What Do Neck Pain, Sensitive Teeth, and Dizziness Have in Common?

Posted September 6, 2012 by Dr. Coon

One of the most fascinating details of dentistry is how your dental health can touch many aspects of your life. For instance, did you know that gum disease can have negative consequences for pregnancy, or that students’ grades have been linked to their oral health? Our Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, will explain how one oral health condition can have far-reaching consequences on your entire wellbeing.

What is TMJ disorder?

Also called TMD, TMJ disorder is a health condition involving pain with your temporomandibular joints. Your TMJs support your jaw with hinge joints that allow you to open your mouth, chew, or speak. When these hinge joints are stressed or overexerted, they can cause dental health and overall health issues.

What causes TMJ disorder?

While there are many contributing factors to TMJ disorder, the most common is misaligned bite. When your teeth do not match up correctly, your jaw hinge joints will strain to hold them in place. This strain translates to jaw muscle exhaustion and TMJ disorder. Some dentists believe other causes of TMJ disorder include cranio-facial structure, stress, teeth grinding, and neuromuscular signals.

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?

Often, TMJ disorder symptoms send mixed signals since the effects of TMD have such far-reaching consequences. While these symptoms may seem unrelated, TMJ disorder can affect many parts of your upper body because of the location of the temporomandibular joints. These joints not only affect the movement of your mouth and teeth, but also the top of your head. In addition, the TMJs are closely acquainted with a plethora of nerves in your face which correspond to different aches and pains. For instance, some overall health signs of TMJ disorder include:

Chronic headaches
Morning earaches
Shoulder, back, or neck pain
Dizziness
Jaw popping sounds

TMJ disorder can also have negative consequences for your dental health including:

Tooth sensitivity
Teeth grinding
Difficulty opening your mouth
Increased cavities (more…)

Can Dental Disease Affect Your Child’s Academic Performance?

Posted August 23, 2012 by Dr. Coon

Tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases among school-aged children, second only to the common cold. More than half of children have had cavities in their primary (baby) teeth, which can spread to their permanent teeth forming underneath the gums. Research now shows that dental issues may be associated with poor academic performance and attendance in children who don’t have access to regular dental care. Dr. Coon, your Sheridan dentist, explores the possible connection between poor oral health and poor grades.

Cavities and School

An Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study, which will appear in the September, 2012, issue of the American Journal of Public Health, examined 1500 socioeconomically disadvantaged children throughout Los Angeles’ Unified School District. Previously, Ostrow researchers reported that 73% of Los Angeles’ disadvantaged children had tooth decay. The new study exposes a link between these kids’ oral health and their academic performance. Children who reported having tooth discomfort were four times more likely to have a grade-point average (GPA) below the median GPA of 2.8. (more…)

Sheridan, WY Dentists Explore Teeth of the World

Posted August 16, 2012 by Dr. Coon

One commonality among all animals on earth is the need to eat (or absorb nutrients in some other way). To accomplish this vital action, most animals were gifted with a set of teeth, or something similar. With all that we have learned about our own teeth, we realize what amazing and complicated tools human teeth are. It also makes some of us wonder about the teeth of our fury, scaly, and flying friends. Your Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, entertains you with these interesting animal teeth facts.

Animal Teeth (and Their Equivalents)

The shape of an animal’s teeth depends on what it eats. Carnivores, which eat meat, have sharp pointy teeth to tear the meat into digestible pieces. Herbivores, which eat only vegetation, have flat teeth to grind plants down before digestion. Animals that eat meat and plants have both styles of teeth, usually pointy in the front and flat in the back like human teeth.
While humans have two sets of teeth in their lifetime (primary and permanent), crocodiles can grow up to 2-3,000 teeth in their lives. At any given moment, their mouths contain up to 60 teeth at a time.
Not to be outdone by the crocodile, sharks lose and replace their teeth every week. A shark may go through about 20,000 teeth in a lifetime.
Like humans, giraffe’s only have 32 teeth.
Unlike humans, snake teeth are hollow. Their long front fangs eject poison into their victims, which they usually swallow whole.
Elephant tusks are the longest and heaviest teeth in the mammal world, and can weigh up to 400 pounds. An elephant grows four sets of teeth in its lifetime.
Although common wisdom states that birds don’t have teeth, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. The Greylag Goose, for instance, which is common in Europe and western Asia, has a beak whose outside edges are lined with sharp, tooth-like serrations called tomia. The teeth help the bird clip shoots and grasses that make up the majority of its meals.

