Bruxism: Signs And Symptoms

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com 

What is Bruxism?
If you find yourself waking up with sore jaw muscles or a headache, you may be suffering from bruxism - the grinding and clenching of teeth. Bruxism can cause teeth to become painful or loose, and sometimes parts of the teeth are literally ground away. Eventually, bruxism can destroy the surrounding bone and gum tissue. It can also lead to problems involving the jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

How do I Know if I Have Bruxism?
For many people, bruxism is an unconscious habit. They may not even realize they're doing it until someone comments that they make a horrible grinding sound while sleeping. For others, a routine dental checkup is when they discover their teeth are worn or their tooth enamel is fractured.
Other potential signs of bruxism include aching in the face, head and neck. Your dentist can make an accurate diagnosis and determine if the source of facial pain is a result from bruxism.

How is Bruxism Treated?
The appropriate treatment for you will depend on what is causing the problem. By asking careful questions and thoroughly examining your teeth, your dentist can help you determine the potential source of your bruxism. Based on the amount of tooth damage and its likely cause, your dentist may suggest:

• Wearing an appliance while sleeping - custom-made by your dentist to fit your teeth, the appliance slips over the upper teeth and protects them from grinding against the lower teeth. While an appliance is a good way to manage bruxism, it is not a cure.
• Finding ways to relax - Because everyday stress seems to be a major cause of bruxism, anything that reduces stress can help-listening to music, reading a book, taking a walk or a bath. It may help to seek counseling to learn effective ways for handling stressful situations. Also, applying a warm, wet washcloth to the side of your face can help relax muscles sore from clenching.
• Reducing the "high spots" of one or more teeth to even your bite - An abnormal bite, one in which teeth do not fit well together, may also be corrected with new fillings, crowns or orthodontics.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com

Learn more about the importance of saliva.

Learn more about the importance of saliva.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com

The Value Of A Teeth X-Ray

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Steve Auger

When you hear the word "X-ray," there's a tendency to envision a youngster sitting around an ER waiting to see if he or she has a broken bone incurred playing sports or just horsing around. But X-rays are just as important to dentists' offices as they are to those of orthopedists. A teeth X-ray is invaluable to any dentist in the maintenance of good oral health when treating a patient. Here's exactly what they are and how dentists incorporate them into their practices.

X-RAYS
Your dentist visually examines all aspects of your teeth and gums during a typical checkup. A teeth X-ray, however, is a diagnostic tool that allows your dentist to gauge your mouth health through factors he can't see with the naked eye, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Also called radiographs, X-rays can reveal common issues such as cavities, tooth decay and periodontal disease, all the way to more complex problems such as jaw infections and oral cysts. X-rays aren't just for adults though. Dentists take x-rays of children's teeth for some of the same reasons as adults but also some different reasons.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Children and the dentist
• Reasons for child teeth x-rays
• X-ray safety for children

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com

Why Do Gums Recede?

Learn more about why gums recede.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com

Treatment for Abscessed Teeth

Learn more about the treatment for abscessed teeth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com

7 MouthHealthy Tips for Your Summer Soiree (Part 1 of 3)

Serve the Right Kind of Crunch
Potato chips are standard party fare, but they bring unwanted guests into your mouth. Chewed-up chips often settle in the pits of your teeth, giving cavity-causing bacteria the chance to make a meal from your teeth. 

Instead, put apples and pears on your fruit platter, and stock your veggie tray with carrots, celery and raw broccoli. They're like natural toothbrushes, scrubbing off build-up and stimulating saliva to wash away what’s left.

Cheese, Please 
A slice of cheddar can make a grilled burger so much better. Plus, who doesn’t love a cheese platter? Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese are low in sugar and rich in calcium and phosphorous, which strengthen and protect enamel. Research also suggests that eating more dairy may lower your chances for developing gum disease. So go ahead and say cheese!

To read the entire article visit Mouthhealthy.org

Center for Advanced Dentistry   
Ushma Patel, DMD   
6916 McGinnis Ferry Road, Suite 500   
Suwanee, GA 30024   
(770) 623-8750   
JohnsCreekSedationDentist.com