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What to Do If a Filling or Crown Falls Out

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covering mouth
When you get a cavity or root canal, your tooth is likely to be diminished because of the need to drill and remove damaged or decayed portions of the tooth. Luckily, your dentist will fill in the blanks and reshape your tooth with the aid of a filling or crown that preserves your bite and protects the remaining surface of the tooth.

Generally speaking, fillings and crowns are permanent additions to your mouth. However, it’s not entirely uncommon for these dental fixtures to come loose and even fall out due to the regular wear and tear of chewing, or because of additional decay in the tooth. You could also lose them to accident or injury, or you might break them when chewing, or harm them with the unconscious clenching or grinding associated with bruxism.

If a filling or crown falls out, your first instinct might be to panic, but it isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it’s not even an emergency situation in most cases. So what should you do if your filling or crown falls out or breaks? Here are a few steps you should take.

Call Your Dentist

If the snafu occurs during business hours, call your dentist right away to schedule an appointment and find out what to do. Your dentist may be able to see you immediately if he/she has gaps in the schedule for emergencies. However, you might also have to wait a few days, and you should be fine in the meantime. Your dentist can give you some advice about how to properly clean and protect your exposed tooth until your appointment.

Clean and Protect

If your filling or crown falls out or breaks, spit it out. While swallowing it probably won’t cause any harm, it’s better not to if you can avoid it, and you definitely don’t want to chew it since this could harm the fixture or healthy teeth. It’s a good idea to save undamaged dental work if you can as you may be able to reuse it.

The next step is to clean the tooth, and if the crown, if it is intact. With dental cement, you might be able to place it back on the tooth temporarily as a form of protection. You could also try a layer of dental cement or dental wax, but this is only a quick fix and will not last long.

Your dentist will implement a permanent solution, perhaps putting your original fixture back in place, or maybe creating a new one. Either way, you can take steps in the meantime to protect your tooth and ensure no further harm is done.

5 Foods & Drinks That Wreak Havoc on Enamel

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alcohol cocktail drinks with citrus fruit
We all know that dairy products are great for our teeth because of the high dose of calcium that helps to support healthy bones. You may even know that cheese can help to reduce acidity, balance the pH in your mouth, and protect your enamel.

What you might not know is which foods do just the opposite, attacking the enamel that protects your teeth and paving the way for tooth decay. Here are a few of the worst culprits when it comes to wreaking havoc on enamel.

1. Candy

As you may have guessed, one of the worst foods for your enamel is processed sugar. While all candy is hard on your teeth, you should definitely steer clear of anything containing sticky caramel or nougat that can cling to the surface of teeth long after you’re finished eating. You’ll also want to avoid hard candies that you suck on or chew, as these can not only harm enamel, but lead to cracked and chipped teeth, opening the door to infection and tooth decay.

2. Sugary beverages

Sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even juices feature tons of added sugar (or concentrated natural sugar) that can linger and erode enamel. Many also contain acids and food dyes that exacerbate the problem. Stick to water if you want the greatest oral and overall health benefits from your beverages.

3. Citrus

Oranges, strawberries, and other citrus fruits are truly delicious, and they’re certainly better for you than chowing on cookies or candy. That said, the combination of sugar and acid found in citrus fruits can do a whammy on your enamel, so just make sure to brush, floss, and thoroughly rinse after eating citrus fruits.

4. Alcohol

You might fear the effects of sugar in alcohol, but compared to, say, soda, it’s not actually that high. The bigger concern when you imbibe is that alcohol is a diuretic, which means it can dry out your mouth. When saliva doesn’t flow, your mouth’s natural rinsing mechanism is removed, and food and bacteria can linger as a result, to the detriment of your enamel.

5. Vinegar

Vinegar is not only great for household cleaning tasks, but it also offers a variety of health benefits. Unfortunately, it’s not so great for enamel. If it removes the calcium deposits on your coffee maker, you can imagine what it does to your teeth. It’s important to become aware of all the foods containing vinegar, including salad dressing, pickles, potato chips, and condiments, so you can protect your teeth. From there it’s just a matter of following a proper oral health regimen and seeing your Austin dentist regularly.

