Apthous ulcers are a common condition that affects up to a quarter of all Americans. The sores can be uncomfortable and cause problems with eating and drinking. They can last a while too which is why we are offering a fast, effective treatment for them.

Apthous ulcers

An apthous ulcer is a recurrent ulcer that keeps coming back no matter what you try to do to prevent it. They appear in the mouth, usually around the loose tissue of the palate (roof of the mouth), inner cheek or inside the lips. They are small, less than 1cm in diameter and usually have a red halo around the outside.

While minor, apthous ulcers can expose nerves to the outside, causing discomfort whenever you open or move your mouth. This has an obvious effect on eating, drinking and even talking. The specific cause of apthous ulcers is still unknown but we think it is linked to poor diet, stress, acidic food, trauma or sensitivities to certain chemicals.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment has proven very effective at tackling apthous ulcers. Often referred to as ‘biomodulation’, laser treatment is able to suppress certain conditions and is now a widely practiced medical procedure. One that Aesthetic Family Dentistry is also pleased to offer.

By applying a special medical-grade laser to the apthous ulcer, we can treat the virus that causes the ulcer. Relief is immediate and the ulcer will disappear in around 48-72 hours. Better still, once treated, reoccurrence is much less frequent.

Laser treatment for apthous ulcers only takes a couple of minutes, is completely painless and needs no anesthesia. Recovery is almost instantaneous. We can also treat the ulcer in the formative stages, when it is tingling rather than already apparent so can stop it appearing altogether. As you can imagine, it is a very popular procedure!

This treatment is often covered by your medical insurance too. If not, it is very affordable considering how effective it is.

Laser treatment for apthous ulcers is just the kind of treatment we as holistic dentists favor. It is fast, effective, painless and is very targeted without harming the body. Recovery is fast and it needs no sedation or medication. It fulfills most of our criteria for a very effective treatment. If feedback from our patients is anything to go by, it works well too!

If you suffer from recurring canker sores or would like to know more about laser treatment for apthous ulcers, contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today.

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However, regardless of the cause, if you suffer from discomfort for any reason that won’t go away, you should schedule an appointment at Aesthetic Family Dentistry right away. We make sure we always have time in our day to handle emergencies, so you’re always welcome here!

As with any medical condition, your first response can seriously impact how you recover. With that in mind, we have put together this quick guide so you know how to handle toothache or a dental emergency before you arrive at our office.

Toothache

Toothache has numerous causes so your actions here are quite limited. If possible, we would always advocate rinsing the mouth with warm water, cleaning your teeth and flossing. Often, the discomfort is caused by something stuck between teeth and this will remove it. Check your teeth in the mirror to check for debris or something stuck.

Pain killers may be suitable if you’re over 16 and not allergic to them. If you do take anything, be sure to tell us when you arrive. Alternatively, a cold compress on the cheek where the tooth hurts can have a settling effect.

Lost or knocked out tooth

If you lose a tooth, your priority is to find the tooth and stop the bleeding. If you can, clean the tooth with warm water and place it back in its socket. If you cannot do this, place the tooth in milk and try to stop the bleeding with a napkin or other soft material until it either stops or you arrive at our office.

Fractured, chipped or damaged tooth

We regard these as a dental emergency as time is critical. The faster we can treat you, the less likely you are to get infection. We also stand a much better chance of saving and repairing the tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress until you can get to us.

Lost filling or crown

Lost fillings are quite common, especially in older people. If your filling falls out, chew a piece of sugar-free gum and place it over the hole to block the nerves and lessen discomfort. If you lose a crown, do your best to find it and keep it safe. See us as soon as possible.

In both cases, it is possible to use an over the counter dental cement as a temporary measure until we can see you.

Other dental emergencies

Your priority is to stop bleeding, prevent further loss or injury and get yourself to a safe place before contacting Aesthetic Family Dentistry. The faster you react, the better chance we have of restoring your situation to exactly how it was before the incident happened.

Contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today for all your dental needs!

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This post is all about giving you the information you need to understand toothaches and dental emergencies. We hope it helps.

Toothache

Toothache can be caused by many conditions such as something stuck between teeth, tooth decay, cracked teeth, loose or broken fillings, receding gums, periapical abscess, periodontal abscess, ulcers, sinusitis, TMJ and many more conditions.

With the exception of having something stuck between your teeth, all these situations need expert diagnosis. Many causes will have quick and painless treatments that can remedy the symptoms fast. Occasionally, the cause of the toothache may be more complex. It’s something we would discuss with you at the time.

Dental Emergencies

There are many kinds of dental emergency, from a lost tooth, lost fillings, broken brace, abscess or soft tissue injuries. Whether it is regarded as a true emergency or not depends on how severe it is and how it is impacting your life. If the effects are severe, we would definitely recommend scheduling an emergency appointment with Aesthetic Family Dentistry. It is far better to overreact than to not react in time.

