Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Asthma and Oral Health

People with asthma face particular oral health challenges. They have heightened levels of dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, and are more vulnerable to tooth decay as a result. The staff at Bridge Smiles Dental Group in Somerset County works hard to take each patient’s oral health needs into account when providing treatment, and we want patients with asthma to understand how they may be affected.


Inflammation in the nose leads many people to breathe through their mouths. This is a problem for oral health because saliva plays a crucial part in neutralizing acid that would otherwise erode enamel and trigger gum recession. Saliva also helps to dislodge bacterial build-up. Asthma patients may additionally suffer from acid reflux due to taking muscle relaxants for their throats that also open the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach. Another risk is from sugars in inhalant medication that can coat the mouth, so patients may want to use it prior to brushing their teeth at night.


We don’t advise asthma patients to change their medications without consulting with their doctors, but if they’ve developed gingivitis, they may want to inquire about alternatives. If a patient is suffering from dry mouth, they may try a throat moisturizer or stimulating new saliva production by chewing sugar free gum.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.


 

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

Do you experience shooting pain in your teeth when you bite into something cold? If so, that’s not normal, and you shouldn’t have to endure it. Tooth sensitivity can have several causes, but at the Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we’ll work to identify and rectify it.


Each tooth contains a nerve in its dental pulp. Surrounding the pulp is a material called dentin, which is made up of tiny tubes that easily transmit heat in or out of the pulp. Enamel, which makes up the outside of the crown, is the hardest substance in the human body, but it can still become cracked or eroded. When it is thin, the yellow-grey colored dentin may be visible through it.


Teeth grinding can wear enamel down or break it outright, but most erosion is due to exposure to acid. Sources of acid include sugar-eating bacteria that secrete acid as they metabolize, acid that is regurgitated from the stomach into the oral cavity, and drinks such as soda and citrus juice have high acid content. Tooth roots have less enamel and are dependent on gum tissue to protect them, so when gum tissue recedes, they’re especially sensitive. Patients can use extra-fluoridated toothpaste to remineralize enamel, but once it’s gone, it will have to be replaced with bonding or a similar prosthetic.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.


 

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Impacted Teeth and Pericoronitis

When a tooth is unable to fully erupt, it could become a problem for a patient’s oral health. The Bridge Smiles Dental Group of Somerset County frequently treats patients for gum infections, but further steps may need to be taken when an impacted tooth is causing pericoronitis.


A tooth is said to be impacted when its crown does not push fully through the gum line. This can happen to any tooth, but most often befalls the lower wisdom teeth. The word “pericoronitis” describes inflammation surrounding a crown and is specifically used to describe the infections that tend to develop around difficult-to-clean partly erupted teeth. An impacted tooth will be especially prone to infection if it is partly covered by a flap of gum tissue, called an operculum, which food debris and pus can get trapped under.


A patient can take extra precautions to keep an impacted tooth clean, such as swishing warm salt water in their mouths after each brushing. But infections may require the use of oral antibiotics to treat, and if they recur, we may need to consider oral surgery. An operculum can be cut away or removed with a laser. Removing the impacted tooth may also be necessary for orthodontic reasons.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.