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Sensitive Teeth? Here’s the Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Posted on by drbalog

Maybe you don’t have sensitive teeth every day, or the pain is manageable, but the reality is any tooth sensitivity could be a sign of a bigger issue that could get worse. Whether frequent or infrequent, painful or tolerable, you should not ignore tooth sensitivity.

The most common causes of tooth sensitivity can be cracked teeth, worn out fillings, issues with your gums, worn enamel and exposed teeth roots. However, the most common cause of sensitive teeth is tooth decay and cavities. No surprise here as cavities and decay is the second most prevalent disease in the United States, behind only the common cold.

The reason that tooth sensitivity happens is because the causes mentioned above expose the nerves inside the tooth. Enamel, cementum and dentin server as protective barriers between your teeth’s roots and the food you eat. When these layers are compromised, hypersensitivity is the result.

The good news is, in many cases this kind of sensitivity can be treated, sometimes without the need for any professional dental work. Of course, make sure to speak with your dentist so you can take the correct approach in treating your sensitivity. Here’s some of the ways your dentist might recommend treating sensitive teeth.

Treatments for Sensitive Teeth

Desensitizing Toothpaste: This specialty toothpaste includes compounds that can block the sensation of hot or cold foods from reaching your nerves. You will likely need to use the toothpaste several times before your sensitivity is minimized.

Fluoride Gel: To strengthen your teeth’s enamel, your dentist may suggest an in-office fluoride gel application. With a stronger enamel, the better you can block sensations from traveling to your nerves.

Crown or Bonding: In some cases, your dentist might see a flaw in your tooth or teeth that will only be corrected by improving the barrier artificially. This is where a crown or bonding can help, especially when dealing with a cracked or worn tooth.

Surgical Treatments: If none of these less invasive treatments will correct the problem, your dentist may suggest other surgical treatments. For instance, for those who have sever gum recession, a gum graft can help to cover the root. Somewhat of a last resort, a root canal is also an option your dentist may recommend.

Talk to Your Dentist

While you might be able to stand the discomfort of your sensitive teeth, if left untreated, it is possible your situation will worsen, and the method of treatment will be more involved. With a strong dental hygiene routine, regular visits to the dentist and a good diet, you can keep your protective layers strong and prevent sensitive teeth. But if you’re experiencing it, make an appointment with your dentist and get a professional’s opinion on how to treat the issue moving forward.

The Link Between Mental and Dental Health

Posted on by drbalog

The health of your mouth and teeth can have a drastic impact on your mental well-being and vice versa. Many don’t think about this, but there’s confidence and self-esteem associated with knowing you are taking good care of your mouth/teeth. The power of a smile is contagious, and when we feel good about our teeth, we smile more. But it’s also important to note that mental health can have an effect on your mouth as well.

How Your Teeth Affect Your Mental Health

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 36% of adults experienced anxiety because of the condition of their mouth and teeth in the last 12 months. That’s only anxiety; 40% feel embarrassed. Furthermore, 22% of young adults reduce participation in social activities due to the condition of their mouth and teeth. These negative views of teeth are impacting people’s ability to interview, hang out with friends and have caused them to find life less satisfying. 

How Mental Health Can Affect Your Teeth

Anxiety and depression can affect your oral health. From a biological standpoint, the stress anxiety and depression create increases the amount of the cortisol hormone in your body. As your cortisol levels increase, your immune system gets weaker leaving you more susceptible to gingivitis and gum disease. In addition, anxiety can lead to canker sores, dry mouth and teeth grinding while depression can cause you to forgo your oral care all together.

Anxiety and depression medications may also cause dry mouth. The lack of salvia means that food particles, plaque and bacteria aren’t naturally getting rinsed from your teeth and can increase your chance of cavities.

