Uncategorized Archives - Visalia Dentist

Are you at risk for teeth grinding?

Dr. Ross — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 03:45:30 +0000

Around 30-40 million people in the U.S. experience some sort of teeth grinding? It can be painful and cause serious damage to your teeth. If you suffer from this oral health condition, you may notice your teeth beginning to flatten, swelling and muscle pain around the jaw, and even clicking sounds when you open and close your mouth.

If you think you could be grinding your teeth, here are some common factors.

1. Stress and Anxiety

If you’re having a particularly stressful period in your life, you could also be grinding your teeth as a result. Clenching your teeth is your body’s natural way of releasing the stress hormone known as cortisol.

2. Certain Medications

If you’ve experienced symptoms of teeth grinding as a result of a new medication, be sure to address this with your doctor and dentist. It's not uncommon to experience teeth grinding as a side effect of certain medications.

3. Sleep Disorders

If you’re dealing with sleep apnea, you may also notice other symptoms like lack of energy, dry throat, restless sleep, forgetfulness, mood changes, and even depression in addition to teeth grinding.

4. Bite Misalignment

When your bite is uneven or you have crooked teeth, it can cause pain and pressure on your jaw joints—this condition is known as TMJ. It is thought that TMJ could lead to teeth grinding, as it causes your jaw to spasm.

5. Family History

It's important to be mindful of all oral health issues if a family member suffers from it. It's common for nighttime teeth grinding to run in the family so if you have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed with teeth grinding, you could also be at risk.

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When should you go to the Dentist?

Dr. Ross — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:45:26 +0000

It’s always best practice to schedule 2 dentist appointments per year but we get that life happens. So if you miss one or two and you’re wondering if you might be due for another check-up at the dentist we put together our top 5 concerns. If any of these sounds familiar it might be a good idea to schedule your next visit with Dr. Andrew Ross your Visalia dentist.

1. Sensitive teeth

Sensitivity to heat and cold can be a warning sign from your teeth. It could potentially be a symptom of tooth decay or even a result of gum disease. If you’re tired of having to adjust what you eat your drink you should come and let Dr. Ross figure out a solution.

2. Gums bleeding from flossing or brushing

If you’re noticing bleeding gums after your normal brushing or flossing you might be showing symptoms of gingivitis. This is the earliest stage of gum disease, and should be treated as soon as possible.

3. Scared to Smile

If you see problems with your smile, you don’t have to live with it. Dr. Ross wants everyone in Visalia to have goals and solutions to a healthy and confident smile.

4. Sore Jaw

Does your jaw hurt when you wake up? You could be grinding your teeth in your sleep. This can cause issues like TMJ problems or even fractures in your tooth enamel. Depending on the cause of your particular oral health issue, this can be treated by Dr. Ross.

5. Difficulty Swallowing

If you’re having a hard time swallowing due to a dry mouth you may not be producing enough saliva. Around 10% of people are affected of this and Dr. Ross will be able to help you prevent complications that come from this oral health issue, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Be safe – and schedule a check-up every 6 months

After you meet with Dr. Ross make sure you schedule your next check-up every 6 months to keep your dental hygiene on track to a healthy smile.

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‘CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BREATHE THROUGH THEIR MOUTHS. Not while awake, not while asleep. Never.’

Dr. Ross — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:30:14 +0000

‘CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BREATHE THROUGH THEIR MOUTHS. Not while awake, not while asleep. Never.’
“No one, in my 12 years of parenting, ever told me any of this. All the signs were there, right in front of our eyes, and I had no clue. Our son’s pediatrician, who we loved and trusted, never said a word. I had to find this, diagnose this, and push for treatment myself.

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Little-known services dentist’s provide

Dr. Ross — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 19:04:06 +0000

Check-ups, fillings, or even dreaded root canals may come to mind when you think of common dental procedures.

But your dentist is trained to do much more, and you might be surprised at the range of services available at your local dental office. Here are a few little-known services that your dentist likely offers that might surprise you.

