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Can Dry Mouth Cause Dental Problems?

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  Dry mouth is a condition whereby the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva in the mouth, causing dryness. Mostly prevalent in the aging population, dry mouth can also be a side effect of some medication. Some of the symptoms of dry mouth include cracked lips, sticky saliva, and bad breath. Whatever the cause, dry mouth is a medical condition that needs to be addressed with the importance it deserves because it can lead to other problems. Can dry mouth cause dental problems? Anything that affects the oral cavity will pretty much also affect your dental health. Therefore, dry mouth, being a condition that affects the oral cavity, will ultimately affect your dental health. So how does dry mouth affect your dental health? Having a dry mouth means there will not be enough saliva production in the mouth. The relationship between dry mouth and dental health lies in the role saliva plays in keeping your teeth healthy. Saliva not only lubricates your mouth but also acts as a ...

What Should You Do If Your Teeth Filling Comes Loose?

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  Losing a dental filling can be unexpected, alarming and definitely startling. A filling may become loose and fall out due to numerous reasons. First, it may loosen when your teeth go through a lot of pressure from chewing. Second, the bonding of the filling may loosen due to saliva getting into the cavity and gradually reacting with the filling. Worse still, a filling may fall out or loosen due to tooth decay in which the root of the tooth decays away. When the dental filling becomes loose or falls out, there are certain steps that you will need to take to protect your tooth. If the tooth is left untreated, food particles can get into the cavity and cause bacteria to grow and worsen the decay. If you have a loose filling or one that has fallen out, there is no reason to panic. Here are easy steps on what you should do if your teeth filling comes loose. Step 1: Remove and Keep the Filling if You Can In case your dental filling comes loose, it is important to get it out of ...

How Teeth Scaling Helps To Clean Your Teeth?

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  No matter how well you take care of your teeth, tartar and plaque buildup are inevitable for everyone. Bacteria tend to breed and buildup in your mouth every time you eat or drink, and as much as flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash are effective ways of getting rid of most food debris, some always remain. And for this reason, it is recommended for you to visit your dentist for a check-up at least twice a year. The dentist will perform a procedure known as teeth scaling whereby the layers of plaque buildup are scarped away, leaving your teeth clean and healthy. What is Teeth Scaling? Teeth scaling is a common, non-surgical dental procedure that is mostly recommended for patients suffering from mild to moderate gum disease. Usually, there is a standard cleaning procedure that can help to clean teeth surfaces; however, teeth scaling is used for a much deeper clean. The scaling process focuses on the area along with the roots and beneath the gumline using manual instrument...

Tooth Replacement Options Your Dentist May Recommend

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Tooth loss is a common problem that comes with age or even injuries and other dental problems. However, losing a tooth doesn’t have to spell doom for your teeth. Teeth replacement in dentistry has enabled many patients to restore their appearance and even functionality with different tooth replacement treatments. The following are some of the best tooth replacement options that your dentist might recommend if you happen to lose a tooth. Dental implant A dental implant replaces your entire tooth structure with artificial material. It is designed to mimic a natural tooth in appearance and functionality. A screw-like implant is inserted deep inside the jawbone in place of the roots to support a crown. Removable dentures Dentures are a non-invasive tooth replacement option which can be used instead of an implant. A denture can either be complete or partial. Complete dentures are worn to cover the whole tooth arch while a partial denture is worn to cover one or just ...

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Your Body

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Did you know that a tooth infection or tooth abscess can actually kill you? It is common to hear people dying from infections in other parts of their body as a result of an infected wound which becomes septic. Similarly, a tooth abscess can become deadly if it spreads to the rest of your body. Leaving your infected tooth untreated can make the infection spread to your bloodstream. If you have a tooth infection, here are the signs and symptoms to look out for to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of your body. 1. Fever  Fever is usually a common manifestation of an infection in the body, whether viral or bacterial. This is your body’s way of fighting off infections in the body. By increasing the body temperature, a fever creates an unconducive environment for the bacteria in an attempt to kill them. 2. Swollen face If you notice any kind of persistent swelling around the area of the infection, it is advisable to see a doctor immediately as this is a sign th...

Think before you swish: Pros and Cons of Mouthwash

Using mouthwash has become a common practice among a majority of people. People have made it a routine to regularly brush their teeth, floss, and using mouthwash before they leave out. For some people, mouthwash has been a quick fix whenever they are too tired or lazy to brush and floss their teeth. However, many people still question the pros and cons of mouthwash and even wonder why they use it in the first place. Here are some of the pros and cons of mouthwash. The Pros of Using Mouthwash -           Beneficial When it Comes to Fighting Cavities Mouthwash, especially one that contains fluoride as one of the ingredients, comes in handy when it comes to fighting bacteria that cause cavities. Apart from killing the bacteria, fluoride reduces demineralization by protecting as well as strengthening the enamel. -           Fresh Breath One of the benefits that most people love about usi...

Signs, Causes and Treatment of Chipped Tooth

Tooth enamel is the hardest and toughest substance in your body. However, as days pass, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and chewing on hard objects or food takes a toll on it. Chipped teeth are extremely common. Unlike broken bones, a chipped tooth does not heal. In some cases, a chipped tooth can worsen despite appropriate treatment, and tooth loss can be a possible result whereby a crown cannot guarantee success. For some reason, a chipped tooth is difficult to detect since, in most cases, the pain often comes and goes. And due to the short periods of irregular pain, it can be challenging to know which tooth is the problem. Read on to know more about the signs, causes, and treatment of a chipped tooth. Signs of a Chipped Tooth It can be quite difficult to know you have a chipped tooth , especially if the chip is minor and not at the front of your mouth. However, some of the signs that may indicate you have a chipped tooth include: -        ...