What You Can Do

Now that we know about the connection of oral and mental health, what can we do? If you’re experiencing anxiety or embarrassment from your mouth, seek dental help. Fifty-nine percent of people state cost as the main reason they don’t go to the dentist, but there are affordable ways to get help:

  • Find a dental school in your area; costs are much lower than private practices
  • Look for dental hygiene training programs for free or low-cost routine dental care
  • See if your community health center offers low-cost dental care
  • Check to see if your dentist offers a payment plan or financing option

If you’re suffering from anxiety and depression and it’s impacting your teeth, talk with your doctor or behavior therapist about stress management and coping skills. Be sure to keep your dentist in the loop, too. They can help you deal with the toll anxiety and depression take on your oral health by providing night guards to prevent grinding or prescription toothpaste for increased cavity prevention.

Conclusion

There is a real connection between oral and mental health. If you’re looking to fix your teeth, regardless if for cosmetic reasons or pain relief, contact our office today. We’re here to help you improve your oral health and increase your well-being.

Mouthwash – Should You Use It & Does It Help?

Posted on by drbalog

Many use mouthwash as an extra step in their oral hygiene routine, but does it really help? Yes and no. It has the power to freshen your breath, whiten your teeth and kill the bad bacteria in your mouth, but in some cases it can destroy the good bacteria too. And despite popular belief, your mouth does not need to burn to confirm the mouthwash is working. At the end of the day, it is beneficial for your mouth, but not all mouthwash is created equal.

Types of Mouthwash to Choose From

There are several types of mouthwash brands to choose from, but there are only two main types of actual mouthwash: Cosmetic and Therapeutic.

Cosmetic mouthwash temporarily reduces bad breath and leaves a nice and fresh taste in your mouth. Therapeutic mouthwash has active ingredients that help kill bacteria and help control or reduce plaque, gingivitis, cavities and bad breath. Those that contain fluoride can even help prevent tooth decay. 

Both cosmetic and therapeutic mouthwash can be bought over the counter with the exception of some therapeutic formulations; therapeutic formulations containing chlorhexidine are only available by prescription.

Dentist Recommended Mouthwashes

Every dentist has a specific mouthwash they recommend, but if you’re unable to talk to your doctor, look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal on the bottle. Those with seals have produced scientific evidence demonstrating the safety and efficiency of their product.

How & When to Use Mouthwash

Although you should always follow the instructions on the label, using mouthwash is easy. Simply pour a small cup of mouthwash into your mouth, swish it around for 30-60 seconds and spit it out.

The timing of when you should use mouthwash seems to be the more popular question. Short answer: It doesn’t matter. However, if you are using a fluoride toothpaste, wait at least 30 minutes before you rinse (yes, even a fluoride one) as it’ll wash away the fluoride from the toothpaste before it can do its job. If you do use a fluoride mouthwash, wait 30 minutes before you eat or drink.

It’s important to note that mouthwash is not recommended for children under 6 years old. They may swallow large amounts accidentally.

What is Commonly Found in Mouthwash

Ingredients vary by brand, but the active ingredients in therapeutic mouthwashes typically include:

  • Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) – Reduces bad breath
  • Chlorhexidine – Helps to control plaque and gingivitis
  • Essential Oils – Helps to control plaque and gingivitis
  • Fluoride – Prevents tooth decay
  • Peroxide – Whitens teeth

Dental Issues That Can Be Treated with the Right Mouthwash

With the right mouthwash, and direction from your dentist, you can treat a variety of dental issues, including but not limited to:

  • Bad breath
  • Plaque
  • Gingivitis
  • Tooth decay
  • Topical tooth pain
  • Whitening

Conclusion 

Mouthwash can have a permanent spot in your oral health routine, but it is not a replacement for brushing or flossing. Using therapeutic mouthwash in conjunction with brushing and flossing will leave your mouth feeling happy and healthy. If you’re looking to add mouthwash to your routine, make sure to do your research or ask your dentist about which is right for you.

