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Buds for Life: Your Tongue & Taste

Full disclosure before your Portland dentist Dr. Case at Family Dental Health starts dropping knowledge on the muscles in your mouth that are partially to thank (or blame) for the foods you love: we’re hungry as we write this and are envisioning pizza; yummy, savory pizza with cheese that stretches when you grab a slice, crust with just the right amount of crunch, sauce with the best blend of veggies and herbs…what were we going to talk about? Oh yeah, taste buds! Wait—are you craving pizza now, too? Let’s go halfsies on some ‘za!

Gusta-what?!

The scientific term for your taste buds is gustatory receptor cells. Jot that down because there will be a quiz later (we joke). These taste buddies (that’s just more fun to say, isn’t it?) form before we evacuate the womb. In fact, based on their sensitivity to sweet and bitter tastes, newborns may have more taste buds than adults. For an image to distract from the pizza that may still be on your mind, picture babies trying new foods. Need help? That’s what we’re here for! Here are babies tasting lemons in slow motion.

A common belief about taste buds is that they’re the bumps visible on your tongue, but those are papillae that exist to give your tongue the rough texture that helps you eat—your taste buds cover these papillae but can only be seen with a microscope. A person can have anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 taste buds co-existing with bacteria in their mouths, and the number of bacteria present? That can range anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 on each tooth’s surface and jump to 100 million or a whopping 1 billion bacteria in a mouth that needs flossing and brushing.

Why’d We Mention Bacteria?

We’re sorry to derail the humor train, but Dr. Case would be remiss not to mention the importance of oral hygiene when it comes to tongue talk. Your tongue is a favorite haven for bacteria and food debris, after all, and neglecting to give it quality time with your trusty toothbrush and friendly floss (or alternatives like the WaterPik®) can carry consequences like cavities, gum disease, bad breath, and alteration of your taste buds! Do you know how food is harder to taste when you’re fighting an infection or virus? It’s like that, and we think this further highlights the oral-systemic link.

The oral-systemic link is the term used to describe how your body’s systems work together to keep you going strong, or work against you to make you feel crummy (not to be confused with crumbly like a cookie). Your mouth is a gateway—your taste buds being on the roof of your mouth and your upper esophagus, cheeks, and epiglottis (the flap of cartilage that covers your windpipe while you swallow food or liquid to prevent you from inhaling it and choking) illustrate this for us. 

Your Tongue Isn’t the Only Thing with Taste

For another example of how your systems work together, get a whiff of how the nose operates in conjunction with your taste buds. Your olfactory receptors send signals to the brain about whether the food you’re about to consume or reject is spicy, fatty, sugary, salty, and/or acidic—because food can be almost as complex as your body, can’t it? And yes, we did mention the brain! 

Your brain is what provides you with the sense of satisfaction you feel when eating something you love. Your brain’s participation in the consumption process is further evidenced by the ability scientists have to turn taste “on” or “off” by stimulating or silencing clusters of brain cells. (Does this mean they could make onions more palatable to people that don’t usually like them? Maybe! But so far, testing has only been conducted on mice.)

Other Fun Tongue Facts

• Contrary to a somewhat popular belief, your tongue’s ability to taste sweet, savory, salty, sour, and bitter is not relegated to different sections—your whole tongue senses these equally.
• Each person’s tongue is as unique as their fingerprints.
• The size of your tongue can contribute to disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 
• The average tongue is about three inches in length, with the longest recorded being 3.97 inches.
• Taste buds have an average lifespan of 10 days but can be killed sooner if you burn your tongue on hot beverages or foods. Not to worry—most taste buds regenerate!
• Your sense of smell and taste change with age, which may mean loss of the ability to distinguish between savory, sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. This could be why some of us love hot sauce and add more of it to our food as we grow wiser (the term we prefer to older, thank you!).

We hope you enjoyed reading about your tongue and that it inspires you to treat it kindly along with the rest of your mouth. One of the best ways to show it some love is by scheduling an appointment with your Portland dentist, Dr. Case of Family Dental Health, to make sure everything is in tip-top shape! 

