The desire to prevent tooth decay is one of the main reasons men and women visit their dentists
Today we are going to discuss 5 things you need to know about cavities.
1. Cavities are also called caries or tooth decay. When a tooth is permanently damaged on the hard surface, tiny openings ensue. These little holes are cavities.
3. Cavities may get so bad that you will see pits or holes in your teeth, but symptoms may be more subtle, such as sensitivity, pain when biting, or a toothache. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should call your dentist today to request an appointment.
4. Cavities are more common among youngsters, but that doesn’t mean adults don’t have to take precautions.
5. Avoiding cavities is simple. Be sure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, eat right, avoid frequent snacking, and have regular visits with your dentist.
If you are in the market for quality dental care in the Florissant area, give Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS a call. We have been treating dental patients in and around St. Louis since 1987.
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Swollen and painful gums are symptoms of periodontal disease, an inflammatory gum disease. Swelling occurs from an auto-immune response of the body reacting to an infection. Infections are noticeable through pain, redness, and warmth. If the infection is left untreated, it can affect the bone near the teeth. The body’s immune system wants to rid the bone of the harmful material the bacteria is creating. Over time, bone loss will develop.
Inflammation in the gums also is associated with atherosclerosis, the occurrence of fatty deposits inside of the body’s arteries. Inflammation coincides with an increase of the blood protein CRP (C-reactive protein), produced by the liver. The more inflammation there is, the more the liver produces CRP. The more CRP present, the more likely cardiovascular disease is present, along with related dilemmas. CRP production is also related to arthritis, auto-immune disorders, and intestinal problems.
Scientists are currently looking into the relationship between periodontal inflammation and CRP level and the effects outside of the oral cavity. Links have already been discovered between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
If inflammation is left untreated, gums can develop pockets that provide the perfect breeding ground for infection. The longer the infection persists, the more likely bone loss will arise, eventually causing tooth loss.
It is crucial to practice preventive dental care daily at home and have regular visits to the dentist. Dental appointments should include an exam, cleaning, and full mouth x-rays, along with the vital knowledge and instruction on how to properly care for teeth and gums at home. It is also very important to see your dentist ASAP if a tooth suddenly becomes sensitive or you see any other changes.
Thanks for visiting our blog. For more specifics about inflammation or periodontal disease, give us a call at 205-933-0323.
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Hi. I’m Dr. Martin Buchheit. When my patients get mouth sores, I guide them to evaluate what they’re eating and make some changes. By following these tips, you too can avoid the discomfort of eating and help to increase the speed of healing.
1. Eat soft or pureed foods. Don’t worry, you won’t have to eat baby food—plenty of adult dishes fit the bill:
cream soups
yogurt
hot cereal
mashed potatoes
puddings
2. Keep your meals bland for a while. I know it’s humdrum, but watch out for overly spicy, tart, salty or acidic foods while you have a mouth sore.
3. Also, keep it cool. Only eat dishes served at room temperature or chilled.
4. Use a straw so that whatever you are drinking can avoid the mouth sore altogether.
5. Try to moisten dry foods. You can add sauces, dressings, and gravies to your meals.
I hope that these suggestions will help you the next time you suffer from a mouth sore. If you are looking for a dentist in the St. Louis area, consider my practice, Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS. We have been serving Florissant since 1987.
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When it comes to oral health, adolescence is a pivotal time for Florissant youth. On the upside, the last of the permanent teeth come in providing young men and women with their “adult smile.” Good habits can be forged and reinforced. Teeth can be corrected with orthodontia, providing increased confidence when it is often sorely needed.
On the downside, some youth take up habits that are dangerous to their teeth. Adolescents often don’t understand the importance of proper dental hygiene and how it influences lifelong oral health. Some young Florissant men and women develop teenage tooth decay that can cause recurring dental dilemmas in later years.
Unfortunately, eating disorders are far too common among teenagers. Bulimia can cause enamel erosion, decay, and even complete tooth loss. We strongly advise parents to intervene immediately and seek appropriate medical care if they suspect their teen has an eating disorder.
The importance of diet cannot be overstated. Adolescence is a time when many young men and women decrease their calcium intake—a danger to both bones and teeth. The consumption of energy drinks and sugared soda also contribute to tooth and gum problems in teenagers.
Moreover, adolescents that use tobacco and illegal drugs have an increased risk of decay and oral cancer. Oral piercings can be extremely detrimental. The health risks include tooth and gum damage, infection, allergic reactions, nerve damage, and excessive swelling that can block airways.
