Dental hygiene practices such as flossing and tooth brushing are valuable tools in reducing plaque buildup and preventing cavities and gum disease. As we enter October, National Dental Hygiene Month, your Gary dentist Dr. Cain wants to review the benefits of daily flossing. (more…)
Top 3 Flaws Fixed With Porcelain Veneers
Successful. Confident. Approachable. Youthful. Professional. As numerous studies have shown, people tend to associate these flattering adjectives with those who possess healthy, attractive smiles. This realization comes as something of a blow for someone who lacks confidence in their teeth, just as it buoys someone who has no qualms about flaunting their best feature. Dr. Nicholas Cain, a dentist who offers porcelain veneers in Gary, IN, lists key benefits of entrusting your smile to this popular cosmetic dental treatment.
What’s Scarier Than Getting a Root Canal Treatment?
…believe it or not, NOT getting a root canal is far more frightening than the procedure itself. Dr. Nicholas Cain, a Gary, IN dentist who has performed countless root canal treatments, explains that the consequences of delaying or avoiding the procedure can be painful, costly, and infinitely more unpleasant.
What Is a Root Canal Treatment, Anyway?
First, some basic tooth anatomy. Each tooth has three separate layers: the outermost enamel, which surrounds a thick layer of dentin, all wrapped around a nerve-filled core called the pulp. Several root canals run through the tooth and may become infected, at which point a root canal treatment is needed to remove the infection and protect the tooth from future damage.
First, your dentist makes a small hole in your tooth to gain access to the infected tissue. After carefully removing the tissue and debris, the area is sealed off to prevent contamination and infections. Finally, your dentist places a specially made dental crown over the tooth, allowing the tooth to function properly and maintain a natural appearance.
But Won’t It Hurt?
As with any procedure—medical or dental—some amount of discomfort is to be expected. The good news is that root canal treatment techniques and materials have improved greatly over the past decade, making them more efficient and comfortable for you, the patient. For example, we offer multiple types of sedation dentistry to quell anxiety and help relax you while you receive important dental care.
You could compare it to removing a splinter. Do you remember what it was like to get a splinter as a child? Obviously the splinter was painful, but the fear of having it removed led to a tearful meltdown the second mom or dad picked up a pair of tweezers. After much drama, the splinter was removed and the pain was inevitably fleeting. Had you allowed the splinter to remain in your finger, you would have gone on hurting for days, weeks, even, and that’s assuming it didn’t become infected. A root canal treatment is similar. The sooner it is taken care of, the sooner you can get back to your pain-free life.
Can’t It Wait?
Understand that taking action as early as possible will help minimize discomfort and improve healing. If you wait too long, the tooth may become non-vital, or dead. A tooth that is non-vital is past the point of repair; it must be extracted altogether. A bridge or removable denture may be needed to avoid the damaging effects of tooth loss. It’s also possible for an infection to spread, causing greater pain and the need for more dramatic dental work.
Need more info about root canals in West Des Moines, IN? To learn more about our restorative dental services, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Cain, contact our Gary, IN dentist office at 219.938.2637. We welcome patients living in Northwest Indiana, including Gary, Miller, and Miller Beach.
Looking at Apples in a New Dental Light
Kids are back to school, and cooler weather is just around the corner. Apple picking and then biting into a crisp, fall apple is one of those quintessential seasonal activities. Most of us feel great about choosing an apple as a snack for ourselves or our children. After all, apples are known for keeping the doctor away, aren’t they? Unfortunately, while the nutrients in apples are certainly good for our bodies, modern apples have some qualities which are not ideal in terms of dental health: Namely sugar and acid.
Too Sweet to be Healthy?
Technology has an important place in our lives, but unfortunately, we sometimes use our knowledge in odd ways. Take produce, for example, or more specifically, apples. Through cross-breeding, we have managed to raise the sugar content of apples by 50% over recent years. This means you, as the consumer, has access to a sweeter, larger, more attractive apple. This is all at a cost, however. Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture uncovered the fact that modern apples now have the equivalent of four teaspoons of sugar. Sugar is a well-known contributor to cavities, but the effects of acid on teeth can be just as damaging.
Acid in Apples
If you were in the middle of enjoying an apple while reading this blog, would you feel shocked to hear that the fruit is just as bad for your teeth as soda? Unfortunately for your teeth, apples have an alarmingly high amount of acidity. Acid erodes the protective layer of dental enamel that covers your teeth. Without tooth enamel, bacteria work their way into the dentin of your teeth, starting the process of tooth decay. For this reason, many dentists are recommending that you consider an apple more of a dessert as opposed to an “any time” staple. Make sure to rinse your mouth with water after consuming an apple.
ABOUT NICHOLAS CAIN, DDS.
