Most Common Causes of Teeth Sensitivity

Sometimes ordinary daily activities can become a cause for grave concern, such as experiencing a sudden jolt of pain while taking your favorite hot drink or even ice cream. It can also happen while brushing your teeth. These are occasions of tooth sensitivity. The experience can put aside some of your favorite things to do. Find out more about tooth sensitivity and its causes.

What is Tooth Sensitivity? It is a certain pain or discomfort described as a sudden, short, or sharp sensation felt in the teeth as a response to a particular stimulus – like something hot, or cold, or sweet. It can involve just a tooth or several teeth. It can be a temporary or a chronic condition.

We know that teeth are composed of an outer enamel and a second layer called the dentin. The dentin makes up the bulk of the tooth providing added protection. It also surrounds the pulp chamber which is rich in blood supply and nerves. The dentin is porous and softer than enamel. As such, when exposed, it decays more easily than enamel. It contains microscopic tubules that are pathways to the nerve. When the dentine is compromised, it can lead to tooth sensitivity.

What factors can cause tooth sensitivity?

• Too much or overzealous brushing is not good for teeth. Consistently using too much pressure, especially with a hard-bristle brush, can slowly erode the enamel. Sometimes, a vigorous tooth brushing can expose the cementum, the protective layer that surrounds the roots of teeth. This habit weakens the enamel and exposes the dentin.
• Broken, chipped, or a cracked tooth may also expose the dentin.
• Tooth decay can also cause tooth sensitivity.
• Bruxism, or the habit of teeth grinding, can erode several teeth at the same time.
• Gum recession, where the gums pull away from the teeth and expose the roots, creating pockets, makes teeth very sensitive to stimuli.
• Reflux disease or GERD may leave acidic residue in the mouth, slowly eroding the enamel and exposing the dentin.
• Teeth whitening can result in temporary teeth sensitivity. This, however, resolves after a short time.

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Attending To Tooth Sensitivity in Bellevue

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, visit your Bellevue dental professional immediately for a proper assessment.

Complications, Treatment and Prevention

If you find out that you may have a dental abscess, it is possible that pain associated with it may subside. Depending on severity, the abscess may resolve on its own. However, it can also mean that the infection is spreading and can become chronic. It may cause serious complications in the long run. Know what treatment options are there to arrest the infection once and for all.

What are the complications of untreated dental abscess? Remember that dental pus is full of bacteria, and though in most cases these infections are treatable, if you delay treatment, some serious complications may arise. One example is osteomyelitis of the jaw, when the infection has involved the bone surrounding the abscessed tooth. The abscess may spread to the back of the mouth, leading to parapharyngeal abscess. It’s also possible to have cavernous sinus thrombosis, where the blood vessels within the sinuses get infected. Sepsis is another complication, a life-threatening condition of the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.

You may experience certain signs and symptoms of these complications, like swelling of the face and neck, burning sensation on the skin, fever, headache, double vision, or difficulty of breathing or swallowing. Confusion and an increased heart rate have also been reported.

Dental treatment consists of removing the abscess. Drainage of the pus is initiated when a fistula has formed at the site of infection. It’s a passageway created by the pus from the infected tooth that drains to the outside. A tiny bump appears on the gum tissue that indicates the passageway. Your dentist has to drain it and clean it. Antibiotics may be prescribed.

If the pus is within the tooth, your dentist will drill a small access into the tooth and let the pus drain out. If the tooth can still be saved as the damage is not too extensive, a root canal or a new crown may be required. Otherwise, a tooth extraction is indicated and then the drainage of the pus follows.

Can dental abscesses be prevented? You can avert its occurrence by maintaining good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing regularly can keep bacterial plaque from building up. Also, when you visit your dentist regularly, you can avoid future oral health issues such as abscesses.

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Preventing Dental Abscesses in Bellevue

Do not ignore the symptoms of dental abscess. When you experience their signs and symptoms, see your Bellevue dentist immediately.

Dental Abscess Types, Causes and Symptoms

Find out all about the types of dental abscesses, their causes and symptoms that tell you about their presence. You may find out that dental abscesses are quite common among the population.

A dental abscess is a pocket of thick, yellowish fluid that builds up in specific areas in and around teeth. Pus is a common name for it. If this collection of pus builds up within the gums beside the root of a tooth, it is referred to as a periodontal abscess or gum abscess. If it originates at the tip or apex of the root, it’s called an apical abscess. Sometimes a dental abscess is also called a lesion.

What causes abscess? It is usually due to bacteria that has invaded the tooth or has penetrated gum tissue and hereby causes an infection. The infection usually originates within the soft pulp of the tooth that may reach the root and spread through gum tissue. The pus formation may also be the result of advanced periodontal disease.

Plaque is the culprit of this infection, being a by-product of food, saliva, and bacteria in the mouth. With poor oral hygiene, plaque continues to build up and cause cavities to form on tooth structure. Pus may start to appear at the focus of infection if the condition remains chronic. The abscess can also result from an injury to the tooth or gum, or a foreign object that gets lodged in the gum tissue.

What are the signs and symptoms of dental abscess?

