Why is it important to floss?

Flossing is an essential oral health practice. When you brush your teeth correctly and consistently, a lot of dental plaque is removed. However, there are some areas that your toothbrush is not able to reach no matter how hard you try – e.g. in-between your teeth. Therefore, you need to apply floss on such areas to get rid of plaque properly.

Flossing does more than getting rid of plaque from the areas of your teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach.  It also helps to put bad breath under control, polish the surfaces of your tooth, and gets rid of debris that stick to the teeth and gum.

Achieving Effective Flossing

For flossing teeth to be effective, it is recommended that you do it daily, at least once everyday. Also, it should last for about 2 – 3 minutes each time. Also, you must floss correctly.

Choosing Your Floss

Your choice of floss should be one that you are very comfortable using. The type of floss you use does not matter, the most important thing is for you to floss and achieve the oral benefits of flossing. One of the best ways to fight plaque and the oral issues that come with it is regular and consistent flossing.

The varieties of dental floss to choose from include;

•    Flavored
•    unflavored
•    waxed
•    unwaxed
•    wide and regular

Flossing Techniques for Adults

Usually, an oral health provider or dentist Chicago would demonstrate flossing methods for you to follow. There are various flossing methods, and any of the under-listed methods can be used by an adult;

*  The Loop Technique: This flossing technique is also referred to as the circle method. To begin, take a piece of floss about 18 inches, then knot it in a circle securely. Subsequently, place your entire fingers within the loop, with the exception of your thumb. Next, direct the floss through your lower teeth using the index finger, while directing the floss through your upper teeth with the thumbs; ensure that you exceed the gumline, until a ‘C’ shape is formed on the tooth’s sides

*  The Spool Technique; another name for the spool method is the finger-wrap method. To start flossing with this technique, get a piece of floss ready, the same length used in the loop method (18 inches). Taking hold of the floss, wrap each side lightly around your middle fingers several times. Subsequently, manipulate the floss in-between your teeth tactfully while your index fingers and thumbs assume an upward and downward motion. Ensure that the motion is not side-to-side. The most excellent way is to make the floss go up and down, going beyond the gumline, and eventually assuming a ‘C’ shape on each tooth’s side.

More Flossing Tips or how to floss teeth

If you are just starting out to floss, flossing tools like the floss holder or a prethreaded flosser could be quite helpful; this is also the case with someone trying to floss a child or disabled person’s teeth. Again, those suffering limited dexterity either on their hands or arms will find dental floss tools (e.g. floss holder) quite useful.

Bear in mind that flossing and tooth brushing cannot be substituted with irrigating devices like toothpicks. Irrigating devices could possibly work well around braces that keep back food particles, or sections of the teeth that cannot be reached with a toothbrush.  However, the fact remains that they are not able to get rid of plaque, and therefore cannot substitute flossing and brushing.

Additional Information

As part of dental hygiene routine, flossing is a practice of using a piece of dental floss – about 18-20 inches long to get rid of food remains or particles between the teeth. Flossing should accompany tooth brushing to help get rid of plaque that the toothbrush alone could not remove completely. Flossing cannot substitute tooth brushing; so ensure that you brush your teeth daily and also floss at least once every day. 

If you are not flossing regularly and consistently, you are endangering your oral health. Food particles and plaque hiding out between your teeth and below your gumline can cause tooth decay or gum disease over time if not removed.

Therefore, flossing is not optional as many people erroneously believe, it is a necessary aspect of oral hygiene that should be adhered to properly. Your oral health must be at optimum always; therefore floss and brush your teeth always, and visit your family dentist Chicago regularly.

Click for Chicago dentist and Chicago orthodontists

Porcelain Veneers in Chicago!

Dental veneers are thin layers of remedial material applied over a tooth surface, either for tooth aesthetics enhancement, or for the protection of a damaged tooth surface. When placed over the tooth surface, veneers serve as a shield to worn tooth enamel, chips or cracks, and uneven tooth alignment/spacing. The more lasting solution recommended by Chicago dentists is dental veneers.
 

Types

Veneers are fabricated with two major materials (and these are the types of dental veneers) – porcelain and composite. The composite veneer could be applied directly. Alternatively, a dental technician or dentist teeth whitening may fabricate it indirectly in a dental lab and subsequently bond it to the tooth with the aid of resin cement (e.g. Panavia). On the contrary, the fabrication of a porcelain veneer may be done only indirectly.  In comparison with composite veneers, porcelain veneers are perceived to be more durable. It is also said that porcelain veneers are not likely to stain relative to its counterpart composite veneers.