As a native of northwest Indiana, Nicholas Cain, DDS, is dedicated to providing excellent general, preventive, cosmetic, and family dentistry services to the community that raised him. To schedule your next dental appointment, call Healthy Smiles today at 219-938-2637.
Pay Attention to your Tongue
You are probably accustomed to sticking your tongue out when you go to the doctor with a sore throat. You may have even stuck your tongue out at another person when you were a sassy youth. Tongues do have multiple roles in the lives of human being. Arguably, the most important functions of tongues would include being able to taste and the ability to speak. Dentists take and interest in your tongue at exams because it is one of the gauges of your dental health. Tongues are sometimes the reason for halitosis. In fact, brushing and/or scraping your tongue during your oral hygiene routine is one possible way to prevent bad breath. However, even if you don’t struggle with foul odors in your mouth, there are other reasons to get to know your own tongue.
Swollen Taste Buds
It is possible that your taste buds can become temporarily inflamed for a variety of reasons. Sometimes your tongue will swell slightly as a result of biting the muscle accidentally, either consciously or unconsciously. Canker sores can create tiny lesions or ulcers which look like swollen taste buds, so it can be easy to confuse the two conditions. If you have any sort of mouth sores which don’t heal within two (more…)
Tips for Finding a Dentist
So, you need to find a dentist? Perhaps you’re new to town, or your dentist of 20 years has just retired? Maybe you have certain ideas for your dental care, and your current dentist isn’t meeting expectations. Whatever the case, finding a dentist from scratch can be daunting enough of a task that you may find yourself putting it off. The next thing you know, a year or more has passed, and you’re way overdue for a checkup and cleaning. This can lead to unnecessary conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay.
Make a List of Your Dental Desires
List making is an age old method for organizing thoughts, weighing pros and cons, and narrowing things down. When it comes to choosing a dentist, consider making a list of all of the things you hope to find. Some examples of important considerations would be:
- How close is the office to your home or work?
- How long has the dentist had his or her practice?
- Does the prospective dentist embrace/employ the latest technology?
- What types of dentistry does the practice encompass? (For example, if you think you may want cosmetic procedures or orthodontic work in the future, will you be able to get that at the same practice?)
- Can they fit you in within a reasonable time frame, or will you have to wait longer than 6 months just to get a cleaning appointment?
- How courteous and helpful is the office staff?
Alkaline Diet Can Reduce Gum Disease Symptoms
PH levels in the body are connected to overall health. When there is too much acid in your system, inflammation occurs, and can cause a host of health issues, including problems like gingivitis (early gum disease) periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and tooth decay. Many people find that achieving an acidic-alkaline balance (balanced PH level) through diet can reduce, and even erase, the symptoms of medical conditions. While diet changes should be discussed with your general physician, here are some tips for nutrition changes which might decrease inflammation in your mouth as well as your body.
Stick to the Perimeters of the Store for Tooth-Friendly Options
Whole foods in their natural state are healthy for our bodies. Fun packages with easy-to-prepare foods are tempting, to even the most strong-willed. Since most whole foods can be found on the outer aisles of your grocery store, you can avoid temptation by only pushing your cart around the perimeters. Especially focus on the produce section, and shop organic when you can. The inner aisles shelve the most processed foods which are likely to make you feel unhealthy and guilty.
Green Smoothies for Gum Disease
Now that you have filled your refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables, start your day with a green smoothie. Spinach, kale, zucchini, and cucumbers are just a few (more…)
July 2014: Entertain Your Kids This Summer at Funflatables in Gary, IN
Kids love to move and bounce and as parents you know how important it is to keep your kids active. Good overall health includes regular exercise. If you’re looking for things to do this summer before school begins again, your northwest Indiana dentist, Dr. Nicholas Cain, suggests Funflatables Party-n-Play centers.
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Toothbrush Basics
Your toothbrush is an important instrument. It not only keeps your teeth clean and helps maintain your oral health, but it is instrumental in maintaining your overall health too. If you don’t use the right toothbrush or you don’t use your toothbrush properly, you are not effectively warding off periodontal disease which has been linked to other systemic diseases. Today, your northwest Indiana dentist, Dr. Nicholas Cain, discusses toothbrush basics.
What Is Oxygenating Toothpaste?
When you were a kid you simply were required to brush your teeth three times a day. Then you were required to brush your teeth, and floss daily. Now you are required to brush, floss, and brush your tongue. We learn as we go along, and research has indicated that flossing and tongue brushing helps keep your mouth healthy, which in turn contributes to your overall health. When brushing your tongue, using oxygenating toothpaste is recommended. In today’s blog, your northwest Indiana dentist, Dr. Nicholas Cain discusses the benefits of oxygenating toothpaste.