Getting older means a new way of looking at taking care of your health, and oral health should be included. If you have spent your life taking good care of your smile, you may still have a few issues to watch for as you age. Take a look at some of the changes you can expect to your teeth as you age.

Lack of Sensitivity in Your Teeth

It is not uncommon to lose some of the sensitivity in your teeth as you age. This may sound like a good thing, but it is actually not. If you do not have sensitivity in your teeth, you may not feel it if a tooth has a problem. For example, if you have a cavity forming, you may not feel it, which will mean you may not notice a cavity until it has gotten large enough to see.

Changes to Tooth Coloration

The interior of the teeth is called the pulp, and this softer tissue can start to deteriorate as you get older. When it does, you may see a tooth change colors because the exterior enamel is somewhat translucent. Even though this deterioration is natural and you can’t stop it, cosmetic procedures can be done to make the problem less visible.

Bone Density Changes

Bone density changes can affect all of the bones in your body, including the jawbones that support your teeth. When this starts to occur, your teeth may start to move or shift from their normal place in your mouth. For instance, you may develop a gap between two teeth that were not present before. These issues are hard to stop, but there are measures that can be taken to slow the progression.

Dental Care for Seniors in Mountain View, CA

You do not have to face the loss of your teeth or your self-confidence just because you are getting older. Measures can be taken to protect your teeth from deterioration, and even some changes can be cosmetically mended. Contact us at Cassara Dental in Mountain View, CA to find out more about how we can help or schedule an appointment for a checkup.

Toothache is a painful condition that can be a minor inconvenience or a major setback. Almost everyone experiences a toothache at least once in their lives. The question is how to avoid future toothaches. In order to do that it’s necessary to understand the common causes of toothaches.

1. Teeth Sensitivity

You’ve probably seen commercials for products designed for sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are typically teeth that are sensitive to hot or cold. For most people, taking a sip of hot coffee or iced tea isn’t a problem. For a person with teeth sensitivity, this can cause a toothache. Teeth sensitivity is caused by thin enamel. The dentin of the teeth is protected by enamel. When that enamel layer is thin, the dentin is exposed, which makes teeth more sensitive and frequently leads to toothache.

2. Cavity

If you have a cavity or hole in a tooth, the nerve ending can be exposed. This is a very painful condition that is recognized as a toothache. Cavities are easily fixed at the dentist’s office. As soon as the cavity is filled, the toothache goes away instantly.

3. Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is one that is heavily infected below the gum line. An abscessed tooth can occur for a variety of reasons, but the underlying reason is tooth neglect. Abscessed teeth doesn’t happen overnight. They build up over time. Routine visits to the dentist would prevent abscessed teeth from ever occurring. If you have an abscessed tooth with toothache, a visit to the dentist is necessary. As soon as the dentist treats the tooth, the pain will dissipate.

4. Chipped Tooth

People chip their teeth every day. It can happen by eating a crusty piece of bread or fried chicken, chewing on ice or chomping down on a hard piece of candy. A chipped tooth might expose a nerve ending, in which case a toothache will almost always ensue. A swift visit to the dentist’s office will take care of the chipped tooth and the toothache.

There’s no reason to suffer from a toothache. As soon as you notice toothache pain developing, make an emergency appointment with your dentist. After that, make you visit the dentist on a regular basis to avoid future pain from toothaches.

When it comes time to get your cavities filled, you should know that you have a choice as to what cavity filling material you want. In the past, your dentist—and you—had only one option. Today, your dentist may offer you several different options. So that you don’t have to make a spur-of-the-moment choice, it makes sense to learn a little bit about the options available ahead of time. Following are some of the choices your dentist may give you for your cavity filling.

Amalgam

Amalgam is one of the most well-known types of cavity filling materials. Amalgam is most commonly a mix—or an amalgam—of mercury, silver tin, and copper. It is considered by many to be a potentially dangerous and outdated option because of the mercury. People who have this filling may be susceptible to health problems if the mercury vapors get released from the filling after many years. However, many people feel that amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. In fact, amalgam fillings are strong and long-lasting.

Pro: Lasts long and is strong

Con: Has mercury and other metals that may pose health risks

Composite Resin

Composite resin is a mix of plastic and glass powder. This mixture is a shade of white in color, which makes it blend in with the rest of your teeth. For this reason and others, the composite resin is sometimes used to make aesthetic artificial teeth. In addition, the composite resin is considered to be perfectly safe. Lastly, composite resin fillings are easier and faster to use compared to amalgam fillings.

Pro: Blends in well with your real tooth

Con: Isn’t as strong as amalgam

Glass Ionomer

Finally, there are is an option called glass ionomer cement. This is basically a mixture of glass and acrylic called glass ionomer cement. The biggest advantage to this cavity filling material is that it doesn’t need any binding agents and it typically reacts more naturally with the teeth and gums. It’s most often used for cavities below the gum line.

Pro: Easier to install; less painful, considered to be very safe

Con: Not as strong as some other options

Depending on your personal preferences and budget, one of these cavity filling material options will be right for you. Talk to your dentist about your dental health goals.

As many as 15 percent of people claim they avoid the dentist because of anxiety or fear, but this can definitely affect your oral health. If a racing heart, rattled nerves, and fear accompany you to your dental appointments, there may be a few things you can do to help yourself feel more at ease when you visit a Mountain View, CA dentist.

Open Up to Your Dentist About the Problem

If you have dental anxiety, one of the worst things you can do is keep quiet about what you’re feeling. It is always best to inform the dentist that you struggle with dental anxiety. By knowing this, your dentist can:

• Take more time to explain what they are doing
• Take steps to help you relax
• Establish a hand signal with you so they know if you are getting extremely uncomfortable

Sometimes, anxiety can stem from something as simple as seeing or hearing what is taking place around you. Even this is something the dentist can help you solve by providing shielded glasses or allowing you to listen to music with your earphones.

Practice Relaxation Methods During Treatment

Learning how to mindfully relax during dental treatments can sometimes help thwart anxiety and induce a sense of calm so you can get through the treatment. Techniques like focused breathing, alternate thoughts, and patterned muscle tensing can help take your mind off of what is taking place. Harvard Health offers a nice list of relaxation techniques you could use while in the dentist’s chair.

Consider Sedation Dentistry If Anxiety Is Too Severe

If you have anxiety so severe when getting dental treatment that it could cause you to go into panic mode and little will relieve your symptoms, you may want to consider sedation dentistry. Sedation dentistry can be done with medications given before treatments to help you relax, and the sedation can range from mild with oral medications or nitrous oxide gas to moderate with IV anesthesia.

Even though dental treatment can be scary, it is a necessary part of your overall health. Reach out to us at Cassara Dental if you have dental treatment phobias you would like to discuss.