Little Rock Family Dental Care Blog

Understanding Tooth Sensitivity and How To Treat It

May 12, 2014

Do you frequently experience sudden, sharp pain in your teeth when drinking hot beverages such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate, or when eating ice cream, chilled fruit, frozen yogurt or other cold foods?

Tooth sensitivity (known medically as dentin hypersensitivity) is an all-too-common condition that affects upwards of 15% of the general population to some degree. Although it doesn’t pose any direct threat to a person’s health, it may cause noticeable discomfort and even pain depending on the severity of the condition.

Tooth sensitivity pain is typically triggered by one of the following:

Hot or cold foods
Hot or cold beverages
Electric pulp test
Dental probing during examinations or treatments
Sugar
Acids

Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

The leading cause of tooth sensitivity is gum recession. As the gums recede towards the jawbone, root surfaces of the teeth are left exposed and vulnerable to the elements. The protective enamel is thinner around the roots; thus creating greater sensitivity when this area is exposed. (more…)

ADA Flossing Recommendations

April 21, 2014

Flossing plays an important role in the prevention of cavities and gum disease. (more…)

4 Reasons Why You Should Use a Mouth Rinse

April 10, 2014

Incorporating a mouth rinse into your oral care routine offers a number of important benefits. While most people are told to brush and floss their teeth twice a day, the use of a mouth rinse is often overlooked. However, adding a mouth rinse into your normal oral care routine can improve your smile in more ways than one. Keep reading to learn more about these benefits and why you should use a mouth rinse.

PREVENTS BAD BREATH

Bad breath is an all-too-common condition that affects 35-45% of the population. Some people assume this condition is nothing more than a mere annoyance, but bad breath indicates the presence of bacteria. When small food particles become stuck inside your mouth, it encourages the growth of bacteria. In addition to creating bad breath, these bacteria colonies may also promote cavities and gum disease. The good news is that you can fight bad breath through the use of a mouth rinse. Swishing an ADA-approved mouth rinse around in your mouth for 30 seconds kills up to 99% of germs, fighting bad breath at its roots. (more…)

How To Choose The Right Toothbrush

April 4, 2014

A toothbrush is an essential tool in oral health and hygiene. It removes food particles, plaque and bacteria while stimulating the gums and tongue. Some of the earliest examples of toothbrushes date back 5,000 years, when ancient civilizations picked at their teeth with wooden sticks. While modern-day toothbrushes have expanded in terms of design, their overall function remains the same: to encourage proper oral health.

With literally hundreds of different kinds of toothbrushes available for sale ranging in size, stiffness, shape, and design, choosing one can seem like a daunting task. Since some toothbrushes are more effective than others, though, it’s important to choose the right type.

LOOK FOR THE ADA SEAL

When shopping for a new toothbrush, check to make sure it has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval on the packaging. In order for a company to display this seal on their toothbrushes, they must have it inspected by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs and pass a certain set of criteria. (more…)

New Dental Devices Use Technology to Identify Cavities

March 12, 2014

The key to preventing tooth loss due to decay is early detection. Dentists use a wide variety of tools to identify cavities, decay, and plaque, some of which include the traditional pick, probe, mirror, and X-ray machines. The sooner decay is spotted, the easier it is to fix. However, there are new devices dentists are using to identify tooth decay.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH), tooth decay (known medically as caries), is one of the most common types of chronic diseases. While the number of overall cases has declined over the past four decades, tooth decay remains a serious problem that people shouldn’t ignore. Allowing tooth decay to persist without professional dental care can result in tooth abscess, gum disease, infection, tooth loss, and even jawbone loss in very serious cases.

New technology that uses x-rays along with other spectrums of light and special software now puts a lot more power in the hands of dentists. For example, one handheld tool known as Spectra uses advances ultraviolet light to detect tooth decay. The dentist or an assistant runs the wand-like device over the patient’s teeth. Normally, it shines a green light on the tooth’s enamel. But when the device shines on a part of the tooth suffering from decay, the light will turn red, indicating the presence of a cavity. (more…)