Protect Your Teeth: 10 Tips for At-Home Dental Care

Posted on by drbalog

Most of the time, after a routine dental visit you will most likely leave with a new toothbrush to replace our old one. We recommend changing your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months, depending on how rigorous you brush and how worn the bristles are on your toothbrush. But as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, Monroe, MI residents aren’t seeing their dentist and therefore aren’t getting a new toothbrush to replace the old one.

This is just one example of how you need to think differently about your dental health. When you might have relied on that dental visit for your next toothbrush, you need to make it a priority to change your toothbrush on your own. Not a huge issue, but home care is the most important line of defense you can have against dental health issues.

While the dental community’s advice for home care isn’t any different, it does require much more attention to detail in order to be as effective as possible. After all, it isn’t clear when you will be able to schedule your next appointment. All the more reason to do everything you can to protect your teeth from plaque. Here are 10 important aspects of your home dental care.


  • Replace your tooth brush every 3-4 months
  • Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth
  • Brush for two minutes, twice a day
  • Hold your toothbrush at 45-degree angle and use short strokes
  • Floss or clean between teeth once a day
  • Make sure to use a fluoride toothpaste approved by the ADA
  • Drink more water
  • Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables
  • Limit sugary and acidic foods
  • Don’t use your teeth to open bottles or rip packages

While you might be following these tips exactly, accidents happen. Our office is still open to handle emergencies. We are following the American Dental Association’s (ADA’s) recommendation as it relates to emergency and urgent dental treatment. Here’s how the ADA characterizes each:

Emergencies are “are potentially life threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding, alleviate severe pain or infection.”

Urgent dental care “focuses on the management of conditions that require immediate attention to relieve severe pain and/or risk of infection and to alleviate the burden on hospital emergency departments. These should be treated as minimally invasively as possible.”

For more information on the difference between emergency and urgent dental care, click here. If you have questions about a particular dental situation you have, contact us today and we will reach out ASAP to determine if we can treat you. Stay safe!

COVID-19 Update: Essential vs. Non-Essential Dental Procedures

Posted on by drbalog

As of Monday, March 23, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer instituted Executive Order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan through a “stay home, stay safe” order. The intention of the order is to:

  • To prevent the state’s health care system from being overwhelmed
  • To allow time for the production of critical test kits, ventilators, and personal protective equipment
  • To avoid needless deaths

For this reason, it is all of our responsibility to remain at home to the maximum extent feasible. This order takes effect on March 24, 2020, and at this time will continue through April 13, 2020. This could be subject to change based on new developments. 

To comply, the Michigan Dental Association has recommended our dental practice suspend all elective, non-essential dental care. In other words, we will be offering our services for emergencies only. For more information on what constitutes essential vs. non-essential, click here.

If you require emergency assistance, please contact us at (734) 242-4334. Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time.

How Dental Health Impacts Your Overall Health

Posted on by drbalog

Your mouth is full of both good and bad types of bacteria, with the majority being harmless to your health. However, did you know that your oral health and dental hygiene can have an impact on your overall health? In fact, studies have shown that some diseases and conditions can be linked to your dental health. 

Some types of mouth bacteria that causes gum inflammation associated with periodontist (gum disease) can play a role in other diseases. This kind of gum disease combined with other diseases like diabetes can weaken your body’s ability to fit infection, compounding the impact of oral health issues.

So what conditions are currently linked to oral health? And which conditions are linked to a negative impact on your oral health? According to Mayo Clinic, they include:

Diseases Linked to Dental Health

  • Cardiovascular disease is starting to be linked to oral bacteria that causes gum disease and inflammation. The connection is just beginning to be identified and is not completely understood at this time. 
  • Birth complications as a result of gum disease has been linked to children born at a low birth weight and premature births.
  • Endocarditis is an infection that impacts your heart and commonly is the result of germs and bacteria from the mouth (or another part of the body) spreading into the bloodstream and attaching to particular parts of the heart.
  • Pneumonia has been linked to certain oral bacteria being brought into the lungs.

