Tooth pain, or toothache as others prefer to call it, is one of the most common dental problems. When we experience tooth pain, we always blame it to tooth decay. But that is not always the case; there are other several reasons as to why you suffer from such tooth discomfort. Here is a list of the top causes of tooth pain:

1. Tooth Decay
Commonly, tooth decay is the culprit. It is the dark or brown spots visible in the teeth. Tooth decay occurs when there are bacteria build up. This starts with the enamel and can go deeper into the pulp and nerves causing toothache.

2. Sensitivity
You have a sensitive tooth when you feel sudden jolt after you eat or drink hot or cold foods and liquids. Tooth sensitivity is due to inflammation of the pulp tissues inside a tooth.

3. Bruxism
Grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw is called bruxism. Bruxism causes tooth pain because of the damaged tooth and injured gums that you get from excessive teeth grinding and clenching. Bruxism can also cause malocclusion. It is when the teeth and jaw do not line up correctly.

4. Cracked Tooth
Cracked tooth is characterized of tiny fractures on the teeth that are not identified by x-rays, especially if the fracture is under the gum line. This happens when you chew too hard and puts pressure on your teeth.

5. Gum Infection/Disease
There are two stages of gum disease. Gingivitis is considered to be the mildest gum disease. It causes the gums to swell and bleed easily. When left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. When you have a periodontitis, the gums and bones that hold your teeth are destroyed and pulled away, creating spaces between your tooth.

Regularly visiting your dentist can help in attaining a good oral hygiene and can reduce discomfort and tooth pain.

Having sensitive teeth is expected after getting a deep dental cleaning. Nevertheless, this sensitivity will fade over time. Local anesthesia is injected around your gums during deep

cleaning, and this results in numbness. You have to wait until this numbness goes away before eating food in order to avoid biting your tongue or lips.

For a faster healing process of your teeth and gums, avoid some triggers of pain and sensitivity. Take good care of your newly cleaned teeth by avoiding some of these foods:

Foods that can get stuck in your gums
Any food that has a high possibility of getting stuck in your gums such as chips, popcorn, nuts and foods that are chewy and sticky such as dried fruits and chocolates are not good for you while your teeth and gums are sensitive.

Acidic foods that may be harsh to your gums
Any food or drink that is high in acid like tomatoes, citrus fruits, pickles, fruit juice and red wine are harsh on your mouth after a deep dental cleaning. Spicy and heavily seasoned foods may also cause your mouth some discomfort.

Supersized foods that may be too big for your jaw
Foods like hamburgers will cause you to open your mouth wider. They may be too big for your jaw to handle and may cause you to exert more effort in biting/chewing. Avoid stressing your teeth while trying to heal.

You may eat what you can tolerate, but be kind to your oral cavity for the next 48 hours. Foods that are best for you are:

Foods that are easy to chew and swallow
Easy to chew and swallow foods aren’t a challenge to rinse out. Eat foods such as soups, pasta, soft cooked rice, yogurt, eggs, banana, mashed potato, etc.

Make sure to drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated and do not miss meals. Food and nutrition is important in fast healing.

Sensitive teeth after deep cleaning can be treated at home by watching the foods you eat. When the sensitivity of your teeth lasts longer than a few weeks, contact your Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist.

You have a family picture and the photographer say, “Smile.” How can you smile if you don’t have teeth to show? Today, many adults over at the age of 50s facing different problems in oral health. It is a big issue as teeth is a vital part of the body.

Biggest Dental Problems for Over 50s and How to Battle Them:

1. Tooth Decay

Not only children are susceptible to tooth decay, even adults over 50. As you grow old, there are some complications, especially in the dental field. Your teeth become weak, and the roots become soft. Sometimes, the root can also be exposed due to age.

You can have a fluoride treatment; make sure it is recommended by your dentist.

2. Oral Cancer

It is a deadly type of cancer. This cancer is sadly increasing in some affected patients, which are mostly adults.

Prevention and early detection is still the best solution to fight oral cancer. If you suspect any unusual occurrence in your mouth, especially in the tongue and gums, you should consult your dentist immediately. He will perform an examination to diagnose if you have oral cancer.

3. Gum Disease

It starts with gingivitis, the simplest form of gum disease. It is where the gum is inflamed and red. There is a collection of pus inside the swollen gums and if not treated properly will progress to a severe gum disease which is periodontitis. And since old people usually have poor dental hygiene and because they don’t brush their teeth the right way, they are more susceptible to this condition.

To prevent it from happening, go to your dentist if you have a cracked or fractured tooth. It is also important to visit your dentist for a regular checkup.

4. Dry Mouth

Saliva is a protection from tooth decay. If you have a dry mouth, especially at night, then the protection is lessened. Symptoms of dry mouth are difficulty in swallowing, dry throat, chapped lips, and sticky or dry feeling inside the mouth. All these symptoms usually occur to individuals near the age of 50. This is because old people easily gets dehydrated, which then causes dry mouth.

Try to stimulate saliva production by sipping water most of the times, or you can also have chewing gums that are sugar-free.

While some individuals are naturally more vulnerable to cavities than others, there are also other reasons why a person is more prone to cavities. Your dentist can get rid of your tooth decay and bring back your shiny tooth once again; however, they don’t have the power to stop you from getting too many cavities in the future. This will depend on you and your dental routine.