Oral cancer screenings

It’s best to catch cancer early. That’s why your dentist will check for signs of oral cancer as a part of your regular checkup. They’ll look at your lips, tonsils and throat, and inside your mouth at your cheeks, gums, roof or your mouth, and underneath your tongue. If there are any abnormalities, they’ll do a biopsy to confirm if the tissue is cancerous.

Solutions to grinding/clenching

If left untreated, clenching or grinding your teeth can lead to worn, broken, or missing teeth. It can also lead to problems with your jaw, sleep disturbances, and headaches. During a regular check-up, your dentist can determine why you’re clenching or grinding and establish a solution.

TMD jaw therapy

Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD, is a disorder that causes pain in the jaw joint. It can result in chronic headaches and ringing in the ears and is caused by injuries, bad bites, and teeth grinding. Your dentist can screen for the disorder. (It’s often accompanied by swelling on the side of the face as well as clicking, popping or grating when you open and close your mouth.) Your dentist can determine the best treatment if you suffer from this disorder so that you don’t have to live with painful symptoms.

Sleep-disordered breathing

While there are many types of upper airway obstruction, a common sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea. This is caused by the relaxed tongue moving backwards at night, resulting in a partial or complete blockage of the airway. Signs of sleep apnea include snoring or pauses followed by choking or gasping sounds. You might be surprised to learn that your dentist can actually help identify sleep-disordered breathing and fix it with a dental appliance.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge, you’ll better know what issues your dentist can assist with during your next dental visit. Specifically, at Dr. Ross’s office, services range from cosmetic to general to preventative and more. So, most likely, no matter your dental need, Dr. Ross will have a solution for you.

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How Smiling Can Help Your Relationship

Dr. Ross — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:35:44 +0000

A week after Valentines Day is a good time to ask yourself how you nurture your relationship on regular ol' days. We can't buy presents and chocolate all the time (as your dentist, I advise you to please not buy chocolate every day), but there are plenty of other ways to show we care. One of the best of these is to smile. It's free, good for your relationship, and, perhaps best of all - remember again that I am a dentist - doesn't cause cavities.

Smiling Says, I'm Having Fun (with You)

People in long-term relationships often feel under-appreciated. This can happen when we get so comfortable that we forget to express how much we value our significant other. Smiling at your partner, or simply smiling while around them, is an easy way to let them know that you are enjoying life and that their presence is a part of that. It's an everyday way of saying what flowers and cards say on Valentine's Day: you make my life better.

Smiling Releases Serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of happiness and well-being. When you smile, your body releases serotonin and other feel-good chemicals, such as endorphins, which then attach to receptors in your brain. That's a very scientific way of saying that you feel happy and relaxed. As such, you are more pleasant to be around and you allow your partner to feel happy and relaxed, rather than stressed out about what's bothering you.

Smiling Helps You Look and Feel Young

A smile is the muscles in your face lifting your face upward. Think of this as an exercise for your face, which helps to avoid permanent wrinkles. Perhaps even more beneficial to your relationship than the fact that you will look younger is that with looking young comes feeling young. This energy and vibrancy will impact your relationship as well. After a lifetime of smiling, you two might find yourselves frolicking as you did in the days when your love was brand new.

Smiling Makes You More Attractive

According to a study at Swansea University, Faces look healthier when they are smiling, compared to a neutral expression, and it doesn't matter whether the faces are male or female. The study also indicated that the older a person is the truer these findings are.

This is important because human beings are attracted to good health. So, just by smiling you can make yourself more attractive. While physical attraction is only one component of a healthy relationship, it definitely can't hurt to have your partner look your way and like what they see.

Smiling Helps You Make Better Decisions

As mentioned earlier, smiling lets some of the feel-good chemicals in your body run rampant. This trick can help you to stay calm in stressful situations and to make better decisions. Use it when you find yourself stressed out and at a fork in the road. Because acting out of anger can be detrimental to a relationship, and often only once we've calmed down do we realize what a mistake we've made.

Smiling is Contagious

This ties all the other benefits together. Smiling makes you feel better in many ways, and this good feeling carries over to the people around you. What better gift to give your partner every day of the year than a telepathic signal that makes them feel good? And, of course, their positivity is contagious as well. So you're smiling at them, and they're smiling back.