Brief History

The brain behind the invention of veneers is Charles Pincus – a California dentist. Within this period, these veneers were not firm enough and removed easily as denture adhesive was used in holding them on. However, they temporarily served the purpose of modifying the looks of actors’ teeth.

Further researches by other dental professionals and family dentist Chicago and child dentist Chicago brought a discovery that it is possible to etch porcelain with hydrofluoric acid, and that firm bonding could be realized between porcelain and composite resins that were foreseen to have the capacity of holding porcelain veneers to a tooth’s surface without ever falling off. This research paid off well as it became the platform for sophistication and improvement of the present day’s veneer cements and boding agents, which typically stays as long as one to three decades (10 – 30 years).

Dental Veneer Procedure

In the course of applying veneers, there is the possibility of altering the appearance of the teeth with minimal tooth preparation like drilling. A good number of veneer techniques may be achieved in the absence of local anesthetic, or just a little. Conventionally, it is required for a porcelain dental veneers and oral surgeons Chicago that a reduction of about 0.5 mm be made.

Composite veneers are increasingly becoming more widely sought-after since they can be repaired easily. On the hand, porcelain veneers are said to be susceptible to fracture. It may pose a challenging task to match an individual veneer shade to the rest of the teeth.  Consequently, it is common to apply several veneers.

Certain veneers have no need of drilling so as to do away with tooth structure. Rather, these veneers are fabricated specifically for placement on the teeth top. Thus, the procedure is less invasive and may take only a little time. But due to non-reduction of the teeth size, veneers may look very big or bulky; the only exception is if the material used is very thin. Hence, attaining success with these veneers is most excellent when restricted to definite cases.

Cosmetic Use of Veneers

Cosmetically, veneers may be applied to achieve teeth resurfacing by cosmetic dentist Chicago - for instance, to make teeth look straighter and also for them to have a better visually admirable alignment. This could be a swift process to enhance malposed teeth appearance and eliminate the use of orthodontics. However, the extent of the malposition will determine whether veneers are sufficient to correct it, or if there is a need to combine veneers with orthodontics.

Generally, dental veneers are placed in the category of cosmetic dentistry Chicago since they help to achieve whiter and superbly aligned teeth, as well as a brighter smile. Additionally, the transparent ceramic superiority of the modern day veneers offers a more natural look when compared to the early days of veneers.

Dental Cases Requiring Veneers

No matter what caused the teeth to be visually unpleasant, a solution can be realized through the use of dental veneers. Virtually all cosmetic dental cases can be resolved with veneers. Such dental issues include;

* Wear and tear: it is a natural occurrence for teeth to wear as aging sets in; consequently, cracks and chips are likely to occur. Also, aged teeth are prone to uneven appearance.

*  Worn-out enamel: with the passage of time, the enamel may become weak, dull as well as discolored.  Worn and discolored teeth may be a natural occurrence or a genetic factor. However, in most cases, enamel gets worn due to certain habits such as tobacco smoking, constant consumption of coffee, soft drink and tea.
* Case of genetics: some dental issues are genetic. For instance, some individuals may have odd spacing between the teeth from birth, and as age begins to set in, the space seems to widen more.

*  Uneven teeth: this is one of the dental cases where veneers can be applied. Uneven teeth could be a consequence of tooth grinding or general case of wear and tear.

 When is the Application of Veneers Required?

Bonding is usually a cost-effective and efficient restoration for minor cracks and chips in the teeth. Using a composite "white filling", such as trivial dental issues can be made cosmetically by Chicago dental school and function well. In order to cover the crack or chip, a composite resin material is bonded to the tooth. This also offers better protection to the surrounding tooth structure. However, for serious situations such as wear, dullness, discoloration, abnormal spacing and uneven teeth, the more lasting solution recommended by tooth whitening Chicago dentists is dental veneers.

Veneers or Teeth Whitening?

For less severe teeth discoloration, laser teeth whitening Chicago may offer a whiter smile. However, some individuals who want to go for veneers are discouraged by dentist Chicago, who would rather recommend simpler alternatives such as teeth whitening which may be combined with simpler orthodontic alignment.  Shaping or prepping of every tooth being fitted is necessary for dental veneers placement. This technique results in a permanent alteration of the teeth. For this purpose, the technique is not a good option for those whose natural teeth are visually and functionally satisfactory.

