Dental Concerns

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Welcome to Rainbow Dental Center

Cosmetic Dentistry • Children's Dentistry
  General Dentistry • Sedation Dentistry

• Dry Mouth
• Sleep Apnea and Loud Snoring
• Burning Mouth
• Dental Health for Seniors
• Bad Breath (Halitosis)
• Dental Decay "Cavities"
• Dental Disease during Pregnancy
• Accidental Tooth Loss by Injury

Dry Mouth
Doctors used to think that dry mouth was a normal part of aging. They now know that's not true. Older, healthy adults shouldn't have a problem with saliva.

Dry mouth happens when salivary glands don't work properly. This can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste and even speak. Dry mouth also can add to the risk of tooth decay and infection. You can get dry mouth from many diseases or medical treatments, such as head and neck radiation therapy. Many common medicines also can cause dry mouth.

If you think you have dry mouth, talk with one of our dentists or your doctor to find out why. If your dry mouth is caused by a medicine you take, your doctor might change your medicine or dosage.

To prevent the dryness, drink extra water. Cut back on sugary snacks, drinks that have caffeine or alcohol, and tobacco. One of our dentists or your doctor might also suggest that you keep your mouth wet by using artificial saliva, which you can get from most drug stores. Some people benefit from sucking hard candy.

For more information regarding dental problems of the elderly, please call our office.

Sleep Apnea and Loud Snoring
Snoring can be very annoying, and may disrupt or strain your relationships with your spouse, family members, or roommates. Snoring may also be a sign that you actually stop breathing at times during the night, and it can be very serious. Sleep apnea is even a more serious condition because the throat becomes blocked during the night, stopping breathing for short periods of time. If you have sleep apnea, your partner may hear you alternate between snoring very loudly, and being very quiet. You may even gasp or snort in your sleep. Some general symptoms of sleep apnea or snoring can be waking up tired, even after a full night's sleep, or waking up with a headache. Additionally, some people feel very sleepy, or fall asleep at inappropriate times.

A number of appliances and treatments exist today to treat snoring and sleep apnea disorders. Our office provides dental appliances which can help maintain this optimal position comfortably without surgery! Sleep apnea is a serious health condition for many people and our office will work with you and your physician to address your concerns. For more information regarding sleep apnea please call our office.

Burning Mouth
Burning mouth syndrome is a painful and often frustrating condition. Some patients compare it to having burned their mouth with hot coffee. The burning sensation may affect the tongue, the roof of the mouth, the gums, the inside of the cheeks and the back of the mouth or the throat. The condition sometimes is known as "burning tongue (or lips) syndrome," "scaled mouth syndrome," "glossodynia" and "stomatodynia."

In addition to the burning sensation, other conditions-such as a dry or sore mouth or a tingling or numb sensation throughout the mouth and tongue-may occur. A bitter or metallic taste also may be present. This condition can affect men and women, but it is especially common in women during or after menopause.

The exact cause of burning mouth syndrome often is difficult to pinpoint. The disorder has long been linked to a variety of other conditions: menopause, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, tongue thrusting, disorders of the mouth (oral thrush and dry mouth), acid reflux, cancer therapy (irradiation and chemotherapy) and psychological problems. Some researchers also have suggested dysfunction in the nerves supplying the mouth and tongue as a possible cause. Strictly speaking, the term "burning mouth syndrome" should only be used when a definite cause has not been found.

Once burning mouth syndrome begins, it may persist for many years. Patients who have it may awaken with no pain only to find that the burning sensation grows progressively worse during the day. They may have difficulty falling asleep. The discomfort and restlessness may cause mood changes, irritability, anxiety and depression.

One of our dentists can confirm the diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Dental Health for Seniors
Age in and of itself is not a dominant or sole factor in determining oral health. However, certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers, may make brushing or flossing difficult to impossible to perform. Medications you may be taking can also affect your oral health and may make a change in your dental treatment necessary.
Advancing age puts many older adults at risk for a number of oral health problems, such as the following:

• Darkened teeth
• Dry mouth
• Diminished sense of taste
• Root decay
• Tooth loss
• Gum disease
• Uneven jawbone
• Denture-induced stomatitis
• Thrush
• For more information regarding dental problems of the Senior Citizens, please call our office.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Most bad breath (halitosis) comes from something in the mouth. Food sticks between your teeth, around the gums and on your tongue. If you don't brush and floss your teeth every day, this food can rot. The rotten bits of food cause a bad smell in your mouth. Rotten food also helps bacteria to grow in your mouth. This bacteria can cause gum disease, or gingivitis. Gingivitis also causes bad breath.
Certain foods, especially ones like garlic and onions that contain pungent oils, can contribute to bad breath because the oils are carried to your lungs and out through your mouth. Smoking is also a major cause of bad breath. Bad breath may also be a sign of a health problem. If you have questions regarding halitosis, please call our office.

Dental Decay "Cavities"
Although tooth decay has declined among young children as a group, it can still be a problem for individual children, and even teens and adults. That’s because plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and after many such attacks, the enamel can break down and a cavity forms. The following are some things you can do to prevent decay:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an inter-dental cleaner.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
• Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.
• Please call our office with any questions you may have about the benefits using a sealant in preventing dental decay.

Dental Disease During Pregnancy
In a statement released to the news media, the ADA recommends that pregnant women should continue to see a dentist regularly for oral exams and professional teeth cleanings. Maintaining good oral health during pregnancy, notes the Association, can be critical to the overall health of expectant mothers and their babies.
"Left untreated, some maternal oral problems can potentially threaten the health of unborn children," the ADA said. "For example, studies have shown that pregnant women with severe gum disease may be at increased risk for pre-term delivery. Preliminary follow up studies have shown professional oral health care administered during pregnancy to this at-risk group actually improved pregnancy outcomes."
We recommend that pregnant women postpone elective dental radiographs until after delivery; however, there are times when a radiograph may be required during pregnancy to help dentists diagnose and treat oral disease.
When dental X-rays are required, the Association recommends that a protective thyroid collar and apron be used, unless specific clinical conditions indicate otherwise.

Accidental Tooth Loss By Injury
If you have sustained any significant blow to the teeth or jaws, it is advisable to see a dentist as soon as possible. If a tooth has been knocked out, it is possible to save it, if you act swiftly.

• Pick the tooth up by the crown (the rounded end). Do not touch the root.
• Get the person to whom the tooth belongs to suck it clean.
• Working gently and carefully, reposition the tooth into the socket (the hole from where the tooth came). If this is not possible, store the tooth in a cup of milk, or under the patient's tongue.
• Hold in place by gently biting on a clean cloth (handkerchief or soft cotton), or hold in place with finger pressure.
• Get to a dentist straightaway