Dental Town DC Blog

Do I really need to floss? — a question our dentists and dental hygienists get asked often. The hard truth is that yes, you really need to floss daily. Flossing is one of the best things you can do for your oral health and is more important than brushing in terms of preventing periodontal disease. Unfortunately, only 2-5% of people floss regularly.

Wasn’t Flossing Debunked?

Long story short, no. Back in 2016 a story came out stating that flossing was found to not be effective. This story was sensationalized with click-bait headlines. The truth is that this review of past studies was misleading. Small clinical studies have found flossing in addition to brushing reduced gingivitis...

Periodontitis, also known as gum disease, is a big problem in seniors. Gum disease takes years to develop, so older individuals are more likely to experience problems with it than younger people.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the gums that starts out as plaque, which hardens to form tartar. Tartar can only be removed at dental cleanings. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria that attack the soft tissue around the gums — this early stage is called Gingivitis. Left untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis, which destroys the tissue surrounding your teeth AND the bone that holds your teeth in place. The disease advances silently, often without pain.

Dangers of Gum Disease...

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Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, can be frustrating and uncomfortable but it’s more than just an annoyance — it’s a serious dental health issue. Saliva is responsible for washing away leftover food, neutralizing acids, and creating a protective coating over teeth. Without enough saliva, your teeth are left unprotected from leftover food, acids, and cavity-causing bacteria.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth can be caused by dehydration, anxiety, allergies, side effects of prescription and non-prescription drugs, hypertension, asthma, side effects of diseases and infections, chemotherapy, a caffeine-filled diet, and tobacco use.

Basic Tips For Controlling Dry Mouth

• Cut Out Drinks That Cause Dry Mouth: Cut out coffee, alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages.
• Stay Hydrated:...
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Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is embarrassing and can create awkward social situations. Understanding what causes bad breath can help you prevent it.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Food: Garlic, onions, coffee, and spicy food can all leave less than pleasant odors in your mouth.

Tobacco: Smoking leaves an unpleasant odor in your mouth that is hard to get rid of by brushing alone. Smokers also have a higher likelihood of gum disease, another source of persistent bad breath.

Dental Issues: Persistent bad breath can be caused by gum disease and cavities. As gum disease progresses, pockets are created between the gum and the teeth hiding bad bacteria that can cause decay and bad breath.

Bacteria: Bacteria that...

Most Americans experience bleeding gums at some point in their life. Because it’s quite common, bleeding gums are often overlooked; however, they could be a sign of serious dental issues.

1. Brushing Too Hard — Brushing too hard can cause damage to your enamel and bleeding for your gums. A common sign you’re brushing too hard is that your toothbrush bristles are bent or frayed. Think of brushing as more of a massage.
2. Using The Wrong Toothbrush — Choose soft bristle toothbrushes, which do less damage to tooth enamel and are able to sweep under the gum line.
3. Gingivitis — Gingivitis is one of the most common reasons for bleeding gums. Plaque and bacteria cause swelling and...
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Tooth sensitivity is a major issue for many Americans. Typically caused by the erosion of enamel or exposed roots, sensitive teeth can make it painful to eat or drink items that are hot or cold.

Tooth Sensitivity Causes

Sensitive teeth are typically caused by the erosion of enamel. When the enamel is eroded and dentin becomes exposed, your teeth can become very sensitive. The most common causes include over brushing, using abrasive toothpaste, an acidic diet (sodas and carbonated beverages), acid reflux, bulimia, teeth whitening, teeth grinding, dry mouth, and receding gums.

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment

Change Behaviors: Identify what behaviors are contributing to your sensitivity and stop or reduce them. Switch to a soft bristle...

In today’s world, stress is inevitable. Stress has been the root cause of various conditions and diseases, and has multi-fold effects on oral health.

Many adults and kids grind teeth at night due to stress, causing cracked teeth. Consuming sugary, processed, and unhealthy foods and drinks is the number one reason for having cavities. Excessive use of gadgets, unhealthy relationships, work overload, topped with overall unhealthy lifestyle choices lead to hormonal imbalance, eating disorders, and unstable emotions. The result is increasing consumption of food, alcohol, smoking, and even certain medications to relieve stress temporarily. Your oral health is the first to suffer due to this lifestyle, as it makes your teeth and gums very sensitive...

Pumpkin spice latte is a very highly consumed beverage during fall months. Pumpkin is a very healthy fruit, but PSL-like drinks are not only bad for overall health but also affect your oral health negatively.

Lots of Sugar

Pumpkin Spice Latte drinks contain a lot of sugar, both natural and artificial in the form of syrup. Syrups that contain high fructose corn syrup can be extremely bad for health. Sugary drinks and food lead to excessive production of acid in the mouth through bacteria that destroy the tooth enamel. A grande or medium PSL can contain about 50 grams of sugar — more than you should be consuming in an entire day.

Teeth Staining

We...

There are many causes of missing teeth or hypodontia, with a major connection between the condition and genetic and environmental factors. When there are 6 or fewer teeth missing, the condition is termed hypodontia. With children and adults who are diagnosed with hypodontia, it is more common to have 2-4 missing teeth.

Problems Caused by Missing Teeth

Problems that can develop include irregular bite, jaw problems, difficulty in chewing, speech problems, crooked teeth, facial sagging, and gaps in teeth causing shifting and crowding.

Missing Teeth Treatment Options

Dental Implants: Roots of the teeth are replaced by dental implants that become the foundation or basic support to the oral structure and the nearby teeth. Dental implants...

Oral piercings have become largely famous among many age groups in recent years. Although they look trendy to many, oral piercings can be dangerous and cause multiple health conditions in the long run.

Complications of Oral Piercing

• Tooth Breakage: Certain piercings are located close to gum tissue and can hurt the root of your teeth. Over time, this can cause gums to recede. The nerve can get exposed if the piercing leads to cracking or breakage of your tooth.
• Infections: There is a lot of bacteria in the mouth. When you get piercings in your tongue, lip, or anywhere inside the mouth, there is a tremendous risk of infection. Conditions such as Endocarditis can occur because...
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