For severe issues of discolored or dull teeth, veneers may be the ideal alternative. The extra advantages of applying dental veneers are permanency and better enhancement of mouth appearance, improved smile, and perhaps other aspects of aging face that can be better enhanced through adequately shaped teeth.

In general, dental veneers achieve cosmetic, restorative and protective purposes. Dentists will advice you accordingly on the use of veneers.

Click for Find a dentist in Chicago and Dentist search Chicago   

Dental Veneers information!

Dental veneers are thin layers of remedial material applied over a tooth surface, either for tooth aesthetics enhancement, or for the protection of a damaged tooth surface. When placed over the tooth surface, veneers serve as a shield to worn tooth enamel, chips or cracks, and uneven tooth alignment/spacing. The more lasting solution recommended by Chicago dentist is dental veneers.

Types

Veneers are fabricated with two major materials (and these are the types of dental veneers) – porcelain and composite. The composite veneer could be applied directly. Alternatively, a dental technician or dentist teeth whitening may fabricate it indirectly in a dental lab and subsequently bond it to the tooth with the aid of resin cement (e.g. Panavia). On the contrary, the fabrication of a porcelain veneer may be done only indirectly.  In comparison with composite veneers, porcelain veneers are perceived to be more durable. It is also said that porcelain veneers are not likely to stain relative to its counterpart composite veneers.

Brief History

The brain behind the invention of veneers is Charles Pincus – a California dentist. Within this period, these veneers were not firm enough and removed easily as denture adhesive was used in holding them on. However, they temporarily served the purpose of modifying the looks of actors’ teeth.

Further researches by other dental professionals and dentist chicago il brought a discovery that it is possible to etch porcelain with hydrofluoric acid, and that firm bonding could be realized between porcelain and composite resins that were foreseen to have the capacity of holding porcelain veneers to a tooth’s surface without ever falling off. This research paid off well as it became the platform for sophistication and improvement of the present day’s veneer cements and boding agents, which typically stays as long as one to three decades (10 – 30 years).

Dental Veneer Procedure

In the course of applying veneers, there is the possibility of altering the appearance of the teeth with minimal tooth preparation like drilling. A good number of veneer techniques may be achieved in the absence of local anesthetic, or just a little. Conventionally, it is required for a porcelain dental veneers that a reduction of about 0.5 mm be made.

Composite veneers are increasingly becoming more widely sought-after since they can be repaired easily. On the hand, porcelain veneers are said to be susceptible to fracture. It may pose a challenging task to match an individual veneer shade to the rest of the teeth.  Consequently, it is common to apply several veneers.

Certain veneers have no need of drilling so as to do away with tooth structure. Rather, these veneers are fabricated specifically for placement on the teeth top. Thus, the procedure is less invasive and may take only a little time. But due to non-reduction of the teeth size, veneers may look very big or bulky; the only exception is if the material used is very thin. Hence, attaining success with these veneers is most excellent when restricted to definite cases.

Cosmetic Use of Veneers

Cosmetically, veneers may be applied to achieve teeth resurfacing by cosmetic dentist Chicago - for instance, to make teeth look straighter and also for them to have a better visually admirable alignment. This could be a swift process to enhance malposed teeth appearance and eliminate the use of orthodontics. However, the extent of the malposition will determine whether veneers are sufficient to correct it, or if there is a need to combine veneers with orthodontics.

Generally, dental veneers are placed in the category of cosmetic dentistry Chicago since they help to achieve whiter and superbly aligned teeth, as well as a brighter smile. Additionally, the transparent ceramic superiority of the modern day veneers offers a more natural look when compared to the early days of veneers.

Dental Cases Requiring Veneers

No matter what caused the teeth to be visually unpleasant, a solution can be realized through the use of dental veneers. Virtually all cosmetic dental cases can be resolved with veneers. Such dental issues include;

»        Wear and tear: it is a natural occurrence for teeth to wear as aging sets in; consequently, cracks and chips are likely to occur. Also, aged teeth are prone to uneven appearance.