Can Dental Implants Get Stained Like Real Teeth?

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dental veneerWe all want a perfect smile, with straight, white teeth that reflect youth and good health. When you flash your smile, you want to make a good first impression. So when you lose a tooth to decay, illness, trauma, or other causes, it can really damage your confidence, not to mention the function of your mouth.

The good news is that you don’t have to hide a gap or chew on the other side of your mouth. With dental implants, you can regain perfect function and the confidence to smile, laugh, eat, and drink just like before you lost your tooth. That said, you definitely have to take steps to care for you dental implant just as you do for your natural teeth.
The nice thing about dental implants is that they’ll never suffer cavities or decay, but they can still become damaged and stained if you’re not careful. How does this happen, and what can you do to protect against it?

Dental Implant Stains

Your natural teeth could become discolored in a number of ways. The dentin within teeth naturally yellows over time, and when paired with enamel erosion, your teeth could definitely take on a yellow hue. You might also suffer internal staining due to medications, tooth decay, or trauma.

You’ll never have these issues with dental implants. However, the food you eat, the beverages you drink, and any use of tobacco products could affect your dental implants in much the same way as your natural teeth, causing unsightly stains. Dental implants are designed to resist staining, but if the glazing on your false tooth is compromised in some way, staining can result.

What Causes Damage to Implants?

The glazes used to protect dental implants are strong and durable, but you have to do your part to protect them from damage. Glazes could wear down over time if you consume a lot of acidic foods, use abrasive toothpaste, or if you fail to follow a proper oral care regimen. They could also be damaged by chewing on hard items like ice, hard candy, or even non-food items like fingernails or pen caps.

When the outer glaze of a false tooth is damaged, stains can start to appear. Unlike natural teeth, which can be cleaned with abrasive toothpaste or whitened with bleaching products or lasers to remove staining, dental implants will need professional treatment in the form of polishing, re-glazing, or even replacement. The good news is that you can avoid this hassle and expense by watching what you eat, cleaning dental implants appropriately, and scheduling regular dental visits for check-up and cleaning.

What Your Dentist Can Tell About Your Health Just by Looking at Your Teeth

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dental check You know that your dentist is an expert at looking at teeth and telling whether or not you’ve been brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash regularly. What you might not realize is that your dentist can also tell a lot about your overall health just by inspecting your teeth.

In some cases, this could give you the impetus to seek out early testing that you might otherwise have neglected, catching conditions and treating them in a timely manner. While your dentist may not be able to diagnose certain ailments simply from looking at your teeth, the state of your mouth can certainly offer clues, so it’s always a good idea to listen to your dentist’s advice. What could this professional tell about your health just by looking at your teeth?

If You’re Eating Right

Proper nutrition is important for your entire body, and when you’re malnourished, it shows in a variety of ways, including in your mouth. When people stop eating or start purging, as with conditions like anorexia or bulimia, dentists can see the signs, including dry mouth, gums that are tender, swollen, and/or bleeding, and other symptoms. Stomach acids can also affect the inner side of teeth, damaging enamel. Dentists may spot such issues before a physician because of these signs and symptoms.

If You’re Suffering from Certain Ailments

You might be surprised to learn that your dentist could spots the signs of conditions like anemia, osteoporosis, diabetes, HIV, and even dementia from the condition of your teeth and gums. Anemia often results in pale gums, while osteoporosis could present symptoms like weakening jaw bone that results in receding gums or loose teeth.

Diabetes causes myriad problems, possibly including bleeding gums, gingivitis, and trouble healing, while HIV could include symptoms like bleeding gums, mouth sores, and infections. As for signs of dementia, the onset of forgetfulness could mean neglecting regular dental care, resulting in worsening oral health.

If Your Oral Health is Putting Your Overall Health at Risk

Oral health is linked to overall health, although the causation (or which is responsible for the other) is not always certain. If, however, you’re suffering from a serious oral health concern like periodontitis or abscessed teeth, there’s a high risk of the condition affecting your overall health.

