Why Treat Baby Teeth?

Why Treat Baby Teeth?

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/30/2015

We all know that baby teeth (most of the time) fall out and are replaced with adult teeth eventually in our lifetimes. So, if a baby tooth gets a cavity, why not just wait until the tooth falls out instead of opting for costly dental treatment? In this week’s article, San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS will discuss why it is necessary and recommended that baby teeth are treated for decay.

What happens when a baby tooth gets a cavity?

Baby teeth have thinner enamel than adult teeth, and so when a tooth gets a cavity, it can spread quickly toward the nerve and blood vessel of the tooth. As the cavity deepens at this quickened rate, painful sensitivity can develop and can turn into deep, severe pain as the pulp of the tooth becomes infected with the decay. Infected teeth can lead to abscesses that require extraction of the teeth and can sometimes cause more serious facial infections.

Why not just pull out the tooth, since it’s going to come out anyway?

When baby teeth are extracted or pulled out before they are ready, it can cause some problems. If the tooth is firmly rooted to the jaw still, the extraction would be complex and difficult, and can sometimes cause harm to the jaw bone itself and/or make it difficult for the adult teeth underneath to erupt or even form (if they have not formed fully yet). Also, when teeth are extracted early, the other teeth will shift to fill the empty space, causing difficulty for the adult teeth to erupt and increasing the probability that the child will need orthodontic treatment to correct the crowding or the teeth.

If you have questions about fillings for children or are concerned about your child’s oral health, visit San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, San Francisco pediatric dentist, baby teeth, baby teeth cavity, baby teeth treatment, baby teeth extractions, adult teeth, baby teeth fillings, problems with baby teeth, baby teeth problems, baby teeth pain, dental abscesses, tooth infection, facial infection 

How Crowded Teeth Affect Health

How Crowded Teeth Affect Health

By Mina Levi, DDS 07/23/2015

When a person thinks about getting braces, Invisalign clear aligners, or any other kind of orthodontic treatment, their main focus or reasoning is for cosmetic reasons: they want pretty, straight teeth. However, there are many more clinical reasons that orthodontic treatment like Invisalign is recommended that impacts a person’s health. In this week’s article, San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS discusses how crowded teeth affect your health.

1. Calculus buildup. When your teeth are crowded, it causes very tight and unusual contacts between the teeth, making it difficult for floss and toothbrush bristles to reach all of the surfaces of the teeth to clean the bacteria and plaque that accumulates on the teeth. Because of this, those places are usually missed and so plaque and bacteria collect there and turn into hard calculus build up that cannot be removed by home care alone.

2. Gum disease. With more bacteria collecting in these tight places, the bacteria travel into the periodontal pockets, which are the pockets between the gums and the teeth. When bacteria and plaque accumulate in these places, the attachments weaken and the gum separates from the tooth, creating a deeper pocket in which the bacteria travels and causes a cycle of bacteria and disease. Periodontal/gum disease is irreversible, and can only be treated by a professional dental hygienist, the dentist, and a rigorous home care routine.

3. Tooth decay. When calculus builds up on the teeth, the bacteria sit there and eat away at the dental enamel. Once the enamel is penetrated, the bacteria eats away at the tooth structure causing a cavity or dental decay. Once the enamel is penetrated to a certain level, the decay can only be repaired with a filling. If the decay travels to the nerve of the tooth, the person may need a root canal.

4. Misalignment of bite/jaw issues. If the teeth are crowded, the top teeth may not fit correctly over the bottom teeth and they may have a mismatch on the bite. This misalignment can cause TMJ or jaw pain or issues like clicking, popping, or sticking.

5. Broken teeth. If the teeth do not fit correctly on top of one another, the force of biting or clenching/grinding at night can cause the teeth to actually break. This can only be repaired by a dentist, and if the misalignment is not corrected the problem can occur over and over again.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding crowding of the teeth or Invisalign clear aligners, visit San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: Dentist San Francisco, crowded teeth, straight teeth, straightening teeth, orthodontics, Invisalign, Invisalign clear aligners, clear aligners, Invisalign treatment, braces, metal braces, gum disease, calculus, plaque, oral bacteria 

Signs of Anemia in the Mouth

Signs of Anemia in the Mouth

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/09/2015

A person is “anemic” or has anemia when the red blood cell count is lower than normal. Anemia also occurs when your red blood cells don’t contain enough of the iron-rich protein hemoglobin, which gives blood its red hue. There are ways to tell if you are anemic without having a blood test done, and some of the signs are in your mouth! San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS discusses anemia signs in the mouth in this week’s article.

If you have anemia, your body may not get an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood. Signs of anemia in the mouth include:

• Pale tissue in the mouth due to decreased number of red blood cells
• Ulceration of oral tissues
• Smooth, beefy-red tongue with soreness (called glossitis)

Anemia can affect your health in many ways, including increasing your risk for gum disease and infections, so be sure to inform your dentist if you have anemia or if you believe you are anemic before any dental procedures. If you have questions about anemia or the signs of anemia in the mouth, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: San Francisco Dentist, anemia, anemic, anemia signs, anemia symptoms, anemia health factors, what is anemia, do I have anemia, how can I tell if I’m anemic

Dry Mouth Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Dry Mouth Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

By Mina Levi, DDS, 07/02/2015

Many people suffer from dry mouth symptoms such as feeling thirsty all of the time or having a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth or throat. Dry mouth not only is uncomfortable, but it also increases your risk of tooth decay and gingivitis. There are many different reasons why a person may be experiencing dry mouth. In this week’s article, San Francisco dentist Mina Levi, DDS discusses dry mouth symptoms, causes and treatments.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

1.       Dry feeling in the mouth

2.       Dry feeling in the throat

3.       Chronic thirst

4.       Sores in or around mouth

5.       Split skin at the corners of the mouth

6.       Burning or tingling sensation in the mouth

7.       Dry, red tongue

8.       Trouble speaking or eating

9.       Hoarseness/sore throat

10.   Bad breath

Possible Causes of Dry Mouth

1.       Side effect of certain medications such as those used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies and asthma

2.       Side effect of certain diseases such as diabetes, anemia, HIV, and hypertension

3.       Side effect of medical treatments such as chemotherapy

4.       Dehydration

5.       Nerve damage in the head and/or neck area

6.       Lifestyle choices such as smoking or chewing tobacco

How to Treat Dry Mouth

The doctor may change the medication you are on if that is the culprit, or prescribe an oral since that helps to restore moisture in the mouth. You can also try:

1.       Brushing with fluoridated toothpaste

2.       Drinking plenty of water

3.       Using an over the counter saliva substitute

4.       Using a vaporizer to add moisture to your surrounding environment

5.       Breathing through your nose and not your mouth as often as possible

If you suffer from dry mouth and are concerned about your symptoms or treatment, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Topics: San Francisco Dentist, dry mouth, thirst, chronic thirst, dry throat, sore throat, sore mouth, constant dry mouth, constant thirst, thirsty all the time, cracked lips, dry lips, dry sores, dry mouth sores, mouth sores