We regard dental emergencies as:

• Severe bleeding or damage to the mouth
• Severe discomfort that stops you doing anything else
• A lost or damaged tooth that will not stop bleeding
• Sudden swellings in the mouth that can often be accompanied by bad odors
• An accident that causes significant discomfort to any region of the jaw or mouth

Many dental emergencies feel or look worse than they actually are. While swift action is important, there is usually no need to panic, to visit the ER or anything of that nature. Simply call us, schedule the appointment and speak to us about immediate care. We can advise what to do over the phone to help contain the situation until you can get to us.

We usually reserve time between scheduled appointments to be able to manage dental emergencies should they arise. It is important to contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry as soon as the situation arises so we can ensure we can see you in time. Once you’re here, we can assess and treat the situation as necessary.

Whatever has caused your dental emergency, you’re in safe hands with Aesthetic Family Dentistry!

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Reduce acidic food and drink in your diet

Our diets have a huge influence on our overall health. As a holistic dentist, Aesthetic Family Dentistry are interested in your entire wellbeing not just your dental health. With that in mind, we would definitely advocate reducing acidic food and drink from your diet.

Acidic foods include soda, citrus fruits, beef, bread, cocoa, fruit juice alcohol, lobster, pasta, seafood, sugar, coffee, ketchup, mustard, oats, olives and many more.

Many of these foods are very good for you, so we would suggest eating them in moderation and at mealtimes. That way, you can brush your teeth a short while afterwards. This will drastically lower your chances of developing dental erosion.

Drinking quickly

Swilling or holding a drink in your mouth can speed up tooth erosion. That’s especially true if you drink acidic drinks such as coffee, fruit juice, soda or alcohol. It’s best to swallow quickly once taken in or use a straw to reduce tooth exposure.

Eating dairy products

An unlikely ally in the fight against tooth erosion is milk and cheese. Both help lower the acid levels in the mouth to a much more manageable degree. If it suits your lifestyle, eating some good quality cheese or drinking a little milk after a meal containing acidic foods lowers the pH levels in the mouth, helping control erosion.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum is a long established dental tool for controlling dental erosion. Use sugar-free gum that has xylitol as an ingredient for maximum effect. Chew regularly throughout the day, especially after eating or drinking anything acidic. Chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production which will protect your teeth. It also helps remove food from gaps in your teeth which is an added bonus.

Wait until you brush

We mentioned earlier about brushing your teeth after a meal. Ideally, you would wait around an hour before brushing your teeth to get the most out of this. It may seem counterproductive, but this delay allows your teeth to remineralize before brushing. We know this helps prevent acid erosion.

Drink water throughout the day

As we have established, saliva is a key ingredient in preventing tooth erosion and we want to stimulate it as much as possible. Saliva needs water in order to work, so you need to give your body what it needs throughout the day. Water is essential for all our bodily functions from thinking to walking, digesting to regeneration, so drinking enough water is key. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day for maximum benefit.

If you would like to know more about cosmetic dentistry, and live in Denville, Dover, Morristown, Morris Plains, Mountain Lakes, Randolph, Rockaway contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry for free consultation!

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Tooth, acid or dental erosion is the gradual reduction of tooth enamel caused by acids within our bodies and our diet. When that protective enamel is too thin or too worn the dentin underneath is exposed which can cause discomfort and discoloration.

What is tooth enamel?

Tooth enamel is a thin, hard coating that protects the teeth. It is the hardest tissue in the human body, designed to protect our teeth from acid and daily use. The layer is thin and translucent, allowing the white dentin to show through that gives your teeth their white color.

Even though tooth enamel is tough, it is still susceptible to wear, chips, cracks and acid.

Where does this acid come from?

The acids that cause tooth erosion come from acidic foods and your stomach. When you eat certain foods acid is left behind which can soften the enamel and remove minerals from it. Saliva automatically lowers the pH level of the mouth and helps remineralize the teeth.

Acid can also come from the gut. If you suffer from acid reflux, stomach acids make their way into the mouth which can also attack tooth enamel.

Is it just acid that causes tooth erosion?

No it isn’t just acid. Daily use and abrasion can contribute towards dental erosion. As can bruxism or grinding the teeth. If you bite something hard, this can cause abfraction, which are small fractures within the enamel. Certain medications can also weaken or erode tooth enamel.

How will I know my teeth are eroding?

There are several symptoms of dental erosion. They include sensitive teeth, discoloration, shiny teeth, cracked or chipped teeth and indentations on the tooth. If you begin suffering from discomfort in the teeth, they become sensitive to heat or cold, they become shiner for no reason or you crack or chip a tooth, it’s important to visit us here at Aesthetic Family Dentistry as soon as possible.