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Late for an Important Date: When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out

Most kids lose their baby teeth—also called primary teeth—in a distinct sequence at set intervals.  Children’s baby teeth come out naturally starting around age six, becoming progressively looser as they fall out (sometimes with a little extra wiggling because the Tooth Fairy is expected to visit). 

Sometimes baby tooth loss doesn’t happen in the usual order, and a permanent tooth appears prior to the loss of the primary tooth, which leads to a double row of front teeth. While this is a common pediatric dental concern that should be addressed, it is no cause for alarm and rarely has long-term negative effects. 

When the loss of a primary tooth and subsequent eruption of a permanent tooth takes over a year longer than the anticipated date, that primary tooth is considered over-retained. Are you concerned because your child’s baby tooth isn’t falling out, or the permanent tooth hasn’t appeared yet? Portland dentist, Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health, discusses over-retained baby teeth and possible treatment options below.

Baby Teeth Need Assessment

Baby teeth should be checked routinely by a dentist so abnormalities can be identified and treated early for your child’s long-term oral health and comfort.

The first step when assessing a child’s over-retained baby tooth is a comprehensive oral examination that includes a thorough exam with digital x-rays. Condition, color, shape, and position of the over-retained tooth must be evaluated in case it is fused to the bone, a condition known as ankylosis. When ankylosis occurs, the affected tooth appears sunken in the gums and is unable to come out on its own.

What Are Some Causes Over-Retained Baby Teeth?

The most common cause for an over-retained primary tooth is the absence of a permanent tooth to take its place. When the baby and permanent teeth are developing as they should, the permanent tooth will push on and eventually dissolve the primary tooth root, facilitating its loss so the permanent tooth can take its rightful place in the jaw. 

In up to 7% of cases, permanent teeth are absent, which occurs more frequently in girls than boys. Other possible causes for over-retained primary teeth include obstruction, trauma, infection, environmental factors, endocrine disorders, genetics, and misalignment or delayed eruption of the permanent tooth underneath.

What are the Risks of Not Treating Over-Retained Baby Teeth?

Over-retained primary teeth can lead to other serious dental issues later, which is why early assessment and treatment is beneficial. Periodontal (gum) problems, cavities, and misalignment of adjacent permanent teeth can occur if over-retained baby teeth are left untreated.

Treatment Options for Over-Retained Baby Teeth

The condition of the over-retained tooth or teeth and the surrounding structures of the mouth determine the best treatment for your little one. If the child has several over-retained teeth, it is likely that several permanent teeth below are missing. If this is the case, an orthodontist should evaluate your child in addition to your dentist so an acceptable treatment solution can be carefully planned and executed for optimal end results.

If the over-retained baby tooth is structurally strong and satisfactory in appearance, that tooth can be retained. If the tooth is strong but looks unattractive, its aesthetics can be improved with a dental restoration.

If the primary tooth is crooked, extraction is the best option for two reasons: 1) the gap can be closed later with orthodontic treatment; or 2) an absent tooth can be replaced with a fixed bridge or dental implant. A dental implant is currently the superior option due to aesthetics, functionality, jawbone health, and higher rates of success.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s over-retained baby teeth, your Portland dentist at Family Dental Health would be happy to welcome you and your child for examination and treatment. We’d love to hear from you—contact Family Dental Health today!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

The Smoking Gun: Tobacco & Oral Health

They say not everything natural is good for you. Nature has many poisons that humans have experimented with and learned the hard way to avoid. Tobacco is a popular plant that we’ve learned can really do a number on your health. Using tobacco is a personal and communal practice that can be really hard to avoid, even if you know it’s bad for you. Working with your doctor and Portland dentist Dr. Case at Family Dental Health will be essential if you’re concerned about your health and want to stop using tobacco. 

What Is Tobacco?

Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that has long been grown, dried, and used by cultures around the world. It’s usually smoked but is sometimes chewed or inhaled. Tobacco is known to affect the way people think, feel, and behave by interrupting the brain’s normal communication with the rest of the body. The tobacco plant contains the addictive stimulant nicotine, which is why a smoking habit is so hard to break. Cigarettes contain 2,000 ingredients known to be toxic and harmful to the human body.