• Pain is the main and most common symptom. It can be described as sharp, throbbing, and can even radiate to the ear, jaw or the neck.
• You can feel pain when you lie down, or when you chew or bite on food.
• The tooth can feel sensitive to touch or pressure.
• The tooth may be discolored.
• Gums may appear red, swollen, inflamed and sensitive to touch.
• You can have fever and a foul taste in the mouth if pus escapes into the oral cavity.

When you have these symptoms, a prompt visit to your dentist is highly recommended.

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Recognizing Dental Abscess in Bellevue

Truly, when you experience any of the signs and symptoms associated with dental abscesses, see your Bellevue dentist promptly. Bellevue Overlake Dental offers prompt and effective services and treatments.

Causes And Recommendations

Many are of the opinion that losing some or all your teeth is part of the aging process, hence, inevitable. While baby teeth are shed, as they are replaced later, it is a physiologic occurrence. Losing adult teeth is not. The daily stresses you put on your teeth can cause them to wear but they are still designed to last a lifetime. It is certain habits and conditions, mostly preventable, that can contribute to the loss.

Gum disease, specifically periodontal disease, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In its advanced stage, it eventually destroys the gums, the ligaments and the bone that are supporting the teeth. Eventually it leads to the loss of the teeth involved. Poor oral hygiene and poor nutrition contribute to the development of gum disease.

Cavities or dental caries can also lead to loss of teeth. Very common across all age groups, it was reported that 92% of persons between the ages of 20 to 64 years old have on average 3 cavities in their mouth. Untreated caries can damage a tooth down to its pulp, spread to neighboring teeth, and harm the gums. Poor oral hygiene, sugary diet, and some genetic factors can cause cavities.

Injury or trauma to the teeth can lead to their loss. Accidents like falls, vehicular mishaps, sports injuries, fights, and other forms of trauma that injure the mouth may lead to the loss of teeth. Another form of injury that can be detrimental to your teeth are ill-fitting, loose, or old dental appliances, like bridges, that need to be replaced. Unattended cracks, chipped, and broken areas on teeth due to injury can leave them exposed to bacterial attacks that may lead to loss of teeth.

Certain health issues can exacerbate tooth loss. Examples of these conditions are osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Described as thinning of the bones, usually in old age, osteoporosis involves the bones of the wrists, hips, spines, including that of the jaw. Diabetes is well studied to link with gum disease as high blood sugar can disrupt the normal blood flow to gum tissue. Cardiovascular disease also has links to periodontal disease.

The key is to adopt early prevention techniques to keep at bay the development of gum disease, dental caries. A mouth guard or a sports guard may significantly prevent trauma or injury to the teeth during sports and in instances of teeth grinding. Healthy habits such as cessation of smoking, moderation of alcohol, and avoidance of overly sweet, starchy, and acidic foods and drinks. Proper oral hygiene, a balanced and nutritious diet, not to mention regular dental visits, can ensure you keep your teeth or most of them for the greater part of a lifetime.

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Bellevue Dentistry And The Oral Health of Older Adults

Your Bellevue dentists are particularly conscientious towards the oral health of the aging community. Make your appointment sooner with us to ensure healthy, long-lasting teeth.

Causes of Bleeding Gums

If you have ever experienced bleeding gums while you’re flossing, you need not be too alarmed as it is quite common and can happen to you from time to time. However, there might be instances when bleeding gums may require a visit to a dentist. It is worthwhile to know what causes gums to bleed while flossing.

Firstly, you might be flossing infrequently.

Irregular flossing can make your gums too sensitive to this routine. Even first-time flossers experience bleeding. You need not worry if the bleeding stops quickly enough. All you have to do is floss consistently, once a day, everyday, until your gums get used to your habit. Bleeding should subside in a few days, likely in a week. This is true unless you are suffering from gum disease.

Another cause for bleeding gums is if you floss too harshly. Vigorous flossing applies too much pressure on your gums. Gums are soft tissue, rich in blood supply, and as such they are able to repair themselves in cases of light trauma or injury or tear. Continue to brush and do once daily flossing to decrease the chances of bleeding gums.

If there is plaque buildup, which develops along and below the gumline, it can lead to bacterial attack and a buildup of tatar that can only be professionally removed. If in-office cleaning is not done and poor oral hygiene still prevails, the gums can be affected. Inflammation and infection can set in and make the gums bleed through brushing or flossing. The best thing to do is reestablish proper oral hygiene and have professional teeth cleaning done.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, a serious form of gum disease can cause gums to easily bleed. Periodontitis is generally caused by plaque buildup. It can cause damage to the soft tissue, making them inflamed, swollen, and hypersensitive to even flossing. Unattended periodontitis can lead to bone destruction and tooth loss. You must see your dentist right away.

Be more gentle with your gums while flossing and determine if you are flossing the right way. Be mindful about your oral hygiene routine by brushing twice a day and flossing once daily. If your dentist says you might have sensitive gums, you may be prescribed a water flosser, a technology that is effective and efficient as well as a traditional floss. In most instances, an electric toothbrush does better cleaning and is also for sensitive gums.

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Regular Dentist Visits To Ensure Gum Health

If you’re having gum problems, and limited to bleeding gums, come see us at Overlake Dental.