Smiling is not enough to overcome all of life's problems, but it will make you happier around one another and it will continue to strengthen the bond which you will need to maintain in order to live a long and happy life together.

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How Do You Get Gingivitis?

Dr. Ross — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 17:15:13 +0000

Gingivitis is a common disease, but many people don't know much about it. The literal meaning of gingivitis is inflammation of the gums or gingiva. This inflammation commonly occurs due to a film of bacteria accumulating on the teeth. It is a non-destructive type of periodontal disease. However, if you leave gingivitis untreated, it can lead to more serious disease such as periodontitis and eventually tooth loss. Here is all you need to know about gingivitis, how you get it, and how to treat it.

What Are the Types of Gingivitis?

There are two main types of gingivitis: dental plaque-induced gingival disease and non-plaque induced gingival lesions. Dental plaque-induced gingival disease is caused by plaque, systemic factors, medications, or malnutrition. Non-plaque induced gingival lesions can be caused by a bacterium, virus, or even fungus. It also has the potential of being caused by systemic conditions such as allergies or certain illness, genetic factors, wounds, or reactions to foreign bodies. Sometimes the specific cause of gingivitis is not found.

What Causes Gingivitis?

Several things can cause gingivitis such as hormonal changes, drugs, smoking, age, and poor diet. However, the most common cause of gingivitis is the accumulation of bacterial plaque. This plaque begins to form in between and around the teeth. The plaque triggers a response from your immune system. The immune system's response begins to destroy the gum tissue causing gingivitis If this is left untreated and the plaque starts to harden, it then turns into calculus. Calculus has a more yellow tent to it and forms at the base of your teeth, near your gums. It is harder to remove than plaque and requires professional assistance.

What Are Signs of Gingivitis?

While gingivitis can often cause pain, mild cases sometimes cause no discomfort or show any noticeable symptoms. However, there are some signs that it may be time to visit the dentist. Some signs and symptoms of gingivitis include bright red or purple gums, tender gums, gums that bleed while brushing or flossing, receding gums, softs gums, bad breath, and inflammation.

If gingivitis is caught early enough, it can successfully be reversed. If you are having problems with your teeth or gums and see any signs that may indicate that you have gingivitis, it's time to visit a healthcare professional. With Dr. Ross, you and your oral health are our number one priority. We can catch early gingivitis and stop it in its track. To set up an appointment today contact us at (559) 732-3972.

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What Is the Difference Between a Crown and A Filling?

Dr. Ross — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 05:24:58 +0000

If you recently visited your dentist and he said you needed either a crown or a filling, you probably have a few questions. First of all, you probably want to know the difference between a crown and a filling. Perhaps you want to know if the two dental services are interchangeable. While both are considered restorative treatments, crowns and fillings provide services for two different dental needs. Let's take a look at some of the differences between a crown and a filling.

Dental Crown

Crowns are typically recommended for patients that have sustained damage to their tooth either from trauma or decay. Crowns are mainly recommended when the structure of the tooth has become compromised. A dental crown covers the entirety of the tooth from your gum line all the way to its chewing surface. Dental crowns have to cover the tooth entirely to hold the structure of the tooth together and offer additional support. If your tooth needs a dental crown and you decide against treating it, this often leads to extraction of the tooth as a result. Dental crowns are also recommended if a root canal is needed. Mostly, it helps to absorb most of the force caused by chewing.

Fillings

Typically, fillings are recommended for patients with a chip or cavity on their tooth. The damage is "filled in "in order to keep decay and bacteria out. This helps to maintain the natural structure of the tooth. Fillings do an excellent job of sealing the tooth but seldom provide extra structural stability to prevent further splitting or fractures. Fillings give your dentist an additional treatment option that helps improve the appearance of your teeth. It can be used to fill in gaps, cover chips, or even improve the shape of your tooth to produce a perfect looking smile.

While both dental crowns and fillings help fix damaged teeth, they provide two different services. Dental crowns are needed for teeth that have sustained an injury to the structure of the tooth. Alternatively, fillings are used to fill in chips or cavities and help keep bacteria out. They also prevent the tooth from decaying. Fillings are essentially used as a treatment before needing dental crowns.