Effects of Tobacco on Oral Health

There’s nothing good to be said about tobacco use. More than 20 million people have died directly because of tobacco (either personal use or secondhand) since the Surgeon General first put out the warning against it in 1964.

It’s especially bad for your heart and lungs. Since all forms of using tobacco first enter through your mouth, you can imagine it also really takes a toll on your oral health. Using tobacco has immediate and long-term consequences for your mouth and body.  Using tobacco causes:

• Bad breath
• Stained teeth
• Increased plaque
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Decreased ability to taste
• Slow healing
• Drastically increased risk of oral cancer

Oral Health & Overall Wellness

It’s hard (impossible, actually) to be completely healthy if your mouth isn’t healthy. Your oral health affects your overall health in many ways and vice versa—the two go hand in hand. Quitting tobacco completely is the only way to avoid the negative side effects associated with smoking, chewing, and snuffing.

If you want to take better care of yourself and quit using tobacco, your dentist can be a helpful and supportive partner on the journey. Everyone deserves a life that makes them smile and a smile they are proud to show off. If you’re concerned about your tobacco use, you should come to see us for an oral cancer screening at your earliest convenience.

Make an appointment at Family Dental Health today and let us help you make positive changes in your life and smile!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

4 Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

As a parent, you only want what’s best for your little one. Whether you’re a new mom navigating the waters of caring for your firstborn, or a seasoned pro ready to start your own family softball team (sorry neighbor kids, all positions are filled), preventing tooth decay in kids is never an easy feat. 

Because tiny hands and mouths don’t yet have the knowledge or the dexterity to properly care for their teeth, tooth decay is a common occurrence, and it’s largely up to you to help establish healthy habits and keep tooth decay at bay.

Read on to learn the four simplest ways to help prevent tooth decay so your kids can have a head start on a healthy, happy smile for life.

• A Healthy Oral Hygiene Routine

Like, duh! (Do kids still say duh?) Anyway, obviously oral hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent tooth decay, but implementing it is easier said than done! The easiest way to establish a routine that will stick is to lead by example and start early. These early years are formative, and their brains are like sponges, absorbing everything around them and forming habits and attitudes they will carry with them for life. 

• You should wash your baby’s gums after feeding with a warm washcloth, even before their teeth start to come in. 
• Once their first tooth emerges, you should begin brushing with a baby-sized toothbrush and water. Brush their teeth and gums gently in small circular motions, even where no teeth have emerged yet to stimulate blood blow and get them used to the feeling of brushing.
• Begin flossing as soon as two or more teeth start to touch. Curve the floss gently in a c-shape around the teeth and under the gums and use a new section of floss between each tooth.
• Begin using fluoridated toothpaste around age 2-3, when they are able to spit the paste out.
• Brush for them until they are able to do so effectively themselves, which is typically around age 6 when they are able to tie their own shoes and head off to school. Continue supervising until you’re confident in their big-kid brushing and flossing skills.
• A healthy hygiene routine includes brushing at least twice per day, before breakfast and before bed, and flossing once daily at either time. 
• Rinsing with water after eating, before brushing, and periodically throughout the day is a great way to reduce plaque, acidity, and enamel damage.

• Limited Sugar Intake

Nowadays, sugar is in just about everything we eat and drink, so it’s more important than ever to pay attention to what you and your kids are consuming regularly. Not only do tooth-decay bugs feed on sugar, but other diseases (including cancers) thrive on it as well, so it’s best to limit sugar as much as possible if your goal is healthy smiles and healthy bodies. 

• Only allow water in the baby bottle. Anything else including breast milk, formula, or juice is chock-full of sugar, and if they’re sipping it from a bottle all day or night, they will almost certainly develop baby-bottle tooth decay.
• Make juice a “sometimes treat” for special occasions or as a reward for good behavior. Juice, soda, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages should not be their primary form of hydration. Water should always come first and foremost. 
• Choose healthy, natural, unprocessed snacks like fruits, vegetables, berries, cheese, crackers, yogurt, and nuts or trail mix. Avoid sugary snacks and candy as much as possible, and save them for special occasions. The more sugar they have early-on the more they will become addicted to it and crave it on a regular basis.