»        Worn-out enamel: with the passage of time, the enamel may become weak, dull as well as discolored. Worn and discolored teeth may be a natural occurrence or a genetic factor. However, in most cases, enamel gets worn due to certain habits such as tobacco smoking, constant consumption of coffee, soft drink and tea.

»        Case of genetics: some dental issues are genetic. For instance, some individuals may have odd spacing between the teeth from birth, and as age begins to set in, the space seems to widen more.

»        Uneven teeth: this is one of the dental cases where veneers can be applied. Uneven teeth could be a consequence of tooth grinding or general case of wear and tear.


When is the Application of Veneers Required?

Bonding is usually a cost-effective and efficient restoration for minor cracks and chips in the teeth. Using a composite “white filling”, such as trivial dental issues can be made cosmetically by Chicago dentists and function well. In order to cover the crack or chip, a composite resin material is bonded to the tooth. This also offers better protection to the surrounding tooth structure. However, for serious situations such as wear, dullness, discoloration, abnormal spacing and uneven teeth, the more lasting solution recommended by dentists is dental veneers.

Veneers or Teeth Whitening?

For less severe teeth discoloration, Chicago teeth whitening may offer a whiter smile. However, some individuals who want to go for veneers are discouraged by dentist Chicago, who would rather recommend simpler alternatives such as teeth whitening which may be combined with simpler orthodontic alignment.  Shaping or prepping of every tooth being fitted is necessary for dental veneers placement. This technique results in a permanent alteration of the teeth. For this purpose, the technique is not a good option for those whose natural teeth are visually and functionally satisfactory.

For severe issues of discolored or dull teeth, veneers may be the ideal alternative. The extra advantages of applying dental veneers are permanency and better enhancement of mouth appearance, improved smile, and perhaps other aspects of aging face that can be better enhanced through adequately shaped teeth.

In general, dental veneers achieve cosmetic, restorative and protective purposes. Dentists will advice you accordingly on the use of veneers.

Click for Chicago orthodontists and Chicago dental

Dental Veneers information!

Dental veneers are thin layers of remedial material applied over a tooth surface, either for tooth aesthetics enhancement, or for the protection of a damaged tooth surface. When placed over the tooth surface, veneers serve as a shield to worn tooth enamel, chips or cracks, and uneven tooth alignment/spacing. The more lasting solution recommended by dentists Chicago is dental veneers.

Types

Veneers are fabricated with two major materials (and these are the types of dental veneers) – porcelain and composite. The composite veneer could be applied directly. Alternatively, a dental technician or dentist teeth whitening may fabricate it indirectly in a dental lab and subsequently bond it to the tooth with the aid of resin cement (e.g. Panavia). On the contrary, the fabrication of a porcelain veneer may be done only indirectly.  In comparison with composite veneers, porcelain veneers are perceived to be more durable. It is also said that porcelain veneers are not likely to stain relative to its counterpart composite veneers.

Brief History

The brain behind the invention of veneers is Charles Pincus – a California dentist. Within this period, these veneers were not firm enough and removed easily as denture adhesive was used in holding them on. However, they temporarily served the purpose of modifying the looks of actors’ teeth.

Further researches by other dental professionals and dentist Chicago IL brought a discovery that it is possible to etch porcelain with hydrofluoric acid, and that firm bonding could be realized between porcelain and composite resins that were foreseen to have the capacity of holding porcelain veneers to a tooth’s surface without ever falling off. This research paid off well as it became the platform for sophistication and improvement of the present day’s veneer cements and boding agents, which typically stays as long as one to three decades (10 – 30 years).

Dental Veneer Procedure

In the course of applying veneers, there is the possibility of altering the appearance of the teeth with minimal tooth preparation like drilling. A good number of veneer techniques may be achieved in the absence of local anesthetic, or just a little. Conventionally, it is required for a porcelain veneer that a reduction of about 0.5 mm be made.

Composite veneers are increasingly becoming more widely sought-after since they can be repaired easily. On the hand, porcelain veneers are said to be susceptible to fracture. It may pose a challenging task to match an individual veneer shade to the rest of the teeth.  Consequently, it is common to apply several veneers.

Certain veneers have no need of drilling so as to do away with tooth structure. Rather, these veneers are fabricated specifically for placement on the teeth top. Thus, the procedure is less invasive and may take only a little time. But due to non-reduction of the teeth size, veneers may look very big or bulky; the only exception is if the material used is very thin. Hence, attaining success with these veneers is most excellent when restricted to definite cases.