Don't let tooth pain or decay get out of hand. Take care of your teeth by having them cleaned regularly by a professional along with daily personal hygiene. For more information on how to look after your teeth, or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Ross at 559-732-3972.

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Is Periodontal Disease Curable?

Dr. Ross — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 17:00:08 +0000

No one wants to learn that they have periodontal disease. But, once it sets in, the next question is whether or not it is curable. Unfortunately, the answer is no. However, this short answer doesnâ€t provide you with the full scope. You cannot restore bone that has been lost. However, you can halt the damage in its tracks or severely slow its progression. The trick lies in keeping up with home care and being extremely vigilant in attending your regular dentist appointments. You canâ€t cure periodontal disease, but you can stop it where it is.

Periodontal Disease Causes

Periodontal disease is caused by plaque and bacteria around the gum line. While mild build up (known as gingivitis) can be reversed, prolonged build up can accumulate beneath the gum line. Once itâ€s there, it can no longer be reached by regular tools. Only a dentist can help you clean below your gums. Pockets beneath your gums can become infected. The infection can then spread, destroying bone and supporting tissue and leading to tooth loss or the need for tooth extraction.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

The signs of periodontal disease start small. At its earliest, still reversible stages, gingivitis is found in redness of the gums. The gums may also be swollen and tender, bleeding easily during brushing and flossing. Other symptoms may include persistent bad breath and gum/tooth sensitivity to heat or cold.

As periodontal disease advances, the symptoms become more pronounced. Bad breath becomes worse and may be accompanied by a foul taste in the mouth on waking or during the day. Gums are extremely swollen and begin to pull away from the teeth. Infections become common. Your teeth will eventually loosen and fall out, and you may have jaw infections and softening of the face as your jaw bone is destroyed.

Periodontal Disease Treatment

If you have gingivitis or the mildest form of periodontal disease, treatment is to brush up on your brushing habits. Your dentist can teach you the most effective ways to brush and floss. Youâ€ll be instructed on the right foods to eat, what to avoid, and how often you should brush your teeth. Follow these instructions to the letter, and you may be able to reverse your gingivitis before permanent damage is done to your teeth and jaw. Brushing and flossing really are habits to cultivate.

More advanced periodontal disease needs treatment to confront it. You can get a specialist to do a deep cleaning of your teeth. This allows your dentist to clean below the gum line and take care of any pockets of infection you may have. This deep cleaning will need to be repeated to hold your periodontal disease at the status quo. Keep up with brushing and flossing on your own time!

The most advanced periodontal disease requires your teeth to be pulled and replaced. As inserts cannot hold in a weakened jaw bone, dentures are often the primary solution to tooth loss caused by periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is not curable, but it can be fought. Gingivitis can be reversed. Even more advanced periodontal disease can be halted in its tracks with a combination of at-home and dental procedures. If periodontal disease is not stopped, it can result in the loss of your teeth.

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How Often Should You Go to The Dentist?

Dr. Ross — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 00:15:17 +0000

Over 50 years ago, there were no standards or guidelines on how often you should visit the dentist. No one even really understood the importance of dental hygiene at the time. Eventually, dental and health organizations decided that proper oral hygiene needed to be taken more seriously. Even if you are among the few that brush and floss your teeth regularly, it is still essential that you visit the dentist for regular checkups. However, if you do take excellent care of your teeth at home, then you don't have to make a trip to the dentist nearly as often as if you slack off with your oral hygiene. On average, seeing the dentist at least twice a year usually works well.

Going to the dentist isn't just about checking up on how well you are brushing and flossing. One of the main reasons to go to the dentist for checkups is so that they can check for any early signs of dental problems. Many dental problems don't become visible or start to cause pain until they are in advanced stages. If you wait this long before going to the dentist to help treat the disease, it could be too late for some damages to be reversed. Catching dental problems before they become a problem is an important part of dental health.

What Is Oral Hygiene?

