Below is an excerpt from an article found on Crest.com
Common Toothache Causes
Are you wondering why your teeth hurt? If you have aching teeth, it may be due to a dental problem such as cavities, gum disease, bruxism, TMJ or a non-dental problem, such as a sinus infection or even stress.
- Sensitive Teeth: Some types of toothache pain occur if you are using dental care products like peroxide-based whitening agents that penetrate into your teeth causing tooth sensitivity.
- Bruxism: If you have aching teeth with no signs of tooth decay or gum disease, you may be experiencing bruxism. Bruxism is the technical term for grinding your teeth. Bruxism is a common cause of aching teeth that affects millions of people of all ages in the United States. If you experience aching teeth and other symptoms of bruxism, see a dental professional as soon as possible. If left untreated, chronic tooth grinding can damage crowns and fillings, and wear away tooth enamel, putting your teeth at increased risk for infection or decay. Causes of bruxism that lead to aching teeth include crooked teeth, poor jaw alignment, and stress or anxiety. If bruxism is due to misaligned teeth, straightening your bite with orthodontia could help solve the problem. But if bruxism is due to chronic stress, stress management techniques may be needed to help relieve your aching teeth. Your dental professional may recommend a mouth guard to wear at night to help prevent tooth pain associated with bruxism.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction: If you're stressed to the point of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, you can develop tooth pain associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is the joint that hinges the lower jaw to the skull, enabling you to eat and talk. Clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth put additional stress on the muscles of the jaw, which can cause tooth pain. If your tooth pain is caused by TMJ syndrome, your dentist may recommend a TMJ dental splint to reposition the lower jaw. But in less serious cases, warm compresses applied to the jaw, eating soft foods, and taking measures to reduce stress can help.
- Damaged Teeth: Your toothache pain could be caused by a cracked or broken tooth. If this is the cause of your pain, see your dentist as soon as possible. A broken tooth can contribute to tooth decay.
- Decayed Teeth: Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of toothache pain. Tooth decay occurs when acids from plaque bacteria penetrate into the tooth enamel causing a loss of tooth mineral which, if it progresses, can ultimately cause pain in the tooth’s inner layer, the pulp.
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The remainder of the article details the following:
Three-Dimensional Dental X-rays
We are excited as one of the first dental practices in our area to utilize 3-D cone beam CT digital imaging. Imagine a three-dimensional X-ray that is more accurate than traditional X-rays, is much faster, and does all this with much reduced radiation exposure.
A primary advantage of ultra cone beam images when diagnosing and evaluating treatment options is the dentist’s ability to see the patient’s anatomy in 3-D, instead of flat, two-dimensional images. This allows for much greater accuracy for any dental treatment, especially dental implant placement and oral surgeries. The process takes only a few minutes, and images are captured in multiple cross sections, which allow us to make accurate bone measurements.
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Sticky plaque -- food, saliva, and bacteria -- starts to form on your teeth after you eat, releasing acids that attack tooth enamel. Untreated plaque turns into tartar, which builds under gum lines and is hard to remove with flossing. The longer it stays on your teeth, the more harmful it is. Bacteria in plaque causes inflammation and leads to gum disease. Having high blood sugar often makes gum disease worse.
The above article is from: WebMD.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by Dentists!
With the American population living longer, seniors' oral health has become an important issue, as has the widespread problem of elder abuse. Every year more than 2.5 million older Americans may be victims of elder abuse, and in some cases dentists serve as the first line of defense, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
To read the entire article, visit: KnowYourTeeth.com
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Custom Smile Design and Preview
Prior to starting each veneer, full-mouth rehabilitation, or other case, we start with smile analyses together with facial analyses to determine what steps are necessary to achieve the smile you desire. We also create a diagnostic mock-up with the new smile design that will allow you to “try on” veneers or crowns to see if the final result is what you are looking for. This helps you understand and see how the new look will improve your smile and facial appearance prior to doing any tooth preparation. There’s no better way to have peace of mind before you begin treatment!