• Fluoride

Fluoride is one of our greatest weapons against childhood tooth decay, which is why most cities and towns in the US and Canada have fluoridated public water supplies. It’s also why most mouth rinses and toothpaste contain fluoride, and most dentists provide fluoride treatments for kids. Fluoride is highly effective for preventing tooth decay in children because when teeth are growing, it combines with tooth enamel to form stronger, decay-resistant teeth that are better at fighting off sugar, plaque, and acid.

• Is Portland’s water supply fluoridated? You can find out by contacting your community’s water provider.
• Start using fluoridated toothpaste for your kiddo around age 3.
• If they’re still getting cavities, talk to Family Dental Health. We can provide regular fluoride treatments and recommend a fluoridated mouth rinse for an added boost.
• If Portland’s water is not fluoridated or it’s simply not enough to keep the cavity bugs away, we can also recommend fluoride supplements.

• Regular Dental Visits at Family Dental Health

A healthy diet, a solid oral hygiene routine, and plenty of fluoride are all great starts, but oral health is complex and you’ll want a team of well-educated professionals in your corner. Everyone should see the dentist regularly—twice every year or once every six months—but especially kiddos! They are the most susceptible to tooth decay, so you should bring them in to see us often for regular exams and cleanings. Only we have the technology and the tools necessary to remove tartar buildup and detect disease and decay before it becomes serious.

• Stay on schedule with your regular check-ups, cleanings, and exams. When the appointment is over, go ahead and schedule the next one.
• Ask Family Dental Health plenty of questions. “Why are they still getting cavities?” “What’s that dark spot on the x-ray?” “What can we do better?” The more educated you are about your child’s oral health, the more equipped you will be to help keep tooth decay away.

While cavities in kids are very common and usually don’t cause too many problems if they’re filled promptly, untreated tooth decay can be a serious issue for a child’s growth and development. Not only can cavities be very painful for kiddos, but they can also lead to poor performance in school, missed school days, and even behavioral and developmental issues. Not to mention, baby teeth set the stage for adult teeth to grow in properly, so it’s important to keep baby teeth healthy and decay-free to set them up for oral health and confidence later in life.

If you follow our advice, you’ll be on the right path to preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health for your child. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment with your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health, contact us today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Why Are My Baby’s Teeth Stained?

As brand-new humans, it seems logical that babies and children would have gleaming white teeth to go along with their bright eyes and soft skin. Baby teeth—also called primary teeth—generally do appear whiter than adult permanent teeth because they are more calcified. However,  it is not uncommon for a child’s teeth to appear less than luminous for any number of reasons. Your Portland dental team at Family Dental Health would like to share some causes and possible solutions for yellow, brown, and black stains on kids’ teeth.

What Causes Stained Baby Teeth?

• Poor Oral Hygiene – If baby teeth aren’t brushed and flossed thoroughly, bacteria may form and become plaque, which hardens into tartar and can lead to discoloration. Practice thorough oral hygiene for the healthiest, whitest smile.
• Medication – If babies are given nutritional supplements containing iron, their teeth can become dark and discolored. If their mothers take tetracycline while pregnant or breastfeeding, babies can develop black stains on their teeth.
• Injury – A single blackened tooth can be the result of dental trauma that caused bleeding inside the tooth.
• Weak Enamel – Inadequate enamel formation can be hereditary and lead to baby teeth that appear a dull gray color.
• Excessive Fluoride – Fluorosis is a condition caused by the consumption of too much fluoride when teeth are forming but prior to appearance in the mouth, which takes place before kids are eight years old. To avoid fluorosis, keep an eye on your child’s oral hygiene habits and remind them not to swallow toothpaste or mouthwash. Fluorosis can also be caused by mixing infant formula powder or liquid with fluoridated water if these types of formula are your baby’s main food source. Fluorosis can range in severity from mild, barely visible markings to pitting and black or brown spots in more severe cases.
• Illness – Some kids’ baby teeth develop with a greenish or yellowish tint if they are born with a condition called hyperbilirubinemia, which means there is too much bilirubin in the blood.
• Foods & Beverages – This list of staining culprits wouldn’t be complete without some common staining foods and beverages. Thankfully (hopefully), kids don’t need to worry much about tea, coffee, or red wine, which are some of the biggest factors for adults, but any dark-colored foods and drinks like berries or fruit juice will stain their teeth. Even light-colored foods like apples and potatoes go through a process of oxidation that can cause teeth staining. Who knew!?

