Leukoplakia is a reaction to a chronic irritation, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, is usually painless, and can’t be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth. Mild leukoplakia is usually harmless and generally goes away on its own. More serious cases may be linked to oral cancer.

Symptoms of Leukoplakia:-

This condition is marked by unusual looking patches inside the mouth. These patches can vary in appearance. Generally, patches resulting from leukoplakia have the following features:

• white or grey color
• thick, hard, and raised surface
• hairy (hairy leukoplakia only)

Rarely, the patches have red spots. Redness may be a sign of cancer.                           Leukoplakia most often occurs on the tongue. However, cheeks and gums are also vulnerable. The patches may take several weeks to develop, but they are rarely painful.      Causes:­-Smoking is the most common cause. Chewing tobacco can also cause leukoplakia. Biting the cheek, rough uneven teeth  and dentures (especially if improperly fitted).   

What Causes Leukoplakia?

• Irritation from rough teeth, fillings, or crowns, or ill-fitting dentures that rub against your cheek or gum
• Chronic smoking, pipe smoking, or other tobacco use
• Sun exposure to the lips
• Oral cancer (although rare)
• HIV or AIDS

What Are the Symptoms of Leukoplakia?

The presence of white or gray colored patches on your tongue, gums, roof of your mouth, or the inside of the cheeks of your mouth may be a sign of leukoplakia. The patch may have developed slowly over weeks to months and be thick, slightly raised, and may eventually take on a hardened and rough texture. It usually is painless, but may be sensitive to touch, heat, spicy foods, or other irritation.

How Is Leukoplakia Diagnosed?

Your dentist may suspect leukoplakia upon examination; however, a biopsy will likely be taken to rule out other causes, such as oral cancer. During the biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the lesion will be removed to be examined in a lab. A numbing agent will be used so that you will not feel any pain.

Treatment for Leukoplakia?

Treatment for leukoplakia, if needed, involves removing the source of irritation.

For example, if leukoplakia is caused by a rough tooth or an irregular surface on a denture or a filling, the tooth will be smoothed and dental appliances repaired.

If leukoplakia is caused by smoking, you will be asked to minimize or stop smoking or using other tobacco products.

A Dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line that allows your dentist to mount replacement teeth.

A Dental bridge is a false tooth that is held in place by the adjacent teeth on either side of the gap. Although artificial tooth  can be made from a variety of materials such as gold, typically they’re made from porcelain to aesthetically blend in with your natural teeth.

Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth.There are two main types of dentures: full and partial.

Infant care

• Use a washout or small amount of gauze to gently wipe your child’s gums even before his or her teeth begin to come in.
• Ensure your child only eats healthy foods.
• Give your child lots of milk and water to drink, avoid juice and other sugary drinks.
• Do not use fluoride tooth paste, until after age 2.
• Finds a pediatric dentist and schedule your child’s first appointment as soon as his or her first tooth emerges no later than his or her first birthday.
• Continue to schedule regular dental checkups.
• Limit snacks.
• Switch from bottles to cups after your child’s first birthday unless bottles are medically necessary.
• A frozen teething ring or a cool spoon can help alleviate teething pain.

Toddler care

• Toddlers usually begin to brush their own teeth around age 2 but may need assistance up to age 5.
• Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing toddler’s teeth.
• Don’t allow your child to swallow tooth paste.
• Choose a child sized toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Brush inside surfaces of the child’s teeth first, angling bristles toward the gum line.
• Next, clean outside surfaces of your child’s teeth brushing gently the entire time.
• Finally, brush the chewing surface of the teeth.
• Start a brushing routine well bedtime so your child won’t be too tired to brush.

School-age child care

• Continue to encourage your child to brush and floss regularly.
• Routine checkups remain important as your child gets older.
• If your child participates in sports make sure he or she wears a properly fitted mouth guard to protect teeth.
• Promote healthy eating by preparing healthy lunches than don’t include soft drinks or sugary foods.

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. Do not use straw.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a cotton pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or hard food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. The prescribed medication should be taken as directed by your dentist. Do not take medication without consulting your doctor.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed by your dentist to prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed mouthwash before bed. The day after surgery, the mouthwash should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery.

Methamphetamine (meth) is a dangerously addictive drug that can have severe health consequences, including stroke and permanent brain damage. It’s also devastating to your dental health.

“Meth mouth” is characterized by severe tooth decay and gum disease, which often causes teeth to break or fall out. An examination of the mouths of 571 methamphetamine users showed:

• 96% had cavities
• 58% had untreated tooth decay
• 31% had six or more missing teeth

The teeth of people addicted to methamphetamines are characterized by being blackened, stained, rotting, crumbling and falling apart. Often, the teeth cannot be salvaged and must be removed. The extensive tooth decay is likely caused by a combination of drug-induced psychological and physiological changes resulting in dry mouth and long periods of poor oral hygiene. Methamphetamine itself is also acidic.

