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Vitamins for a Healthy Smile

The best prevention for healthy teeth and gums is brushing and flossing daily as well as routine dental check-ups and cleanings. Several vitamins that help in keeping our mouths healthy are vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium however having a balanced diet that provides nutrition also helps promote a healthy smile.

Over snacking on foods throughout the day can expose our teeth to foods that damage the enamel, so limit snacking. Try to avoid sugary drinks especially carbonated drinks that produce acid because when we sip on these liquids over time it raises the acid levels in the mouth causing erosion to the enamel. Stay away from candy and snacks that have a lot of sugar. Starchy foods like breads, pasta, potatoes, and even rice can increase the acid levels in the mouth. Sweetened coffee, tea, and red wine can also weaken the enamel because they are usually sipped on slowly causing acid levels to remain high for a longer period of time.

Here are some healthy food eating tips in keeping your mouth healthy

  • Chewing sugar free gum helps promote saliva which helps cleanse our mouths and neutralizes the acid in the mouth.
  • Eating milk and cheese protect our enamel. They promote saliva productions neutralizing the acid and they contain protein, phosphorous, and calcium with buffer acids preventing erosion.
  • Drink lots of water
  • Drink sugar free liquids
  • Fish and Flaxseed contain anti-inflammatory agents that help fight against gum disease.
Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist
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Natural Straight Teeth from Diet Alone?

According to research about 95% of the population has some form of malocclusion meaning more or less crooked teeth or the bite is off. Skeletal remains from our ancestors proves only about 5% had the same problem. So why such a drastic difference from way back then to now? Well the answer may be our diets.

The question that is coming up more frequently is can we develop straight teeth naturally without going through braces or Invisalign? Well the answer is unknown, however some evidence suggest that the modern diets we have developed may have a part on how our jaws grow improperly causing are teeth to become crooked. Refined carbohydrates are being explored to be one of the culprits in disturbing normal growth because carbs increases insulin and IGF-1 to abnormal levels. This can cause the jaw to develop narrower. Very little research has been done on this topic however it was discovered that those living in other countries in desolate areas avoided modern foods that contained sugar, canned goods, white flour, and vegetable oils but did consume a diet rich in conventionally prepared foods which included animal fats. These people had wider dental arches, straighter teeth, and little tooth decay.

So in the end will eating a nutrient dense diet make your teeth straight, no one really knows. What we do know though is having diet rich in nutrients is good for strong teeth and bones as well as brain development and without nutrients full development may be interrupted or delayed.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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How can i treat dental fluorosis without veneers?

I have access fluoride that is damaging my teeth, which is like a white dot on my front tooth. Since it is permanent I wondered if there’s any other way to treat that without veneering. Can crest white strips or any other tooth whitening product remove that or make it less visible. What food should I eat and what food should I quit?

Thanks, Ericka

Dear Ericka,

Fluorosis happens when are baby and permanent teeth are developing under the gums. Once teeth are erupted they can’t develop fluorsosis any longer so you don’t need to worry about avoiding certain foods or eating anything special. Just remember that foods high in sugar or liquids we drink that contain acid like soda, Gatorade, and some juices can cause tooth decay so it is always recommended to limit stuff like this in your diet.

Fluorosis that is severe makes your teeth pitted and the outer layer of enamel is lost which make teeth very susceptible to tooth decay. It sounds like you have a mild form of fluorosis which is common and not damaging to the teeth. We understand that the appearance of your teeth is a concern and will share with you some advice on how to treat your condition.

Whitening your teeth will make the whites spots even whiter so we advise you not to do that. Treatment options vary and depend on how severe the condition is and what you can afford. Abrasion is when the enamel is softened and abraded with pumice to change the appearance of the tooth. This is the least expensive however does not work in all cases. You also have the option to have composite bonding placed. This involves roughening the surface of the damaged enamel, etching the tooth, and then a composite resin (white filling) is placed on the surface of the tooth to match the rest of your teeth. The last option would be a porcelain veneer, which is the most expensive however looks like your natural teeth. Discuss with your dentist which option would work for your particular situation. If your dentist doesn’t specialize in cosmetic dentistry have them refer you to someone that does.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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How to Make Teeth Whiter Quickly

I have a class reunion in two weeks and I want my teeth whitened fast. How would I go about doing that?