How Can Stained Baby Teeth Be Prevented or Treated?

If discoloration is caused by poor dental hygiene, brushing more thoroughly should help. Until your child learns to spit at around age three, don’t use more than a rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste on their toothbrush.

To decrease bad bacteria in your child’s mouth, avoid putting soft drinks, juice, formula, or other sugary concoctions in their bottle—only allow them a bottle filled with water. If your child uses a pacifier, never dip it in sugar or honey, and try to avoid sharing utensils with your child as this can transfer bacteria from your mouth to theirs (and vice versa!) and increase the likelihood of cavity formation.

Depending on your child’s unique dental situation, Family Dental Health may watch their teeth for signs of other problems or recommend future procedures like teeth whitening or bonding. Some kids are more sensitive to stained teeth than others due to their natural oral pH level.

If you are concerned about stains on your child’s teeth, contact your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health today. We’d love to help!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

How to Choose the Right Pediatric Dentist for Your Child

Being the parent of a little one (or a couple or a few) means making a lot of decisions each day—what to dress them in, what to feed them, what books to read, toys to purchase, schools in your district. There are also a lot of questions you’ll ask, such as: “How do I care for my child’s oral health? How do I help them through teething? When is fluoride toothpaste safe for them to use?” 

It can feel a little overwhelming to think about, but Dr. David Case of Family Dental Health wants you to take a deep breath, sit back, and read on to learn about how to choose a pediatric dentist that can answer these questions and more. We’re pleased to provide supportive care and education that teaches Portland children the importance of oral health and good habits that will keep their smiles happy and healthy for life.

1 Tooth, 2 Teeth, Red Tongue, Blue Toothpaste

Did you know Dr. Seuss was a dentist? We joke (but first a little bit of trivia: the beloved writer and illustrator wasn’t actually a doctor at all but wrote under the pen name Dr. Seuss because his father wanted him to practice medicine), but this is to emphasize how we like to make the dental world a fun, creative, exploratory, and yes, sometimes silly place for children to visit. That’s one difference you might find between a pediatric dentist and a general dentist. Other differences include:

• Pediatric dentists study for an additional 2-3 years after obtaining their DDS or DMD (Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine).
• Pediatric dentists treat children from infancy through adolescence.
• A pediatric dental office will be completely geared toward making children feel safe and comfortable. 
• Besides a warm, friendly atmosphere, even the equipment and tools will be child-sized.

Olly Olly Oxen Free

Finding the right pediatric dentist for your child doesn’t have to be a tricky game of hide-and-seek. The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentists) has a search tool that can help you narrow your selection based on your location. We also suggest:

• Asking family and friends for their recommendations and experiences.
• Asking your family doctor or pediatrician for a referral.
• Searching local websites or print publications in your area.
• Keeping in mind that if you don’t feel like you’ve found a good fit for your little one(s), you’re not obligated to return. You and your family deserve quality care you can trust.

If you do end up searching around, one thing that should remain constant in any pediatric dental office is an emphasis on education and prevention. At Family Dental Health, we employ digital x-rays that reduce radiation exposure and can be taken from the comfort of the dental chair. The images will help us confirm your child’s mouth is developing properly. If it isn’t, we can get them back on track with fluoride treatments and sealants, and we can provide gentle cleanings and fillings if any of their teeth suffer decay.

Go Forth & Conquer

The team at Family Dental Health believes in you. Even if it takes some time for you to find the right dental family in Portland, you have the power to set a positive example by conducting a diligent oral hygiene routine. 

