Dr. Scott M. Dubowsky, DMD, FAGD

Your crowned tooth should not still hurt. You need the go beck to your dentist.

Scott M. Dubowsky, DMD

The simple answer is your bad breath may be caused by dental issues including tooth decay and gum disease. There may be other issues that can cause bad breath which includes nasal and sinus issues as well as pharyneal problems and gastrointestinal issues. The bottom line is that you should make an appointment with your dentist to check this out.

Yours truly, 

Scott M. Dubowsky, DMD

Local anesthesia can have minor side effects but not usually. First no dentist uses Novocain anymore. There are some choices with anesthetic so ask your dentist before your procedure.

Dear “perfect teeth,”

I am sure that you have nice teeth but in over 40 years as a dentist, I have never met anyone with “perfect” teeth. Having established that, I can tell you that tooth sensitivity is usually a sign that the nerve inside the tooth has been aggravated. The cause of this could be anything from decay, to acidic foods, to tooth whitening agents, to a new toothpaste. You can also damage a tooth just by going to temperature extremes with the foods you ingest.

My suggestion is to go see your dentist so that he or she can help pinpoint the problem and then provide a remedy.

You seem to be doing all of the right things. One additional thing is to avoid excessive snacking, especially with foods that are high in refined carbohydrates.

Periodontal disease depends on a number of factors. Genetics is one of them but you can't change that. Make sure you get your mouth healthy by going to your dentist and following his/her suggestions. Also discuss your diet with your dental provider.

Does not sound like gum disease but is something that should definitely be checked by a dentist.

Brushing is a good start. Make sure you brush the cheek side, the tongue side, and the biting side in all four quadrants of the mouth. This should take approximately 2 minutes. You should brush like this at least twice a day using a soft brush, use small strokes and angle the brush 45 degrees into the neck of the tooth where it meets the gum. Since a tooth has five sides and brushing only reaches three sides, you also need to floss at least once a day. Make sure you use a long enough piece and wrap the floss around each side of the tooth as you go around.

Many are now also advocating brushing the tongue to reduce bacterial counts. These devices can be found in most pharmacies,

Finally, there's mouthwash. It depends on what you are using. My opinion is that if you are using an alcohol based mouthwash, you should not use it more them once or twice a day since it can adversely affect the soft tissues in the mouth. IMHO mouthwash is a good adjunct, but does not take the place of the mechanical methods i just described.

SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

Hi

It is really impossible to give you a definitive answer without knowing all of the details and examining you. Sometimes, a perfectly well done root canal procedure will be sensitive for a while. I think you need to go back to your dentist and tell him your concerns.

SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

Use common sense, but as soon as you are thirsty or hungry.


SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

First, how long has it been since you have had a professional cleaning? I would suggest that if you want to whiten your teeth further, you should get a professional evaluation to make sure that there won't be problems when using whitening agents. Once you have had the evaluation, ask your dentist for your options including over-the-counter treatments.

SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

Diabetes and gum disease have a symbiotic relationship. What I mean by that is diabetes can make you susceptible to gum disease and gum disease can raise your blood sugar and your need for insulin or whatever pharmaceuticals you are taking. You should inform both your dentist and your physician that you are having this issue since this can be a serious problem for you.

SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

Go see a dentist ASAP!

Hi

Flossing is essential for maintaining not just your oral health but your health in general. Bacteria laden dental plaque forms around all the surfaces of your teeth. There are 5surfaces to a tooth, the occlusal or biting surface, the tongue and cheek surfaces and the 2 surfaces in between the teeth. Good brushing will get rid of the plaque on all of the surfaces except in between the teeth, so if you brush well, you will be cleaning 3 out of 5 surfaces. That's only a score of 60%. Dental professionals also know that for adults both dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease both start in between the teeth where only floss can reach.

We are now learning that besides tooth loss, there are more and more diseases and conditions that are linked to oral problems including diabetes, heart disease, pneumonia, and even cancer. So get out that floss and make sure to use it every day along with brushing!





SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD

I understand your concern about getting routine dental x-rays during pregnancy. While the recommendation is to avoid x-rays is generally accepted, the amount of radiation that you received is actually quite small. In fact you might be getting more radiation from background sources than at the dental office. The fact that you were protected by a lead shield lowers the amount of potential radiation that your baby received even more. That being said I would stay away from unnecessary radiographs of any kind until after the baby is born.

Yours truly,



SCOTT M DUBOWSKY DMD FAGD
president, American Friends of DVI
Trustee, Academy of General Dentistry
scottd3811@aol.com
scottd3811@gmail.com

Some general dentists treat TMJ disorders while others do not. Clicking in your jaws could indicate a problem within the joint, but not all clicking needs to be treated . A trip to the oral surgeon to be diagnosed will be helpful, but I would not consent to any type of surgical intervention without another opinion from a university affiliated program.

There are two types of characters conditions that can cause sensitivity. You should return to your dentist for a more definitive diagnosis.

If you have a loose tooth due to trauma, you should seek professional care immediately. The area needs to be clinically examined and appropriate x-rays should be taken. If there are no fractures, the tooth should be stabilized.