Dental One Care Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

What is a Dead Tooth?

September 19, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

What is a Dead Tooth?

What is a dead tooth and what can you do about it?

A tooth is considered dead when there is no more blood flowing into its most vital parts: the nerves and blood vessels, connective tissue and nerves that make up its pulp.

A dead tooth won’t necessarily rest in peace. In some cases, it can haunt you – as it can cause the following issues:

Pain: The site can still harbor bacteria, causing pus buildup. This buildup, coupled with the remaining dead nerves, can place pressure on the periodontal membrane.
Infection: The situation above can lead to infection and inflammation. Left untreated, the bacterial infection can spread to nearby teeth. It can also penetrate deeper into the root and jawbone.
Abscess: Our friends at Laurich Dentistry said that the infection can turn into an abscess, causing swelling, immense pain, bad taste and bad odor in the mouth. Pimples on the gums and side of the mouth can also most likely occur.
Complications: Infection in the teeth, especially when left unattended, leads to other dental problems. Complications can affect not just the mouth but also other parts of the body.
Discoloration: The enamel of a dead tooth can darken, turning yellow, gray and eventually black over time.

What to do if a tooth dies

If you suspect your tooth is dying or dead, go to your dentist in Sterling Heights immediately. Pay the visit even if you are not experiencing pain. Immediate detection and treatment are important as these will protect the site from further infection.

Your dentist will check the site and may use an X-ray to further investigate its current state. Depending on the extent of the damage, your dentist may recommend either root canal or extraction.

Root canal therapy is often the first option as its objective is to save the tooth. The procedure will allow your dentist to remove all decaying and remaining pulp and clear all infection within and around the tooth.

After the tooth’s interior has been cleaned and disinfected, the site will be filled and sealed. To improve the tooth’s aesthetics, whitening treatment, crowns or veneers are usually recommended.

Meanwhile, if the entire tooth structure cannot be saved, then tooth extraction will be the only solution. The extracted tooth can be replaced with a fixed bridge, implant or denture.

Preventing the death of a tooth

The most common causes of tooth death are tooth decay and physical trauma.

To prevent tooth decay, establishing good dental habits is of utmost importance. Commit to lifelong dental care including practicing proper brushing and flossing, avoiding smoking, alcohol and too many sweets, and visiting your dentist regularly.

To prevent injuries in the mouth, the use of mouthguards when playing highly active sports is a must. If the trauma is a result of an accident or an unexpected incident, then make sure to call your trusted Sterling Heights dentist immediately to increase the chances of saving the tooth.

4 Tips For Kid’s Dental Health

August 14, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

4 Tips for Kid’s Dental Health

For most parents, getting their children to practice proper oral care is a challenge. You may even try to skip it altogether.

But as a responsible parent, you should ask for help from your trusted dentist in terms of teaching your children how to properly care for their dental health. After all, dentists are your best source of advice and recommendations for teaching children about oral health. We spoke to our friends at Laurich Dentistry about kid’s dental health. From here, you can then take on the role of guiding your children in caring for their teeth and gums.

Bear in mind that it is possible for your child to develop the habit of brushing and flossing their teeth regularly and to actually have fun observing the ideal dental practices.

To help you further in this endeavor, here are 4 tips for kid’s dental health:

1. Begin at an early age

Your child can easily develop the habit of regular brushing and daily flossing if you start teaching them early. Eventually, this can become second nature instead of a chore that their parents force them to do. By starting early, you also help them maintain good oral health to avoid plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum infections.

2. Be a role model

Being your child’s role model is the key to get them to properly brush their teeth. Forcing a brush in their mouth will not help them enjoy this activity. But when you show them that you are performing and enjoying the task yourself, there is a greater chance that you can instill such enjoyment in your kids. Remember that children pick up cues from adults.

Most children wish to become independent. Thus, they learn how to explore their surroundings on their own. If you can teach them through your actions and inform them that responsible grownups practice proper oral care, they will most likely want to do it as well.

3. Offer encouragement

Encouragement can help in letting them practice a daily dental routine. As you teach them how to properly brush their teeth, gently teach and correct them. Do not threaten them with frightening consequences of bad brushing. Be patient because it will take a while for them to know the proper way of brushing their teeth.

4. Make dental visits exciting

Dental visits do not have to be boring or stressful. A dentist in Sterling Heights, for instance, offers educational visits to help children learn about proper dental care. This is indeed a great way to introduce kids to the dentist and educate them that it can be a fun experience and not a scary one.

Finding the right dentist is crucial to making the experience exciting. So make sure to find a dentist who works well with children. How your child perceives dental visits will play a huge role in how easy or difficult it will be for you to get him in the dental chair.

