Sensitive Teeth: Causes and Treatment

Sensitive teeth can become a real issue, especially in the winter. Many patients report worse sensitivity in the winter. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to remind patients of how to avoid sensitive teeth.

Sensitive teeth may be caused by many things. Sometimes they need attention from your dentist, like if you have cavities, an infection, or gum disease. You should always be evaluated by your dentist if you are experiencing sensitivity. However, often time sensitive teeth can be avoided by our oral hygiene habits.

Habits that may cause teeth to become sensitive include brushing too hard, using abrasive tooth cleaning products, brushing too soon, and frequently consuming acidic foods and drinks. Because it only takes a light touch to brush away plaque, brushing too hard can actually wear away enamel, exposing the dentin. The dentin is the soft inner layer of the tooth that has thousands of tubes that lead to the tooth’s nerves. Other ways tooth enamel erodes includes acidic damage. Acidic foods and drinks along with brushing too soon after eating can allow the acid to soften enamel and make it disappear. Have you heard of using baking soda as a popular home remedy for white teeth? Baking soda is very abrasive and can also expose the tiny nerve tubes. Not to mention, exposing dentin may actually make your teeth appear darker.

If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, make sure to come in for an examination. To schedule with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ practice, call us at (732) 264-8180 or our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

How to Make Dental Care Fun for Kids

Dental care is important for everyone, especially kids. Their baby teeth are the place-setter for their adult teeth. They also go through what is called the “cavity-prone years”. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS wants to help parents with making dental care fun for their kids.

Making dental care fun for kids may actually get your kids to want to brush and floss. There are some simple steps that can make your child more aware of their dental health, more willing to take care of it, and able to do a good job.

First, make sure your child knows the proper way to brush and floss. You can do this by brushing and flossing your own teeth along with them. You can show the proper way to hold the toothbrush and floss, and let them know all the places they need to reach. Kids love to imitate, so they may see this as a game.

To make them aware of the time they are spending brushing their teeth, purchase a fun minute glass sand timer that they can flip. Or you could have their favorite song play for two minutes (the recommended amount of time to spend brushing).

Rewards work well with kids who are reluctant to complete their brushing and flossing every day. Offer a bedtime story if they brush twice per day and floss once. Or offer extra time at the park for flossing every day that week.

Stress the importance of healthy teeth and gums to your child. To schedule their routine cleaning and examination with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call us at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

While wearing braces, you are doing something great for your teeth. You are straightening them; promoting healthier teeth and gums, as well as creating a beautiful smile. However, while wearing the braces, it is important to brush and floss extra-carefully. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS wants to remind patients of the extra time needed to take care of teeth while wearing braces.

You do not want to have your braces taken off only to reveal unsightly staining. Braces can collect plaque along the edges, and if not removed, this can lead to staining around the edges of the brackets. This can also create places where bacteria can harbor and weaken your enamel. You want to enjoy your newly straightened smile, not have to deal with stains and decay.

In order to keep teeth clean with braces, brush along the tops and bottoms of the brackets in addition to all the normal surfaces you brush. Then use an interdental brush to clean the sides of the brackets. These brushes are sold where most dental supplies are sold and look like tiny trees. When there is no plaque covering the edges of the brackets, you have done a good job. Next, purchase Superfloss or a floss threader. This will make flossing much less of a hassle. It allows you to thread the floss behind your wires so you can get in and out of spaces quickly.

Make sure to also visit your dentist for routine cleanings. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, give us a call at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.

Halloween and Healthy Teeth

Halloween can be frightfully fun. It can also be delicious with all of the candy and treats around. However, with all of these treats comes a lot of sugar. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS wants to let her patients in the Holmdel, NJ area know some tips and tricks for balancing Halloween fun with healthy teeth.