Cosmetic Use of Veneers

Cosmetically, veneers may be applied to achieve teeth resurfacing by cosmetic dentist Chicago - for instance, to make teeth look straighter and also for them to have a better visually admirable alignment. This could be a swift process to enhance malposed teeth appearance and eliminate the use of orthodontics.      However, the extent of the malposition will determine whether veneers are sufficient to correct it, or if there is a need to combine veneers with orthodontics.

Generally, dental veneers are placed in the category of cosmetic dentistry Chicago since they help to achieve whiter and superbly aligned teeth, as well as a brighter smile. Additionally, the transparent ceramic superiority of the modern day veneers offers a more natural look when compared to the early days of veneers.

Dental Cases Requiring Veneers

No matter what caused the teeth to be visually unpleasant, a solution can be realized through the use of dental veneers. Virtually all cosmetic dental cases can be resolved with veneers. Such dental issues include;

• Wear and tear: it is a natural occurrence for teeth to wear as aging sets in; consequently, cracks and chips are likely to occur. Also, aged teeth are prone to uneven appearance.
• Worn-out enamel: with the passage of time, the enamel may become weak, dull as well as discolored. Worn and discolored teeth may be a natural occurrence or a genetic factor. However, in most cases, enamel gets worn due to certain habits such as tobacco smoking, constant consumption of coffee, soft drink and tea.
• Case of genetics: some dental issues are genetic. For instance, some individuals may have odd spacing between the teeth from birth, and as age begins to set in, the space seems to widen more.
• Uneven teeth: this is one of the dental cases where veneers can be applied. Uneven teeth could be a consequence of tooth grinding or general case of wear and tear.

When is the Application of Veneers Required?

Bonding is usually a cost-effective and efficient restoration for minor cracks and chips in the teeth. Using a composite “white filling”, such as trivial dental issues can be made cosmetically by Chicago cosmetic dentist and function well. In order to cover the crack or chip, a composite resin material is bonded to the tooth. This also offers better protection to the surrounding tooth structure. However, for serious situations such as wear, dullness, discoloration, abnormal spacing and uneven teeth, the more lasting solution recommended by dentists is dental veneers.

Veneers or Teeth Whitening?

For less severe teeth discoloration, Chicago teeth whitening may offer a whiter smile. However, some individuals who want to go for veneers are discouraged by their Chicago dentists, who would rather recommend simpler alternatives such as teeth whitening which may be combined with simpler orthodontic alignment.  Shaping or prepping of every tooth being fitted is necessary for dental veneers placement. This technique results in a permanent alteration of the teeth. For this purpose, the technique is not a good option for those whose natural teeth are visually and functionally satisfactory.

For severe issues of discolored or dull teeth, veneers may be the ideal alternative. The extra advantages of applying dental veneers are permanency and better enhancement of mouth appearance, improved smile, and perhaps other aspects of aging face that can be better enhanced through adequately shaped teeth.

In general, dental veneers achieve cosmetic, restorative and protective purposes. Dentists will advice you accordingly on the use of veneers.

Click for Dental Chicago and Chicago Dentist

Dental Chicago - Comprehensive patient education on implant dentistry!

Dental implants are titanium implants that are placed in the jaws to support an artificial tooth, dental bridge or a denture. They are basically titanium posts inserted in the jaw to replicate the natural root of the tooth. The invention of dental implants and the subsequent popularity of dental implants have totally revolutionized the art and science of dentistry. Our ancestors had to resort to ingenious measures to replace a lost tooth, because the loss of teeth and the associated discomfort brought on by pain and inability to chew food can put the health of a person at serious risk. They have tried everything from pushing iron pieces, sea shells and even tooth harvested from a dead person, into the empty socket. Ouch!! Even today, scientific studies have revealed that complete loss of teeth, especially at an old age can gravely affect the health of a person and shorten the life span dramatically.

Implant or no implant?

Today teeth are not just related to nutrition alone. A beautiful set of teeth is a sign of vitality and youth and their loss can lead to humiliation and embarrassment. Many techniques for replacement of lost teeth have been developed by implant dentist Chicago and orthodontist Chicago. Removable dentures offer an affordable option but patients have a tough time adjusting to them. And the absence of proper bone stimulation can cause resorption (shrinkage) even with the best dentures. Dental bridges are the most popular option even now for replacing a few lost teeth.  However, placing a bridge requires the grinding of natural teeth on both sides of the bridge. Also they cannot be used when adequate support is unavailable like when the entire posterior section of the teeth is absent or when the gums are weak. The cost of implants is still a prohibiting factor that has prevented implants from becoming extremely common.

