When Should My Child First See The Dentist?

Dr Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Parents frequently ask me when their young child should first see the dentist. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children be seen shortly after their first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. As any parent knows, many babies and toddlers are not ready to cooperate with a full dental exam at this young age. 


Our dental office may perform visual exams on children who are very young while the child sits comfortably in the parent’s lap. In the first couple years, the mouth is so small and the teeth are so few that a quick visual exam may be able to tell us what we need to know without having to perform a full exam with tools. At this age, we find it most helpful to have a discussion with the parents on proper dental care for young teeth and how to avoid any major problems, like baby bottle tooth decay.

In our office we try to keep these first few dental appointments calm and fun so that the child can associate the dentist with a positive experience. We don’t force young children to cooperate in ways that make them fearful because dentistry is often associated with anxiety anyway. I have treated many adult patients who still have dental anxiety due to unpleasant childhood experiences at the dentist. As a team, parents and our office can work together to make going to the dentist an enjoyable and fear free experience for their children.

760-323-2771

Pregnant Moms & Dental Health

A few of our patients are new mom's to be. When a woman is pregnant, there are a lot of obvious hormonal changes. Dentally this can manifest as bleeding gums. The best preventative there is closer attention to good oral hygiene and a good diet.

Sometimes ladies develop a red purple bump or swelling on the gums called a pregnancy tumor (which sounds scary, but is benign).

It is best to avoid x-rays or medications especially during the first trimester, so we may delay any treatment or routine diagnostic x-rays a few months. Hopefully the patient has good oral health so that little problems will not turn into bigger ones because of treatment delay. There are many other good sites with information for expectant moms. In fact, here is one from the: ADA. Things are not always so easily planned but, if you are thinking about starting a family, make sure your dental treatment needs are in good order beforehand.

Oh, and don't forget to schedule your baby for their first dental visit by age one!

760-323-2771

Dangers Of An Abscessed Tooth

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

You woke up in the morning, put your clothes on and went to take your small breakfast. Everything seemed to be the same except an unpleasant feeling in your oral cavity accompanied by a general discomfort. You went to the bathroom, found a mirror and opened the mouth.

That moment you realized what was the cause of the pain you had had while chewing, the cause of that bitter taste in the mouth, the sudden and unknown sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, and that unpleasant bad breath that could be easily felt the first moments of that day.

Dentists call it “tooth abscess“. At first abscess looks like a swelled area that turned red. It hurts and you can feel how the temperature increased. Abscess usually appears when a tooth cracks or develops a deep cavity and the pulp is exposed.

Then bacteria invades the center of the tooth and the pulp starts to die. As the tooth infection progresses, pockets of pus form at the root of the tooth. Sometimes a patient will not even know abscessed tooth exists until he has a routine exam and x-ray.

An abscessed tooth must be treated. If it is ignored then complications are inevitable. Here are some of really frequent dangers of tooth abscess:

1. Loss of the tooth –  It is a painful process and you need to avoid it.

2. Spread of infection to the jaw bone – mandible or maxilla are strongly effected by abscessed tooth infection.

3. Spread of infection to soft tissue – tooth abscess can cause facial cellulite or Ludwig’s angina, a rare disease that is accompanied by fever, deviation of the pharyngeal walls, an impending airway disaster, including muffled voice, inability to tolerate secretions, and protruding tongue.

4. Sinusitis – any infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities behind the nose and eyes. Symptoms vary according to which sinus cavity is infected.

5. Brain abscess – this very important organ is situated close to the infected area. Tooth abscess and abscesses in and around the nasal sinuses, face, ears, and scalp may work their way into the brain.

6. Blood infection – the blood flow increases to the trouble area. If the abscess ruptures into neighboring areas or permits the infectious agent to spill into the bloodstream, serious or fatal consequences are likely. It is called blood poisoning – a term commonly used to describe an infection that has spilled into the blood stream and spread throughout the body from a localized origin. Blood poisoning, known to physicians as septicemia, is also life threatening. In this case important organs are affected like heart, for example.

7. Death – indubitable it is the worst and dangerous complication of abscessed tooth and it must be avoided.

Now you know that the abscessed tooth danger is big enough and next time when you feel uneasiness and dental pain, you should not ignore it and pay us a visit. This reduces the risk of tooth abscess and eases you from its dangers.


760-323-2771

Cavities Are Preventable

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Cavities are preventable and caused by certain types of bacteria (germs) that live in your mouth.  Bacteria stick to the film on your teeth called plaque. The bacteria feed on what you eat, especially sugars (including fruit sugars) and cooked starch (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc.).  About 5 minutes after you eat, or drink, the bacteria begin making acid as they digest your food.  This acid can break down the tooth’s outer surface and dissolve valuable minerals that protect your teeth.  The result is cavities. 

You are not born with the bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria are usually transferred to you at a young age by your primary care taker, most often your mother.  To reduce the chances of passing the bacteria to your children, avoid sharing utensils, straws or other items that may have saliva on them.    


How to Prevent Decay 
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste 
• Clean between teeth daily with floss 
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacking 
• Visit us regularly for professional cleanings and exams  
• Ask us about:  
Dental sealants
Xylitol gum and mints  
Fluoride treatments including varnish 


Call us today: 760-323-2771

Dental Care May Prevent Heart Attacks

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S

How can teeth, a part of the body so relatively insignificant, that it can even be pulled out almost at will, have an effect on one of the most important and almost irreplaceable body parts – the heart?