An abscess that enters the bloodstream, for example, could travel throughout the body, leading to pockets of infection in different areas, including the heart or the brain. This, in turn, could be dangerous or even fatal. In other words, it’s always a good idea to maintain oral health in order to protect your overall health.

Different Types of Tooth Stains

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color stain
All of us would prefer to maintain a beautiful, white smile, and this can most easily be accomplished by adopting a good oral health regimen that includes thorough brushing, flossing, and rinsing, as well as regular trips to the dentist for cleaning and x-rays. These steps can help to prevent issues that could compromise the health and appearance of our teeth.

However, you should know that even a lifetime of good habits may not be enough to prevent tooth staining that can cause you to look older and affect your confidence when you smile. What causes tooth staining and what can you do to treat it? Here’s what you need to know about different types of tooth stains.

Aging

Even with proper oral care, our teeth experience some wear and tear over time. The hard enamel can thin with age and the dentin inside our teeth can start to yellow. This is a natural part of the aging process. However, this type of staining can often be treated simply enough with professional whitening/bleaching treatments, which could show significant improvements.

Food

Extrinsic stains are those that affect the outer enamel of our teeth, and they are most often caused by staining agents in the foods and beverages we consume. Beverages like coffee, tea, cola, and wine can cause yellowing or even stubborn, brownish stains on teeth, as can food dyes. You’ll also find that the use of tobacco products can significantly impact the appearance of teeth, as well as overall oral health.

What can you do? The easiest way to prevent such surface staining is to avoid these substances, but you can also combat extrinsic stains in a few different ways. You might want to start with over-the-counter products like whitening toothpastes or bleaching products (gels, strips, etc.). A more effective means of whitening teeth is with professional bleaching trays or laser teeth whitening at your dentist’s office.

Medications, Medical Conditions, and Trauma

Intrinsic discoloration, which affects the dentin in your teeth, can leave you with yellow, brown, gray, or even purplish teeth. This could be caused by hereditary factors, excessive exposure to fluoride early in life, certain medications like tetracycline, certain medical conditions like dentinogenesis imperfecta, or trauma to the tooth.

In some cases, whitening procedures could help, but you may also have to consider options like dental bonding or veneers that hide the problem. Your best bet is to speak to your dentist about the cause of tooth staining and the most suitable method of treatment for your particular case.

4 Ways to Protect Your Teeth This Halloween

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candies and chocolates
Kids may be the ones out collecting candy on Halloween, but that doesn’t mean adults are spared the temptation of all those sugary treats. Whether you’re handing out candy at the door or you’re digging through your kid’s sack of treats in search of hazards, you’re going to be confronted by a lot of bite-sized confections, and your teeth can suffer the damage of overindulgence following the first of many food-centric, end-of-year holidays.

The good news is, you have several options to explore when it comes to minimizing the damage all that sugar can do to your teeth at this time of year, and your kids can benefit from targeted changes, as well. Here are just a few ways to protect your teeth and maintain good oral health this Halloween.

1. Limit sugar intake

When confronted with scads of treats, it’s all too easy to mindlessly overindulge. However, sugar is bad for both your teeth and your caloric intake, so you need to be aware of how much you’re consuming and limit your intake. This could mean limiting yourself to just a couple pieces of candy per day, or cutting back on soda to counteract the added sugar in your diet. Better yet, you might just want to indulge for a couple days and then throw out whatever candy is left to remove all temptation.

2. Consider the source

You might think all sugar is the same, but some types of candy are a lot worse for your teeth than others. For example, sticky substances like caramel and nougat can cling to teeth, causing more damage than mere chocolate. Hard candies that you suck or bite can also cause sugar to stay in your mouth longer, and they could damage teeth if you bite down too hard. These types of candy should be avoided.

3. Take care with costuming

Some costumes require you to make a number of cosmetic changes to your appearance, such as blacking out teeth or adding prosthetics. Just make sure to use products that are approved for these purposes and to always use them appropriately to avoid damage to teeth.

