When painful sores develop in or around the mouth and lips, you probably don’t care what they are – you just want them to go away. However, the type of sore you have is important, and proper diagnosis is necessary to ensure you understand symptoms and you can undergo proper treatment.

Although cold sores and canker sores are easy to confuse, there are several differences that will help you to determine which type of sore you’re dealing with. In order to treat sores effectively, you need to know which is which. Here are a few differences you should be aware of.

Canker Sores

Canker sores, while annoying and sometimes painful, are relatively harmless. They present as round, white sores inside the mouth, often surrounded by a red halo. Canker sores could result from accidentally biting yourself, poking the soft tissue of your mouth with a retainer or sharp food (like chips or pretzels), food allergies, or even stress or hormonal changes.

Generally, canker sores will go away on their own within a few days, or you can use a salt rinse to speed healing time. You can also use over-the-counter painkillers like Orajel or Kanka to reduce pain while canker sores are healing. The important thing to remember is that canker sores are not dangerous, nor are they contagious.

Cold Sores

Cold sores are much more serious than canker sores, and they may require professional diagnosis and treatment. They are characterized by fluid-filled blisters and unlike canker sores, they are generally outside the mouth.

The biggest difference is that cold sores are a symptom of the HSV-1 virus (which is similar to, but not the same as, the HSV-2, or genital herpes virus). Because of this, cold sores can be contagious, especially when they are cracked and oozing, which means you want to be especially careful about contact with others. It’s best to avoid sharing utensils and drinking glasses with others any time you have a sore.

If you think you have a canker sore, it’s a good idea to seek professional diagnosis from your dentist or doctor so that you can get appropriate treatment. At the very least, you’ll want prescription medication, like topical creams, to treat visible cold sores and help them to heal as quickly as possible.
Your dentist may also recommend treatment with a low-level laser or other medications, depending on your symptoms. Cold sores and canker sores are commonly confused, but when you know the symptoms, you can tell the difference, and from there you can seek appropriate treatment.

Most of us thoroughly enjoy the act of eating, especially with the wide variety of food and beverage choices available to modern man. Unfortunately, our favorite comestibles can feed bacteria in the mouth, leave film and food particulates on teeth and under the gum line, and result in unsightly and harmful tartar and plaque buildup over time.

Naturally, you can combat this with a proper oral health routine that includes regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash, as well as frequent dental visits for professional cleaning and care. What if you can’t brush after every meal? What can you do to keep your mouth clean in between meals? Here are a few strategies to try.

1. Drink water

If you find that there are points during the day when you’re unable to brush, floss, and rinse after eating, a good rule of thumb is to sip some water. Your saliva does a lot to flush away leftover food particles, but you can supplement with water to swish and rinse away bacteria and remaining food particles.

2. Avoid sugary snacks

When the mid-afternoon doldrums hit, it’s tempting to reach for a soda, cookies, or candy to give you a boost. This can be bad for your body and your teeth. Not only will sugar cause you to crash after the initial energy boost, but letting sugar sit on your teeth can weaken enamel and feed bacteria, leading to tooth decay over time.

Instead, chew on some crunchy vegetables like carrots, celery, or broccoli, for example, or even an apple. These snacks are not only great for your overall health, but they can also help to scrape away any film on your teeth left over from lunch.

3. Chew sugar-free gum

If you want to get your saliva flowing as a way to flush away leftover food, chewing gum is one way to stimulate saliva, as well as grab food particles stuck in the grooves of your molars. Just make sure to choose a sugar-free option to avoid doing more harm than good.

4. Carry floss picks

You may not have room in your pockets or purse for all of your oral hygiene gear (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash), but you can fit in a few tiny floss picks anywhere. All you have to do is pop in a restroom to floss and pick between teeth and around the gum line, ensuring your teeth remain clean and healthy between meals and regular dental care.

Insurance is something of a balancing act. Consumers don’t want to spend any more than they have to on premiums, but they want to get adequate coverage to ensure that they’re cared for in the event of medical mishap, as well as avoid substantial out-of-pocket expenses when medical needs arise.

When it comes to dental insurance, you might not think it’s necessary to spend as much time poring over the finer points of a policy as you would with general health insurance. However, if you end up needing extensive dental treatment, you’ll be glad you took the time to select an appropriate policy.

Of course, you also have to make sure you understand the benefits of the plan you pick so that you can take full advantage of coverage and maximize your value. Here are a few tips to get the most from your dental insurance plan.

Consider Your Needs

It’s impossible to know for sure what’s coming where your health is concerned, but you probably have a pretty good handle on your own oral health. If you follow a strong oral hygiene regimen at home, visit your dentist regularly for cleaning and care, and you’ve have very few issues in the past, you might want to choose a plan that focuses on preventive care.
If, on the other hand, you’ve had serious oral health issues in the past and you anticipate further procedures, you’ll want to select a plan that provides more coverage for additional care like fillings, crowns, dental implants, and more so that you can avoid major out-of-pocket expense. Having a good grasp of your own dental health needs can help you to choose the best insurance plan and get the most out of your coverage.

