Dr. Jesse Aron Grimm, DDS

There are many things to do to help avoid cavities:

-Floss before you brush at least once a day, after every meal is best
-Brush at least once a day-just before bed is best, after every meal is best.
-Drink only water or milk between meals. Most other drinks have a high acidity content that causes cavities, and diet drinks are just as bad. Things you add to water are acidic as well.
-If you chew gum or eat candy, make sure it is sweetened with Xylitol; it helps prevent cavities.
-Avoid sticky, chewy, sugary snacks, as they stick to your teeth and are big contributor to cavities.
-Check with a physician and see if you have acid reflux, it can be a contributor of decay.
-Too many acidic fruits too often in your diet can contribute to cavities.
-A post-floss and brush high and ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate) medicament applied to the the teeth just before bed and left on can greatly reduce cavities.
-Many medications contribute to dry mouth, which is a big contributor to tooth decay since saliva helps reduce bacteria and remineralize your teeth and prevent decay.
-See your dentist regularly for exams and teeth cleaning.

This is a good list of Do's, Don'ts, and things to check on that will go a long way to prevent cavities.

Dr. Grimm

Unfortunately there are not any safe reliable home remedies that I know of to recommend. There are commercially available safe reliable home systems that are reasonably priced.

Yes. Aspirin (acetysalicylic acid) is still a very good non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever. It can be taken in combination with acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on their respective containers to achieve even greater pain control. Together they are better than opioid (codeine type) pain relievers. As with any medications, you may be taking other medications that aspirin can not be taken with, or have conditions where aspirin is not recommended, so check with your doctor and or pharmacist before taking any medications.

Dr. Grimm

Yes to both questions. Lost teeth puts more stress on the remaining teeth and increased wear and a hi potential for shifting of other teeth and loss of vertical dimension of occlusion- which is hoe far your jaws are from each other when your teeth are together. Loss in this distance can cause other jaw and hearing issues like tinitis-ringing in the ears, and tmd or jaw joint issues. So an oral exam and consult is best for a treatment plan for your situation. Dr. Grimm.

Bad breath can be a combination of many factors. Flossing and brushing well after every meal will go a long way to curb the issues involved if you include brushing the roof of your mouth and your tongue far back as you can comfortably get. Food particles, bacteria and there waste products-volatile sulfates are the contributors. Avoid alcohol containing rinses or sprays because they contribute to the problem by drying out tissues and saliva which increases volatile sulfates (rotten egg) and methyl mercaptan (barnyard) smells. So, drink plenty of water, use alcohol-free mouth washes and antibacterial sprays, and get your teeth and gums professionally checked cleaned three times a year.

No, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. Removal or keeping depends on many factors that need to be evaluated intraoraly and with special X-rays. These can usually be done  at your local dentist. 

The main concern for any patient and liquids and amount of exposures per day. Many liquids we like to drink are acidic. Whether it is from a natural source, citric acid in fruit juices, tannic acid in teas, or an added source,carbonic and phosphoric acid in soft drinks. Some vegetable juices such as tomato are acidic as well. There are many resources online easily accessed that give acidic PH of many drinks and juices. Teeth start to dissolve at a ph of 5.5. Any liquid ph lower than that will dissolve teeth over time. This is where amount and duration of exposure to these liquids becomes a concern. A few exposures with short duration like a three meal day are usually no problem. More exposures with long duration like sipping drinks of this type often through the day are very damaging. Stomach acid is just as bad. If a liquid diet produces an acid reflux problem, that can be just as damaging. Sugary drinks like juices contribute to the problem by feeding bacteria that are naturally in our mouths and use these sugars to produce acids of their own that dissolve the teeth and cause tooth decay. So taking steps to avoid these issues by limiting the intake or exposure to the teeth, rinsing thoroughly with water after consuming acidic liquids and flossing and brushing regularly is a sensible plan for any diet pattern and will do you well.

Yes. Ice is a very hard structure damaging to teeth. Crushed ice that is not just fresh out of the freezer is not as bad but still can damage teeth.

