Lake Michigan Dental knows that university and college aged students often suffer from wisdom tooth pain or impaction and need emergency care in order to stay in the game. We’re conveniently located on the Grand Valley bus route and are able to promptly help students who need immediate attention. The following article will help you understand the ins and outs of wisdom teeth, and hopefully avoid inflammation.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars. Normally people have three permanent molars that develop in each quadrant of the mouth; upper, lower, right and left. The first molars usually grow into the mouth at around six years of age. The second molars grow in at around age 12. The third molars usually will try to grow in at around age 17 to 21 years. Since that is considered to be the age when people become wiser, third molars gained the nickname, “wisdom teeth.” Actually, they are no different than any other tooth except that they are the last teeth to erupt, or grow into the mouth. They are just as useful as any other tooth if they grow in properly, have a proper bite relationship and have healthy gum tissue around them. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.

What is an Impaction?

When wisdom teeth are prevented from erupting into the mouth properly, they are referred to as impacted. Teeth that have not erupted are not necessarily impacted. It may be that it is still too early in someone’s dental development, and if time passes they might grow in properly. A dentist must examine a patient’s mouth and his or her X-rays to determine if the teeth are impacted or will not grow in properly. Impacted teeth may cause problems, such as infection, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or formation of a cyst (fluid-filled sac) or tumor from the follicle, which is the tissue that formed the crown of the tooth. Many dentists recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems.

Erupted wisdom teeth may also need to be removed. The dentist may recommend this if the tooth is nonfunctional, interfering with the bite, badly decayed, involved with or at risk for periodontal disease, or interfering with restoration of an adjacent tooth. Once again, every case is different, and only your dentist can determine if there is a reason for you to have a tooth removed.

When to Remove Wisdom Teeth

The following symptoms may indicate that the wisdom teeth have erupted and surfaced, and should be removed before they become impacted, in other words, the teeth have surfaced and have no room in the mouth to grow. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Infection in the mouth
• Facial swelling
• Swelling of the gumline in the back of the mouth

Many oral health specialists will recommend removal of the wisdom teeth before they are fully developed, usually in the adolescent years,as early removal will help to eliminate problems, such as an impacted tooth that destroys the second molar.

Wisdom tooth extraction involves accessing the tooth through the soft and hard tissue, gently detaching the connective tissue between the tooth and the bone and removing the tooth. Extractions can be performed under local anesthesia.

Following the extraction, you may experience some swelling and discomfort, which is a normal part of the healing process. Cold compresses can help decrease the swelling, and your dentist may prescribe medication to help relieve discomfort.

Dry Sockets

Dry socket, the most common postoperative complication from tooth extractions, delays the normal healing process and results when the newly formed blood clot in the extraction site does not form correctly or is prematurely lost. The blood clot lays the foundation for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. Women who take oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of developing dry socket after wisdom teeth extraction due to high levels of estrogen.

Tips for preventing dry socket

• Schedule extractions during the last week of the menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are lower.
• Avoid drinking through a straw, as the suction may interfere with clotting.
• Avoid smoking, which can irritate the extraction site.
• Avoid excessive mouth rinsing, which may interfere with clotting.

SOURCE: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/print/printpreview.asp?content=article&abc=W&iid=340&aid=1366

What do you reach for when you’re thirsty, pop or iced tea instead of water? You might want to think twice about that habit. It isn’t just cola’s empty calories — about 150 per 12-ounce can — you should worry about. Many of these beverages harm enamel, the protective shell around teeth.

A pilot study of the effects some of these beverages had on enamel, appearing in the July/August 2004 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, found that over time, exposing dental enamel to carbonated beverages and non-carbonated canned iced tea weakens and permanently destroys enamel.

Results from the study, which exposed healthy dental enamel to a variety of popular beverages over a period of 14 days, found that non-colas and canned iced tea were especially harmful. They contain flavor additives, such as malic, tartaric and other organic acids, which are more aggressive at eroding teeth. Root beer, which contains the least amount of flavor additives, was found to be the “safest soft drink to safeguard dental enamel.”

About 27 percent of the beverages consumed by Americans are soft drinks, the study notes. Overall soft drink consumption has steadily increased over the years and remains on the rise, contributing to an increase in oral health problems, namely cavities. In 1977, 12- to 19-year-olds drank 16 ounces of soda a day. In 1996, this same age group consumed an average of 28 ounces a day.

Soda consumption has increased from approximately 20 gallons per person per year in 1970 to more than 50 gallons per person per year in 2004. The American Beverage Association has stated that soft drinks account for 28 percent of overall beverage consumption.

Soft drinks and canned beverages are constant features of daily life, and the approximately $50 billion the industry rakes in each year suggests it won’t go away anytime soon. However, soda can be enjoyed in limited quantities. J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, MS, PhD, FADM, FRSC, lead author of the study, says that soda consumed “at meal times is less injurious than when consumed alone and continuous sipping is more harmful than the whole drink taken at one time.”

According to AGD spokesperson Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, soda’s combination of sugar and acidity can be damaging to teeth. Though the level of risk varies from person to person, Dr. Sherwood says, “Repeated exposure of soda through sipping over a long period of time increases the risk of getting a cavity.”