Schedule Regular Preventive Care

Most plans now cover preventive care like biannual checkups and cleaning, and it’s in your best interest to take advantage of this coverage. When you see your dentist frequently, you have the best chance to avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease that could quickly spiral out of control and cost you a ton of money. Even if procedures are covered, you may be on the hook for co-pays or a percentage of costs, so avoiding serious issues is a must.

Know Your Network

Whether you have a PPO or HMO dental insurance plan, you have to work within your network in order to receive maximum coverage. Make sure you know which professionals are in your network so you always get the best possible coverage for care.

New denture wearers are going to need to take things slow at first. Many of your routine behaviors will need to be readjusted as you get used to wearing dentures. Chief among those is the way you eat. You might not be able to eat some of the foods you normally enjoy until you get more comfortable with the denture appliances in your mouth. But over time you will begin to adapt to your new replacement teeth and you should be able to eat everything you enjoy once more.

1. Go Slow

When you are wearing your new dentures your mouth is going to need some time to grow accustomed to your new teeth. Your first instinct might be to chew as if you still had your natural teeth, but you must remain cognizant of the fact that they are not your actual teeth and chewing too hard or vigorously could result in cracking the dentures. So start out by eating softer foods and work your way up to the harder items later on.

2. Bite Cautiously

As you use your dentures be careful about biting down on your food. Start training yourself to bite with your canine or back teeth instead of at the front. This can help you avoid the irritation that can come from your dentures being displaced or coming loose from your gums. Biting carefully will also prevent you from nipping the interior of your cheek by mistake, which can be very painful.

3. Foods to Avoid

Once you get fully accustomed to your new dentures, you will find eating to be much easier. But that doesn’t mean you should no longer be cautious about your eating habits. There are some foods you may want to avoid altogether, such as any foods that have shells or bones as these could break the denture. Sticky foods like caramel or toffee are also dangerous for the dentures. Nuts and seeds can get wedged underneath the appliance, causing soreness to the mouth. Hot and cold temperatures are also not recommended and that includes coffee, which can stain your dentures over time anyway.

4. Cleaning Dentures

When it comes to cleaning, treat your dentures as if they were your real teeth. So brush them daily and thoroughly, take them out each night and place them in a cleaning solution so they don’t dry out. The important thing is to keep harmful bacteria away so that your mouth does not get infected from wearing your dentures.

We all know that high levels of stress can be unhealthy for your mind and body. But while you may often think about the ways it can impact your heart and mind, you might not be aware of all the ways it can also affect your oral health. There are a variety of intense stressors that can prove damaging to one’s well-being and it’s important to recognize when that anxiety is taking a toll and the ways it can be impactful on your teeth and gums. If you are among the millions who are dealing with high stress levels, practicing good dental hygiene is even more important than usual.

1. Bruxism

The clinical term for grinding your teeth, stress is the leading cause of this damaging habit and you may not even realize you’re doing since it often happens while you sleep. But your brain is working overtime trying to process all of the anxiety you’re dealing with and it’s causing you to grind, gnash, and grit your teeth. Too much of it can result in the teeth becoming fractured.

2. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Better known as TMJ, stress can also result in your jaw being knocked out of alignment from clenching it too much, either awake or asleep. TMJ can be very painful, interfering with the way you talk and eat. Severe cases can make opening the mouth difficult. You will need to wear a special mouth-guard at night to realign the jaw.

3. Canker Sores

We’ve all had one before, but those who are dealing with a lot of stress may experience them more often. These small ulcers in the mouth can become extremely painful, making it hard to eat or talk. Some sores get so bad that they could take weeks to heal entirely.

4. Hygiene Neglect

Sometimes too much stress can be overwhelming and certain daily routines fall by the wayside. You may not eat regularly or sleep well if you have too much anxiety. Hygiene can also suffer, resulting in you forgetting to brush or floss regularly. Letting your dental hygiene degrade can lead to a build-up of bacteria in the mouth, increasing the potential for gum disease.

5. Gum Disease

When you let too much bacteria build up on your teeth and gums, you may notice they start to bleed when you brush. Severe cases can lead to loose teeth and swollen, painful gums. This is why maintaining proper dental hygiene is so important, especially when you are under a lot of stress.

A missing tooth is a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly. Leaving a gap doesn’t just ruin your smile it could also prove difficult to chew, eat, or even talk. There are a number of ways to replace a lost tooth or teeth but one of the most common procedures is to have a dental implant surgically implanted into the open space. It will allow you to resume normal routines of eating and speaking and they will also look and feel just like the tooth you lost.

But deciding on whether or not to have the procedure relies mainly on you. Most people are good candidates for receiving a dental implant as long as they can meet the following criteria.