Humans have arguably the most diverse diet of all inhabitants on earth. Consequently, we must take special care to keep our teeth healthy and strong. To learn about excellent tooth care, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

Oral Hygiene Tips from Your Sheridan, WY Dentists

Posted August 8, 2012 by Dr. Coon

Maintaining a healthy mouth is essential to staying healthy in general. Periodontal (gum) disease has been associated with serious systemic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Your Sheridan dentists at Grinnell Street Dental understand that your risk factors for many illnesses can be significantly lowered with proper oral health care. Review the following tips to see how you can improve your daily hygiene routine.

Brushing and Flossing

Although the act of brushing your teeth seems quite simple, a proper technique can mean the difference between helping and harming your teeth. Resist the impulse to vigorously scrub your teeth clean. Harsh brushing can wear down your enamel (the thin substance that protects your tooth’s crown). Instead, gently brush plaque off of your teeth, including at the gumline where gingival tissue meets the tooth structure.
Steer clear of natural toothbrushes that boast animal-hair bristles. These bristles are harsh, and can also damage your tooth enamel. Opt for soft-bristled toothbrushes that carry the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. (more…)

Are Metal Dental Fillings Safe?

Posted August 2, 2012 by Dr. Coon

When tooth decay is mild, a dental filling procedure usually helps halt the spread of infection and save your tooth. For over 150 years, the filling material of choice was amalgam, a metal mixture composed of silver, tin, copper, zinc, mercury, and sometimes other metals. Amalgam has remained popular as an inexpensive dental restoration, yet debates have raged over its mercury content. Mercury exposure has been linked to adverse health effects in the brain and kidney, so people have always been wary of pouring the metal into their teeth. Your Sheridan dentists at Grinnell Street Dental discuss the controversy of metal dental amalgam.

The Amalgam War

In the 1830’s, two French brothers introduced amalgam fillings to the United States. The Crawcours brothers named their product royal mineral succedaneum. Within ten years, their product comprised half of the dental restorations placed in upstate New York. Many dentists objected to placing their patients at risk for mercury poisoning, and in 1845, the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS) asked its members to pledge never to use it. At the time, however, gold was the only alternative filling material, and since patients did not develop symptoms of poisoning after leaving the dentist’s office, economics trumped the worries of the ASDS. By the end of the 1850s, the ASDS disbanded. (more…)

Don’t Let Your Oral Health Go Up in Smoke

Posted July 25, 2012 by Dr. Coon

There’s a high probability of you having realized by now that smoking tobacco is absolutely destructive to your health. Endless reports show that smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to various types of cancers, as well as emphysema, severe complications during pregnancy, and premature death. Some of the science behind the destruction can be overwhelmingly complex. In the belief that knowledge is power, your Sheridan dentists explain how tobacco can destroy your oral health.

Aside from Cancer…

Oral, throat, and lung cancer are among the most common forms of cancer caused by tobacco, but smoking is capable of so much more. Other effects of smoke include tooth discoloration, which could be improved with cosmetic teeth whitening, and bad breath, which will most likely not be resolved until the habit is kicked. But wait, there’s more. Smoking and smokeless tobacco use can also cause the following:

Inflammation of the salivary glands, which open at the roof of the mouth. This leads to chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, which comes with a greatly-increased risk for developing tooth decay and gum disease, as well as malnutrition due to difficulty eating.
Increased buildup of plaque and tartar, which also lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Increased alveolar (jaw) bone loss, which diminishes tooth support. When a tooth is lost, the missing tooth also exacerbates jawbone loss, throwing your oral health into a vicious cycle of disease, tooth loss, and bone degradation, plus increased risk of infection from tobacco use.
Inhibited recovery process following a tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or any other oral surgery.
Lower chances of a successful implant procedure (which requires proper jawbone healing to function properly).
Increased risk of severe periodontitis (chronic gum disease). (more…)

Sheridan Dentists Discuss Oral Health and Piercings

Posted July 18, 2012 by Dr. Coon

Piercings have gained a lot of prominence over the last decade or so, becoming more socially acceptable than some people ever thought possible. These days, seeing teenagers walk around with metal accessories in various places is no longer shocking. Even adults are opting for self-expression through tattoos and body piercings, now more than in previous decades. One common practice is piercing oral structures (i.e., lips, tongue, cheek, etc.), sometimes in multiple places. Widely accepted, however, does not equal safe. Your Grinnell Street Dentists lists some of the dangers of oral piercings to your oral health.