For decades, most scientists and reflexology practitioners have argued how each part of your body is connected to others, and how proper treatment of some of the most unnoticed body parts can have huge benefits on the most invaluable ones. Being one of the most complex systems in the world it is invariable that there are little known links within the body.

This is true when it comes to teeth as well. Professor Howard Jenkinson of the Bristol University, along with the Royal College of Surgeons, has identified the link between poor dental health and heart disease through their studies.

The risks of poor dental care

The mouth has almost 700 different types of bacteria living in it. Some bacteria are the harmful kind. But, there are harmless bacteria as well. These bacteria help in breaking down food particles. Every time you eat, drink or even open your mouth the numbers of bacteria in your mouth increase. Through regular brushing and proper dental care the bacteria are kept under control.

However, improper dental care can result in gum infections, gingivitis and similar oral diseases. This causes the harmful bacteria to enter the blood stream. Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are some of the bacteria causing oral infections. Such bacteria have been identified to be factors resulting in heart disease.

How to prevent heart disease

It has been the case that certain antibiotics do not seem to work against heart disease. It is possible that oral bacteria could be the reason. Professor Jenkinson and Dr Steve Kerringan are working to find a solution to this. Until such time, prevention of oral diseases and maintaining proper dental hygiene and care is the best possible method in protecting yourself.

Regular brushing, especially after meals, is the main method of keeping mouth disease at bay. Protection can be further enhanced by the use of dental care products such as anti-bacterial sprays and mouthwash. This will help to prevent against oral bacterial diseases. In turn, this would also protect against one of the causes of heart attacks.

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S. 760-323-2771

Grinding Your Teeth Can Give You A Headache

Does your wife or partner complain, every morning, about your teeth grinding or teeth clenching keeping her awake? The very fact that your wife complained about it keeping her awake made you aware about your habit. It is always the person sleeping at the side of you who will be able to tell you you have a problem with teeth grinding. This habit of grinding and clenching the teeth is known as bruxism.

People with irregular or infrequent bruxism are not  affected very much. They do not really show significant damage done to the jaws and teeth. It is those who are habitual grinders who get affected. In severe cases it can also damage one’s jaw or hearing.

The question arises as to how would one know if he or she grinds or clenches their teeth? If detected how bruxism can be treated? It has been studied that some people make a noise when grinding their teeth thus making it detectable while some do not make a single sound making it hard to detect.
There are two ways one can know if they have bruxism, first is when your partner complains about it and second is when after a night’s sleep you get up with an ache in your jaws or a slight, persistent headache. Whatever the case, a checkup by our office is pertinent.

Consequences of teeth grinding or clenching:

There are many outcomes to teeth grinding two of which are mentioned above:

• Severe toothache
• Sensitive to biting food
• Sensitive to hot or cold food
• In advanced cases the teeth can break or result in fractures
• Tooth loss

Precaution And Treatment

People visiting our office usually complain of severe toothache. To stop this toothache the very habit has to be put to an end. Otherwise there are other factors that could cause it and have to be contained:

• Lower stress and relax daily
• Reduce alcohol consumption and intake of caffeine
• If grinding becomes a problem at night ask us about our recommendations for a nightguard
• It may be caused by an irregular bite, then we would need to perform teeth alignment.

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S. 760-323-2771

What Causes Gingivitis?

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene that encourages plaque to form. Plaque is an invisible, sticky film composed mainly of bacteria. Plaque forms on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Brushing and flossing your teeth each day removes plaque. Plaque requires daily removal because it re-forms quickly, usually within 24 hours.

Plaque that stays on your teeth longer than two or three days can harden under your gumline into tartar (calculus). Tartar makes plaque more difficult to remove and creates a protective shield for bacteria. You usually can't get rid of tartar by brushing and flossing, you need a professional dental cleaning to remove it.

The longer that plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more they irritate the gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. In time, your gums become swollen and bleed easily.

Factors that can increase your risk of gingivitis include:
Poor oral health habits 
Tobacco use 
Diabetes
Older age 
Decreased immunity as a result of leukemia, HIV/AIDS or other conditions
Certain medications
Certain viral and fungal infections 
Dry mouth
Hormonal changes, such as those related to pregnancy, your menstrual cycle or use of oral contraceptives 
Poor nutrition
Substance abuse
Ill-fitting dental restorations                                     


Untreated gingivitis can progress to gum disease that spreads to underlying tissue and bone (periodontitis), a much more serious condition that can lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis and poor oral health in general may also affect your overall health in ways that aren't completely understood. Studies link periodontitis to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or lung disease. And women with periodontitis may be more likely to give birth to premature babies or babies with low birth weight than are women with healthy gums. Although more research is needed, these studies highlight the importance of taking good care of your teeth and gums.


Prevention 


The best way to prevent gingivitis is a program of good dental hygiene, one that you begin early and practice consistently throughout life. That means brushing your teeth at least twice daily — in the morning and before going to bed — and flossing at least once a day. Better yet, brush after every meal or snack or as your dentist recommends. A complete cleaning with a toothbrush and floss should take three to five minutes. Flossing before you brush allows you to clean away the loosened food particles and bacteria.


Also, see us regularly for professional cleanings, usually every six to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing gingivitis, you may need professional dental cleanings more often.


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