Dr. Sherwood adds that drinking soda through a straw may help reduce the amount of soda that comes into direct contact with the teeth. She also recommends that soda drinkers rinse their mouths out with water after drinking and use toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Fact:

A typical 12-ounce can of regular soda contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.

SOURCE: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/print/printpreview.asp?content=article&abc=s&iid=315&aid=1276

Bruxism is the technical term for grinding and clenching of the teeth that may cause facial pain. People who grind and clench their teeth, called bruxers, unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as in their sleep. In addition to grinding teeth, bruxers also may bite their fingernails, pencils and chew the inside of their cheek. People usually aren’t diagnosed with bruxism until it is too late, as many people don’t realize they have the habit. Others mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. About one in three people suffer from bruxism, which can easily be treated by a dentist.

Causes & Suffering

People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time their teeth become sensitive. They experience jaw pain, tense muscles and headaches along with excessive wear on their teeth. Forceful biting when not eating may cause the jaw to move out of proper balance.

Bruxism is triggered by people with certain types of personalities. They may have a nervous tension and a hard time handling stress. Anger, pain and frustration can cause people to start showing the beginning signs of bruxism without them even knowing it. People who are aggressive, competitive and hurried also may be at a greater risk for bruxism.

What Can Be Done?

Your general dentist automatically checks for physical signs of bruxism and if it seems to be present the condition may be observed over several visits before recommending and starting therapy.

The objective of therapy is to get the bruxer to change behavior by learning how to rest the tongue, teeth and lips properly. When some people become aware of their problem, simply advising them to rest their tongue upward with teeth apart and lips shut may be enough to change their behavior and relieve discomfort. However, the dentist can make a plastic mouth appliance, such as a night guard, that’s worn to absorb the force of biting. This appliance can prevent future damage to the teeth and helps change the patient’s destructive behavior.

If teeth grinding is due to stress, a bruxer may be able to prevent the problem with counseling or strategies that promote relaxation, such as exercise and meditation. Biofeedback is used to treat daytime clenchers by using an electronic device to measure muscle activity and to teach patients how to reduce muscle activity when the biting force becomes too great.

What Are the Signs?

When a person has bruxism, the tips of the teeth look flat. Teeth are worn down so much that the enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth, which is called dentin. When exposed, dentin may cause the tooth to become sensitive. Bruxers may experience pain in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which may manifest as popping and clicking of the jaw. Tongue indentations are another sign of clenching.

SOURCE: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/print/printpreview.asp?content=article&abc=B&iid=292&aid=1137

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is found in various concentrations in soil and drinking water.

Why is fluoride important?

Every day, a tooth’s enamel (the outer layer that makes a tooth hard) has minerals both added to it (remineralization) and removed from it (demineralization). During remineralization, minerals such as fluoride, calcium, and phosphate are added to the enamel layer via foods and drinks that contain these minerals. These minerals are lost (demineralization) when acids — from bacteria in the mouth and certain foods and drinks — attack the enamel. Tooth decay occurs when the enamel loses more minerals than it receives.

How does fluoride prevent tooth decay?

Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks. Fluoride also helps to speed up the remineralization of erupted teeth in both children and adults.

Where is fluoride found?

Although some foods, such as seafood and certain teas, naturally contain fluoride, the primary source of fluoride is drinking water. Tap water in most cities in the United States contains fluoride. Some, but not all, bottled waters contain fluoride.

Fluoride also can be applied directly to the teeth through toothpastes and mouth rinses that contain fluoride. You can buy these products at most pharmacies and grocery stores.

Dentists can also apply fluoride directly to your teeth in the form of a gel, foam, or varnish. These products contain a much higher level of fluoride than toothpastes and mouth rinses.

When should fluoride use begin?

Infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years should receive fluoride. Their primary teeth and permanent teeth develop between these ages, so the stronger their enamel is, the better. Because most children receive their first permanent teeth at around age 6, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends prescribing fluoride supplements for children between the ages of 6 and 16 who are at high risk for dental caries and whose community water source is less than optimal. In areas that have minimal fluoride in the water, fluoride supplementation may begin earlier.

Although fluoride is an immediate concern for children and adolescents, adults also can benefit from fluoride. Topical fluoride — including toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments — is as important for fighting tooth decay in adults as it is for strengthening the teeth of children.

When is additional fluoride necessary?

Additional fluoride treatment can benefit children and adults with certain oral conditions, including dry mouth, gum disease, and cavities. Dry mouth makes an individual more prone to tooth decay because the decreased saliva production makes it harder to wash away food particles and thus decrease the cavity-causing acids. Gum disease can expose more of the tooth and tooth roots to bacteria, increasing the chance of tooth decay. Patients who have many cavities and develop new ones each year may benefit from additional fluoride treatment.

Additional fluoride might also be appropriate for patients with crowns, bridges, and braces, as the portion of the tooth that isn’t covered by a crown, bridge, or brace may be at greater risk for tooth decay.

To find out if you and/or your children are receiving enough fluoride or should consider fluoride treatment or supplements, ask your dentist. He or she may prescribe fluoride supplements (in liquid or pill form) or offer suggestions for increasing the amount of fluoride you receive.

Find more healthy tips and dental information at www.knowyourteeth.com.