How did it all begin?

Dental implants have achieved considerable popularity over the past 2-3 decades. This is due to fact that dental implants have become cheaper and more cheap dentists Chicago are practicing Dental Implantology since implant dentist Chicago were first used in the 1960’s. During the 1950’s Prof Per-Ingvar Brånemark (considered the father of dental implantology), a Swedish Orthopedic surgeon made the serendipitous discovery of a phenomenon called Osseo-integration while studying bone healing in rabbits. Osseo-integration is the biological fusion of bone with a foreign object. He discovered that titanium chambers placed in a rabbit’s femur could not be removed after some time because the bone had fused to the titanium. This discovery was further advanced by other dental researchers and hence dental implantology was born.

Dental implants are placed directly in the jaw bone and the artificial tooth/crown is placed on the implant. Hence no surrounding natural teeth need be ground away unnecessarily. If the patient is healthy, with no contraindicating systemic conditions and has sufficient jaw bone to place an implant, then he/she can easily receive an implant. No irreversible damage is done to adjacent teeth in this way. All the patient needs to do is maintain a high level of oral hygiene and the implant should give a lifetime of good service. In fact chewing on an implant is the closest sensation you can get to actually chewing on natural teeth which means no more fear of lose dentures or endangering natural teeth.


Are you ready for a dental implant?

The lives of millions of people have been transformed with dental implants. Can you go to the family dentist Chicago today and demand one? Wait! There are few conditions where the dental implant procedure cannot be done. Certain dental conditions can influence the dentist’s decision. The jaws should have sufficient bone width and height to support an implant. The gums should be healthy and the procedure is contraindicated in severe gums disease (periodontitis/gingivitis). Patients may have to undergo treatment for the gums before the procedure. Patients with severe teeth clenching (bruxism) may have to undergo corrective therapy or wear a night guard to protect the teeth. Lack of proper access to the area of the surgery may also be a contraindication. Medical conditions like pregnancy, severe dermatological diseases and malignancy can be an absolute contraindication. Some relative contraindications include smoking, diabetes, hemophilia and bleeding disorders, epilepsy, impaired movement, etc.  It is up to your dentist or Implantologist to decide which of these will be detrimental to the prognosis of your implant. Patients below the age of 18 are not considered as candidates for an implant surgery.

What do I have to go through?

Once your dentist Chicago has done a thorough oral exam with a detailed case history, he or she will order a couple of X-rays and probably CT scans, depending on the case. Then the dentist will arrive at a treatment plan by discussing the pros and cons of each implant system with you and will arrive at a decision based on your requirements and financial condition.

The most common implant used today is the Endosteal implants or Root-form implants. As the name suggests this implant is shaped like the root of a natural root. Other types include Intra-mucosal, Plate-form, Subperiosteal, Transosteal etc. The most common methods for placing implants after extracting a tooth includes immediate post-extraction implant placement, delayed immediate post-extraction implant and late implantation.

Bar-type implants are placed to stabilize a denture with the denture being clipped onto the top portion of the implant. Such dentures are more stable and hence more acceptable than conventional dentures. They are the most cost effective option for patients with complete loss of teeth than having multiple implant surgeries to fix many implants.

The basic procedure in a nut-shell includes drilling a hole in the jaw and screwing in the implant. The implant is left to heal. It is later reopened and the portion of the implant above the gums is fitted. The crown is later fixed onto this part of the implant. Some tenderness and pain can be expected. Dental Chicago normally prescribes pain killers and antibiotics for a few days to reduce discomfort.

Click for Chicago Dental Insurance and Best Dentist Chicago

What Causes Cavities?

Also called tooth decay, a cavity is a disease that is caused by bacteria damaging the hard structure of the tooth. Such structures include the enamel, dentin and cementum. Once the bacteria bores into these structures, holes or cavities are produced.

There are two types of oral bacteria that produce cavities and these are the Streptococcus mutans and the Lactobacillus spp. that multiply in numbers if a patient does not practice good oral hygiene. These bacterial species are all lactic acid formers and acid, just for the information of many, can weaken whatever hard surface it comes into contact with including the tooth’s enamel.