Teens who are undergoing orthodontic treatment often have a difficult time normally cleaning their teeth. It is a challenge to fit toothbrush bristles and floss under dental hardware. Toothbrushes and flossing devices that squirt water can help adolescents with braces adequately clean their teeth and gums.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS advises Missouri parents to make sure their teenagers receive twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings. Martin Buchheit can identify and treat oral issues in their early stages so that further damage can be prevented or minimized.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following critical guidelines for adolescent oral health:
Teens should drink fluoridated water. Fluoride supplementation is recommended for high-risk teens that don’t have access to fluoridated water (up to age 16). Teens should use fluoridated toothpaste twice a day. Teens should floss daily.1
To schedule an extensive teen dental examination and cleaning, call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS at 205-933-0323. The team of friendly dental professionals at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS is passionate about oral health for Florissant children and teens.
1“Protecting All Children’s Teeth, Oral Health in Adolescence,” http://www2.aap.org/oralhealth/pact/
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Your enamel is uniquely suited to safeguard your teeth. If you keep your tooth enamel healthy, you will avoid many dental ailments. You won’t get cavities. Your teeth will be less likely to chip or crack. You will avoid many causes of tooth stains.
It’s best to form enamel-healthy habits when you’re young.
Teach your youngster to protect their tooth enamel. There is a multitude of collateral health benefits as well.
For Healthy Tooth Enamel, Avoid The Following
Frequently Eating Sticky Food
Gummy candy, protein bars, and dried fruit can break teeth.
Chewing On Hard Foods
For example, Beef jerky and hard or stale bread.
Grinding Teeth
If you grind your teeth, talk about it with your dentist. It can cause headaches, tooth damage, and gum recession. An appliance can protect your enamel.
Drinking Anything Besides Water Frequently
If your teeth are awash in carbonated beverages (sugared or diet), juice, coffee, or sports drinks habitually, your enamel will suffer from the acids and sugar.
Playing Sports Without a Mouthguard
Sports pose a major risk of tooth damage. Custom-fitted mouthguards from your dentist are more comfortable than the boil-and-bite type.
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Many parents in the St. Louis area wonder when it is right for their child to see the dentist for the first time.
What does the ADA say?
The American Dental Association recommends that kids visit the dentist around their first birthday, a little earlier than some parents may anticipate.
Early visits with St. Charles, Maryland Heights, and Chesterfield dental professionals help ensure that children are getting every advantage when it comes to oral health.
When do I start brushing my child’s teeth?
When your child gets his first tooth, it is time to brush. Parents should use non-fluoride toothpaste until the child is two years old. Then, use only a tiny dab. Young children often swallow toothpaste while brushing. If a child ingests too much fluoride, teeth can become stained.
It’s also important that kids are comfortable with the dentist’s office. If they go for regular checkups and cleanings, children will be more likely to avoid a fear of the dentist. If they don’t visit a dentist until they have a dental problem that is causing pain, they are more likely to associate the dentist with pain and fear. Just as well-child check-ups, dental exams, and cleanings should be routine or every child.
What does the dentist do at the check-up if my child doesn’t have a cavity?
The goal is to make sure your child never gets a cavity. In these early visits, St. Louis area pediatric dentists usually clean the child’s teeth, apply fluoride, and assess any oral health risks that may be present, such as baby bottle tooth decay. This condition can be avoided by having your child transition from bottle to cup at an early age.
When your child gets their rear molars, your pediatric dentist will discuss dental sealants. These are some of the best ways to keep your child’s teeth cavity-free.
Martin Buchheit wants to help Florissant families raise healthy, happy kids. Keep your child’s smile healthy, St. Louis!
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Hello, thank you for visiting the Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS blog. I’m Dr. Martin Buchheit. Along with my fantastic team, I have been providing trusted dental care since 1987.
Today’s message is about the American Dental Association. You have probably seen the ADA symbol on toothpaste and floss—but what else do you know about this dental institution?
The ADA’s self-proclaimed objective is to improve the level of public oral health by supporting the dental industry through not-for-profit federal, state, and local chapters. It was formed in 1859 and is run by its members, which currently total over 160,000.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is not an endorsement of a product per se, but rather is a confirmation of the claims made by said product. Companies who want the ADA credential for a product must submit proof of rigorous scientific testing. Once submitted, the ADA re-tests the product to further verify the results. There are currently over 300 products with the ADA certification.