If you suspect that, you are more vulnerable to cavities than others, then take a look at the list below and find out if any of these suits you:

Cavity-causing bacteria

Since you are ingesting foods every time, millions of little bacteria hang around. The bacteria produce acids and smudge it on your teeth. Then, these acids will reside on your tooth until a cavity is formed.

Fillings or bad crowns

When you have a poor-quality crown or filling in your mouth, it lets the plaque stay in an unreachable area. This makes it hard to get rid of the plaque when you are flossing and brushing, causing more cavities in the long run.

Frequent sugar intake

It’s no big deal to eat chocolates and other sugar-filled foods, but not too much. These sweets give off bacteria known as fermentable carbohydrates. Thus, the more you eat them, the more susceptible you are to cavities.

Insufficient fluoride intake

Believe it or not, fluoride strengthens the enamel in your teeth. The stronger your enamel is, the more difficult it is for the bacteria to cause damage. Use a fluoride mouthwash or brush your teeth longer with fluoride toothpaste to get more of it. Please visit your dentist to know the recommended fluoride intake for your specific dental needs.

Bad hygiene

Too lazy to brush your teeth? Then, you are only letting those awful bacteria thrive and damage your asset. Unfortunately, inconsistent dental care, especially in the mornings, promotes cavity build-ups.

Not-so-good family dental history

Genetics can also be blamed for this. If your loved ones have bad dental health records, then it is possible that you’ll have the same. Aside from that, family upbringing can also contribute as family members can be the reason for the lack of proper oral hygiene teachings.

More often than not, simple things like forgetting to brush at night after eating some sweets or harshly brushing our teeth are the main contributors of why we are more susceptible to cavities. Review and reflect on these reasons and be more cautious in your dental health from now on.

Cosmetic dentist in Walnut Creek offers wide variety of aesthetic services

Visiting a cosmetic dentist used to be reserved for the Hollywood elite. Thankfully, over the years, aesthetic services have become incredibly affordable. Patients can visit the team of Walnut Creek Cosmetic to learn about a variety of services that can be performed to enhance the appearance of the smile and address imperfections. Below is a small sample of what Dr. Kevin Ko and his team provide:

• Porcelain veneers – patients interested in addressing defects near the front of the smile can use porcelain veneers. These are ceramic facings custom-made for patients to bond over a tooth and cover it entirely. These restorations can last a decade or longer with proper attention.
• Porcelain crowns – porcelain crowns are restorations fabricated to cover all visible areas of a tooth. They may be referred to as “caps.” They can either cover imperfections or be used to add an extra layer of protection to a weakened tooth.
• Dental bridges – bridges are commonly used for replacing one or more teeth within the dental arch. They are fabricated using porcelain and fusing together pontics (false teeth) with dental crowns. A bridge uses the adjacent teeth for support.
• Teeth whitening – professional teeth whitening has become incredibly affordable, and options available at the dental office far surpass the results achieved with over-the-counter alternatives. Walnut Creek Cosmetic offers both in-office power bleaching and take-home whitening kits with higher concentrations than those available in the local drugstore.
• Dental implants – implants are a fabulous way for patients to replace a single missing tooth or support a bridge or denture to replace several. Dental implants are titanium posts placed during oral surgery for strength and durability.
• Dental bonding – composite resin bonding material is perfect for covering imperfections and repairing broken teeth.

Dr. Kevin Ko and the team of Walnut Creek Cosmetic offer aesthetic services for patients in and around the community. Whether you are seeking a simple professional teeth whitening or extensive smile makeovers, now is the time to contact our practice to learn more. We are conveniently located at 1181 Boulevard Way, Suite A and can be reached at (925) 934-0192.

Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist encourages patients to consider aesthetic services to improve the smile

Visiting a cosmetic dentist in the Walnut Creek area is the first step to take if you are truly interested in enhancing the smile. Patients used to believe that cosmetic dentistry was overpriced and unattainable. They thought that cosmetic treatments were only affordable to the Hollywood elite. This is not the case! In fact, many patients in the Walnut Creek area are excited to learn how easy it is to have aesthetic work done and not break the bank!

Cosmetic dentistry incorporates many different services. Some patients may choose just one or two treatments while others may work with Dr. Greenfield to develop a complete treatment plan that involves many of the below services for optimum results.

• Porcelain crowns – patients who need to cover or protect a tooth may opt for the placement of a porcelain crown. These crowns are made of quality ceramics and are bonded over a tooth. They can make a tooth stronger while also improving its appearance.
• Teeth whitening – while over-the-counter whitening products are a dime a dozen, they fail to provide results patients want to achieve. This is why our team provides professional-grade teeth whitening with patient choice of either in-office power bleaching or take-home whitening trays.
• Dental bridges – a dental bridge can “bridge the gap” when teeth are missing from the smile. These restorations are made of high-quality porcelain and bonded over the adjacent teeth for support. These restorations are permanent and beautiful.
• Dental veneers – porcelain veneers are facings made for patients to bond over a tooth to camouflage issues such as staining, misalignment, and breakage quickly and easily.
• Dental bonding – composite resin bonding also plays an important role in cosmetic dentistry. It can be used to repair a tooth or cover imperfections.

If you live in the area of Walnut Creek, California and have considered visiting a cosmetic dentist to discuss treatment options, now is the time to make an appointment with your Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist, Dr. Greenfield. His practice is conveniently located at 1111 Civic Drive, Suite 145 and can be reached at (925) 937-9017. Call today to schedule your no-obligation consultation visit with our staff and discuss the many possibilities for enhancing the aesthetics of the smile quickly and easily with cosmetic dentistry solutions.