When you think about going to your dentist, chances are that you are worried that your dentist is going to find cavities. However, that’s not the worst thing that your dentist might find in your mouth. A lot of Americans already have or are in the beginning stages of oral cancer. This often is a surprise to them until their dentist sees it during their check-up.
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Oral Cancer Screenings – How Often Should You Have One?
May 3, 2018
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Why are My Teeth Moving?
June 2, 2016
Common Reasons Why Teeth Move
Are your teeth are shifting?
When your teeth are no longer aligned and they are shifting, it can happen for a few reasons. It can happen because you are sleeping on one side, or it could be because you grind your teeth.
You may also discover that your teeth are shifting because your dental habits aren’t good. No matter what the cause is, teeth that are shifting can cause a lot of dental problems if you don’t treat it, since teeth that aren’t aligned properly can be harder to clean.
Five Reasons Why Teeth Will Shift
Having dental issues because of shifting teeth is not the only problem you may face. You may also find that you’re having problems with your self-esteem. You have to discover why your teeth aren’t aligned correctly so that you can get the right treatment.
Here is a list of the more common causes:
1. Age Causes Teeth to Drift
When someone grows older, the area between their teeth will naturally wear away. Since teeth on the bottom are thinner, meaning they’ll wear out quicker than the upper teeth, the shifting will slowly happen when the person is biting down.
2. Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
These are two really bad habits that people have when it comes to their teeth. Either habit can force your bottom or top teeth to go out of alignment because of additional pressure that is placed on them. Many people do it while they’re sleeping, speeding up the process without being aware of it.
3. Tooth Loss Impacts Your Smile
When you lose one of your teeth, it’s smart to fill in the area. Leaving your area like it is will likely cause your teeth around your gap to shift and try to fill the gap. What could happen is that if you have a missing bottom tooth, your teeth next to it will start shifting sideways. Your tooth that’s directly above the gap could also start growing downward.
4. Genetics Plays a Part
This is true even if you were born with teeth that were straight. If you have genes that dictate that your teeth are going to shift when you get older, you may find you have the same problem. Ask relatives to find out whether they have had problems with their teeth shifting. If it’s a problem on one or the other side in the family, you may want to bring it up when you see your dentist.
5. Cavities and Tooth Decay Are Not Good
Having cavities that were filled because of tooth decay may cause shifting in your teeth, particularly if the dentist used plastic filling. Of course, if you don’t get the cavity filled and your decay goes to your gums, you’ll still find that your teeth aren’t aligned since it’s going to eat at that bone which keeps teeth aligned correctly.
Conclusion
No matter the reason why teeth are shifting, having teeth that are misaligned isn’t a big concern. If you get a good dentist to take care of the problem, your teeth ought to remain straight. There are a lot of solutions that you can use for this problem as well. Retainers, cosmetic dentistry, and braces are just a few of the measures that a lot of people take for correcting their shifting teeth. Regularly visit your dentist so that the issues can be dealt with soon.
Questions about Shifting Teeth?
If cosmetic issues are affecting your smile, the team at Island Coast Dentistry can help. Through a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Skupny can tailor a oral treatment plan that is most effective for you. A beautiful, healthy smile can be yours!
Contact us today to learn more, or schedule a consultation online.
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What Causes Tooth Decay?
January 31, 2016
Plaque is an insidious substance—a colorless, sticky film—that blankets your teeth and creates an environment in which bacteria erode tooth enamel, cause gum irritation, infection in inner structures such as pulp and the roots, and in extreme cases, tooth loss. Visiting a dentist is the best way to prevent tooth decay.
Some of the biggest culprits causing plaque are foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates, including soda beverages, some juices, candy and many kinds of pasta, breads and cereals.
Plaque also can attack fillings and other restorations in your mouth, which can lead to more costly treatment down the road.
Plaque is the main cause of tooth decay. It can also cause your gums to become irritated, inflamed, and bleed. Over time, the plaque underneath your gums may cause periodontal disease, which can lead to bone loss and eventual tooth loss.
Inside your teeth, decay can gradually destroy the inner layer, or dentin. It can also destroy the pulp, which contains blood vessels, nerves and other tissues, as well as the root.
Periodontal disease is advanced gum disease. This serious condition occurs when the structures that support your teeth—the gums and bone—break down from the infection. Pain, hypersensitivity and bleeding are some of the signs of periodontal disease.
Simple Preventative Measures
The two best defenses against tooth decay and gum disease are a healthy, well-balanced diet and good oral hygiene, including daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing. Most public drinking water contains fluoride, but if you are unsure of your water supply, then use a good quality mouth rinse containing fluoride.
A good way to help your oral health between brushing is chewing sugarless gum; this stimulates your body’s production of saliva, a powerful chemical that actually neutralizes plaque formation and rinses decay-causing food particles and debris from your mouth.
In some cases, visiting a Naples Cosmetic Dentist can prescribe anti-cavity rinses or apply special anti-cavity varnishes or sealants to help fight decay.
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What's an Abscessed Tooth?
January 31, 2014
Treatment of an abscessed tooth
An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus, usually caused by some kind of infection and the spread of bacteria from the root of the tooth to the tissue just below or near the tooth.
In general, a tooth that has become abscessed is one whose underlying pulp (the tooth’s soft core) has become infected or swollen. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue, and lies within the tooth. It extends from the crown of the tooth, to the tip of the root, in the bone of the jaws.
An abscessed tooth can be an extremely painful condition.
In some cases, antibiotics are administered in an attempt to kill an infection. If antibiotics are ineffective and an abscess is shown to be damaging the pulp or lower bony structures, a root canal procedure may be needed to remove the dead pulp and restore the tooth to a healthy state.
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