Contact Us for Idaho Falls Dental Services
For the most part, our bodies don’t speak to us unless something is going wrong. No news is good news when it comes to the liver or the thyroid, but when they start sending you signals, it’s usually to tell you, “Hey, something’s not working right!”
The same thing applies to your teeth. You go about your day not even thinking about them. Then, you bite into something hot or cold, and wham – you get an electric shock that floods your brain with pain signals.
The point is, we take our teeth for granted, and when things go wrong, they can go wrong very quickly.
Plaque
Ah yes, the main culprit behind almost all dental problems – plaque. Any Idaho Falls dentist will tell you that plaque is bad. But why is this the case?
The reason plaque is a problem is that it’s basically made of acid. More specifically, it’s an acid that results from bacteria in your mouth feeding on carbohydrates in the food that you eat. It’s also full of this bacteria.
Signs of Dental Problems
Let’s first look at the physical symptoms.
- Tooth pain: This can range from mild to drop-you-to-your-knees severe.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures: Your teeth will send signals to protect you from anything that’s too hot or cold. Obviously, if you bite right down into an ice cream cone or a hot pocket right out of the microwave, there’s going to be pain involved. But what about a cold sandwich or a warm muffin? If you’re noticing pain with these foods, it’s a good sign you need to see your Idaho Falls dentist.
- Pain with chewing: If simply chewing your food is resulting in pain or discomfort, you likely have a problem with your teeth or gums.
Now let’s take a look at some cosmetic factors:
- Gum recession: If you’re noticing your gum line is a bit higher than usual, this is a sign of gum disease.
- Gum discoloration: If your gums are turning red or purple, this is also a sign of gum disease.
- Chronic bad breath (halitosis): This could be the result of gum disease or a rotting tooth.
Common Dental Problems
Enamel Erosion
The enamel is the protective outer layer of the tooth. It’s comprised mostly of minerals.
Enamel is strong – stronger than bone, in fact! Nevertheless, the ravages of the acid and bacteria in plaque can still do damage over time.
Enamel erosion usually appears as little black or white spots on the teeth that many mistake for cavities, but this isn’t actually the case. At least, not yet.
Your Idaho Falls dentist can treat this stage of tooth decay with a professional dental cleaning.
Dental Cavitation
A fancy way of saying “cavity”, this is the stage of tooth decay in which plaque has eaten past the enamel and into the dentin – the bony part of the tooth. Once a hole is worn away in the dentin, you officially have a cavity.
Unfortunately, there is no natural way of restoring tooth dentin – you will need a filling from your Idaho Falls dentist.
Pulpitis
The tooth pulp, as the name implies, is the “pulpy” inner material of the tooth containing various blood vessels and the tooth nerve.
Pulpitis is when plaque has eaten past the dentin and infected the tooth pulp, resulting in damage and inflammation.
If you thought a cavity hurt, pulpitis is basically nature’s cruel and unusual punishment for not brushing and flossing enough.
At this stage, your Idaho Falls dentist can perform a root canal, cleaning out all of the infected pulp and restoring the tooth with a dental crown.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
If plaque begins to infect the gums, the body reacts by releasing a hormone that causes the gums to become inflamed and swollen. This leads to gum recession, gum discoloration, and heavy bleeding when brushing.
Gingivitis is usually not very painful and can be reversed with improved diet and dental hygiene. However, if left untreated, it can progress into an advanced stage of gum disease called periodontitis.
Symptoms include:
- Advanced gum recession
- Loose and shifting teeth
- Tooth loss
- Serious pain
While periodontitis is not reversible, it is still treatable.
Idaho Falls Dentists – Pediatric and Family Dentistry
Many people are looking for an Idaho Falls dentist who can work on people of all ages. There are a number of reasons for this.
- It’s convenient to have a one-stop-shop dental office for all members of your family, from your grandparents to your young child who’s experiencing his or her first baby teeth.
- Children have different dental needs than adults.
- Children often have pronounced fear of seeing the dentist, and it’s good to know someone who not only knows how to work with children, but can also have their parents sit in with them while they get their dental work done.
- Wellness Biodentistry is a pediatric and family dental clinic. We work with people of all ages.
Biocompatible Dentistry
Also called “organic” or “natural” dentistry, biocompatible dentistry focuses on the health of the entire body, not just problems local to the teeth and supporting periodontal structures.
Wellness Biodentistry offers products and services that are healthier for the human body, including:
The body is an interconnected system, like nature itself. Our Idaho Falls dental clinic aims not only to improve your dental health, but the overall health of the body with clean dental products and safe procedures.