What can be done to treat tooth erosion?

To treat tooth erosion, we first find out what’s causing it. If the cause is dietary, we can advise on low acid alternatives to foods and drinks. If acid reflux is the cause, we can make a referral to a physician. If you suffer from bruxism or tooth grinding, we can help directly with that. We can also address chips, cracks and indentations.

If we catch dental erosion early enough, we can use dental bonding to protect the area from further damage. If the erosion is further advanced, we may suggest a crown or other dental procedure to protect the tooth. Much depends on the individual and how serious the issue is. It’s something we would discuss at the consultation.

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The treatment of tooth decay is essential to prevent tooth loss. Losing a tooth or multiple teeth is a serious condition that should be avoided at all costs. Not only can it complicate eating, sleeping and daily living, tooth loss can cause significant discomfort.

So here are the main treatments for tooth decay. Which we select depends on how advanced the situation is, the condition of the mouth and the options available to us. We would typically discuss options with you at a consultation after a full examination as not all treatments are suitable for everyone.

Fillings

Fillings are probably the most popular treatment for tooth decay as long as we catch it in time. The procedure is quite straightforward. We remove the decayed parts of the tooth, remove all bacteria from within the tooth, clean it up and fill the area with a special composite material. This is a very fast and effective way to address tooth decay.

Crowns

Crowns are primarily used in situations where tooth decay has progressed too far for a filling to be effective. Crowns are usually made from gold, porcelain or zirconium and will be placed over the tooth once we have cleared out the decay and thoroughly cleaned the area. It is another effective treatment but is more intrusive than a filling.

Root canal

Root canal. Two words that seem to strike fear into the hearts of patients but really doesn’t need to. Root canal treatment remove the pulp in the center of the tooth and replaces it with a filling material that simulates real pulp. We only use this treatment as a very last resort but it is very effective when performed correctly.

Extraction

If all else fails, we may have to extract a tooth if the decay has gone too far. Only when there is absolutely no choice will we remove a tooth and only when the decay has gone too far to treat. Once extracted we can use a dental implant, denture or bridge to fill the gap.

New treatments

Two new dental treatments are in the testing stage of development that may change how we treat tooth decay forever. The first is an electrical treatment that encourages the tooth to repair itself once we remove the decay. The other is a laser treatment that also causes the tooth to regrow. Both are in the experimental stages right now but have the potential to change treatment for the better!

– See more at: https://aestheticfamilydentistry.com/blog/the-most-effective-dental-treatments-for-tooth-decay/#sthash.MF9HaUle.dpuf

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The traditional advice from your dentist has always been to watch what you eat, manage your intake of sugary foods and soda, brush twice a day, floss once a day and to visit your dentist regularly. While that advice hasn’t changed, we also have a few surprising allies in our fight to prevent tooth decay.

Cheese

There is increasing evidence that indicated eating cheese after a meal can help prevent tooth decay. It contains a protein called casein that helps promote healthy teeth by increasing calcium levels within the mouth. This calcium is thought to re-mineralize the mouth, helping the teeth. Cheese also alters the pH level in the mouth, which helps reduce acid erosion.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum is probably the least surprising here as we have often discussed the benefits of gum with our patients. Using sugar-free gum that contains xylitol is a very effective way to prevent tooth decay. Not only does the act of chewing shake food loose from gaps in teeth, it helps produce saliva, our natural defense against decay. Finally, xylitol cannot be metabolized by mouth bacteria, so they cannot use it as fuel.

Candy

Didn’t we just say that candy is bad for you when consumed in excess? Well, candy that utilizes xylitol instead of sugar can actually help prevent tooth decay. In the same way chewing gum helps produce saliva which helps lower the pH of the mouth and reduce decay, replacing standard sugar candy with sugar-free candy is a great way to still have a treat without the dental costs associated with it.

Straws

Using a straw when you have some soda or sugary drink may also help prevent tooth decay. If you absolutely have to have a soda, using a straw may help reduce the exposure your teeth have to the sugars. While we would advise caution and moderation when drinking any sugary drink, every little tip may help!

Green tea

Drinking green tea has long been associated with a number of health benefits including your mouth. New research is emerging that compounds within green tea actively help fight tooth decay and prevent cavities. Green tea controls bacteria that lives in the mouth and lowers the pH level preventing acid erosion. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory which may help gum health. It’s also a viable alternative to sugary drinks, which is a definite benefit!

If you live in Denville, Dover, Morristown, Morris Plains, Mountain Lakes, Randolph, Rockaway and have questions about dental cosmetic dentistry contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry, we can help!

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