Meth – also known as speed, ice, glass and crystal – can be smoked, snorted, injected or taken in pill form and is highly addictive. The high (which causes the brain to feel intense pleasure) can last up to 12 hours. This can lead to long periods of poor dental hygiene. While high, users often crave high-calorie, carbonated, sugary beverages. In addition, they may grind or clench their teeth, all of which can harm teeth.

In the short term, meth can cause shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, hyper activity, decreased appetite, tremors and trouble breathing. Over time, meth can cause irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, stroke, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations and delusions. It can also negatively affect ability to learn long-term.

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Plaque

Your teeth are covered with a sticky film called plaque that can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque contains bacteria, which following a meal or snack containing sugar can release acids that attack tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in cavities. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar. This makes it more difficult to keep your teeth clean.

When tartar collects above the gum line, the gum tissue can become swollen and may bleed easily. This is called gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.

Treatment

Scaling and root planning is a deep cleaning below the gum line used to treat gum disease.

Why Do I Need It?

If gum disease is caught early and hasn’t damaged the structures below the gum line, a professional cleaning should do. If the pockets between your gums and teeth are too deep, however, scaling and root planning may be needed.
This deep cleaning has two parts. Scaling is when your dentist removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gum line, making sure to clean all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Your dentist will then begin root planning, smoothing out your teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. Scaling and root planing may take more than one visit to complete and may require a local anesthetic.

After Care Tips

After a deep cleaning, you may have sensitivity for up to a week.
To prevent infection, control pain or help you heal, your dentist may prescribe a pill or mouth rinse. Your dentist may also insert medication (subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline) directly into the pocket that was cleaned.

Your dentist will schedule another visit to see how your gums have healed and measure the depth of your pockets. If they have gotten deeper, more treatment may be needed.

Good dental care at home is essential to help keep gum disease from becoming more serious or recurring.

Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft brush

Clean between your teeth daily

Eat a balanced diet

Avoid eating tobacco

see your dentist regularly

Cold sores are small sores, or blister-like lesions, that appear on the lips, chin, cheeks, inside the nostrils, and less frequently on the gums or the roof of the mouth.

They usually cause pain, a burning sensation, or itching before they burst and crust over.

There is no way to cure or prevent cold sores, but steps can be taken to reduce their frequency and duration.

• The herpes simplex virus strain HSV-1 normally causes them.
• They usually clear within 7 to 10 days without treatment.
• The virus is highly contagious and can be passed on through close direct contact.

Symptoms can include:-

• lesions, blisters, or ulcers on the tongue or mouth
• mouth or tongue pain
• lip swelling
• possible swallowing difficulties
• sore throat
• swollen glands
• high body temperature
• dehydration
• nausea
• headaches

There may also be an infection of the mouth and gums, known as gingivostomatitis. This lasts for 1 to 2 weeks, and it does not recur.

Pharyngotonsillitis, an infection of the throat and tonsils, may occur when the primary infection affects adults.

A cold sore will develop in several stages when it recurs.

• A tingling, itching or burning sensation around the mouth often indicates the start of a cold-sore outbreak. Fluid-filled sores, often on the edges of the lower lip, tend to follow this. Glands may start to swell.
• The sores often appear in the same place each time. Pain and irritation develop alongside the cold sore.
• The sores break and ooze.
• A yellow crust forms on top of the sores and scabs off to uncover pink skin that heals without scarring.

Most cold sores disappear within a week or two.

Diagnosis

The signs and symptoms are usually clear enough for a doctor to make a diagnosis, but they may also order a blood test.

In some cases, the doctor may take a sample of the fluid scraped from the cold sore to detect the presence of the virus.

Treatment

Most cold sore outbreaks clear up within 1 to 2 weeks without treatment.

Some ointments and antiviral medications may shorten the outbreak’s duration and alleviate discomfort and pain.

The Importance of Seeing Your Dentist During Pregnancy

Just as you have doctor visits for prenatal checkups, it’s also important to visit your dentist for prenatal dental care. Your dentist can help discuss changes in oral health during pregnancy and what to look for. There is a connection between your health during pregnancy and your baby’s health, so visiting your dentist during pregnancy is essential.

