dental care blog
Find great information, insights, tips and helpful information on how to keep your teeth healthy
![]() Gum disease is still the most common cause of tooth loss in adults, outstripping even cavities and decay. Most people will suffer from it to some degree during their lives, but it's a condition that can be treated very effectively, and with proper oral care serious problems can largely be avoided. What Exactly Is Gum Disease? There are two main types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease. With gingivitis, the gums become swollen and sore, often turning red and inflamed, and will tend to bleed during brushing or when eating harder foods. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress into periodontal disease, where the inflammation spreads to the teeth roots and even the jawbone, making your teeth feel loose to the touch and even eventually fall out completely. What Causes It? Gum disease is ultimately caused by insufficient attention to oral hygiene, that is, not brushing and flossing thoroughly enough. Just as with dental decay, gum problems are the result of a build up of plaque in the mouth. Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that grows on your teeth after eating, and while most of the bacteria plaque contains are harmless, some types cause irritation to the gums and lead to disease. Good brushing and flossing habits will largely remove this bacteria and stop gum disease from taking hold, or from progressing too far if you already have it. Smokers should note that they are more likely to get gum disease than non-smokers, as tobacco causes a lack of oxygen in the blood to the gums, making them less able to fight off the bacteria and resulting inflammation. Spotting and Treating Gum Disease While sore, inflamed and bleeding gums are a sure sign of problems which need treatment, underlying periodontal disease is unfortunately largely painless and free of symptoms until it has become firmly established and is already causing damage. In severe cases, you may get tooth abscesses and/or signs of infection such as pus oozing around the base of the tooth. If you spot this, you need to see a dentist quickly. More commonly, bleeding teeth and unpleasant smelling breath are the first signs of gum disease. These symptoms will also need to be checked out by your dental team to make sure that the problem hasn't already gone beyond simple gingivitis and developed into periodontal disease, but if caught in time then treatment can be very effective. Your dentist will give your teeth a complete clean to remove all traces of the plaque and bacteria which is causing the problem, and will advise on improving your dental care at home to stop further flare-ups and help your gums overcome the inflammation. If periodontal disease is detected, a more thorough treatment may be necessary with a procedure known as 'root planing'. This clears any bacteria that has invaded your teeth roots, and will usually require a local anesthetic and cause a little discomfort for a day or two after treatment. In The Long Term A proper regime of brushing and flossing to remove all traces of plaque will stop gum disease in its tracks, and over time any damage can even start to be reversed as your gums begin to recover. However, especially in severe cases of periodontal disease, it's a good idea to have your dentist regularly check that your gums are in good health and that there's no sign of the disease returning. ![]() If you are going to look at the statistics, then root canal treatment is one of the most widely recognized dental problems. Many people are very much scared when they hear that their tooth needs a root canal and they try to avoid it. Every tooth has a root canal system and an infection in it creates trouble. The infection might be caused by a bacteria or a bad oral care. Contrary to popular belief, the root canal treatment is less painful and there are many dentists Edmonton who will ease you off with many of the problems. 1. Structure of the tooth Every tooth in the mouth has a structure that comprises of two main parts – Crown and the root. The crown is the visible part that we are able to see and the root is generally hidden beneath the gums. The main components of teeth are: • Enamel – It is the hard outer coating of every tooth. • Dentine – It’s the softer material that supports the enamel. • Cementum – It’s a hard material that acts as a coating on the tooth. • Dental Pulp – It’s a soft tissue that is found at the centre of the tooth. 2. Infection in the tooth Every tooth has a pulp in the centre that has blood vessels and soft tissues. It is generally this part that gets affected with bacteria and infection and the tooth gets painful. When bacteria multiply, they reach at the centre and attack the blood vessels and this result in swollen gums and face. 3. Treatment In root canal treatment, the bacteria are removed from the centre of the tooth to ease of the discomfort the patient is facing. The treatment is done in two ways – The first method is where the affected tooth is removed from the gum if the condition of the tooth is too bad and is beyond repair, and the second method is root canal treatment. After the bacteria are removed from the centre of the tooth, it is filled with a filling or a crown is put into place. Root canal treatment can be painful for some people and make sure that you are getting it done with one of the good dentists Edmonton. 