Tag Archives: sensitivity

What Causes Sore or Swollen Gums?

Uncategorized, , , , , ,

When you engage in regular dental hygiene, it can be normal to see a little pink in the sink every so often. This means that sometimes when you brush and floss, there’s a little bit of blood. There are many reasons why you may be bleeding and some of them are health reasons. But when it comes to your gums, it’s important to listen to the signs your mouth is telling you.

A little blood is no big deal. But if that blood also comes with sensitive, sore, or painful gums, it might be time to assess the issue. Our friendly professionals at Samaritan Dental want you to know about the warning signs your gums might be giving you. If you’re dealing with irritated or swollen gums, here are some reasons why that may be happening. Be sure to contact our office for a consultation ASAP!

It’s All About Bacteria

If you don’t practice daily dental hygiene as adamantly as you should, you may experience a variety of dental problems down the line. One such problem is the formation of bad bacteria on your teeth and gums. When this bacterium doesn’t get brushed or flossed away every day, it causes a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth. This is a dangerous substance which makes the gums infected, creating those sore and swollen symptoms you may be used to. This is a gateway to gum disease, and it’s important to make a dentist appointment right away.

Look at the Way You Brush

Sometimes, the reasons for the soreness and swelling in your gums aren’t as serious as something like gum disease. Often, the way we brush or floss maybe just a little too harsh for our mouths to handle. It’s important to invest in healthy brushing and flossing techniques so that we can be the right amount of gentle yet firm. Your teeth and gums shouldn’t be bleeding every time you brush; that is a sure sign that something is going wrong. Instead, be gentler with your floss, letting it slide itself between your teeth on its own, rather than forcing it.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a diagnosis that is typically given to someone who is experiencing swollen, irritated, and receding gums. This is a condition that often leads to gum disease; in fact, it is simply a milder version of it. Gingivitis is a serious issue that can be treated but requires a lot of dental attention and your best care.

Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include:

  • Tender or painful gums
  • Constant bad breath despite brushing
  • Pockets forming between the teeth and gums
  • Changes in your bite
  • Loose teeth
  • Bleeding gums every time you brush

Even if you don’t necessarily feel any discomfort, you still may be suffering from gingivitis. In order to prevent yourself from developing periodontitis, a more serious condition that wears away at your bone and gums, be sure to contact your friendly professionals at Samaritan Dental right away.

Get Your Gums in Good Health ASAP!

When it comes to the health of your gums, you can’t afford to wait until it’s too late. Each day you show the symptoms of gum disease, gingivitis, or periodontitis, your condition might be progressing. Ultimately, having your gums in bad shape can also affect the integrity of your entire mouth. You will be more prone to cavities, tooth loss, biting difficulties, and even bone loss.

These problems can be corrected once they’re caught, but it takes effort on both parts; the patient must invest in good dental hygiene in order to stay consistent with a treatment plan. Our dentists at Samaritan Dental can come up with a treatment solution that works best for you. If you are interested in making an appointment with us, please contact us online or give us a call at (213) 986-2933 to start your consultation.

Headshot portrait of indecisive young woman. Beautiful teen girl with pursed lips and worried facial expression looking at camera. Nervous tension, bad feelings and stress. Close up. Front view

Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Dental Emergencies, , ,

Our oral health can have a significant impact on our overall health so protecting our teeth and gums should be an important part of a healthy living plan. One way many people unintentionally damage their teeth is by using them inappropriately as a kind of Swiss army knife.

The tooth contains three layers. The center of the tooth contains blood vessels and nerves and is known as the pulp. The middle layer is known as dentin and the outer layer is called the enamel. If each layer is affected by outside forces, the more severe (and more expensive) the damage.

While your teeth are great at breaking down food, using them to open a bottle, the wrapper on anything (candy bar, bag of chips, etc.), or really anything that needs opening is not a wise choice. That plastic packaging around your new headphones is meant to be opened with scissors, not your teeth. When you use your teeth to open things you run the risk of chipping or cracking them, and you also might wear down your teeth unevenly and develop poor jaw alignment.

Just like you would warn your children not to chew on foreign objects, it’s not a great decision to do it as an adult. Yet, we all find ourselves mindlessly chewing on pens and pencils, plastic straws, toothpicks or even worse, our fingernails. We don’t think about it as we do it, but this is a bad habit that can cause our teeth to weaken and lose their structure.

Another bad dental habit many people fall into is using their teeth to crack open nuts. That’s why the nutcracker was invented! Each time you use your teeth to open a walnut, pistachio, or peanut, the shell grinds down some of the enamel on your teeth. This can cause your teeth to wear in uneven areas which can lead to cracking and chipping as well.

Our teeth serve many functions and keeping them healthy is key to our overall health. If you have some of the unhealthy habits mentioned above or if you haven’t been to a dentist in a while, it might be time to make an appointment to avoid more expensive damage later.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

Make sure you do the following to avoid the harmful effects of tooth decay.
• Brush and floss your teeth regularly and see your dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups.
• Avoid foods high in sugar and other carbohydrates which will feed on the bacteria in your mouth.
• Make sure you get enough fluoride which helps to prevent decay by making teeth more resistant to the acids that produce plaque. Fluoride is added to most public water.
• Avoid dry mouth which can be caused by some medications or by simply breathing through your mouth. Make sure you have enough saliva to help wash the food and harmful sugars from your mouth which helps to protect your teeth.
• Avoid smoking or using other tobacco products.

Emergency Dentist in Downtown Los Angeles

If you suffer from tooth pain or any other dental issue, contact our professionals at Samaritan Dental Arts. We are open on Saturdays and offer evening appointments. You can also fill out the necessary forms, meet the team of professionals and view a complete list of services. We offer flexible payment options and a caring staff ready to help ease your fears.
Don’t take your dental health for granted and don’t ignore the toothache. It might seem like a minor inconvenience now, but if left untreated, you could develop a serious infection that could impact your overall health. If you’ve neglected your oral health and haven’t seen a dentist in years, don’t wait another day. Make your appointment with the leading emergency dentist in Downtown Los Angeles today, Samaritan Dental Arts today.