Conditions that Negatively Impact Your Dental Health

  • Diabetes has been linked to gum disease. Research shows that those who have diabetes are at a higher risk for gum disease. However, the good news is that additional research has found that regular mouth and gum care can actually improve the ability to control blood-sugar levels.
  • Alzheimer’s disease has been connected to a degradation of oral health, especially as the disease progresses over time. 
  • Osteoporosis is connected to bone loss and therefore, tooth loss. Additionally, some medications used to address osteoporosis also presents a risk of damaging bones in the jaw.
  • HIV/AIDS patients often experience various oral health issues like lesions of the mouth.

How To Protect Your Mouth & Your Health

The recommendation for those who have experienced any of these conditions and for those who haven’t, is the same: practice consistent and effective daily oral hygiene. This includes:

  • Brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
  • Regular dental exams, cleanings and check-ups
  • A healthy diet that minimizes consumption of high-sugar foods/drinks
  • Flossing with regularity (daily)
  • Periodic use of fluoride mouth washes
  • Replacing old toothbrushes (3-6 months or as needed)
  • Avoiding tobacco use

If you’re concerned about your dental health and its impact on your overall health, make an appointment today and we’ll help you develop a plan for addressing your dental health concerns.

Why Fluoride Treatments Are Important for Adults Too

Posted on by drbalog

Many have traditionally thought that children are more susceptible to dental carries (cavities) because they tend to be less consistent with the standard brushing and flossing recommendations. As a result, many think that fluoride treatments are better suited for kids. This is not the case.

While it may be true that kids can be less consistent with their dental hygiene, the truth is cavities impact people of all ages making fluoride treatments beneficial for anyone, especially adults. First, it is important to understand what might increase your risk of developing caries.

Factors that Increase Risk of Cavities

There are many factors that increase the likelihood of developing cavities. They range from the usual factors like poor oral hygiene or regularly eating highly acidic foods or drinks, to decreased saliva production in your mouth. Here are some of the common factors leading to cavities in adults and children alike: 

  • Acid reflux can increase the risk of caries
  • Irregular or poor dental hygiene
  • Diet full of high-acidic foods/drinks
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Limited professional dental care
  • Braces combined with poor hygiene
  • Higher levels of bacteria in mouth
  • Teeth roots that are exposed
  • Fillings, bridges and crowns can collect cavity causing plaque

Adults That Could Benefit Most from Fluoride

There are many situations when fluoride treatments for adults can be extremely beneficial. Those who would most benefit from adult fluoride treatments include:

  • Adults with a high risk of cavities.
  • Adults with receding gum lines can soften the enamel, but fluoride treatments can mitigate this process.
  • If you’ve had restorative work done, fluoride treatments can help protect from plaque that can damage crowns and bridges.
  • Adults with braces that struggle to keep up with flossing can benefit from fluoride treatments to minimize plaque buildups.
  • Irritated gums as the result of acidic foods or the use of teeth whitening applications can be treated with fluoride treatments.
  • Adults who have undergone radiation treatments can benefit from fluoride treatments to minimize the impact of dry mouth and limited saliva production.

To find out if a fluoride treatment is right for you, come in for an appointment or ask about it during your next cleaning and we can come up with fluoride treatment plan personalized for you. Contact us today.

Causes, Signs & Solutions to Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Posted on by drbalog

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause serious damage to your teeth that might require restorative or cosmetic procedures in order to repair the teeth. However, teeth grinding varies from person to person when it comes to how intense the grinding is. Those who clench and grind often will likely experience some symptoms while others may not get any symptoms at all.

It can be difficult to know if you grind your teeth without having a professional exam your teeth, especially when the majority of teeth grinding happens during sleep. Even then, your grinding might be a such a dull intensity that the impact might take years until any changes in your teeth become noticeable. This is where preventative measures can go a long way.