Your Teeth: What to Expect When Pregnant

During pregnancy, the changing hormone levels can leave your mouth more vulnerable to bacteria and plaque, both of which create tender gums during pregnancy. This can put you at greater risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Here are a few dental issues to monitor during pregnancy:

• Gum inflammation is more likely to occur during the second trimester. Your gums may be swollen, tender, and may bleed a little during brushing and flossing.
• Plaque buildup during pregnancy is common, but brushing and flossing regularly can help
• Although pregnancy does not cause periodontal disease, pregnancy can exacerbate this condition, which can result from untreated gingivitis.
• Pregnancy tumors are overgrowth’s of tissue appear that on the gums, most often during the second trimester. They are non-cancerous growths believed to be related to excess plaque. They may bleed easily and will usually disappear after the baby is born.

Dental Hygiene during Pregnancy

Here are daily dental hygiene some tips to keep in mind while you’re pregnant:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss gently once a day.
• Visit your dentist regularly for a professional cleaning and check-up.
• Ask your dentist about an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help combat the increase of plaque.
• If you have morning sickness and vomiting, rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water. This will help keep stomach acids from attacking your teeth and causing decay.
• Eat a diet rich with calcium, B12 and vitamin C to help keep gums healthy.
  

Overview

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called “TMJ,” are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.

Some estimates suggest that TMJ disorders affect over 10 million Americans. These conditions appear to be more common in women than men.

Causes

Trauma to the jaw or temporomandibular joint plays a role in some TMJ disorders, but in most cases, the exact cause of the condition is not clear. For many people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reason.

Symptoms

A variety of symptoms may be linked to TMJ disorders. The most common symptom is pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint. Other symptoms include:

• radiating pain in the face, jaw, or neck,
• jaw muscle stiffness,
• limited movement or locking of the jaw,
• painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth,
• a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

Diagnosis

There is no widely accepted, standard test now available to correctly diagnose TMJ disorders. Your doctor will note your symptoms, take a detailed medical history, and examine problem areas, including the head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness, clicking, popping, or difficulty with movement. The doctor might also suggest imaging studies such as an x-ray.

Treatment

Conservative Treatments

Because the most common jaw joint and muscle problems are temporary and do not get worse, simple treatment may be all that is necessary to relieve discomfort. Short term use of over-the-counter pain medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen; the use of a stabilization splint, or bite guard, that fits over upper or lower teeth may provide relief.

Irreversible Treatments

Surgical treatments are controversial, often irreversible, and should be avoided where possible. There have been no long-term clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatments for TMJ disorders.

Self-care practices that may help ease symptoms of TMJ:

• eating soft foods,
• applying an ice pack,
• avoiding extreme jaw movements like wide yawning, loud singing, and gum chewing,
• learning techniques to relax and reduce stress,
• practicing gentle jaw stretching and relaxing exercises that may help increase jaw movement. Your health care provider or a physical therapist can recommend exercise

Dentists use lasers in a variety of procedures involving the inside of the mouth, be it to remove overgrown tissue, to reshape the gums, or to whiten teeth. Sometimes, laser dentistry is ideal for children who become anxious or afraid when having dental work done.

Treatments done by laser dentistry

1. Canker sore and cold sore pain treatments
2. Treating root canal infections
3. Treating gum disease
4. Removing gum inflammation
5. Gum reshaping
6. Biopsies
7. Exposing wisdom teeth
8. Removing throat tissue that causes sleep apnea
9. Regenerating damaged nerves
10. Removing benign oral tumours

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

• Dentists choose laser dentistry because of distinct benefits that make the procedures go more smoothly, and also reduce discomfort and healing time for patients.
• Patients are less likely to require sutures
• Anesthesia may not be necessary
• The laser will sterilize the gums, making infection less likely
• Less damage to gums shortens the healing time
• Patients lose less blood than traditional surgery

The Types of Lasers Used in Dentistry

The two main types of lasers dentists use during laser procedures are hard tissue and soft tissue lasers. Each laser uses a different wavelength that makes it appropriate for cutting into that specific type of tissue.

Hard Tissue Lasers

These lasers can very accurately cut into your teeth, removing small amounts for shaping purposes or in preparation for procedures. Hard tissue lasers are used for:

• Detecting cavities.
• Dealing with tooth sensitivity.
• Preparing teeth for dental fillings.

Soft Tissue Lasers

These lasers are ideal for cutting into soft tissue and sealing the exposed blood vessels at the same time. This is the reason you don’t bleed very much during laser dentistry and why healing is quicker after laser dentistry. Soft tissue lasers are used for:

• Lengthening crowns.
• Dealing with restricted tongue movement.
• Reshaping the gums to create a more pleasing smile.
• Removing folds in oral soft tissues caused by dentures.

Whether you’re having laser gum surgery or hard tissue work, expect an easier procedure and a shorter recovery time.