Bone Support

Losing a tooth can also compromise the amount of bone available to accommodate the replacement. A dental implant relies on a post that is installed into the jaw and if you have a significant loss of bone mass in the affected area, you may not be able to support a dental implant. That doesn’t necessarily mean you are out of options, some patients will have the jawbone reconstructed so that there is sufficient area in which to anchor the implant.

Potential for Gum Disease

Healthy gums are a vital component to the successful installation of a dental implant. They are necessary for a full recovery from the surgery to ensure that the gum heals around the replacement tooth properly and tightly. If a patient is at risk for gum disease, the surgery may not prove to be successful and the implant could be loose or fall out completely. Infections are another major health risk to having dental implant surgery with gums that are at risk for periodontitis and other forms of gum disease. Your dentist will need to do a full examination of your teeth and gums to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Age of the Patient

Age can be a factor that might prevent some patients from getting the implant surgery. Some children may be too young to have the procedure as their jawbone is still growing and some seniors may have too much bone loss to properly anchor an implant. But while age can be a factor, maintaining proper dental hygiene is far more important. So a candidate of any age must be committed to routine brushing and flossing and regular follow-ups with your dentist after the procedure.

Tooth loss can happen for any number of reasons. Whether you’ve lost your natural teeth or had them intentionally removed for medical reasons, replacing them will be of paramount importance. Depending on the amount of teeth that are missing there are various options available to you and implants could be the solution. One of the most common questions patients ask when considering their options relates to the practicality of relying on implants to replace large numbers of teeth. While most people are familiar with the concept of having one or two implants surgically installed, many are unaware that all of their teeth can be replaced with implants.

Dentures vs. Implants

Patients who have suffered a significant amount of tooth loss must consult with their dentist to decide if implants are the way to go or if another solution such as dentures is the better option. Dentures are a temporary alternative that can be removed from the mouth daily. Since they are not anchored to the bone, dentures may move around, become dislodged and cause discomfort to the gums. Implants, on the other hand, are designed to be permanent fixtures in the mouth and look, feel, and behave more like normal teeth.

Choosing Implants

Patients who opt to go with implants to replace their teeth must be considered a good candidate for the procedure. In order to determine if the surgery will be a success your dentist will conduct a full examination first. That may include X-rays to assess if you have proper bone mass to support anchoring for the implants and checking the gums to see if they are healthy enough to heal properly after the procedure takes place. Patients at high risk for gum diseases may be denied the surgical procedure, as the implants won’t heal correctly.

Replacing All Teeth

If you opt for implants to replace all of the teeth in your mouth, special implant-supported bridges or dentures will need to be implanted in your mouth. Posts are anchored to the jaw just the same as with singular implants. But unlike the standard versions of those appliances, these versions are rooted to the jaw for permanent placement. This alternative also preserves the bone in your jaw, preventing it from erosion that could result from traditional dentures. Bone erosion can occur at the areas where there is no tooth rooted to the jaw and it may start to resorb in those locations.

Hypodontia is a condition in which a person has missing teeth because these failed to develop at the right time. Also known as tooth agenesis, it includes people who are missing up to five permanent teeth. Third molars are not counted, so only individuals missing other permanent teeth are considered to have hypodontia. If someone is missing six or more permanent teeth, the condition is called oligodontia.

Hypodontia Is Common

One of the most common dental development anomalies in humans, hypodontia comes in a couple of different forms. Syndromic hypodontia is caused by a systemic syndrome or condition, and isolated hypodontia is not related to any syndrome. Diagnosing the condition requires x-rays. Examinations of six-year-olds can determine if they have hypodontia, which may be diagnosed due to delayed teeth eruptions, persistence of primary teeth, and alveolar bone hypotrophy.

Why People Get Hypodontia

The condition can be genetic, so one may be missing teeth if there are anomalies in the genes involved in teeth development. In fact, genetics is the most common cause. Other causes include trauma, infection, chemotherapeutic agents, and radiation therapy. Pregnant women on thalidomide have delivered babies with hypodontia as well.
In the case of missing isolated teeth, the cause isn’t always known. The thinking is this can be related to genetic factors or something in the environment. Reports have also associated the condition with increased maternal age, so older mothers may have a higher risk of delivering babies with hypodontia. It’s also associated with Down syndrome and a condition known as ectodermal dysplasia. Other factors include an embryo being infected with the rubella virus, low birth weight, or if a mother has had multiple births.

Treatments for Hypodontia

Several treatments are available, which include the use of prosthetics such as fixed or removable partial dentures, and over dentures. Retainers, braces, and other fixed appliances are used as part of orthodontic treatment for the condition. Long term management is often the strategy. Dental professionals also recommend good oral hygiene and a healthy diet, but hypodontia treatments are highly recommended to address aesthetics and the potential for psychological impacts in people with it.

A similar condition is hyperdontia, which means there are more teeth in a person’s mouth than there should be. For cases where there is a reduced number of teeth, you may hear terms such as agnesis of teeth, congenital missing teeth, aplasia of teeth, and others that might not seem familiar. Your dentist will explain what it means if you have hypodontia or another related condition.