Thanks, Lou

Dear Lou,

A quick way to get your teeth whiter is through in office dental bleaching. Many dentists offer a one hour office treatment with Zoom, a professional whitening system. This treatment is completed in office and total prep time to completion is about an hour and a half. During this procedure your soft tissues in and around your mouth are protected and a gel is placed on your teeth. The gel is activated by a Zoom light. Teeth usually get 3 to 5 shades lighter however some people have reached 8 shades lighter. Every case is different and people respond to bleaching based on the original shade of their teeth.

This technique is safe however can cause your teeth to become sensitive like any other bleaching product. The sensitivity usually subsides overtime. Not everyone is a good candidate for bleaching so we recommend you visit a dentist for a consultation to see if you qualify. Remember that if you have dental work completed especially in your smile like white fillings, dental crowns, or veneers they will not bleach and your teeth will become lighter and your dental work will be more noticeable. Cost of this procedure usually runs a few to several hundred dollars.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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Can I whiten my teeth if I have dental bonding?

I have my two front teeth bonded. Can I use a teeth whitener like crest white strips?

Thanks, Carlie

Dear Carlie,

Dental bonding will not bleach at all. In regards to crest white strips it will lighten your teeth somewhat however it is just temporary and your teeth will go back to their natural color within several months. We recommend that if you want to have a more permanent color change in your teeth to have them professionally bleached at your dental office either with the take home bleach trays or with in office ZOOM Whitening. After you have your teeth bleached you can have your dental bonding replaced to match your new tooth color, however dental bonding gets darker over time. Your best option would be to either have porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns which won’t change color and look very natural next to your normal teeth. This is considered a cosmetic procedure and most dental plans do not pay for cosmetics however if your dental bonding is wearing away and very little tooth structure is left you can have your dentist send a preauthorization to your dental insurance to see if they will cover the cosmetic procedure.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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Pressure Around Front Crown

About 4 months ago, one of my upper front teeth broke when I fell on the floor during a badminton game. Luckily, my dentist managed to perform a root canal treatment and then placed a post to strengthen the tooth. I have another crowned tooth done 20 years ago next to the broken tooth and there was a black line at the gum level due to receding gum. The two front teeth were quite protruding. My dentist suggested to re-crown the old crowned tooth together with the placement of a porcelain crown over the broken tooth and he could angle the two teeth downwards to make them not so prominent. They were done and the two teeth are not so protruding.

After nearly 4 months, I still feel pressure around the two teeth and I feel uncomfortable. My dentist kept saying that the pressure will go away but I am doubtful. I also have 4 other teeth that were crowned a few years ago and they did not give me problems immediately after being crowned. I don’t understand why the two front crowned teeth keep giving me this under pressure feeling around them. I could floss between them, although it feels tight and after flossing, the pressure will go away for a while and then come back again. Any anyone have advice on this?

Thanks, Tim

Dear Tim,

Sometimes teeth that receive a root canal have no symptoms after the treatment but there are in some cases where patients still feel some pressure and pain for several months. We recommend that you visit your dentist and have your teeth x-rayed where your root canal was performed to see if the tooth is infected. Another consideration is to have your dentist check your bite. It is a possibility that your crowns that were recently completed are hitting too hard on your bottom teeth which can cause the same type of symptoms that you are having. Make an appointment with your dentist to have him re-evaluate your teeth and if you feel your solution is still unresolved we recommend you visit an endodontist who specializes in root canal treatments for a second opinion.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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My front teeth crowns’ color mismatches

I recently got my front two teeth (incisors) capped with porcelain crowns and to my horror they are of not the similar shade as the rest of my teeth, they are in fact ,very much of a LIGHTER shade, and is very prominent when I talk! What do I do now? Is there any way to stain them a little? It cost me a lot to get them in the first place and I don’t think I can afford to break them and get another pair.