The ADA does more than evaluate dental products. Here are some other ways the ADA works to carry out its mission:
Provides resources to support dentists and their practices
Educates the public about oral health
Works to expand access to dental care
Offers advice on critical issues that affect the dental industry
Works with other organizations on scientific research projects and public health initiatives
Offers scholarships to dental students
For more information about the ADA, visit http://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada
People that are plagued with dental phobia (Dentophobia) may take comfort in the fact that it is a fairly common diagnosable mental condition. At least they know they are not alone and that the medical community takes it seriously.
Phobias like Pteromerhanophobia: (the fear of flying) and Acrophobibia (the fear of heights) can be problematic, but a person can live a perfectly healthy life without getting on an airplane or riding an elevator to the top of the Chrysler Building.
A person who suffers from dental phobia or dental anxiety is at risk of getting into a vicious cycle of decreasing oral health.
Fear causes the person to forego dental checkups for years. When a minor dental dilemma (like a tiny cavity) progresses until it reaches a nerve and leads to pain, the patient is forced to visit the dentist.
At this point, the needed therapy is a major procedure (possibly an extraction followed by a dental implant). The procedure reinforces the dental phobia and, once again, the patient stays away from the dentist’s office. That’s how some people end up losing teeth at a relatively young age.
Experts believe that the prevalence of dental phobia may be as high as one in four individuals. Are you one of them?
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we want to help nervous patients successfully overcome or at least manage their apprehension so they can withstand twice-yearly checkups and cleanings. Preventive dentistry is the only method to protect teeth and gums.
If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, please schedule a consultation. You can meet with Dr. Buchheit about the many options available including behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and conscious sedation (sleep dentistry).
If you are afraid of going to the dentist, there is hope. At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we have successfully treated many patients just like you. We invite you to schedule a consultation today.
Despite parents’ best efforts at keeping kids’ teeth healthy, Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS treats tooth decay in young patients typically.
Brushing may not be enough
Most of these little ones report that they brush their teeth every day. Clearly, they either aren’t brushing as often as they think they are. Or they’re not doing it correctly.
Besides brushing, what else can parents do to protect little ones from tooth decay?
Here are 5 vital tools for preventing cavities in youth.
Though they look like mouthwash, oral rinses are designed to prevent cavities. They contain fluoride.
How does a child use an oral anti-cavity rinse?
Oral rinses work best when young kids and teenagers swish and spit after they brush and floss. Instead of “gargling” like you do with mouthwash, you “swish” and spit them out.
During the day, teeth are assaulted by acids and sugar in foods and beverages. These substances soften enamel. Fluoride strengthens enamel.
The rinse should be the last liquid to make contact with teeth before bed. This helps tooth enamel re-mineralize during sleep.
Oral rinses and fluoride supplements have different purposes
Is your youngster taking fluoride supplements? Does that mean an oral rinse is unnecessary? Actually, no. Fluoride supplements help strengthen teeth that are still forming. A fluoride rinse helps teeth that have already come in.
How do I choose an oral rinse for my child?
Make sure you select one specifically created for children. Products labeled as a mouthwash may not contain fluoride and they probably contain alcohol.
If you have toddlers, keep oral rinses locked away or otherwise inaccessible. Though they are safe when used as directed for older children (or when supervised for younger children), a toddler may be tempted to drink them. They are not supposed to be swallowed. Fluoride poisoning is dangerous.
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For years, Florissant parents have been warned that thumb-sucking can cause future dental issues for their thumb-loving toddlers.
One of these issues is a type of malocclusion called an open bite.
What is an open bite?
An open bite occurs when the front teeth in the lower and upper jaw have been moved forward; often to the extent that they do not meet when the mouth is closed.
In most cases, an open bite is linked to thumb sucking, but pacifiers and tongue thrusting can also move teeth out of alignment.
What is tongue thrusting?
Tongue thrusting refers to an abnormal swallowing action. The tongue is pushed forward during swallowing. Normally, the tongue is on the roof of the mouth and the teeth closed totally when swallowing.
What can cause tongue thrusting?
A tongue-thrusting habit can arise due to conditions other than thumb sucking, though this is a common cause. Allergies, large tonsils, tongue size, jaw angle, muscular problems, frequent sore throats, and anything that makes swallowing difficult can result in tongue-thrusting practices.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS in Florissant
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we diagnose bite issues in young Florissant dental patients such as underbites, overbites, crossbites, and open bites.
If dental treatment is started early in a child’s life, many bite issues and their associated problems can be prevented.
Call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS at 205-933-0323 to schedule a dental examination for your toddler.
If you do not have dental plan insurance, speak with us about financing options.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS offers comprehensive dental care in the greater St. Louis area. Because our friendly staff puts our young patients at ease, your child can grow up without fearing visits to their Florissant family dentist.
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