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Sunday, Monday and Statutory Holidays- Closed
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Common Dental Problems
1. Dental Decay or Dental Caries
Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is a breakdown of teeth due to acids made by bacteria. Usually symptomless until the decay is large. Early detection and treatment can treat. The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty with eating. Complications may include inflammation of the tissue around the tooth, tooth loss, and infection or abscess formation. Dietary habit is important in the prevention of Dental Decay.
2. Gum Disease or Periodontal Diseases
The symptoms of gum disease include Gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing. Red, swollen, or tender gums. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. Receding gums. Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums. Loose or shifting teeth.
3. Abrasion and Recession
Tooth and gingival abrasion are defined as pathologic wear as a result of a foreign substance (Figure 9). Abrasion is multi-factorial but is generally believed to be caused by over-zealous toothbrushing. Studies have also reported an increase in cervical lesions in people who brush with greater frequency, for longer periods of time and use the “scrubbing” brushing technique.
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Gingival recession is defined as the reduction of the height of the marginal gingiva to a location apical to the cementoenamel junction, resulting in root surface exposure (Figure 10). Gingival recession can be precipitated by many factors including increasing age, gender, and anatomical factors. Toothbrushing technique, frequency, duration, force of brushing, and the hardness of toothbrush filaments may also contribute to gingival recession.
4. Dental Sensitivity
This is a condition that causes sensitivity to cold water or ice. Dental sensitivity could be due to the early onset of dental decay, the recession of gums thus exposing the root. Dental abrasions can also cause sensitivity Grinding teeth could also sensitivity. White and red patches in the cheek, tongue and other soft tissue and oral cancer.
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These are sometimes painful and often painless that the patient can ignore. Your dentist could diagnose and if necessary, could seek expert advice to rule out oral cancer.
5. Malocclusion
Malocclusion is the official term for a misalignment of your teeth and bite. Although it’s probably not a word you’ll hear very often (unless you hang out with orthodontists!). There are different types of malocclusions, from crooked teeth to overbites – and they’re not all mutually exclusive.
Here is a guide to the malocclusions that we see and straighten for our patients on a regular basis:
Overcrowding
Overcrowding is very common and it’s often caused by a lack of space, resulting in teeth that are crooked and overlap. It’s the most common reason for orthodontic treatment among adults.
Overjet
An overjet is where your top teeth extend past your bottom teeth horizontally (not to be confused with an overbite). Protruding teeth can risk damage and cause problems with eating and speech.
Overbite
While there should be some overlap of your lower front teeth, in some cases an increased overbite can cause your front teeth to bite down onto your gums.
Crossbite
A crossbite is where your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth. In can happen on one or both sides of your jaw and it can affect your front or back teeth.
Anterior crossbite (underbite)
A crossbite that affects the front teeth is known as an anterior crossbite, or perhaps more commonly as an underbite.
Spacing
Spacing can occur between two or more teeth. Some of the causes can include missing teeth, small teeth, tongue thrusting and thumb sucking.
ORAL HEALTH & YOUR BODY LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
Oral health is one factor that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you look after your oral health:
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Schedule regular visits to your dentist.
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Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.
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Eat a well-balanced diet.
Check your mouth regularly to become familiar with what is normal for you. This will help you recognize when something in your mouth looks or feels different or abnormal. Avoid activities that might harm your mouth or teeth such as smoking, oral piercings, and recreational drugs.
Try to reduce the impact stress has on your oral and overall health. Alert your dentist to any herbal remedies, over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are taking. Wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth when you are playing sports. Read more about mouthguards.
What should my mouth look like on the inside?
Between dental visits check your mouth for warning signs of gum disease and oral cancer.
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Warning signs of gum disease may include:
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Puffy, red, sore, shiny or sensitive gums
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Bleeding when you brush or floss
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Bad breath that won’t go away
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Warning signs of oral cancer may include:
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Numbness and tingling
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Open sores that don’t go away within a week to 10 days
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Unexplained bleeding
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Lumps or thickening on the bottom or sides of your tongue, cheeks, or roof of your mouth.
If you notice any of these signs or have any concerns, call your dentist immediately.
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Stress
People may overlook the effect stress has on our oral health. However, our mouths can be just as affected by stress as the rest of our bodies are. Stress can have real consequences for our oral health as well as overall well-being.
