Dental & Mouth Concerns Your teeth are vulnerable to nicks, chips, stains, and strains. To protect your teeth from damage and injury, take these precautions. * Don’t chew ice, pens, or pencils. * Don’t use your teeth to open paper clips or otherwise function as tools. * If you smoke a pipe, don’t bite down […]
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Dental & Mouth Concerns Signs, Symptoms & Causes Gum (periodontal) diseases include: Gingivitis. The gums are swollen due to bacteria from plaque and tartar on the teeth. With gingivitis, the gums are red and bleed easily. Periodontitis. This is swelling around the tooth. It occurs when gingivitis is not treated. With periodontitis, pockets form between
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Dental & Mouth Concerns Now you know how sticky sweets promote tooth decay. What you may not realize is that some foods prevent tooth decay. Research studies show that certain foods, like cheese and peanut butter, counteract the acids in the mouth that wear down the tooth enamel. (Be careful to buy plain, all-natural peanut
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Dental & Mouth Concerns A fractured (or broken) jaw is when the jaw bone breaks. Signs & Symptoms * Jaw and/or facial pain, swelling, or numbness. * Not being able to open or close the mouth normally. * Bleeding from the mouth. * Having a hard time drinking, speaking, and swallowing. * Drooling. * The
Dental & Mouth Concerns Dry mouth is an abnormal dryness of the mucus membranes in the mouth. This happens when there isn’t enough saliva or the composition of the saliva changes. Dry mouth is common in the elderly. Signs & Symptoms * Dry, parched feeling in the mouth * Lack of saliva * Problems with
Dental & Mouth Concerns If you dread going to the dentist, ask about anxiety-reducing techniques you can use to help stay calm and relaxed. Some effective strategies follow. * Tell your dentist how you feel. Some dentists are trained in helping anxious patients overcome fear of dental procedures. * Ask if you can listen to
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Dental & Mouth Concerns Taking care of your teeth and gums helps your teeth last a lifetime. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Get a dental exam once or twice a year. If you have not seen a dentist in over a year, schedule a dental exam today. Dental problems affect more than
Dental & Mouth Concerns At one time, dentists had no choice but to extract an infected tooth. Pulling an infected tooth solved one problem but led to others-poor appearance, change in bite, difficulty chewing food, and less support for adjacent teeth. But tooth extraction is rarely necessary now, thanks to a procedure known as root
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Dental & Mouth Concerns Cold sores appear on or near the lips. They are painful and unpleasant. Nearly 1 in 3 people will have them. Cold sores are also called fever blisters. Signs & Symptoms * Tingling feeling on or near the lips for 36 to 48 hours before the sore appears * Itching at
Dental & Mouth Concerns See a doctor or dentist if you have any of these signs for 2 weeks or longer: * A sore in the mouth that does not heal * A lump or thickening in the cheek * A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth *
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