Educating your child about proper oral care can be a challenging process. But a Sterling Heights Dentist shares that these tips can help make the process a lot easier. With encouragement and patience, you can help create a good daily habit.

5 Ways To Have Healthy Teeth While Living In A Sugar Culture

February 27, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

According to an article published by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar in a year, or three pounds or six cups of every week. This is a clear (and alarming) indication that we are now living in a sugar culture.

Dr. Farhat explains that too much sugar is not only bad for your waistline; it is also harmful to your teeth. Whenever you eat sugary foods and drink sweet beverages, some of the sugars linger on your teeth. Dental plaque bacteria combine with these sugars, producing plaque acids that attack the enamel. When the enamel continues to lose minerals, a hole or cavity eventually forms.

If this cavity is not treated immediately, it can progress deeper into the tooth which will cause pain when the damage hits your nerves. It can also lead to tooth loss.

Avoiding the Unhealthy Effects of Sugar on Your Teeth

To minimize the harmful effects of sugar on your teeth, here are five helpful tips to follow:

Limit your sugar intake. If you want to reduce the chances of getting cavities, reduce your consumption of sugary foods and beverages. Some of the sweet foods you should avoid are candies (all types), dried fruits, cookies, cakes, muffins and other sugary and sticky snacks. Start limiting your consumption of sodas, fruit juices, and other sugary drinks as well.
Eat foods and drink beverages that will remineralize your tooth enamel. Cheese, unsweetened yogurt, low-fat milk and other healthy sugar-free foods and drinks are rich in calcium and phosphates. When you consume more of these products, your saliva will use these nutrients to strengthen and remineralize your teeth. Green and black tea also contain substances that can suppress harmful bacteria in your mouth. As such, consider drinking more tea instead of coffee.
Minimize snacking in between meals. Going a few hours without eating will give your saliva a chance to wash away the acid from your mouth. This will also help repair your teeth before your next meal. If you’re really hungry, eat some fresh crunchy vegetables and fruit such as broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, apples, and pears.
Brush with fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly. Fluoride is a crucial mineral that prevents and even reverses tooth decay in its early stages. As such, when brushing, use fluoride toothpaste. Floss properly every day as well, preferably at night, to get rid of plaque, sugar and food debris or leftovers from your teeth.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with xylitol. Lastly, if you’re craving something really sweet, pop a xylitol gum or candy in your mouth. Eating xylitol frequently reduces the bacteria and acid in your mouth that damage your teeth.

Make sure you visit Dental One Care regularly as well. Routine checkups and dental cleanings can help you keep a healthy, beautiful smile even if you give in to your sweet cravings every now and then.

When Do I Get Dental X-Rays?

January 24, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Dental X-rays help dental professionals like Dr. Farhart, visualize the problems and diseases of the teeth and their surrounding tissues. Moreover, they help the dentist determine and treat any dental problem early in their development. As such, they help you save money and prevent any unnecessary discomfort.

Problems that dental X-rays can detect include tooth decay that is not visible with an oral exam, bone loss, abscess, and other developmental abnormalities like cysts and tumors. For children, dental X-rays are used to watch for decay, to determine if there is sufficient space in the mouth for all incoming teeth, and to check for impacted teeth.

How Often Should Your Teeth Be X-Rayed?

Most people ask, “When do I get dental X-rays? How often should my teeth be X-rayed?” Reputable dental professionals say that the frequency of getting dental X-rays will depend on your dental and medical history, along with your current condition. There are some people who need X-rays every six months while others may only need to get X-rays every two to three years.

If you are a new patient, our Dental One Care team might take X-rays as part of the initial dental exam. This will help establish a baseline record from which to compare the changes that might happen over time.

The American Dental Association or ADA provided X-Ray recommendations:

Before taking any X-rays, dentists must always perform a clinical examination as well as evaluate the oral and medical history of the patient.
If you have a history of periodontal problems or extensive decay, Dr. Farhat will take more X-rays of your teeth.
Children usually need more X-rays than adults because of their developing teeth and jaws.

Even if you do not need frequent dental X-rays, you should still see Farhat regularly for routine oral check-ups.

How to Keep X-Rays to a Minimum

Practice good oral care – Always maintain good dental health with a routine of proper brushing and flossing. Also, see Farhat on a regular basis for check-ups and cleaning.
Talk to Dr. Farhat – If you have concerns about how frequently X-rays should be taken, discuss all of them with Dr. Farhat. You can be provided with suggestions about how to go longer between radiation exposures without compromising your oral health.
Bring your most recent X-rays each time you change Dr. Farhat.

Dental X-rays are necessary because they can identify problems that can’t be detected through a simple dental examination. This way, these dental issues won’t become worse and more difficult to treat. But make sure that before having X-rays, Dr. Farhat provides you with a valid clinical reason.

Contact our office today to make an appointment.