A child’s baby teeth begin to loosen and fall out to make room for the permanent teeth sometimes as early as 5 years of age and can be as late as 7 years before the first tooth is lost. Typically, the first baby teeth to fall out are the two bottom front teeth called lower central incisors. The two top front teeth known as upper central incisors are next, followed by the lateral incisors, molars and canines. The molars usually fall out between ages 9 and 12 and are replaced by permanent teeth by age 13. How Do Baby Teeth…
Author: Dr. Jacqueline Butler Mitchell, DDS
Baby bottle tooth decay is sometimes referred to as “Milk Bottle Caries” by dentist. This can become a problem for children under the age of five and can be avoided through awareness and prevention. The dentist can provide treatment for milk bottle caries as well as educate the parent on proper oral hygiene care. The earlier the problem is addressed, the less extensive and invasive the treatment will be. Signs to Recognize Baby Bottle Tooth Decay • White chalky soft spots seen near the gum line of the front teeth. • Brown or Black spots on the front teeth and or…
More than half of American adults over the age of 35 get periodontal “gum” disease. There are 2 types of gum disease: Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Most people who do have gum disease have the less severe form we call “gingivitis.” Around 5-15% of people have a much more serious type of gum disease known as “periodontitis.” Because most people have what is known as Gingivitis, let’s find out exactly what this is and some of the signs of it. What is Gingivitis? When you brush or floss your teeth, do you ever see pink in the sink? If so, it…
Piercings are becoming a more prevalent form of self-expression in society today and a fashion statement by many. If you are contemplating getting a tongue or lip piercing, this type of oral jewelry can have serious dental consequences. Most dentists discourage oral piercings and we will discuss some of the risk and pitfalls to consider. Risks of Oral Piercings • Chipped Teeth. Chips and or fractures may occur from the jewelry hitting your teeth while eating, talking, or sleeping. Minor chips to your teeth can be fixed with fillings, but the more tooth structure breaks the more serious the problem…
Dr. Jacqueline Mitchell, owner of Integrity Dental Care, decided to have a little fun with her staff members in having an easter egg hunt in her office.
Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Bleeding gums are one of the most common signs that something is wrong in your mouth. While we may brush bleeding gums under the rug and assume that we are brushing and flossing to aggressively, healthy gums shouldn’t bleed easily. Over 80% of people have experienced bleeding gums occasionally. Certain medications and poorly fitting oral appliances can cause some bleeding to occur, but more than likely, your gums are bleeding due to plaque being left around your teeth and not being properly cleaned and removed near the gum line. What Can…
Ever had a fuzzy and rough feeling on the surface of your teeth? If so, that’s “Plaque.” Plaque is a sticky, clear film that forms on teeth, in between teeth, above, and below the gum line and it contains millions of bacteria. Everyone develops plaque because bacteria are constantly growing in our mouths. Plaque that is not removed from around the gum line can cause inflammation and irritation to the gums around your teeth. If you do not remove the plaque daily when brushing and flossing your teeth, it can finally harden into tartar. When you eat foods high in…
A tongue scraper is a tool used to help clean your tongue. It is designed to clean the bacterial build-up, food debris, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. Cleaning your tongue, especially the back part of your tongue, helps to remove the bacteria that can cause plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease. Why Use a Tongue Scraper? 1. Enhances Your Taste Buds • Your taste buds can be blocked by all the bacteria on your tongue and removing this build-up will enhance the flavor of the food you eat. 2. It Improves your Digestive Health • Tongue…
Like many parents, you may be concerned about your child’s pacifier use. You may wonder if its harmful, what age should they stop, and will this affect their teeth. Pacifiers provide a source of comfort to infants and with proper use, your baby can comfort themselves with a pacifier without developing pacifier teeth. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of baby pacifiers. Pros to Pacifiers • Reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome according to research. • It makes babies feel secure and happy. • It helps to induce sleep for babies. Cons to Pacifiers When Used for…
A cracked tooth can be hard for you to tell for sure if it is fractured. Cracks can be invisible to the eye and sometimes can’t be seen on x-rays either. If you have pain with a tooth, it can be difficult to tell which tooth the pain is coming from at times. What Can Cause Teeth to Crack or Fracture • Biting into hard foods and hard objects. • Playing sports without mouth guard and you get hit in the mouth. • Trauma from an accident of some sort. Signs of a Cracked or Fractured Tooth • Sharp pain when biting…