All of that sugar should be combated with routine brushing and flossing and drinking water. Brushing should be done two to three times per day. Limit eating candies immediately after meal as desert and not as a snack.Also make sure to brush and floss once per day. If you know you will be eating a lot of sticky candies, aim to floss near the end of the day so that candy is not stuck between your teeth overnight.

Sticky foods like tootsie rolls and caramel apples can be detrimental to braces. Steer clear of these foods to avoid getting them stuck in your brackets. Really sticky candies or even hard candies can even cause a bracket to pop off. In addition to those with braces, those who have a dental crown or a recent filling should also beware of sticky foods.

Halloween is the time for tricks and treats but hopefully no emergency dental visits. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.

Oral Care with Arthritis

When you have arthritis, using your hands can become difficult. Brushing and flossing can become a challenge. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants her patients with arthritis to know some tips and tricks for making oral care easier.

There are dental supplies that will make dental care easier on arthritic hands. For starters, buy a toothpaste that has a flip-cap instead of one that needs to be twisted off. They are much easier to open, and tend not to get stuck when toothpaste gums up the top.

Next, look for a toothbrush that has a thick handle that is easy to hold. Also look for non-slip grip on the handle, so it is tougher for the toothbrush to slide around in your hand. The more control you have, the easier the process will be for your hands and your mouth. A toothbrush with a small head is also helpful for maneuvering around all the surfaces in your mouth. Electric toothbrushes are even easier, as they do all the scrubbing. You just need to hold them in the right places.

For flossing, it helps to use a long piece of floss and wrap it around your fingers for stability. However, if this is too painful, floss picks are available where dental supplies are sold. You can even add a thicker handle to them.

Arthritis can really change the way you do things, but oral care is still so important to uphold. To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call us at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Smoking and Your Oral Health

It should be no surprise that smoking is bad for your health. It is well-known that smoking can cause cancer and we know about the lung and cardiovascular problems it creates. But are you aware of the consequences it has on your mouth? Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ would like her patients to be aware of the oral health risks smoking creates.

When you smoke, each draw of smoke passes right through your mouth, touching your tongue, your teeth, and your gums. As mentioned before, smoking can cause cancer. This does not just include lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer of the mouth, lips, throat, and tongue. Smoking also increases the risk for gum disease. It causes more plaque to build up and it lessens your ability to fight an infection. This reason also increases the risk for cavities by three times.

Smoking can also give you chronic bad breath and stained teeth. The chemicals in cigarettes along with the fact that it dries out your mouth can result in bad breath that is hard to get rid of. The smoke can also stain teeth permanently. With all of what you are putting your mouth through, your sense of smell and taste may alter, as well. This can make food less enjoyable and lead you to over-salting your meals.

Smoking is undoubtedly terrible for your oral and overall health. There is one thing that can reverse these risks and symptoms though: quitting. For more information about Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS and her Holmdel, NJ dental practice, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Oral Health Changes During Pregnancy

While going through pregnancy, there are many different things you do to start preserving the health of yourself and your baby. Proper oral care is important to keep while your body is going through so many changes. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS wants to inform our pregnant patients of how these changes affect their oral health and what they can do about it.Studies have shown that periodontal(gum) disease can lead to ealry birth of babies. 

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can sometimes cause gum tissue to become puffy and irritated. This is because of an increased reaction to plaque. Irritated gums can become red, itchy, and they can bleed. This condition is referred to as “pregnancy gingivitis”.If  gingivitis is left untreated, it could develop into periodontitis, a more serious gum disease that can end with the loss of teeth. In order to prevent pregnancy gingivitis from taking place, schedule more frequent visits to your dentist for cleansings and brush more frequently.

Another issue that may develop is a pregnancy tumor. These arise from irritated gums and are benign bumps. Good oral hygiene and frequent dental visits can help prevent and cure it. 

Pregnancy brings a lot of changes that include oral health, but with the right care, you can continue to have healthy teeth and gums throughout your entire pregnancy. To schedule a cleaning with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call us at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.