If a root canal therapy cannot be completed in one visit there can be different reasons and length of time before reappoint can very with each reason. with standard root canal therapy time of treatment may require more visit. excessive inflamation may require a second visit. excessive infection may require more than one visit to control and complete treatment. There is no set amount of time to wait for any of these scenarios. Usually two weeks will be enough time for reappoint but depends on the clinician and the case. As long as the patient is careful to follow post op instructions and avoid eating on the tooth,finish treatment with in one to two months should be fine. Dr. Grimm

The best way to treat dental plaque is to prevent build up by regular proper flossing and brushing daily and regular dental visits for exam and maintenance. If your gums become sore it could be gingivitis or a more severe periodontitis. Both of which could require a more involved treatment. Your best solution is to visit a dentist for evaluation and diagnosis to formulate a treatment plan and follow through with treatment. Dr. Grimm

Yes, you should take advantage of the in office professional fluoride treatment. Most dentists are now using the varnish just like for children which incorporates over 6 hours you can eat and drink. It comes off when you brush before bed. It provides an extra benefit of fluoride over about a 3 month period preventing decay. The professional rinse is more effective than the home rinse as well and is worth the investment. It is not the same as the home rinse. The home rinse can act as an added replenisher that is beneficial as well if you chose to use it in addition. Dr. Grimm

Crown are restorations for significantly broken down teeth Some of those teeth have pulpal (internal dental soft tissue) problems that may require root canal therapy. Some times just a crown being too high in occlusion(too tall, not fitting with opposing teeth) can make them very uncomfortable and need adjustment. Either way you should call your dentist and discuss your symptoms so an evaluation can be done and a diagnosis of your condition and discuss prop. Dr. Grimmer treatment

Her motivation is a great thing to foster. Continue to guide her in proper brushing. Following a certain pattern. Starting on the outside back right top work around the top front to the other side. Move to the inside and flow back around to the right again. Drop to the bottom right and around outside to left side. back inside and around to right again. Having a pattern set up and guided will encourage not missing any area. As her proficiency improves you can give her more freedom in the task. It is usually best to pretty closely monitor the process until about 6 yrs old. Lack of proper home care and diet can have serious consequences on teeth (significant decay-cavities). So, this short-term good supervision can have big results long-term. It is absolutely worth the effort.

Dr. Grimm

Yes. Most all studies will show that electric tooth brushes do a better job than a manual. Just like a manual tooth brush you need to use them properly. you can damage the gum tissue around your teeth by over brushing- being to aggressive, pressing to hard.The electric tooth to purchase to purchase is one that will let you know if you are pressing to hard ie-changes sound has a light that comes on. Something that indicates to the user they being to aggressive and will cause damage- Recession loss of gum tissue on the tooth. Proper use just gently guide the tooth brush over all surfaces and let it do the work. Dr.Grimm.

Children should be seen every 6 months. They are growing fast. Oral home care is typically less than ideal. Diet and habits can contribute to caries(cavity) development. Things can progress rapidly. Prevention is always best. Early detection is better than late. All these add up to a best practice 6 month recall program. Dr. Grimm.

Either traditional complete dentures or implant supported overdentures or implant retained full arch fixed restorations are the options. Traditional complete dentures are the least expensive quickest and least complex restoration option. Implant retained full arch fixed restorations are the most involved best and more costly of the choices. Which restoration is best for your mother would best be determined by your dentist in a consult. Dr. Grimm

Not necessarily. It really depends on the case. Some require time to fully heal and recover. The first step would be a follow up with the treating dentist to review your treatment and the expected outcome. The level of your sensitivity and how it effects your daily quality of life and function are important aspects in your overall plan. Dr. Grimm

How many times a day you should floss really depends on your specific oral care needs. For most people with good oral health and dietary habits, at least once a day is recommended. This is because studies show that bacteria damaging to your gingiva (gums) starts to develop within 24 hours of removal. Individuals with a high caries (cavity) rate (more than one within the last 6 months) should floss at least 2 to 3 times a day (after meals), followed by brushing with a fluoride toothpaste.

Dr. Grimm

Swelling and pain of the gums usually indicates an infection. This can be from the bacteria in the gum tissue, only a periodontal abscess or it can be from an infection from a dead tooth, an endodontic abscess. In either case, an exam by a dental professional is indicated for diagnosis and recommended treatment.

Dr. Grimm

Usually, once stitches are removed after extraction, soft food and drink is permitted.
Dr. Grimm