Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

A tooth that is sensitive isn’t shy about letting us know it’s sensitive. In fact, it lets us know in a pretty loud, zippy way when we sip on a hot, cold or sweet beverage or breathe in cold air through our mouths. You know the feeling — it feels like a “zing” of pain — and it’s usually nothing to worry about. But once in a while, a sensitive tooth could indicate a more serious issue that requires your dentist’s attention.

Through a simple oral exam, our Royal Oak family dentist can work to rule out several potential dental issues, which we list below. Keep reading to find out ways that we recommend dealing with sensitive teeth.

 What causes tooth sensitivity?

The zing sensation that tooth sensitivity is notorious for happens when the tooth’s nerve is exposed to stimuli. Teeth have layers: a yellow “dentin” layer on the inside, and the white, durable shell known as enamel which is responsible for insulating a tooth from temperature variations. When the dentin under the enamel is exposed to stimuli, a tooth becomes susceptible to discomfort because of temperature changes, biting pressure or even sugary foods and beverages.

Here’s what could be going on when you experience tooth sensitivity:

• Thinning enamel
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder — a disorder of the joints, muscles and ligaments that connect the jaw to the skull
• Bruxism — the clenching and grinding of teeth, usually during sleep
• Cracked or damaged tooth
• Gum disease

One way to determine what could be causing your tooth sensitivity is to visit our family dentist near Birmingham, but you may want to first try to narrow it down yourself at home by trying the following:

• Use toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth
• Brush your teeth more gently
• Eliminate food and beverages that irritate your sensitive tooth
• Wear a mouthguard at night

Tooth sensitivity in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan

The very best call to make about a sensitive tooth is the one to our Royal Oak family dentist at Hartrick Dentistry, especially if you can’t seem to manage the sensitive tooth at home. Give us a call at (248) 712-1149, or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

At Hartrick Dentistry, we strive to prevent tooth loss whenever possible. We can protect a permanent tooth by installing a dental crown, saving teeth even if they have sustained serious damage. Once in place, a crown restores the shape, function and appearance of your tooth.

You might be wondering, when is the best time to get a crown? Find out today on the blog, as we explore when a crown is the best treatment option.

What is a dental crown and how does it work?

A crown replaces the whole exterior of a tooth. In the past, receiving a crown entailed two appointments with your dentist. At Hartrick Dentistry, however, we now have CEREC® technology that can complete an entire permanent crown in a single visit. We take digital impressions of the tooth being treated and then fabricate the permanent crown right there in our dental office in Royal Oak, eliminating the need for traditional impressions or a temporary restoration. Digital scans also are more accurate, which means your crown will align better with your bite. We customize a crown to the shade of your other natural teeth, so that it blends seamlessly into your smile.

We work exclusively with crowns made of dental porcelain, a material that is beautiful, durable and has a translucency similar to natural tooth enamel. Once your crown is installed, Dr. Hartrick will make sure it fits well and that it aligns with your bite. You should be able to resume your normal routine almost immediately once the procedure is complete. Maintaining it is easy; just brush and floss your crown the same way you would your other natural teeth.

When is a crown the best treatment option?

• Injury: A crown can repair a tooth that has been fractured, broken or severely chipped. This prevents further damage to the tooth or potential exposure of the dental nerve.
• Decay: Certain areas of decay are too large to be repaired by a filling. Even in the event of serious damage to a tooth from decay, a crown can restore the exterior and repair the tooth.
• Failing restoration: If an existing restoration such as a filling needs to be replaced, then you may need to install a crown to prevent additional harm to the tooth.
• At the end of another procedure: We install a crown at the end of a root canal or to complete the installation of a dental implant.
• For aesthetic reasons: Sometimes a crown is a good choice for a cosmetic procedure. It can be ideal for a badly misshapen tooth, a tooth with severe stains that does not respond to whitening procedures or a tooth that cannot be treated with veneers or a dental bonding procedure.

Dental Crowns in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan

Are you facing any of the above treatment situations? If so, then schedule a consultation at Hartrick Dentistry today to learn more about our crown procedures or any other treatment offered at our office in Royal Oak. Make your appointment by calling ((248) 549-0950 or visiting our website.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

Dr. Nancy Hartrick is a distinguished dentist serving the communities of Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI. She has been helping patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles for over 30 years. Apart from providing top-quality dental care, Dr. Hartrick is also a prolific writer and speaker on various dental topics. In her recent article, she talks about the importance of onboarding intraoral scanners and the digital workflow in your practice. Dr. Hartrick stresses the benefits of using these technologies, including faster and more accurate diagnoses, improved patient experience, and increased efficiency. She provides insightful tips on how dental practitioners can seamlessly integrate intraoral scanners and digital workflows into their practices and enhance the quality of their work. Dr. Hartrick’s article is a valuable resource for dental professionals looking to incorporate cutting-edge technologies into their practices.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

