Protect Your Baby from Bottle Mouth!

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Our Lynnwood dental center wants your little ones to get a good start on their teeth, and there are few greater threats to an infant’s oral health than bottle mouth. The good news is that it’s an easy enough condition to avoid, if you’re aware of it, so simply follow these easy guidelines and you’ll save your baby from serious, catastrophic tooth decay.

The term “bottle mouth” comes from the fact that it generally arises from misuse of a bottle. Sometimes babies can fall asleep while drinking from bottles, and this causes the sugary substance within to pool in their mouths and linger for far longer than it should. As the baby sleeps, saliva production drops, so there is very little guarding his or her mouth from rampant decay.

With this in mind, never put your baby to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or any other sugary substance. Pacifiers are a good alternative, as is a bottle of regular water. To learn more about proper dental hygiene for infants, you can consult Song’s Lynnwood dental clinic.

Do You Have Tonsillitis?

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Tonsillitis, or an inflammation of the tonsils, generally represents a viral or bacterial infection in your tonsils.  It can be a condition that requires medical attention, so our Lynnwood dental clinic advises that you be on the lookout for the following warning signs:

  • A pain or tenderness in your throat.
  • A coating of white or yellow on your tonsils.
  • The development of blisters or ulcers in your throat.
  • An inexplicable hoarseness, or a loss of your voice.
  • Headaches.
  • Earaches.
  • A loss of appetite.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Difficulty breathing through the mouth.
  • A swelling in the glands of your neck or jaw.
  • Fevers or chills.
  • Halitosis.

The Proper Way to Store Your Brush

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Your bathroom is not the most sanitary place.  All the same, though, it’s probably the place where you keep your toothbrush.  In order to minimize the amount of bacteria and other unhealthy substances on your brush, try taking the following storage tips from your Lynnwood Dentistry:

  • Store your brush upright, like in a cup or a brush holder.  This will keep the bristles drier, which makes them less bacteria-friendly.

  • Avoid using a toothbrush cover whenever you can.  Bacteria thrive in a cramped, moist environment.

  • Don’t mix with other brushes.  Putting more than one brush in a single cup allows them to exchange bacteria and viruses.  If somebody in your household has gingivitis or a cold sore, they could very well be sharing this problem with you.

  • Watch out for the toilet!  Whenever you flush, the toilet sends a light spray of bacteria and toilet water into the air.  This spray can settle on your toothbrush if you’re not careful.

Mix Up Your Brushing Routine!

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Brushing Your Teeth

When you get your routine check-up at our Lynnwood Dentistry, do you find that you’re developing plaque in the same places over and over again? Maybe you’ve even tried to pay more attention to brushing thoroughly, and you still experience the same plaque growth. If this is the case, the answer to your problem may be as simple as rotating your normal brushing routine.

Humans are creatures of habit, and it’s easy to fall into a strict pattern with your tooth brushing. You probably always start brushing in the same area every time you pick up your brush. This means that the same teeth are always getting your best attention, and you’re only getting to the other parts of your teeth after you’ve grown impatient, diluted your toothpaste, and lost focus on your routine.

To avoid doing this, pay attention to where you begin brushing and try to mix it up. Divide your mouth into four quarters, and focus on starting on a different quarter every morning and night. You may be surprised at the improvement you experience!

What is a Dental Abscess?

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

If you get a cavity, you want to get it fixed by our Lynnwood dentistry clinic as soon as possible. Otherwise, you are at risk of developing a debilitating infection that will cause you a lot of pain and grief. This infection is known as a dental abscess.

Cavities and Dental Abscess

The cause of an abscess is the same bacteria that causes cavities. When the cavity penetrates deep enough, the bacteria begins to flourish in the soft tissues and the bones of your face and neck. It manifests itself as a pain in your mouth, face, jaw, or throat region, and can include any of the following symptoms:

  • Redness or swelling in the mouth or face
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Tenderness
  • Pus drainage
  • Difficulty opening your mouth
  • Difficulty swallowing

Should you experience these symptoms, it is time to visit our dentist right away.

Do You Need to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?

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Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are frequently the last teeth to erupt in your mouth, generally appearing as you enter adulthood. Our Lynnwood dental clinic offers wisdom tooth extractions, which are common and simple procedures that many adults have to go through. However, the idea that wisdom teeth must necessarily be removed is a common misconception.

