| |
Carlo A. Ciaramitaro, DDS and Associates
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Q. |
Why do my gums bleed when I brush my teeth? |
|
A. |
If you haven't flossed in a while and your
gums bleed when you brush, trapped bacteria
may have inflamed your gums. It might be
something as simple as a local irritant
between the gum and teeth, like a popcorn
kernel or a piece of food. With regular
flossing, your gums should become firmer and
healthier in a matter of days. If you do not
experience improvement, however, your
bleeding gums could be signaling gingivitis,
an inflammation or swelling of the gums or
periodontitis, a disease of the supporting
gum tissue caused by plaque that has
hardened on your teeth. Left untreated,
periodontitis can damage the bone around
your teeth and may even lead to tooth loss. |
|
Source:
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics |
|
Q. |
How can I alleviate the pain from teeth
grinding? |
|
A. |
Called attrition or bruxism, teeth grinding
is often a habit of people who are anxious
or stressed. It often occurs while sleeping
and can result in a dull headache, sore jaws
and even loose or fractured teeth. Severe
cases may lead to “decreased vertical
dimension–when the patient over closes his
or her jaws and develops an ever-frowning
expression. To help alleviate the damaging
effects of mild attrition, Auburn Village
Family Dental Center can fit a custom-molded
acrylic bite guard that helps to relax the
jaws. Patients suffering from decreased
vertical dimension may require full mouth
rehabilitation or even muscle relaxers to
reduce the debilitating effects of excessive
tension. |
|
Source:
American
Dental Association |
|
Q. |
Is thumb sucking harmful? |
|
A. |
Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for babies
and a source of comfort for toddlers. When
limited to the first few years–before
permanent teeth come in–there is little harm
done. Should the habit continue however,
thumb sucking can result in skeletal
malformation from front teeth leaning
forward, a large space between them and a
”buck tooth” appearance. Severe cases that
last into early childhood will require
orthodontics to correct tooth alignment. To
help children kick the thumb sucking habit,
work on the cause(s) of their anxiety and
offer positive reinforcement. When all else
fails, Auburn Village Family Dental Center
may suggest several different methods to
curb this harmful habit. |
|
Source:
American Dental Association |
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