So, you visit your dentist and they want to know what your oral hygiene routine looks like. Most likely, you are wondering just what exactly is involved with oral hygiene. Basically, oral hygiene is the practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease free. Therefore, the goal of oral hygiene is to keep your mouth free of disease. Good oral hygiene involves brushing at least twice a day, preferably after breakfast and before bed. Flossing is also considered a part of having good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene will leave your teeth feeling stronger and healthier and looking brighter longer.

Why Is It Important to Brush Your Teeth?

We all know that brushing our teeth is important. However, most of us don't know the reasons why brushing is so vital. Brushing your teeth is important for several different reasons. The first and most important reason is that brushing your teeth helps to remove plaque. Plaque is a harmful film of bacteria that grows on your teeth and often leads to cavities, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss. Another reason is that toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps to make the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay. Lastly, toothpaste helps to remove stains while also cleaning and polishing your teeth.

Keeping regular dentist checkups is crucial to your oral health because it helps to catch oral diseases earlier. It also keeps your teeth strong longer and healthier. It's important to practice good oral hygiene by regularly brushing and flossing. Following these steps helps ensure that your teeth are always in tip top shape. Visiting the dentist and practicing oral hygiene are the best ways to keep your teeth looking and feeling great.

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Is Gingivitis a Disease?

Dr. Ross — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 01:16:06 +0000

Gingivitis sounds like a scary disease you don’t want to have. Obviously, there’s no such thing as a good disease. Technically, gingivitis is classified as a periodontal disease. This means that it impacts the soft and hard structures that are essential in supporting your teeth. It is also the cause of inflammation in your gums. When it comes to tooth health, gingivitis has become an extremely common problem. When diagnosed with this disease, you want to know what to expect. You want to know if it is permanent, how you got it and is it curable.

Is Gingivitis Permanent?

While tooth problems may be frustrating and overwhelming, gingivitis doesn’t have to be. However, it is an early stage of gum disease, a destructive periodontal disease that can lead to bigger problems. Thankfully, gingivitis isn’t permanent, but ignoring it could be a problem. In mild cases of it, you might not even know that you have it. Red, puffy gums are an apparent sign/symptom of gingivitis. This should be taken seriously as it is your body’s natural response to fighting off harmful bacteria present. More than half of the U.S. population has gingivitis. However, they never experience further complications from it. Visiting a trustworthy dentist will not only give you the peace of mind you need but also provide you with solutions. Thankfully, Gingivitis is treatable and preventable. Your dentist will go over a treatment plan to help you stop the effects of gingivitis.

Is Gingivitis Genetic?

Most people assume that poor dental hygiene is the only cause of gingivitis. However, that’s not the case. Interestingly, genetics tends to play a role in your susceptibility. Experts say that your risk of contracting gingivitis is higher when someone within your nuclear family, like your parents, also developed gingivitis. Genetics is only a very small factor in when it comes to you developing gingivitis. While it may make it easier for you to have gingivitis related problems other cause must be considered too.

The most common cause of gingivitis is the buildup of bacterial plaque between and around the teeth. When the healthy plaque that exists within your mouth is not removed properly, it causes an inflammatory response. Swelling and bleeding of the gums is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Changes in hormones, such as pregnancy or malnutrition are additional causes of gingivitis. Moreover, regularly smoking and diseases like cancer and HIV also lead to you developing gingivitis.

Is Gingivitis Curable?

If you have been diagnosed with gingivitis, there is good news: it is completely treatable and reversible. The first step to curing gingivitis is to develop good dental hygiene habits. Correcting your dental hygiene is the easiest way to treat and prevent gingivitis. So, if you see a little pink in the sink, it is best not to simply ignore it. Brushing your teeth after meals, flossing when you wake up, flossing when you go to bed and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash are important practices to include in your everyday routine. Regular visits to a dentist are a great way to improve any problems you have with gingivitis.

We all want perfect teeth. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Sometimes genetics seem to work against you. However, when it comes to gingivitis, good hygiene habits are the best defense. Don’t neglect your regular visits with your dentist. If you suspect gingivitis is wreaking havoc on your teeth, don’t hesitate to give us a call 559-732-3972. We’ll help you out.

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