While our role includes making oral health education fun and protecting those baby teeth that will set the stage for their adult teeth, you know your child best and spend the most time with them. You’ll know their favorite stories and cartoon characters and can use those details to motivate them. If they’re into Pokémon, they won’t be able to catch them all if they’re spending a lot of time at the dentist getting cavities filled, so let’s fight those double-trouble decay-causing bugs by brushing our teeth, gums, and tongue at least twice a day!

If you have additional questions or are contemplating making Family Dental Health your child’s dental home, please contact us today! Family Dental Health would be happy to smile with you and your family!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Why Haven’t My Child’s Permanent Teeth Come In?

If your child’s permanent adult teeth haven’t emerged in a timely manner, you may wonder if there is a reason to worry. Family Dental Health would like to share a few possible reasons permanent adult teeth can be delayed. 

Is There Enough Space for the New Teeth to Grow?

The most common reason for permanent teeth to appear late a simple one: there is just not enough space for them. Adult teeth tend to be larger than the primary baby teeth they replace, and at times, a surrounding tooth (or teeth) may require removal to create extra space. Occasionally, braces also become necessary to facilitate this process.

Are Permanent Teeth Facing the Right Direction?

Sometimes permanent teeth come through the gums facing the wrong way. This is most common with upper canines and bicuspids. The primary teeth around the affected area may require removal to allow repositioning of teeth that are out of place, and braces are usually required for a permanent solution. 

Gender

There are wide variations in every aspect of human development, and the rate that teeth grow is no exception. Girls tend to experience puberty changes before boys do, and studies also show that girls begin losing primary teeth up to six months earlier than boys lose theirs. If your firstborn was a girl and your second child was a boy, keep this in mind if you start comparing the rates their teeth develop!

Genetics

In 80% of cases, kids are going to take after one (or both) biological parents when it comes to their teeth—so if you needed braces or your spouse’s teeth came in late, this could happen to your child, too. 

There are also congenital conditions present at birth that can cause teeth to be missing. Hypodontia is when six or fewer permanent teeth are absent, and is associated with Down’s syndrome, cleft lip, and cleft palate. 

Having more than six permanent teeth missing is a condition called oligodontia. If a child is missing multiple adult teeth, consulting with their pediatrician to rule out medical conditions affecting the entire body is a good idea.

Since each tooth serves an important purpose in the mouth, when one or more teeth are missing, it can impede the function of the overall mouth structure. Dental implants are the most commonly recommended solution for a missing permanent tooth; bridges can also be an option in certain cases. Orthodontics may also be necessary to reposition any teeth that have shifted into the wrong spot to compensate for the absent ones. 

Nutrition

Calcium and other minerals give permanent teeth the strength to push through the gums. If your child is a picky eater, you know that feeding them can be challenging—and what they eat or don’t eat can also affect the development of adult teeth. If essential nutritional components are lacking, dental delays can occur—so you may want to consider dietary changes or supplements to make sure they’re getting the essential nutrients they need.

Height & Weight

Children that are heavier and taller typically develop their adult teeth before children that are shorter or have more slender body types. Heavier children, particularly girls, also tend to go through puberty at a younger age, so this goes along with the correlation between gender and earlier appearance of permanent teeth as well.

Impacted Teeth

If your child lost a baby tooth prematurely—for example, due to injury—the permanent teeth in their mouth may not have room to erupt. A small jaw can also complicate things. These situations can cause impacted teeth, which are teeth trapped in the jawbone that either only partially erupt or fail to emerge at all. 

Impacted molars are the most common, but other teeth may also become impacted. If children with missing teeth complain of jaw pain, infected or swollen gums, bad breath or recurring headaches, impacted teeth may be the problem. Extraction or oral surgery are possible solutions.

Missing Teeth that Never Develop

If wisdom teeth come in—and most do by the time a person turns 21—the adult mouth should, in theory, have 32 teeth. If all four wisdom teeth were extracted and no other teeth have been lost, the tally is reduced to 28. However, about 20% of the population has one or more wisdom teeth that just never showed up. Lucky for them!