Stress can make people neglect their oral-health routines. They may not brush or floss as often as they should or miss dental appointments. People under stress sometimes make poor lifestyle choices – smoking, consuming too much alcohol and eating more sugary foods – which can lead to serious issues including oral cancer, gum disease or tooth decay.
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Stress is a contributing factor to other serious oral-health conditions, including:
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Bruxism or teeth grinding. People under stress may clench or grind their teeth, especially during sleep. Over a long period of time, bruxism can wear down tooth surfaces. Teeth can also become painful or loose from severe grinding or prone to fractures.
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Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects the jaws joints and groups of muscles that let us chew, swallow, speak and yawn. Symptoms include tender or sore jaw muscles, headaches and problems opening or closing your mouth. Bruxism is a major cause of TMD – clenching your jaw muscles can cause them to ache.
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Periodontal (gum) disease. Research has shown that stress affects our immune systems, increasing our susceptibility to infections, including the bacteria that cause gum disease. Xerostomia, or dry mouth, can also be caused by medications to treat stress. Saliva is vital to keep your mouth moist, wash away food and neutralize the acids that are produced by plaque. Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth.
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It may be impossible to eliminate all stress from your life, but you can take simple steps to reduce its impact on your health.
Find relaxation techniques or exercises to help you cope with stress.
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Brush at least twice a day and floss daily.
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Schedule and keep regular appointments with your dentist.
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Talk to your dentist about getting a custom-fitted nightguard to protect your teeth while you sleep.
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Eat a balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
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Stay active. If you don't have time to exercise, a 30-minute walk every day is a good start.
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Get plenty of sleep.
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Smoking
It’s important to know that all types of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco are harmful to your oral health. In addition to containing nicotine — which is addictive — they have been all been known to cause:
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Gum disease
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Tooth loss
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Oral cancer (cancer of the lip, tongue)
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Cancer of the esophagus and voice box
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Pancreatic, esophagal, colon and bladder cancer
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Oral Piercings
If you are considering an oral piercing, it’s important to know the potential side-effects. Here are some of the complications that may occur:
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Your mouth contains a lot of bacteria. Oral piercing may lead to infection
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Your piercing may result in pain, swelling or gum tissue damage
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Your piercing may cause chipped or cracked teeth
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A pierced blood vessel may cause uncontrollable bleeding
In some cases, your swollen tongue can actually block your airway and inhibit your breathing.
Recreational Drugs
Did you know that there are consequences for your oral health when you decide to use recreational drugs? It’s true! Here are some examples:
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Tooth loss: Using tobacco, ecstasy, amphetamines, and methamphetamines, can lead to the constriction of the capillaries in your gums. This affects the attachment of the bone to the tissue of your teeth and may lead to tooth loss.
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Dry mouth: Marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines, methamphetamines, heroin and replacement therapies may decrease the saliva production that occurs in your mouth. This will, in turn, increase your risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
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Erosion and tooth decay: Ecstasy raises your body temperature and you will want to consume sugary liquids. Marijuana and heroin also cause sugar cravings. Frequent consumption of sugary drinks and sweets will weaken your tooth enamel. Vomiting after alcohol consumption may also erode your teeth.
Prescription Drugs
It’s important to be aware of how prescriptions and over-the counter-drugs may affect your oral health. For example:
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Asthma inhalers that are high in acid can dissolve tooth enamel when used frequently.
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Cough syrups that have a high sugar content may result in tooth decay.
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Antihistamines may cause dry mouth.
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Aspirins, blood thinners, and some herbal remedies may affect the ability of the blood to clot normally.
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The following medications may cause damage to your gums:
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Oral contraceptives
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Immunosuppressive drugs
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Chemotherapy drugs
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Anti-hypertensives
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Antihistamines
Talk to your dentist about how the prescription drugs you are taking might affect your oral health.
As more and more people are living longer, their teeth become equally important to maintain healthy lifestyles. More seniors may be taking medication for various medical conditions, that the medications can cause dry mouth that can lead to root caries which is a common condition among seniors.
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Some of their teeth may have been replaced by a denture or implants, proper care of these appliances is of utmost importance.
While seniors have limited income, they sometimes can’t afford expensive dental procedures. There are programs in place by Ontario govt. such as ODSP (Ontario Disability), many Seniors don’t have dental coverage.
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Recently the Ontario Government introduced limited Dental Coverage for Seniors with limited income. The seniors have to apply for coverage for such service to Ontario Govt. Subsidized dental service.
The following link will take you to the Ontario Govt. website, where you could download the application form and apply for coverage.