Pregnancy Gingivitis – Are You at Risk?

Beautiful woman doing different expressions in different sets of clothes: toothache

Pregnant women have enough on their plates what with the health of their babies and their own on their minds 24/7. Unfortunately with all that to worry about, most of the time, oral health gets overlooked or even neglected. But did you know that there are some oral concerns that may arise while you are carrying a baby, like getting pregnancy gingivitis?

 

Keep in Touch with Your Dentist While You are Pregnant

You are probably thinking you have an excellent excuse to skip those dental visits while you are pregnant. Surely your dentist would understand how sensitive you are, right? And didn’t your mother tell you that those dental treatments could potentially harm your baby? That old tale could not be more wrong. In fact, neglecting your teeth and gums could do your little one and you a lot of harm.

 

Oral Health Side Effects during Your Pregnancy

Don’t forget. Your oral health has an undeniable impact on your well-being and that of your baby’s. As you know, you have supercharged hormones while you are pregnant and that may cause your gums to swell too. Having swollen gums means you are at a higher risk of irritating or infecting them, too.

 

Did you know that about 40% of all pregnant women are experiencing some kind of dental health concern, including tooth decay and gum infections? If you continue visiting your dentist even during your pregnancy, tartar and plaque won’t accumulate on your teeth and your chances of developing oral health problems are minimized.

 

If you feel or notice that your gums are quite swollen, tender, or even bleeding while you are pregnant, immediately set an appointment with your dentist for appropriate treatment.

 

Oral Health Practices to Observe During Your Pregnancy

Now, more than ever, you should realize the importance of preventive dental care. (However, x-rays should be avoided when possible.) Preventive dental care will help ensure that you don’t get troubled by gingivitis and other oral health problems.

 

Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, can wait until after you give birth. Of course, after you deliver you can definitely give yourself the gift of a gleaming white smile!

 

Restorative dentistry treatments, especially if they require sedation should be approached with extra care. Make sure you discuss any necessary dental treatments with your OB/GYN before having them done. Also, ask your dentist if the treatment can wait until after you deliver. Weigh the situation with both your dentist and your physician.

 

Being an expectant mother is not easy. Naturally, you would always want to put the health of your baby at the top of your priorities. However, make sure that while you do that, you also take care of your teeth and gums to avoid gingivitis and other oral health concerns. If you have questions or if you suspect you have pregnancy gingivitis, contact us at Pickering Square Dental and we can discuss your concerns.

What You Should Look for in a Toothpaste

Portrait of smiling young brunette selecting dental treatment in drugstore

We are still celebrating Dental Health Month, and we decided to focus the spotlight on a dental product that we do use every day – our toothpaste!

 

When you are purchasing a tube of toothpaste you can be one of these two: a.) passive –not really caring what kind you get and most likely to go for a reasonably priced toothpaste brand or b.) confused – paying too much attention on every detail, including flavour, ingredients, packaging, and more.

 

While it is not advisable that you just grab the first product you see on the shelf, we don’t think you should worry too much either. After all, most formulas you’d find on those shelves will definitely protect your teeth. To help you make a decision though, we’ll explain some of the most common label terms you find printed on toothpaste boxes.

 

Cavity- Fighting

Of course, all toothpaste products should be able to fight cavities by removing plaque. That is what they are for, after all. What you should look for though is fluoride, which for years has been proven to keep your tooth enamel from decaying. The use of fluoride in dental hygiene is recognized by the CDA, Health Canada, and many other national health organizations.

 

Antibacterial

You probably have seen toothpastes that claim to have antibacterial agents, specifically triclosan, that can protect your gums from gingivitis and other bacterial infections. So if you are prone to gingivitis, this can be good for you. Check with your dentist whether or not this kind of toothpaste would be beneficial to you.

 

Whitening

What whitening toothpastes actually do is help in combating stains but you cannot expect the same results that dental office treatments can deliver. Whitening toothpastes, cleans the surface harder to remove stains giving the illusion of whiter teeth. However most whitening toothpastes contain an abrasive agent which is not for everyone. So again, check with your dentist if it suits you.

 

For Sensitive Teeth

Does your mouth ache when you eat ice cream? You need toothpaste that are meant for sensitive teeth. When you have sensitive teeth, your gums may be receded thus exposing the roots of your teeth. Because the roots have no enamel it can easily be affected by temperature changes, sweets, and more. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth can block whatever the stimulus is from getting through the surface of your roots.

 

These are just some of the labels you see on toothpaste boxes. And while every product aims to provide you with healthier teeth and gums, it also wouldn’t hurt to look for something that works a little extra to address your specific concerns. If you are still unsure what to get, you can visit Pickering Square Dental and consult with our expert dentists for advice.

What You Need to Know about Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Closeup of x-ray image of teeth and mouth with all four molars vertically impacted and still not grown and visible in the jaw bone. Filled cavities visible. Impacted molars (wisdom teeth, teeth number 8) on the right side of the face (image left) shown red.

It’s April again, folks! You know what that means – It’s Dental Health month! We think we’d start the month with this informative post about impacted wisdom teeth. So if you are wondering about wisdom teeth, what an impacted wisdom tooth actually is or if you need yours extracted, then this post is perfect for you.

 

Before we talk about impacted wisdom teeth, let’s first have a quick overview on wisdom teeth.

 

What are They, Really?                         

Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that are found at the very back of your mouth. They often appear long after all you get all your other adult teeth. Usually, wisdom teeth would break through your gum line in your last few years as a teenager or while you’re in your early twenties. They may cause discomfort in varying degrees.

 

Are All Wisdom Teeth Crooked?

You may hear of this from your parents or grandparents, but it’s just a myth. Of course, not all wisdom teeth grow in crooked! In fact, there are countless cases that show wisdom teeth can also grow in really straight. Needless to say, if this is the case, there is absolutely no reason for your wisdom tooth to be removed.

 

When they do grow in crooked, though, it is possible that they would affect all the other teeth that surround them – damage the adjacent teeth, crowd the other teeth, damage a nerve or even your jaw, and more.

 

What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

Impacted wisdom teeth are those that are not able to break through the gum line. It is often because there’s another tooth blocking the way of the wisdom tooth and there is no sufficient space for the wisdom tooth to ‘erupt’. As you can probably imagine, impacted wisdom teeth can cause greater discomfort and even pain. Impacted wisdom teeth can damage your gums, jaw, and your other teeth or cause infection.

 

Should You Have Them Removed?

It actually depends on your particular case and a lot of factors like, whether your wisdom tooth has broken through the gum line or not, whether it’s causing damage to your mouth and more. Only your dentist can tell what you should do about it.

 

If your wisdom tooth has broken through the gum line, it can be easily extracted. However, if the offending tooth is embedded in your bone, the procedure can be a little more complicated. In any case, the extraction would require the application of a local anaesthetic (or sedation if that is what you prefer).

 

How Long is the Recovery Period?

It varies from patient to patient. For some, it just takes a couple of days while for others it could take a few weeks. What is important though, is that you follow every direction given by your dentist so as not to aggravate your gum and ruin the stitches.

 

So, are you concerned about your wisdom tooth? Visit Pickering Square Dental and have it checked by Dr. Lean and his expert Dental Team.