Failure to Launch

If there is enough space in the jaw and the teeth are present in the gums but have not erupted, your child may have a rare condition called “primary failure of eruption”. It sounds dire, but the definition is “adult teeth that failed to erupt on their own.” 

The solution to this condition is typically a combination of oral surgery and braces to “save” the teeth in the jaw and prevent additional complications with neighboring ones. Because multiple teeth are usually involved, correction can take many treatments and several years. Family Dental Health will outline a detailed treatment plan to make each step of the process easier to understand.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s permanent teeth coming in, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

What’s a Pulpotomy? Pain Relief for Tiny Teeth

The pulp is found in the center of each tooth and consists of tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, which work together to provide oxygen and nutrients that keep them healthy and strong. If one or more teeth suffer a traumatic injury or decay, the pulp can become inflamed or infected. When this happens in a child’s primary or baby tooth, your dentist Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health may recommend a pulpotomy. 

A pulpotomy–also referred to as pulp therapy or a “baby root canal”–is performed to prevent further infection and early tooth loss. The procedure entails applying a topical anesthetic to numb the area before creating a small opening in the tooth, removing the infected, inflamed pulp, then sealing the chamber with a medicated filling that will prevent bacteria growth and allow a crown (stainless steel, porcelain, or white zirconia are the most common materials to choose from) to be fitted in place to restore the tooth.  

Why Save a Baby Tooth?

When infection strikes a tooth in your little one’s mouth, you might think: “It’s a baby tooth, why not just remove it or let it fall out?” We wish we could tell you it’s that simple, but baby teeth have an important job. Losing them before they’re due to exit can cause permanent teeth to shift and erupt out of proper alignment, not to mention the increased difficulty for them to chew and speak naturally.

Protecting and restoring your child’s baby teeth can save their oral health and self-confidence. While pulpotomies may sound serious and scary, often they’re a source of relief because the inflammation and infection inside the pulp are incredibly painful. Acting fast can prevent increasing pain and the need for a pulpectomy, which is a removal of the diseased pulp from both the crown and the root. It can also make the difference between whether the tooth becomes abscessed—if the infection reaches this level, the tooth needs to be saved or face extraction.

What to Watch For

You should contact Family Dental Health as soon as possible if your child experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Severe toothache, especially when chewing or applying pressure
• Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverage temperatures
• Tooth discoloration (darkening)
• Swelling of gums
• Small, persistent or recurring bumps on gums

Infection Prevention

At Family Dental Health, we think the best treatment is no treatment. That means we emphasize prevention, which is largely reliant on education, healthy lifestyles, and strong oral hygiene routines. We want learning about the mouth to be fun, and for your little one’s smile to stay healthy and bright for life. 

We offer thorough exams, gentle cleanings, and dental sealants to help ward off infection-causing bugs. Contact us today to schedule a visit!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Why Does My Jaw Hurt?

If your jaw clicks when it opens, or you can’t fully open it, or you have pain in your face and trouble chewing, then you’re among the 15% of Americans who have chronic jaw pain.

Your jaw joint is called the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. The name comes from the jaw’s role to connect your temporal bone in the skull with your mandible bone. Some people experience short-term pain that goes away with ice and over-the-counter medicine. But if you have chronic jaw pain or you can’t open your mouth, you might have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and it’s important to see your dentist right away to find relief.

Dr. David Case, Portland dentist explains more below about the causes and treatments of jaw pain.

Different Kinds of Jaw Pain

Pain in your jaw can feel different depending on what’s going on. In order to best understand what’s causing your pain, try to notice when you specifically feel the pain and what specifically it feels like. 

Do you have tightness, soreness, or clicking? Is the pain shooting sharp or a dull ache? Some jaw problems can also cause pain in your face, head, neck or shoulders. Many patients who have chronic migraines don’t realize it’s actually a dysfunction of their bite and TMJ. It’s important to see a dentist and explain what you’re feeling so that they can offer the best treatment options.