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
People with diabetes are prone to oral infections. You should get dental checkups at least twice a year. Let your dentist know you have diabetes and what medicines you take. Regular checkups and professional cleanings can help keep a mouth healthy. And a dentist can teach you the best ways to care for your teeth and gums at home.
The above article is from: WebMD.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Don’t replace fillings just because they’re old
When you have a cavity, the dentist removes it and puts in a filling. These fillings can last for many years, but some people get silver fillings removed because they don’t like the color. However, the process of removing a filling can weaken the tooth. Additionally, insurance may not cover the removal.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Well-controlled diabetes contributes to a healthy mouth. If you have poorly controlled or high blood sugar, your risk increases for dry mouth, gum disease, tooth loss, and fungal infections like thrush. Since infections can also make blood sugar rise, your diabetes may become even harder to control. Keeping your mouth healthy can help you manage your blood sugar.
The above article is from: WebMD.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Ways And Products To Maintain Oral Care On The Go
These days, it seems like everybody is going non-stop. But just because you’re busy or traveling - whether for work or play - that’s no excuse for neglecting your daily dental care routine. One of the easiest ways to maintain oral care on the go is to carry a small container of floss with you. If you’re hiking or camping and want to travel light, floss takes up less space than your electric flosser.
A variety of products make oral care easier when you are traveling or time-strapped. Soft flosses, such as Oral-B’s Satin Floss, can be used by anyone. They slide easily between the teeth to make flossing faster and easier. Also, interdental brush cleaners, made of nylon bristles and narrow enough to fit between teeth, combine brushing and flossing for surfaces between the teeth.
If you are hiking, camping or traveling where space is at a premium, buy a small travel toothbrush that folds up. The brush will stay clean and it will take up less of your valuable space.
Another point: If you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time, and especially if you will be traveling overseas or in the wilderness, be sure to schedule a checkup with your dentist before you go. The last thing you want is a dental health problem to erupt when you are far from reliable dental care. Problems can still occur, but you can reduce the risk by being as prepared as you can before you travel.
The above article is from: OralB.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Ask about all the options for calming your child during dental procedures
Dental work can be scary for some kids. Talk with your dentist about ways to help your child stay calm. Tips for a successful dental visit can include making sure your child is not hungry before their dental appointment and scheduling an appointment at the proper time of day.
For jaw pain, try conservative treatments first
Jaw pain can be caused by stress, arthritis or an injury. A treatment plan for jaw pain should first consist of actions like exercises and anti-inflammatory drugs.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Learn more about the connection between your teeth and what you eat.
Diabetes puts you at risk for dental problems. It impairs the ability to fight bacteria in your mouth. Having high blood sugar encourages bacteria to grow and contributes to gum disease. You may have gum disease if you have:
- Gums that are red, sore, bleeding, or swollen, or that pull away from your teeth
- Loose teeth
- Chronic bad breath
- An irregular bite or dentures that don't fit well
The above article is from: WebMD.com
Siranli Dental Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP2112 F St. NW, Suite 605Washington, DC 20037(202) 466-4530SiranliDental.com
Children Love Visits to Our Office
Our doctors work hard to make children of all ages feel comfortable and enjoy themselves, so bring your entire family along! You can rest assured your child will receive the latest advances in children’s dentistry, delivered with kindness, thoughtfulness, and compassion. We encourage good dental care habits in children and love teaching them how to keep their teeth healthy. We look forward to meeting them for their first routine visit (when they are two years old) and watching them grow each year. We also offer sealants for back teeth for both children and adolescents. These are an easy-to-apply preventive measure that can prevent decay!
Siranli Dental
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com
Use toothpaste with fluoride for infants and children
For children younger than 3 years, you should begin brushing a child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste in an amount no larger than a grain of rice. For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Consider sealants to prevent decay or treat beginning cavities on the back teeth
Dental sealants act as a barrier to prevent cavities. They are a plastic material applied by a dentist to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay occurs most often.
To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Are you wondering why your teeth hurt? If you have aching teeth, it may be due to a dental problem such as cavities, gum disease, bruxism, TMJ or a non-dental problem, such as a sinus infection or even stress.