If you have wisdom teeth, consider the impact they have on your mouth. Have they come in crooked? Are they crowding your other teeth, throwing your bite out of alignment or putting strain on your jaw? Finally, how easy is it for you to care for these teeth?

If their position makes brushing and flossing an ordeal, they could quickly turn into a hotbed of bacteria that could ruin your entire mouth. Any of these conditions can make you a candidate for a wisdom tooth removal. If you think you could live comfortably with your wisdom teeth, however, then you may very well be one of the lucky ones.

Call our office to schedule your wisdom tooth extraction, or to explore your options with your wisdom teeth.

These Five Culprits Can Cause Teeth Sensitivity

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Causes and Treatments of Teeth Sensitivity

When you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, it is a sign that there is an issue in your mouth that you have to look into. Learn more about common causes of sensitive teeth, and how to solve them.

The outer layer of your teeth – the enamel – is worn out. It can also happen that the outer layer that protects your roots – the cementum – is also worn away. This is called dental erosion which happens when your teeth are exposed to too much acid (like from soda, acid reflux, or excessive vomiting). Over time, they weaken the outer layer and cause damage to your teeth. Use a straw instead if you cannot avoid these beverages, or see a specialist for acid reflux and excessive vomiting.

A cavity has penetrated into dentin of your teeth. Dentin is the second protective layer of teeth, and this means the enamel has already been compromised. Dentin involvement can cause serious sensitivity and if caught early, a fluoride treatment can work. Otherwise, it can only be mechanically restored by a filling, a root canal, or a dental crown, depending on how much damage is involved. Tooth extraction can also be considered.

Your gums have receded, exposing nerves. This may be due to gum disease, brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush, sustaining a gum injury, smoking, or even just genetics. Treatment will depend on what is causing gum recession.

There is a crack in your tooth. A cracked tooth can expose the tooth’s pulp, the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels, leaving it open to irritation. A crack can appear after trauma to the mouth, chewing hard foods, and simply having brittle teeth. Grinding and clenching your teeth can also lead to cracks. See your dentist for treatment so that the break doesn’t get worse.

You just had a teeth bleaching session. Bleaching can cause your teeth to become sensitive. If you bleach only occasionally, you might not experience this side effect. But if you do it regularly, or use a bleaching kit that’s too strong, or get them professionally whitened, the peroxide in the bleach can wear down your teeth’s enamel. It can be aggravated, causing sensitivity. If using a desensitizing toothpaste will not help, then you must see your dentist, who may apply a sealant on your teeth to protect the open tubules.

Treating Tooth Sensitivity in Lynnwood

Teeth sensitivity is more common than you think. So when it happens to you, find out when you visit your Lynnwood Song Dental Center.

Care for TMJ Pain Song Dental

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When Pain and Popping in the Jaw Happens

The temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ is that joint that connects your lower jaw (or mandible) to your skull, at the temporal area just in front of each ear. Several medical conditions, apart from traumatic injuries, affect not just the joints themselves, but involve their surrounding muscles, tendons and bones as well. With them, even nerves and blood vessels are affected. Certain habits promote the TMJ Syndrome – like poor head posture, aggressive or excessive gum chewing, teeth grinding, lack of sleep, and even stress. The pain can also be traced to a tooth misalignment or a bad orthodontic brace.

Headaches, earaches, and stiffness of jaw muscles are felt. Some symptoms can be quite disturbing, like popping sounds in the ear, jaw clicking, and sometimes the fearful locked jaw. Most symptoms are home-remedies, like applying ice packs, massages, and pain-killers. But if the problem still persists, then a look at a medical practitioner is the next step.

TMJ Care with Lynnwood Dentist, Dr. Song

Sometimes, it’s not enough to see your primary physician or a medical specialist only, such as an ENT MD. A consultation with your Lynnwood dentist can be as helpful also, and might just be the specialist you need. In instances where the causative factors are related to dentition, let your dental professional examine you and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Dentists have training and working knowledge of the temporomandibular joint, its anatomy, functions, and related disorders and treatment.

You can be prescribed gentle therapies like massages, medications like muscle-relaxants, or mouth guards if needed. Rarely are drastic treatments employed. Consult with Dr. Thomas Song regarding TMJ treatment and care.