Causes of Jaw Pain 

Your jaw has multiple parts that work together. The temporal bone and mandible bone join together with a piece of cartilage and a shock-absorbing disk. Pain often results from the cartilage being worn down or the disk being dislodged.

Causes of jaw pain include:

• Arthritis that inflames your joints
• Genetics that cause your connective tissues (jaw cartilage) to wear down
• Injury that dislodges the disk or just hurts your jaw
• Clenching or grinding your teeth that puts stress your jaw and muscles (bruxism)
• Headache or migraine that radiates pain down into your jaw (jaw pain can also cause headaches and create a bad cycle of pain)
• Periodontal disease or gum disease
• TMJ or temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Treating Jaw Pain

Only a professional medical provider can diagnose and treat TMD. Fixing your pain and treating it, in the long run, will all depend on what’s exactly causing the problem. If you’re suffering, we would love to help you. We will give you a full examination including watching and listening while you move your jaw and open your mouth. Sometimes dental x-rays and bite analysis are necessary to learn more.

To treat jaw pain, your Portland dentist might recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Avoiding chewing gum
• A custom night guard or mouthguard
• Stretching and massaging the muscle
• Pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs
• Orthodontics or restorative dentistry to correct bite alignment
• Counseling to relieve the stress that might be causing you to clench your teeth
• Corrective surgery performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon

If you have jaw pain or any other oral health questions, make an appointment at Family Dental Health today! Your oral health is key to taking care of yourself and enjoying your life.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Lemon Juice – The Good, The Bad, & The Sour

In a great tale of opposites, lemon juice can be both acidic and basic, or alkaline. Read on to find out why people are talking about this, and what it means for your oral and overall health.

What Is pH & Why Does It Matter?

Drinking lemon juice (usually diluted in a glass of water or added to a cup of tea) is a beloved health tonic among fans of natural medicine. Potential benefits include lower cholesterol, lower inflammation in the body, and increased metabolism and energy. Lemon also contains high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C that boost your immune system. 

On a scale of 0-14, a pH of 7 is neutral (pure water) while numbers below 7 are acidic (unhealthy), while numbers above 7 are basic or alkaline (healthy). Believers in holistic health blame many ailments on the body’s pH being too low or too acidic. Increasing your body’s pH is called “alkalizing.”

Lemon juice in its natural state is acidic with a pH of about 2, but once metabolized it actually becomes alkaline with a pH well above 7. So, outside the body, anyone can see that lemon juice is very acidic. However, once fully digested, its effect is proven to be alkalizing with many health benefits. So how does lemon juice or a daily glass of lemon water affect the health of your mouth and teeth?

Acidity & Oral Health

The bottom line here is that any time you encounter lemon juice, it’s likely to be in its acidic state. Lemons contain citric acid, which is corrosive and damaging to tooth enamel. It’s not until the lemon juice has been fully digested and metabolized that it becomes alkaline. So, it’s important to ingest lemon juice sparingly, assuming the acid can and will eventually affect your tooth enamel. 

Signs Tooth Enamel is Damaged:

Discoloration – The white enamel may wear out and look yellow because of exposed dentin. 

Transparency – Clearness in enamel means it’s not as strong.

Sensitivity – Enamel protects the dentin and deeper layers. When enamel is damaged, your teeth will be more sensitive to hot and cold. 

When it comes to deciding between lemon water and plain water, use your best judgment. A glass of lemon juice diluted in water is certainly not as damaging as sucking juice straight from a lemon wedge. (Now, if you added a load of sugar to that lemon water to make lemonade, you have a new and different problem for dental health!) 

If you’d like to make a refreshing glass of lemon water part of your daily routine, give it a try! You may notice some of the many health benefits and alkalizing effects on your overall health. We do suggest you wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth so as not to agitate your enamel even more with both the brushing motion and acid present in your mouth. Ingesting lemon juice is not recommended if you have acid indigestion or mouth ulcers.

Always consult with your Portland dentist for more personalized support for all things health and wellness. For more information, or to get a checkup on the current state of your enamel, contact Dr. Case at Family Dental Health to make an appointment.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.