4. Rethink your routine

If you’re adding some sugar to your diet, you should counteract it with extra brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash throughout the day, as well as additional hydration and rinsing with water. This will help to reduce film on teeth that could lead to plaque and tartar buildup, or even worse issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Contact your dentist for further advice or to schedule additional cleaning as needed.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Invisalign Treatment

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Invisalign
When it comes to discreetly aligning your teeth, there’s no better solution than Invisalign. Though this may seem like an effortless solution, it is important to remember that success ultimately hinges on how well the patient adheres to their treatment plan. To lend some advice on how to do just that, here is a brief list with a few tips on how to get the most out of your
Invisalign treatment.

Your Old Aligners Will Come in Handy

Make no mistake, you should definitely dispose of your old aligners, as there’s no legitimate reason to keep them around. However, upon getting a new set, keeping your most recent pair is a good idea just in case the former meets an unfortunate end or gets lost.

Make a Habit Out of Wearing Your Aligners

With Invisalign, proper upkeep entails wearing your aligners for 22 hours per day. In fact, they should only be removed when you are eating or engaging in your daily oral hygiene routine. Unfortunately, failure to adhere to this relatively simple step is one of the most common reasons for prolonged treatment. This is because inconsistencies give your teeth plenty of time to rearrange themselves, as they are no longer held in place by the aligner. If something like this occurs, all is not lost. However, you will likely incur more costs due to the fact that your orthodontist will need new impressions of your teeth and will have to remake the aligners.

Chew to Conformity

Chewies are long circular pieces of hardened plastic that are great for conforming your aligners to your teeth. One reason you may need to use them is if you have air pockets in the space between the aligner and your teeth. To use, simply bite the chewies for around 10 minutes and at least 3 times per day. In addition to solving the problem of air pockets, chewies will accelerate your overall treatment time.

Maintain a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine

The only time you should ever remove your aligners is when you are eating or when you are brushing and flossing your teeth. Concerning the latter, make sure to maintain a daily oral hygiene routine, which includes brushing both your teeth and your aligner, as well as flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and preferably using a tongue scraper. For brushing your aligner, use a soft-bristled non-eclectic toothbrush and a little bit of toothpaste.

Can Diet Impact a Smile?

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drinking coffee
Those of us who brush and floss our teeth on a daily basis and make regular bi-annual dental appointments are likely always looking for ways to keep our smiles clean and healthy. However, while those steps are certainly effective, that is only one part of the story. As you may have guessed, the other half is diet. Most of us are aware that food and beverages with high sugar content can easily lead to tooth decay, but did you know that there are a variety of other foods that can be just as bad? Even worse, you could already be eating some of these foods without having any idea what the consequences may be. To help ensure that this does not happen to you, here is a brief list with insight on how your diet could be ruining your smile.

Coffee

Make no mistake, there are benefits to drinking coffee. For one, as most of us know, coffee is a great way to escape from the morning grog that plagues us when we wake up. It is also high in antioxidants and can reduce the risk of contracting caner, Type 2 diabetes, and even Parkinson’s. However, regularly consuming coffee can have detrimental effects on your teeth. This is especially true of black coffee, which runs contrary to what some people profess. Fortunately, these effects can be mitigated by diluting the coffee with ice or milk, and using a straw to drink it.

Curry

Who would have thought, right? Curry is fundamentally delicious, reduces inflammation, helps with digestion, and can guard against degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and specific forms of cancer. Despite all this, curry can severely stain the teeth. Fortunately, these effects can be minimized by eating curry as little as possible and cleaning your teeth within half an hour of indulging.

Lemons

What’s not to love about lemons? They have relatively little calories, are high in both fiber and vitamin C and taste delicious! However, lemons are also highly acidic, meaning they can erode tooth enamel like nobody’s business. For this reason, it is important to minimize contact between your teeth and anything containing concentrated amounts of lemons. However, like coffee, the effects of lemons can be reduced via dilution. More often than not, diluting with water works the best: simply grab a glass full of water, squeeze a little lemon on it and enjoy!