The idea of bad breath, also referred to as breath odor or halitosis, is enough to cause social anxiety. Many people are concerned about their breath, and as many as 30% of the population should be. They know that no one wants to be around someone with bad breath. It is unpleasant and can lead to the avoidance of a person that normally would be pleasant to be around. In some cases, when it is malodorous enough, it can lead to professional limitations. Halitosis, in fact, is one of the most unattractive aspects of social interactions. While there are many causes of breath odor, there are also many ways to banish it.

Usually, bad breath is a result of poor oral health. The oral cavity is responsible for about 90% of bad breath cases. This means that this breath odor can be caused by oral diseases (such as gingivitis and periodontitis) , tongue coating, food impaction, dry socket, dry mouth, an accumulation of oral bacteria, stress, and age-related factors (decreased oral mobility or the use of removable prostheses).

Halitosis can also result from outside of the oral cavity. This means it can come from ear/nose/throat (ENT) or respiratory diseases (sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchiectasis), specific chronic diseases, drugs and certain chemicals or medicines.

So, if there are many causes of bad breath, how can it be corrected? Other than not eating foods that smell bad themselves, this article will detail eight ways to do that.

Brushing teeth

Teeth brushing is the number one thing that prevents or helps bad breath because it prevents the buildup of bacteria on decaying food particles that get stuck on teeth or gums. These bacteria produce sulfur compounds that can lead to bad breath. However, brushing just one time daily is not enough. Because people eat and drink multiple times a day, they should also brush their teeth multiple times a day, ideally after every meal, and they should rinse their mouths with water after drinking a beverage that isn’t water.

Floss more often

Flossing is one of the most effective ways to conquer bad breath because it lifts away food particles that are trapped between teeth, and it controls plaque buildup which is a sticky film of bacteria that forms between teeth on the tooth itself. Flossing gets in places that brushing cannot reach. By removing the residual food particles and plaque between the teeth, flossing prevents the bacteria from breaking down into lactic acid that eats tooth enamel.

Brush or scrape the tongue

Tongue coating is one of the most prevalent causes of halitosis, but it can be removed. The easiest way is to brush the tongue gently with a toothbrush, but sometimes even that is not enough. A tongue scraper is a small metal or plastic tool that is designed to apply even pressure across the surface of the tongue to remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells. A 2008 study compared teeth brushing alone and teeth brushing plus tongue scraping and found a significant reduction in the bacteria present when tongue scraping was included in oral hygiene.

Drink water throughout the day (or use mouthwash)

Often, breath odor is caused by a dry mouth. Some people do not make enough saliva, a condition called xerostomia, which can lead to tooth decay and bad breath. Saliva is needed to moisten the mouth, rinse away acids produced by plaque and dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. Drinking water throughout the day will help with these processes. It will also rinse away excess sugar that has been consumed.

A mouthwash can serve the same purpose. As a matter of fact, there are certain mouthwashes that are supposed to treat dry mouths.

Chew gum

Chewing sugarless gum can help eliminate bad breath because chewing gum stimulates saliva. Studies have shown that chewing gum for at least 20 minutes after a meal can lower the risk for cavities and dental erosion. In addition to the fresh scent, which is part of the gum, it reduces the chance of tooth decay that can also cause bad breath.

Stop smoking (or chewing tobacco)

Smokers have an increased risk for halitosis. Smoker breath is not only bad because it smells like stale cigarettes but because smokers actually have bad breath. The reason for this is that the chemicals in tobacco increase the synthesis of toxic volatile sulfur compounds in diseased pockets. Smoking causes a decrease in the normal flora (good bacteria) in the mouth which causes an increase in the pathogenic microbes. In other words, smoking causes an imbalance in the mouth. It also leads to low saliva production.

Change your diet

Diets can affect the way a person’s breath smells too. A high-sugar diet without sufficient brushing, flossing, and scraping allows bacteria to grow on the teeth leading to bad breath. A low carb diet or high protein diet can also affect the way breath smells. Low carbohydrate diets can cause the breath to smell like ketones – or a very metallic smell.

See a dentist

If bad breath continues after trying all the above solutions, it is time to see a dentist. They can check to see if the halitosis is related to a dental problem.

If you need to see a dentist about bad breath in Royal Oaks, MI or the surrounding areas, Dr. Nancy Hartrick at Hartrick Dentistry PC will be happy to help! Call today at 248-712-1149