How Do Cavities Form?

As mentioned earlier, cavities are caused by two kinds of bacteria and that these bacteria are considered as normal microflora in the mouth. The moment a patient feeds on carbohydrates and any type of food, these bacteria multiply in number but they are nevertheless controlled due to proper oral hygiene such as brushing using a fluoride-based toothpaste and rinsing using mouthwash. However, the danger lies once a patient forgets to do proper oral hygiene and as a result, the bacteria exude acid and other particles into the surface of the mouth. In fact, the small chalky area that may appear in a patient’s tooth is already a precursor to a cavity. To know more follow Chicago dental.

The Signs and Symptoms of Cavities

Cavities may or may not be visible to the naked eye. In fact, even if a patient has a set of perfect pearly whites, they are likely to harbor cavities inside their mouths already. In fact, a painful tooth and a visible cavity are considered to be gravid already.

Thus, a person who has cavities may not be aware of the presence of the disease but the tell-tale signs that a cavity is developing in a patient’s tooth is the presence of the chalky white spot on the surface of the tooth which actually indicates that the enamel has already been demineralized.

Once both the enamel and dentin are damaged, the cavity can now be distinguished. The affected areas of the tooth now become very soft to touch. Once the dentin is broken down, the dentinal tubules which are connected to the nerve of the tooth is exposed causing toothache.

On worst cases, the cavity can also affect the soft tissues like the gums surrounding the tooth which can cause other complications like the cavernous sinus thrombosis and the Ludwig’s angina which are both life threatening diseases.

Risk Factors of Cavity Formation

There are a lot of factors why cavities are formed. But basically, it boils down to four factors which include the tooth surface, bacteria, food source (carbohydrate) and the time. In fact, different individuals form cavities at different times.

For instance, different individuals have different compositions for their tooth surfaces. In fact, a person who is inflicted with Amelogenesis imperfecta is more likely to be affected by cavities the fact that the enamel of their teeth are already weakened due to the disease.

There are also a lot of bacteria that reside in the mouth and that there are only two known bacteria that can cause cavities which has already been mentioned earlier but their multiplication varies from one person to the other. It might be that the mouth of a certain person is dryer than the person seating across him. Yes, saliva plays a big role in counterbalancing the effect of the acid release of bacteria. The dryer the mouth of the patients is, the more likely for the bacteria to multiply.

Food source for the bacteria also plays a major role in cavity formation. For the benefit of those who do not know it, the food source of these bacteria is carbohydrates. Thus, the more a patient eats carbohydrates, the more source of food for these bacteria to ferment and produce lactic acid in the end according to the Chicago orthodontists.

Now, this does not mean that a patient has to lower his or her carbohydrate intake. There is still the factor of time. Now if a patient eats carbs and leave their mouths for 24 hours without brushing, then they are more likely to encourage cavities to form. Compare that to a person who eats a lot but brushes after an hour. Will there be the same bacterial growth?

How To Treat Cavities

We have learned that different patients are affected with cavities differently thus, treatment for cavities also differs and depends on the different stages of the disease. For this reason, if the decay is not yet extensive, then removing the decayed portion is done.  The drilled space is then filled with filling made from silver alloy, porcelain or an equally strong resin. On the other hand, if the disease is already extensive, then the damaged tooth is removed and a gold or porcelain crown is placed over the remainder of the tooth. To know more about best dentists in Chicago .

How To Take Care of The Tooth After Cavity Treatment

Of course, once the dentist is through treating the patient’s affected tooth, then it is up to the patient to have discipline in order to prevent the cavity from affecting other teeth. Although a patient may have one or two crowns installed on his or her teeth, this does not make him or her invincible. The patient still has other teeth to consider.

The best way to prevent other teeth from getting cavities is to watch a person’s food intake. Since cavities are formed when a person eats a lot of carbohydrates, eating lesser amounts of these foods will most likely control the population of bacteria inside the mouth. Moreover, avoiding too many sweets like peanut butter and soda are also another way to prevent the formation of cavities.

On the other hand, brushing the teeth using fluoride every after meal is also a good regimen since it naturally kills the bacteria that are responsible in the formation of cavities. But then again, visiting the Chicago dentists on a regular basis is the best way to prevent cavity from coming back.

Click here for: Dental Chicago and Find a dentist in Chicago