4. Taking right care after the treatment Once the root canal treatment is done, you need to make sure that you are taking the right care of gums and teeth. It will help your tooth to recover in right way and will ensure that it stays healthy for long time. Avoid biting too hard on the food and use the separate side of the mouth where the treatment has been done. Always maintain good oral hygiene and take all the necessary help from the dentists Edmonton who will be able to guide you in proper manner. If you are too much into smoking and drinking, then you also have to avoid it till your tooth recovers completely. ![]() What is gingivitis? Gum disease or gingivitis is inflammation of the tissues supporting and surrounding the teeth and is most popularly caused due to poor dental hygiene. Gum disease is a very common problem and differs immensely in severity. Some of the common signs of gingivitis include: red swollen gums, bleeding on brushing and flossing etc. What causes gingivitis? Your gums are attached to your teeth at a lower point than the edges of gums that are visible. This creates a small space called a sulcus. When food gets trapped in this space, gingivitis or gum infection is caused. Plaque is another reason for gum disease. Plaque is a thin coating of bacteria; it continuously develops on the surface of your teeth. As plaque becomes severe, it hardens, and this is termed as tartar. When plaque reaches below the gum line, it causes gum infection. When left untreated, it can cause the gums to get disconnected from the teeth. This can cause injury to the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. The tooth may become unstable and loose. If infection becomes severe, you may finally lose your tooth or get it removed from a dentist. Risk factors of gum disease: Here are some of the risk factors for gum disease:
Most people even don’t realize that they have gingivitis. Once can have gum infection without any symptoms. However, here are a few symptoms of gingivitis:
In a dental checkup, your gums are checked with a small ruler. This helps to know about the inflammation. Also, assists in knowing about any gaps around your teeth. X-rays are taken to know about the bone loss. Feel free to contact us to know about risk factors for gum disease as well as the symptoms. This can assist diagnose your gum infection. If you have gum disease, our periodontist will treat you. They specialize in the treatment of gum diseases. ![]() Dental emergencies are so called because you never know when you are going to experience a dental emergency. However, whenever there is any dental emergency you can be rest assured to know that emergency dental care is available at our office 24x7. Whether you have tooth ache or your child knocks out a couple of teeth while playing in the backyard, or you chip your front tooth playing football, getting the emergency dental treatment you need is convenient and accessible. If you are in any dental emergency, our team at Edmonton Emergency Dental Clinic is here to help you any time of the day and night. Dental emergencies shouldn't be taken lightly, so when in severe pain or discomfort, don't delay visiting emergency dentist. Contact us immediately. Some of the common dental emergencies include: Lost crowns and fillings: Crowns are used to cover damaged or broken teeth. Fillings, on the other hand, are used to treat cavities. Eventually, it is possible for both of these things to slacken and fall out. A lost crown or filling can be painful, because the exposed tissue may be sensitive. Cold and hot temperatures will cause discomfort. While a lost crown or filling might not be as serious a dental emergency as a chipped or broken tooth, you need to get it fixed instantly. Broken dentures: Broken dentures means difficulty in eating food and talking. It can make everyday tasks arduous and trying. If you can't eat properly, the situation calls for emergency care. Depending on the condition of the dentures, you may need to get a new set of dentures. On the other hand, if they are not damaged too severely, then with a simple fix they can again be fine again. If you are having problems with your denture, get in contact with us instantly. Toothache: For pain linked with gums and teeth or injury to tooth, Edmonton Emergency Dental Clinic is the better choice. Without treatment, dental pain almost always becomes more severe and can ignite other serious health problems. If a tooth has been knocked out of your mouth or traumatized, our team can treat the sensitive tissues and nerves that could be damaged. By replacing the tooth immediately, chances are it can be saved. We provide treatments for wide array of dental emergencies including but not limited to: Gum infections Tooth extractions including wisdom tooth extractions Broken dentures Broken orthodontic braces Root canal treatments Loose implant crowns Loose teeth or crowns Tooth abscess Broken veneers or bridge Broken crowns Chipped or broken teeth Toothache So, when in any dental emergency, schedule your emergency appointment with us without any delay. When looking for Edmonton dentist open Sunday, then also look no further and contact us. ![]() You have a perfectly healthy set of teeth, because you don't feel any discomfort or see anything wrong or unusual with your teeth, right? Wrong! Well, when it comes to teeth, then the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't really proves a good idea. Most people really can't tell if there is something wrong with their teeth, unless they visit a dentist or problem aggravates. Have a look at these interesting dental facts: Gum disease or periodontal disease is the main reason of tooth loss all across the globe. This is basically a condition in which you lose the bone that surrounds your teeth, so that even healthy teeth may come out. A huge number of people who get diagnosed with cavities didn't even know in first place that they have had a cavity. A large number of patients who grind or clench their teeth, experience issues like cracked teeth, chipped or worn-out teeth. These things can be really confusing and that is likely why at some point many people find themselves meeting a dental emergency. Some emergencies are due to accidents. But, most of the dental emergencies are caused due to negligence. So here are a few simple ways on how to avoid dental emergency.
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Dr. Alexander Yeh and Dr. Iyad Al-Qishawi are registered general dentists. They graduated in the same class at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Dentistry. Archives
July 2016
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Edmonton Emergency Dental Services:Pain and infection relief
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Contact Us:Phone: 587 410 5766 Address: 4526 Calgary Trail NW #110 Southbound NW, Edmonton, AB T6H 4A6 |
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