Thanks, Richard

Dear Richard,

Sorry to hear that you are not happy with the shade of your new porcelain crowns. Unfortunately the crowns are already cemented in your mouth so they cannot be stained to make them darker because it is very difficult to remove an anterior crown without causing damage to it. We recommend you talk to your dentist about your situation. You could have your teeth whitened to make them lighter so your crowns aren’t so noticeable or ask your dentist to replace them.  Next time you have cosmetics done ask your dentist for a mirror before he cements your crowns in your mouth to make sure you are happy with the color.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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Root Resorption

I have been told today that I have tooth resorption on my front tooth. This was noticed by my orthodontist. My question is could my braces have made this happen (I have had them off for 4 months now) and what is the best treatment? She spoke about root canal filling and is this going to make it permanently better?
Thanks Bradley

Dear Bradley,

It is common for most patients going through orthodontic treatment to incur some root resorption during the treatment process. The root resorption most likely will stop now that your braces are off, no further treatment should be necessary, and the possibility of you losing the tooth in the future is highly unlikely. Now if your resorption is severe and you have bone loss around the tooth then the probability of losing the tooth in greatly increased. Only if your tooth is infected will you need to have a root canal. Our advice to you is to see an endodontist for an evaluation of the tooth. Endodontist specialize in root canal treatments. If they say the tooth is not infected then you will not need any treatment even if root resorption is present. We advise you to have your tooth x-rayed at least once a year during your dental check-ups to make sure your tooth is not losing any bone and that the resorption is stabilized.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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Toothache but no signs of infection

Over the past 6 years I have had two teeth pulled on the same side of my mouth. Both times I went to my dentist who referred me to an endodontist and neither one could find a problem with my teeth. The teeth hurt so bad that I just had them removed because I could not tolerate the pain anymore. Now once again I am having a toothache on the same side and am being referred to the endodontist again. Does anyone have any idea what may be going on with my teeth?

Thanks, Rebecca

Dear Rebecca,

Hearing that you have had teeth extracted with no signs of infection and are having another toothache may be an indicator that something else is going on. There is a condition known as Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), which is a constant pain that affects the trigeminal nerve. This nerve carries sensation from your face to your brain. The pain is like an electric shock that can last a few seconds up to several minutes. These episodes can last days, weeks, and even months and then can subside for months or even years. Pain can be triggered just from brushing your teeth, putting on makeup, eating, and even talking. Nobody knows the exact cause of TN but it’s assumed that a blood vessel is pressing on the trigeminal nerve as it leaves the brainstem which causes a deterioration of the nerve sending abnormal signals to the brain. Many people with TN develop toothaches with no signs of infection and have teeth extracted over the years before they are even diagnosed with this condition. The only way to determine if you actually have TN is to have a neurological examination completed by a physician. If you are diagnosed with this condition medicine is the most common treatment to subside the pain, however in severe cases surgery is needed.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

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Possible dislocated jaw

A week ago my left jaw and chin landed bottom first onto a wooden table. I experienced pain for the first 5 minutes and then did not have any pain the rest of the week. Just the other day I woke up with pain, numbness, and a swollen (no bruising) feeling. I still continue to experience this pain, numbness, limited movement, and swelling feeling on my left jaw. My question here is it possible that my jaw is misaligned. What is weird, that it took 6 days to feel pain, numbness, and that swelling feeling (no bruising) again. I mean wouldn’t it have been consistent, in which I could have felt all this during the past week. If my left jaw were to be out of line, what symptoms are most common and how can I correct my jaw. Would surgery be the only option?

Thanks, Terrance

Dear Terrance,

It is highly possible that you dislocated or even fractured your jaw. A fractured or dislocated jaw can cause difficulty when eating or talking, pain, bleeding, and even airway blockage. Some symptoms of a dislocation are difficulty speaking, teeth feel out of alignment, difficulty closing the mouth, lower jaw may protrude forward, and pain in the face or jaw and gets worse with movement. Signs that your jaw may be fractured are difficulty opening your mouth widely, facial swelling and or bruising, hurts to bite or chew, numbness of the face especially the lower lip, and an abnormal appearance of the cheek or jaw where you hurt yourself. We recommend you seek medical attention immediately to prevent the possibility of breathing problems or bleeding. A physician or oral surgeon can restore your jaw by using his hands to press your jaw back into place, however do not attempt to do this yourself. If your jaw is fractured the only way to repair it is to have your jaw wired shut and if the fracture is unstable surgery will be required.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist