches them how to brush and floss properly to help them keep their teeth for a lifetime. We enjoy all their visits starting at age three, and love building relationships as they grow and change each year.

No More Fears of Dental Visits
We strive to make a difference by eliminating the nervousness children may feel when they come to the dentist. Whether your child is overly active or even afraid, our approach and skill allow them to actually enjoy their visits. We have many happy parents who can attest to this!

Children Are Prone to Cavities
At every visit, we encourage children to take care of their teeth every day with proper brushing and flossing. Their teeth can develop cavities more easily than an adult's teeth due to several factors.

Kids typically do not brush thoroughly on their own. We advise parents to participate in their child's daily hygiene until they do a good job without help. Children also eat frequently throughout the day, and eating produces acid in the mouth. Continual exposure to acid can cause more cavities.

If teeth are not clean to begin with, this stimulates continued acid production and will increase the rate that cavities develop. We encourage children to eat healthy foods and continue to clean their teeth each day. We also recommend one application of a mineralizing sealant to greatly reduce the chance of cavities developing. 

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com

Preventive Dentistry

Lost Teeth Due to Gum Disease
Most tooth loss is due to infected gums, not decay. There may or may not be symptoms. Signs of infected gums are red and painful gums and bleeding gums from brushing and flossing. If treatment begins before the infection is advanced, there are easier, nonsurgical methods to combat the problem. Otherwise, surgery may be the only option.

Gum Disease Linked to Serious Health Problems
Medical research has proven that gum disease plays a role in the development of potentially fatal diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Dentists now consider periodontal disease a much worse condition than losing your teeth - you can lose your life. Eight out of ten Americans have some stage of infected gums, as estimated by the American Dental Association. This is at an epidemic level, and if it were another type of life-threatening disease would receive more attention from the general public.

The bacteria infecting the gums flow throughout the body via the bloodstream, affecting other vital organs. The American Academy of Periodontology reports that "studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases."

Effective Ways to Treat Gum Disease
Gum surgery is often the only way to remedy advanced cases of periodontal disease, as you are at the point of nearly losing your teeth. In less severe cases, nonsurgical methods are often very successful in reversing the problem. Together with thorough daily hygiene, the infection can be stopped. Both methods are generally covered by most insurance plans.
Missing One Tooth Can Cause Other ProblemsLosing even one tooth can cause other teeth to start to shift, move, and even loosen. It also affects how well you chew and your ability to obtain nutrients from food. If too many teeth are missing, you may start to eat softer foods that are less nutritious; often these types of foods result in unwanted weight gain. Without the support of a full set of dentures, your face may seem to sink, giving you an aged appearance. Speech can be affected too, resulting in embarrassment.

The best solution is to replace lost teeth with dental implants for as many teeth as you have missing. They look completely natural and function like regular teeth. Even a dentist would have a hard time telling they were not your original teeth.

An Effective Way to Reverse Gum DiseaseMore teeth are lost due to gum disease than either decay or trauma. Our doctors use an effective antibiotic called ARESTIN™ to eliminate the bacteria. It is time released and applied directly to the infected pockets between teeth and gums. The powder works through the use of invisible microspheres to combat the disease painlessly, and succeeds in killing all the bacteria to allow your gums to return to a state of health.

We Provide Wellness Dentistry
Wellness Care is a different type of approach to maintaining your good health. Instead of waiting until you are sick, it addresses any problem before you reach that state.

We use this same idea in our practice by providing a thorough examination to identify any potential dental issues. We search for oral cancer, gum disease, and signs of worn or distressed teeth. We observe your bite to see if your teeth come together properly. We also discuss with you how to avoid certain problems. Many patients have never had such a complete dental check-up, but love our preventive approach. We want to take care of problems before they develop to the level of affecting your overall health.

Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com

Clear Dental Braces Dentist

 

Invisible Orthodontics to Straighten Your Teeth in Less Time
If you have been putting off having braces because you do not want the appearance of metal braces on your teeth, let us welcome you to the innovative world of Invisalign™ invisible aligners. These orthodontics are barely noticeable and will straighten all the usual problems of crossbite, underbite, overbite, overcrowding, and widely spaced teeth in only 9 - 15 months!

The Invisalign system uses 3-D computer imaging to formulate a complete treatment plan. It starts with the current alignment of your teeth and progresses to your new look with straight, even teeth. Thermoplastic aligners are made from the computerized plan. They are like whitening trays and fit over your teeth. Approximately every two weeks you progress to the next set of aligners, and continue to do so until you reach your final goal with a new smile. Evaluation is made in our office at one-month intervals. Total treatment time varies according to your needs and goals.

Comfort, Ease, and Discreetness with Invisalign
There are advantages to straightening your teeth with Invisalign. Most people like the fact that they are nearly invisible and do not significantly alter the appearance of their teeth during correction. Someone would have to look extremely closely to notice that you are wearing aligners. This increases your confidence throughout active treatment.

Comfort is another benefit of these aligners. They are easy to wear in one piece with no wires wrapped around brackets and no mouth irritation. No headgear is necessary, and trips to the dentist for progress checks are minimal. Even better, you can eat and drink whatever you like during your treatment time. The aligners are removable for proper cleaning, so there are no food or drink restrictions. It is easy to keep your teeth clean by removing the aligners and brushing and flossing for proper daily hygiene and then easily re-insert them to continue alignment progress. 




Better Image Dentistry
Drew Fairweather, DMD, Michael H. Dodd, DMD
21 Monroe Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 214-7686
BetterImageDentistry.com