Whatever the case, here is some guidance on how you can spot and treat teeth grinding.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

As to the reasons we grind our teeth, the most common explanation has been associated with stress and anxiety. High pressure careers or life circumstances often can lead to teeth grinding. Additionally, an abnormal bite, missing teeth or crooked teeth can also cause grinding due to the misalignment of teeth. Finally, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders have been linked to teeth grinding.

Signs You Might Be Grinding Your Teeth

In most cases you’re going to need to see a dentist in order to determine if you show signs of teeth grinding. However, in some cases there are two common symptoms that you might experience if you grind or clench your teeth: you experience headaches upon waking or your jaw is sore in the morning. Other, more advanced symptoms could be fractured or loosened teeth or actual loss of teeth.

Treating Teeth Grinding

The plan of treatment for teeth grinding will depend on how much the grinding has impacted the teeth. In some advanced cases where teeth have fractured, loosened or have been worn down to stumps, a variety of dental treatments are available including bridges, crowns, root canals, implants and dentures.

However, for those experiencing teeth grinding but have very few symptoms or issues, your dentist can help you develop a program to protect your teeth and treat the grinding habit. One of the most common preventative measures of teeth grinding is to get a bite guard or mouth guard. (Below is our digital imaging tool we use to fit you for bite guards.)

Your dentist might also recommend the following:

  • Start an exercise program to alleviate stress
  • Research additional methods for minimizing or reducing stress
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol
  • Avoid chewing gum and chewing on non-food items (pens, pencils, straws, etc.)
  • Pay attention and stop your clenching during the day
  • Relax jaw muscles at night by holding a warm cloth against the cheek before bed

If you think you might be grinding your teeth, make an appointment today and we’ll help you address the issue.

Bleeding Gums? Here’s What Might Be Causing It & What You Can Do About It

Posted on by drbalog

Given that roughly 20% of Americans never floss and only about 4 in 10 floss every day, bleeding gums during flossing is a common occurrence for many Americans. While this might happen to you, it doesn’t mean it should. In fact, bleed gums of any kind can be a sign of a gum disease and other dental issues.

In order to diagnose why your gums might be bleeding, you should schedule an appointment with a dentist who can assess your overall dental health. If you have bleeding gums it is most likely the result of plaque build up around the teeth. This is why dental cleanings and great dental hygiene is so important.

Here’s a look at what can cause bleeding gums as well as some tips on what you can do about it.

Gingivitis – Early Signs of Gum Disease

If plaque build-up occurs, gums can inflame and become irritated which might result in bleeding during brushing or flossing. In many cases this is diagnosed as gingivitis and is an early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is usually painless and bleeding gums may be the only symptom. However, gingivitis can cause tender and red gums, bad breath, loose teeth and misalignment. The sooner you are able to spot gingivitis the better chance you have to reverse it.

Periodontitis

When gingivitis or early stages of gum disease go unaddressed, the gums often separate and reced from the teeth. When gums recede like this, they leave behind pockets or gaps between the teeth and gums opening them up to bacteria and germs that become trapped in these pockets. Bleeding from brushing or flossing is common in these situations.

Periodontitis is the next phases of gum disease and can cause tooth and bone loss if the issue remains untreated. In addition to tooth and bone loss, abscesses, misalignment of teeth and aesthetic changes can also occur as a result of periodontitis. Finally, gum disease has also been linked to diabetes and heart disease as well as pregnancy complications.

Other Causes of Bleeding Gums

Some additional, less common causes of bleeding gums can be related to nutritional deficiencies like a lack of Vitamin C and K. Also, pregnancy can cause inflamed gums as well which may result in bleeding during brushing or flossing.