What Is the No Bone Solution of Dental Implant Treatment?

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no bone
When seeking dental implants, some are discouraged when they find out that they possess an inadequate amount of bone, meaning they are not ideal candidates for the procedure. Alternative options, like dentures or bone grafting, are anything but appealing. But what else is one to do when they lack the necessary amount of bone required to ensure success? Despite these pitfalls, there’s no need to fear. Thanks to modern technology and advances in dental surgery, there are a few options, the most successful and widespread of which is known as the No Bones Treatment. For those curious to learn more about this procedure, here is a brief description.

What It Is

The No Bones Treatment makes use of longer titanium implants that allow them to bypass inadequate bone for implantation on the denser bone beneath. This enables the screws to dig into the bone, subsequently promoting more resilient osseointegration. Even better, this procedure is adapted to the specifics of each patient’s mouth, making it both effective and comfortable.

The Mechanics of No Bones Treatment

Every No Bones Treatment begins with a CT scan. This provides the dentist with a 3D image of the patient’s jaw that is then used to design a form-fitted implant. While the CT scan is primarily a digital operation, the implants themselves are typically fitted manually. Should this route be unsuccessful, the dentist can set them in the cheekbone instead. Consequently, the most important aspects of the procedure are the modeling and designing processes, which allow the dentist time to identify any problems and ensure that the replacement teeth are comfortable.

Session Breakdown

The No Bones Treatment only takes around four sessions to complete, though this amount can vary depending on the severity of the bone loss. The initial session is where the dentist will inspect the patient’s mouth and provide a diagnosis. Here, the dentist is checking the patient’s mouth and subsequently making a decision as to whether a normal or No Bones procedure will be more beneficial. Next, implants are inserted into the patient’s cheekbone or gums, whichever is determined to have a higher success rate. After the screws are implanted, the dentist installs temporary teeth. Thirteen weeks after the surgery, the dentist will take final impressions and send them to a laboratory. From there, a permanent set of teeth are manufactured and sent back to the dentist for the final stage, where she installs them on top of the titanium screws.

How to Use Good Oral Hygiene to Fight the Flu

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water
When flu season hits, it is best to be prepared. Many of us have a good idea of how to take care of ourselves when we’re ill; however, many fail to take oral hygiene into account, which is ultimately detrimental to one’s oral health. When you’re sick, bacteria pours into the mouth from mucus and vomit, creating an atmosphere where it can fester and thrive, resulting in tooth decay and other nastiness further down the line. This also applies to the gums, which are especially susceptible to bacteria during this time. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening. Here to help you out with that is a list on how to fight the flu with stellar oral hygiene.

Hydration is Essential

Maintaining optimal hydration is beneficial to your body and oral health. Unfortunately, having the flu means that your body will dehydrate quickly. This will cause dry mouth and create a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply, eventually resulting in tooth decay. To combat this unpleasant effect, make sure to drink plenty of water and steer clear of acidic and sugary beverages. Additionally, sugar-free cough drops and lozenges can increase saliva production.

Don’t Brush Your Teeth Immediately After Vomiting

Most of us vomit when we have the flu. After we have expelled our stomach contents, our mouth is usually plagued by an extremely gross taste. While your first inclination may be to brush your teeth, you may want to hold off. Brushing one’s teeth immediately after vomiting can compound the damage that the stomach acid has already caused. Because of this, it is best to wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. However, this does not mean you have to deal with the unpleasantries of the taste in your mouth. On the contrary, swishing some water or mouthwash immediately after vomiting is a great way to minimize bacteria and get rid of the unpleasant taste.

Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

While this may seem like a given, you would be surprised at how many people negate proper oral hygiene when they are sick. Maintaining the usual routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash will help clear out any excess bacteria and keep your smile looking fresh and healthy. Also, consider replacing your toothbrush when you are feeling better, as this will prevent the grime and bacteria from spreading and potentially causing further illness.