Learn more about the importance of saliva.
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.
Overdentures – No More Messy Denture Adhesives!
People who have dentures will explain at length that the worst thing in the world is having their teeth slip, tilt, or slide while they're eating. Using additional denture cream to try to keep their teeth in place is a major irritant for them. But now, at de Bruin Dental Center, we give our denture patients a better choice – overdentures. With the placement of just a few dental implants to stabilize the dentures, your teeth will become "locked" in place so they can't move. Yet they readily snap off for cleaning. Say good bye to messy adhesives! Ask us if overdentures could be perfect for you!
Learn more about why gums recede.
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
A Crown Restores a Damaged Tooth
There will come a point where a simple filling won't restore a tooth to full functionality. Sometimes the tooth has become worn down from years of use, or perhaps it has been broken by some type of trauma. But in many cases, to save the tooth a crown will be necessary. Dr. de Bruin uses the strongest and most esthetic crowns to restore and even add strength to a damaged tooth. There are newer types of porcelain crowns that are not only extremely strong, they mimic the light reflection of natural teeth. When he's finished, it will appear so normal, you won't be able to tell it apart from a real tooth.
de Bruin Dental Center
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 826-1838
deBruinSmiles.com
Learn more about the treatment for abscessed teeth.
Senior Dental Care is Different
Aging is a fact of life. Not even our teeth and gums are exempt from the process. At de Bruin Dental Center, we're trained to help combat the issues that can arise with growing older. The risk potential for developing gum disease and root decay requires extra vigilance from seniors. Daily cleaning and proper nutrition are vital for maintaining healthy gums. Aging also usually means taking more prescription drugs to maintain your health. A decrease of saliva flow is sometimes a side effect of these medications. There are easy-to-use products available that can help this condition. Your fillings are getting older, too. They can weaken or crack. Regular check-ups will permit us to keep your prior dental repairs in tip-top shape. Years of plaque buildup, as well as consuming coffee, tea, or tobacco, can make teeth appear stained. Ask us about procedures that can fight these problems. Remember, if your gums become red, begin to bleed, or your teeth start to feel loose, contact us immediately.
de Bruin Dental Center
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 826-1838
deBruinSmiles.com
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
What is Bruxism?
How is Bruxism Treated?
People who have dentures will explain at length that the worst thing in the world is having their teeth slip, tilt, or slide while they're eating. Using additional denture cream to try to keep their teeth in place is a major irritant for them. But now, at de Bruin Dental Center, we give our denture patients a better choice – overdentures. With the placement of just a few dental implants to stabilize the dentures, your teeth will become "locked" in place so they can't move. Yet they readily snap off for cleaning. Say good bye to messy adhesives! Ask us if overdentures could be perfect for you!
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.
A Crown Restores a Damaged Tooth
Aging is a fact of life. Not even our teeth and gums are exempt from the process. At de Bruin Dental Center, we're trained to help combat the issues that can arise with growing older. The risk potential for developing gum disease and root decay requires extra vigilance from seniors. Daily cleaning and proper nutrition are vital for maintaining healthy gums. Aging also usually means taking more prescription drugs to maintain your health. A decrease of saliva flow is sometimes a side effect of these medications. There are easy-to-use products available that can help this condition. Your fillings are getting older, too. They can weaken or crack. Regular check-ups will permit us to keep your prior dental repairs in tip-top shape. Years of plaque buildup, as well as consuming coffee, tea, or tobacco, can make teeth appear stained. Ask us about procedures that can fight these problems. Remember, if your gums become red, begin to bleed, or your teeth start to feel loose, contact us immediately.
Serve the Right Kind of Crunch
Cheese, Please 