How to Stop & Prevent Bleeding Gums

The first step to treating bleeding gums is to see your dentist in order to understand what exactly is causing the bleeding gums and if gum disease is present. From there, your dentist will guide you in an approach to restore the health of your gums, most likely including the following tactics:

  • Increase in the daily brushing recommendation – after each meal and before bedtime
  • Use of a toothpaste that is gentle on the teeth/gums, has fluoride and doesn’t have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Floss twice a day
  • Rinse with a suggested mouth wash after you brush
  • Schedule a follow up after a set period of time to see how your gums are progressing 

The reality is that the best way to treat bleeding gums is to prevent them in the first place. That means following dental standards as they relate to dental hygiene and seeing your dentist at least every 6-months. With strong hygiene and a good diet, you minimize your chance of dealing with bleeding gums and can prevent gum disease.

If you are dealing with bleeding gums, make an appointment today.

Top 5 Most Popular Dental Tips of 2019

Posted on by drbalog

At Dr. Balog’s office we are constantly trying to find new insights and tips to share with our patients in order to help them enjoy a healthy mouth with strong teeth. While your dentist and regular professional check-ups are critical, the food you eat, and your dental hygiene practices are equally as important to having and keeping a healthy smile.

From preventative maintenance to dental products, we’ve offered many tips and tricks on our blog in 2019 to help you get more informed about your dental health. Based on blog post traffic and shares, we have compiled the five most popular dental tips from 2019. Here they are and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

5 Foods to Eat for a Healthier Mouth & Stronger Teeth

When it comes to tooth decay, your tooth enamel is your greatest defense. The enamel is the hard, outer surface of the tooth and is the hardest mineral substance in your body. While the enamel is the mouth’s natural defense against decay, your diet is what determines how strong your enamel is.

While there are a variety of treatments to address eroded enamel, the best treatment is preventative in nature. In addition to regular dental cleanings and checkups, avoiding acidic foods, alcohol, caffeine and foods high in starches and sugars is a step in the right direction. In addition to avoiding these foods, there are foods you should incorporate more of into your diet.

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Common Causes of Bad Breath & What You Can Do About It

Nobody likes having it or smelling it on someone else, but pinpointing the cause of your bad breath (halitosis), can sometimes be a challenge because there are some many factors that can contribute to it. In some cases, brushing and mouthwash simply isn’t enough.

Before you start cutting foods out of your diet or carrying a toothbrush with you everywhere you go, you must first get a sense of what could possibly be causing your bad breath. Especially if you seem to have bad breath on a consistent basis, you’ll need to consider the common causes.

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Are You Using the Right Toothbrush?

The bottom line when choosing a toothbrush comes down to a few key things: selecting a brush that works for your lifestyle, choosing a brush that doesn’t make your teeth hurt or your gums bleed, and looking for the American Dental Associations (ADA) seal of approval, which means that it meets the standards for both cleaning your teeth properly and doing so safely.

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Here’s What You Should Do If Your Tooth Gets Knocked Out

It might make you cringe thinking about having a tooth knocked out, but your response to something like this could be the difference between salvaging the tooth and requiring significant dental work. The good news is that a tooth that has been knocked out of the socket can often be successfully replaced if you take the right action as soon as possible.

A tooth can be knocked out of the socket in many ways, typically from some sort of trauma or blow to the mouth. We see this most often with people who play contact sports. Preventing these kinds of incidents is key, which is why we recommend athletes wear mouthguards.

If you find yourself or a loved one in this situation where a tooth has been knocked out, it is important to remain calm in order to address the issue effectively. In addition to immediately scheduling an emergency appoint with your dentist, there are some questions you need to ask yourself.

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Dry Mouth (Xerostomia) Isn’t Just Uncomfortable – It Causes Tooth Decay

One of the biggest contributors to tooth decay is dry mouth. Combine dry mouth with sugary drinks like juices, sodas, teas or sweetened coffees and the likelihood for tooth decay or cavities increases dramatically. While you may just see dry mouth as an annoyance, it’s much more than that, and if left untreated, it can cause further oral health concerns.

The technical term for those experiencing chronic dry mouth is xerostomia (zero-stow-me-uh) and is a condition impacting the production of saliva in the salivary glands. There are a number of symptoms for dry mouth.

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