Facts About Your Oral Piercing

Wherever you decide to place a piercing, you create an open wound. Oral piercings create open wounds in your oral cavity, which is also where 10-15 billion bacteria live and thrive.
The bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is suspected to be the main culprit in gum disease. The presence of P. gingivalis incites your body’s inflammatory response to infection. If this bacterium enters your bloodstream through an oral wound, it will promote inflammation in every tissue with which it comes in contact. Improperly cleaned piercing equipment and jewelry can also lead to infections within the wound and possibly transmit diseases. (more…)

Sheridan Dentist Discusses the Bacteria in Your Mouth

Posted July 11, 2012 by Dr. Coon

Much ado has been made about the bacteria that reside in your mouth. You know by now that brushing and flossing at least twice a day controls the accumulation of bacteria and plaque to help fight infections such as tooth decay and gum disease. However, not all of your oral bacteria are bad. Your Sheridan dentists at Grinnell Street Dental provide the following facts to help you better understand the inhabitants of your oral cavity.

Bacteria Facts

At any given time, there are between 10-50 billion bacteria in your mouth. However, out of the 75-100 different species, only a few of them are harmful. The remainder assists in neutralizing acids and warding off their harmful counterparts.
When you eat, especially food high in sugar, the malicious bacteria in your mouth digest the ingredients and excrete acids over the surfaces of your teeth. Confine eating to larger meals and refrain from snacking throughout the day to reduce the number of times acid is secreted onto your teeth. (more…)

Cavity Prevention Tips From Your Sheridan Dentist

Posted July 6, 2012 by Dr. Coon

Cavities are a common reason for sensitive teeth. They are a nuisance no matter the season, but during the warm months of summer, simple pleasures such as a refreshing glass of iced tea or lemonade can provide you as much discomfort as nourishment. Although Dr. Coon can ease your tooth sensitivity by treating its source, the best medicine is always prevention. Follow this advice to strengthen your defense against tooth sensitivity this summer.

What to Avoid

Soda, fruit juice, iced tea, lemonade, and many other popular beverages contain large amounts of refined sugar. When plaque processes refined sugar, the by-product is lactic acid, which plaque secretes onto the surfaces of your teeth. Your enamel, the hard protective layer that coats the outside of your teeth, is comprised of mineral crystals, mainly calcium and phosphate. Although enamel cannot repair itself if damaged or cracked (enamel contains no living cells), it can strengthen itself with these minerals, in a process called remineralization, when weakened. When acid attacks, it siphons minerals from your teeth, weakens your enamel, and prevents it from remineralizing. As enamel’s integrity is compromised, bacteria can slip past, attack your inner tooth, and lead to tooth decay.
As you probably know, water is the safest refreshment. It contains no sugars or additives, and it moistens your oral cavity to prevent dry mouth. If you eat something sweet or drink a sugary beverage, rinse your mouth with water afterward to wash away sugar and plaque. Also, drink quickly. The longer you sip your beverage, the longer your teeth are exposed to damaging elements. (more…)

Toothbrush Trivia and Facts from Your Sheridan Dentist

Posted June 28, 2012 by Dr. Coon

You use your toothbrush every day because you know how important it is to keep your teeth clean. You also know that proper oral hygiene prevents cavities, plaque buildup, and gum disease. If you brush twice a day for two minutes each time, you will spend about 24 hours per year brushing your teeth. As simple as a toothbrush seems, you may be surprised how it has evolved. Here are some fun facts about the history of the toothbrush.

Historical Trivia of the Toothbrush

Researchers have found that people in ancient times were concerned about oral hygiene. For example, the ancient Babylonians chewed on sticks from trees to clean their teeth and freshen their breath. These sticks resembled large toothpicks.
Records indicate that chewing sticks were used in ancient Greece and Rome, too.
Around 1600 B.C., the chewing stick evolved in China into the “chew stick.” The chew stick was about the size of a pencil. One end was pointed and used as a toothpick, while the other end was softened and acted as a rudimentary brush.
During the Middle Ages, China was the first area of the world to develop a toothbrush with bristles. Early versions of the Chinese toothbrush consisted of hog’s hair attached to bamboo sticks. (more…)

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