Combating Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is a wretched thing to live with. That sudden, sharp jolt of pain into the nerve endings of your teeth which accompanies you when you have something sweet or cold; hot or sour can dampen any occasion.

Tooth sensitivity doesn’t let you enjoy simple pleasures like having your favorite flavor of ice cream or relishing that scalding hot cup of tea to stimulate you. Its shooting pain goes everywhere with you. Some people are even sensitive to breathing in cold air!

Sensitive teeth are a result of exposure of dentin-the underlying layer of your teeth-- as a result of receding gum tissue which protects the roots of your teeth. The roots which house thousands of tiny tubules leading to the tooth's nerve center allow the stimuli to reach the nerve in your tooth creating the onslaught of unbearable pain. Tooth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30.

There are many reasons why one may suffer from sensitive teeth like brushing aggressively or using a hard-bristled toothbrush which can wear down enamel and cause the dentin to be exposed or cause recession of the gums. The intake of acidic food, the habit of teeth grinding or the use of tooth whitening products may also be factors leading to tooth sensitivity.

For those who suffer from tooth sensitivity, the best thing is to visit the skilled and efficient dental experts at Trinity Dental Centers. A thorough oral exam will reveal what the cause for your sensitivity may be and what can be done to help find you permanent relief.

May the reason for your sensitivity be tooth decay near the gum line, gum disease, cracked teeth, teeth grinding or plaque build up-- there are a number of ways in which the team at Trinity Dental Centers can help.

If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.

However, if the cause is from dentin being exposed, then Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin. At Trinity Dental, in-office procedures also include Fluoride foam or gel being placed into a mouth tray for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas. Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity

Our oral health experts recommend that prevention of tooth sensitivity can be enabled by following a regime of oral hygiene including proper brushing and flossing to clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.

Using a soft bristled toothbrush will lessen toothbrush abrasion to the tooth surface and lessen irritation to your gums and the use of a good brand of desensitizing toothpaste will help decrease your sensitivity. Try applying a thin layer of the toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots with your finger or a Q-tip before you go to bed and make use of fluoridated dental products. It is suggested that one avoid highly acidic foods which dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure.

Whatever be your oral issue, it is always wise to seek the expert advice of the dental professionals at Trinity Dental Centers so that we may help ease your pain and treat you to prompt and professional solutions.

Visit Trinity Dental Centers at regular intervals and get professional tooth cleaning, oral hygiene instructions and fluoride treatments every six months to help you combat sensitivity so that you can continue to relish the small, yet, vital pleasures which a chilled dessert with friends or a warm cup of coffee at work can bring.

Pregnancy and Oral Health Care

Pregnancy is a time of incomparable joy for an expectant mother. It is a time of unbridled anticipation and unknown expectation. It is also a time of tremendous physical and hormonal change in a mother-to-be’s body. 

Just as an expectant mother pays special attention to her diet and health during her 9 months, similarly exceptional care should be given to oral care. 

Trinity Dental Centers recommend that singular care should be taken of your teeth and gums while you are pregnant. The hormonal changes which affect the body during pregnancy amplifies her chances of developing gum disease and may consequently affect the health of your developing baby.

It is ideal that if you are planning to start a family, you should make an appointment with the dental experts at Trinity Dental and get a thorough dental check-up and a methodical treatment of all your existing oral health problems so that those problems do not aggravate during your pregnancy tenure. 

Regular periodontal (gum) check ups are very crucial during pregnancy as many expectant mothers suffer from tender and bleeding gums - pregnancy gingivitis and periodontal disease.

It is vital that the dental experts at Trinity Dental Centers know that you are expecting and what trimester you are in. Many dentists believe that it is safer not to undergo any dental treatments in the first trimester and second half of the third trimester. These phases are critical in the baby's growth, it's wise to avoid exposing the mother to procedures that could in any way influence the baby's growth and development. Routine dental care can be received during the second trimester. Dental X-rays should also be avoided during pregnancy. If needed, dentists will take special measures to safeguard the mother and the child she carries. 

Your dentist should also know what medicines and vitamins you are taking during pregnancy.

Healthy oral habits should be followed strictly during pregnancy. Even if you have urges to snack on sweet delights, make sure that you don’t gorge on them as this may lead to tooth decay. A wholesome and balanced diet comprising of dairy products, cheese and yogurt will ensure that your baby’s teeth, gums and bones develop properly.

Many expectant mothers are plagued with morning sickness and brushing their teeth with sharp flavored toothpastes makes them retch and throw up. In such a scenario, the dental experts at Trinity Dental Centers recommend bland tasting toothpastes to ensure that the routine of oral hygiene not be disturbed. Rinsing your mouth in the morning and after meals is also advocated. 

If you have suffered from any dental problems during pregnancy, make an appointment with the experts at Trinity Dental Centers and let us relieve you of all your gum problems and teeth issues. 

Let Trinity Dental ensure that you have a memorable pregnancy, free of oral health issues which will keep you active and ready to take on the responsibilities of motherhood. 

Smoking Opens the Doors to Oral Health Problems

Each puff of cigarette makes a smoker inhale 4,700 different chemicals.
One can tell a smoker from afar. Yellow teeth, plaque, tartar and bad breath are just the tip of the iceberg of oral health problems. Smokers can suffer from an increased loss of bone within the jaw and are at a high risk of developing white patches inside the mouth--leukoplakia.

Smokers will also experience a slower healing rate subsequent to a dental procedure like a tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery as well as have lower success rate of dental implant procedures. The looming fear of developing oral cancer hangs constantly like a sword on the head of a smoker. Research reveals that smoking is the reason for 75% of all cancers of the mouth.

Gum disease is a common ailment faced by smokers as the harmful constituents of cigarettes and cigars interferes in the normal function of gums and affects the attachment of bone and soft tissue to the teeth. Smokers become vulnerable to infections, such as periodontal disease, and also suffer from a blighted blood flow to the gums.

The concerned healthcare professionals at Trinity Dental Centers condemn the habit of smoking. If you are a smoker, just reflect on the dire consequences that the hazardous habit of smoking can have on your oral cavity as well as your other vital organs. Visit the dental experts at Trinity Dental and let us help you deal with issues like tooth discolouration and periodontal diseases which smokers are plagued with.

Composite Filings: An answer to your ‘Silver Problems’!

Oral dental care is one of the top priority issues globally especially among the youth. With the rising consumption of high fat food, topped with caffeinated drinks and a chocolate driven generation, the oral hygiene has long been negatively questioned.

With the rise of such detrimental to oral health consumption the emergence of dental problems are inevitable. The most common amongst is the origination of cavities in the tooth which is just the beginning of the tooth impairment. Although oral hygiene by our experts and dentists at Trinity Dental has been stressed time and again, however a viable solution to these cavities is not a farfetched idea.

Gone are the days when the person sitting next to you would notice the silver smile of yours announcing the fact full well of your dental hygiene. Today with the innovation of composite filings also termed as white filings to put it simply has eradicated the need to opt for colored ones, for the white ones are not only aesthetically better but also has dental benefits. Be it a cracked tooth or simply cavies, you need not despair as Trinity Dental shall take care of your tooth in a fashion which shall reassure your confidence back in your smile and your set of teeth.

Much debate has been made on the advantages and disadvantages of composite filings. However the discussion remains every way in favor of the composite ones for white filing retain 85 to 90% of the original tooth strength. Plus they bond to tooth structure chemically and don’t require a set of accessories to do so. They completely harden instantaneously unlike other materials whose complete formation may take up to days. However staining and expense are some drawbacks which are worth a mention otherwise we at Trinity Dental always prefer composite filings over any other metal filings.