Do Genetics Play a Role in the Overall Health of Teeth?

It is true that some dental traits may be inherited from our ancestors. And if there is a history of gum disease or dental decay in your family, the good news is the cycle can be broken. Vigilant hygiene care and consistent visits to the dentist are the means that offer the best path to healthy teeth and gums.

Genetic factors that are beyond our control include jaw space, teeth size, and dental malformations. From birth defects to oral issues that are not immediately evident, parents should monitor their child’s oral development and consult their dentist for any conditions that appear abnormal.

Quite often if one or both parents wore braces due to a malocclusion, their offspring is likely to face the same fate. A visit to consult with an orthodontist will help identify potential issues.

One of the more predominant genetic dental issues relates to gum disease. Being proactive …

Common Misconceptions About Dental Health

Many people have their own home remedies and misconceptions about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  This applies to all areas of health, especially when it comes to oral health. In fact, there are some very common misconceptions about dental health that many people live their entire lives believing. Some are mostly harmless while others can actually lead to poor dental health if not corrected by a dentist.

Let’s clear up three of these common dental misconceptions now: 

Proper Brushing Alone Does Not Equal Fresh Breath: Of course, brushing your teeth is one of the most important staples of proper dental health. However, while brushing helps kill bacteria and freshens your breath, it is sometimes not quite enough to knock all odors out. In fact, a good brushing doesn’t stand much of a chance against certain types of medicines or sulfur-producing foods.

My Teeth Have Nothing to Do With …

My Gums Bleed When I Brush: Should I Be Concerned?

Many people whilst brushing their teeth may become aware of the presence of blood. Often this is nothing to be too concerned about, but prolonged bleeding that is not occasional could be an early warning of gum disease and should be reported to a dentist at the first opportunity.

There are several reasons why gums might bleed during brushing, including:

• Injury to the gum tissues – perhaps through a mouth ulcer or laceration caused by eating rough foods, or foods with sharp edges
• Increased sensitivity of the gum tissue; some medications and pregnancy may cause heightened sensitivity of the gums
• Using the wrong toothbrush – perhaps one that is too hard, or brushing with excessive force
• Gum disease – blood is often an early indicator of gingivitis, and may require a dentist’s intervention
• Other health conditions, such as anaemia

Gums that bleed may also be sore and look inflamed, which …

Does “Thumb Sucking” Negatively Affect the Outcome of Your Child’s Teeth?

Thumb-sucking is a natural habit many children develop, as it closely mimics their feeding routine and comforts them, like feeding from a bottle or a pacifier. The sucking action helps a child feel secure, and although most children grow out of it at an early stage, many children continue to do so for several years, which can have an impact on their dental health.

Ask your family dentist about the effects on a child’s teeth from sucking their thumb, and they will explain that such actions can affect the development and health of the child’s teeth by causing teeth to shift within the mouth, and possible damage to the jawbone; other potential issues include gap formation and bite misalignment.

As a child’s teeth begin to develop, thumb sucking should be discouraged, so it is important to monitor their habits. Children tend to suck their thumb subconsciously, and so may not …

Oral Cancer Screening: The life saving decision

A visit to a dentist isn’t just about ensuring your teeth are in good, healthy order. In fact, a dental exam can not only reveal whether you need a filling due to cavities, have gum disease, or require a tooth extraction, but can also be a vital step in helping to save your life.

Cancer comes in a lot of different forms, attacking different areas of the body, and oral cancer is just one form of the disease. Mortality rates from cancer vary according to the type, and many people who survive cancer attribute their survival to the early detection and treatment of the disease. When a dentist examines our mouths during dental checkups, they aren’t just looking for cavities or gum disease, but they are also looking for signs of oral cancer. 

Some indications of oral cancer may involve the presence of tiny red or white spots in the …

Harmful Dental Habits to Avoid

Maintaining good dental habits is the best way to ensure you will have strong, healthy teeth throughout your life. This includes everyday care as well as periodic visits to the dentist. By taking good care of your teeth, you also help set a foundation for your overall health.

Everyday Dental Care

Everyday dental care encompasses brushing, flossing and avoiding habits and actions that can damage your teeth. You should brush and floss every day, using an appropriate toothbrush, not only to keep your teeth clean, but to stimulate your gums to keep them healthy. If the teeth are not cleaned regularly, food accumulates on them, leading to tooth decay. Without flossing, food particles linger between the teeth and the gums are not properly stimulated, which can lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Some everyday habits can also threaten the health of your teeth. These are often things you don’t …

Causes and Treatment of Bruxism

People who suffer from bruxism can point to many possible causes. Narrowing down one specific reason for the grinding and clenching of teeth is not always that easy. A visit with our dentist can help you with solutions to ease the discomfort associated with bruxism and repair any damage that has been done.

Quite often grinding or clenching teeth is done during sleep. It is usually done subconsciously and can even become a habit during the day as well. It is also a very misunderstood problem with suspected causes ranging from depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration or to more serious physical diseases.

The symptoms are not definitive either. For some people, they don’t realize they are grinding or clenching their teeth but they suffer from:

• Headache
• Neck pain
• Earache
• Sore jaws
• Toothache
• Fatigue

Of course, not all of these symptoms need to be present. And having these symptoms does not …

Harmful Effects of Soda On Teeth

Soft drinks have long been considered to have a negative impact on your teeth, not to mention your overall health. Schools across the nation have removed soda machines in an effort to curb consumption at the urging of dentists and healthcare providers alike.

Television, the internet, radio, magazines and social media all promote the consumption of soda. We see our top athletes, actors, musicians and personalities advertise sugary beverages making it seem that drinking them is not only OK, but drinking them will somehow enhance your life.

Sodas, even the sugar-free variety, contain acids that can weaken your teeth’s enamel. Once the enamel is weakened, your teeth become more susceptible to cavities.

In addition, the sugars in soft drinks will cling to the bacteria normally found on your teeth. A build-up of bacteria can result in the formation of dental plaque. Dental plaque acts like a sticky substance that adheres …

Pregnancy and Your Dental Health

It’s very important to take good care of your mouth and teeth during pregnancy. Pregnancy places strong demands on the body, and awareness of how your body can change and react to these demands will help you stay healthy. If you are pregnant and require dental care, our dentist serving San Antonio TX can help you with all of your dental needs.

Changes in Oral Health During Pregnancy

Pregnancy causes numerous hormones to be circulated throughout the body, helping your baby grow and ensuring a safe delivery. However, these hormones can also have side effects that affect your oral health. You might discover, for instance, that your gums are more sensitive and more likely to bleed when you brush and floss your teeth. You will also be more susceptible to gingivitis and gum disease during your pregnancy.

Because of these changes, it’s very important to maintain good oral hygiene and …

Purpose of fluoride treatments

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and, in most places, our water supply.  Your dentist in San Antonio can help you understand how fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth.

A diet insufficient in fluoride will result in tooth decay.  It is critical for children between six months and sixteen years to be exposed to fluoride.  This is the time when both primary and permanent teeth develop.  Even adults may benefit from fluoride as research has shown that topical fluoride – those obtained from using toothpaste, mouth rinses and fluoride treatments – are important in the fight against tooth decay.

There are two ways to introduce fluoride into the body – topical fluorides as mentioned above and systemic fluorides, those that are swallowed.  Ideally a combination of the two offers the …