The Sun City Dentistry Professionals Talks About Tongue Health, PART 4

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the final installment of our four-part article series in which we have spoken to Sun City dentistry professionals about all the different conditions and ailments that can affect the tongue. This essential muscle, or group of muscles rather, not only makes it possible for you to swallow and eat properly, but it also makes speech possible. We use our tongues almost constantly, so when it gets sore or uncomfortable, there’s no escaping it!

In our previous three article posts, we looked at the following three categories of tongue problems: (1) red “strawberry tongue, (2) white tongue and (3) black hairy tongue. In this, the final installment of the series, Sun City dental experts will be talking to us about the various problems that could lead to a sore and/or bumpy tongue.

What Can Cause my Tongue to be Bumpy or Sore?

• Physical Trauma: The first point is perhaps the most obvious. If you accidentally burn your tongue on hot food, or bite down on it, you’ll experience pain and discomfort until the wound heals. Teeth grinding (bruxism) can also irritate the peripheries of the tongue, so get a mouth guard fitted and wear it at night when you’re most likely to clench your jaw without thinking about it.

• Enlarged Papillae: “Sometimes a single papillae or taste bud on your tongue can get irritated and become swollen and inflamed,” say Sun City dentistry professionals. “For something so small, an irritated taste bud can be very uncomfortable! You’ll just have to wait it out until it heals.”

• Canker Sores: A canker sore or mouth ulcer can seemingly develop for no reason, although they are linked with periods of heightened stress. They usually heal up on their own, but if you have a sore that persists for more than two weeks, seek professional Sun City dental attention for a diagnosis.

• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes, cigars and pipes can irritate the soft tissues in the mouth, causing them to become inflamed and sore. Small bumps can also develop on the soft palate in response to this irritant or any other irritant for that matter, such as alcohol.

• Burning Tongue Syndrome: “Burning tongue is a condition marked by, as the name would suggest, an uncomfortable burning sensation in the tongue,” explain Sun City dentistry experts. “It presents most commonly in post-menopausal women and the cause is as yet unclear, although treatment is available.”

• Certain Medical Conditions: Anemia and diabetes, for example, can cause your tongue to feel sore.

• Oral Cancer: “The majority of the oral sores you develop aren’t dangerous,” explain Sun City dental professionals. “Ulcers, canker sores and enlarged papillae develop just as frequently as they disappear quickly. It’s when an oral sore persists that we urge patients to come in for a closer inspection.”

An Important Note on Oral Cancer

Any lump, sore, raised patch or discoloration that doesn’t go away within a week or two could possibly be cancer or a precursor to cancer. These anomalies don’t necessarily have to be painful, either. In fact, cancerous sores or growths rarely hurt in the initial stages, so an absence of pain will tell you nothing. When you seek professional attention, a quick biopsy will be performed so that the tissue comprising the anomaly can be inspected closely for signs of malignant cell growth.

Oral cancer treated in the early stages significantly increases your chance of complete recovery so never delay or ignore an oral problem!

The Cosmetic Dentist in Arizona Talks About Tongue Health, PART 2

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Welcome to the second installment of our four-part article series on tongue problems! Now, we’ve all had tongue ulcers at some stage during our lives – usually caused by accidentally biting down on it – and so we all know just how hard it can be to forget it when we do have something sore or uncomfortable on our tongue. This is because we use our tongues all the time. It’s an essential group of muscles!

“Unfortunately, there is quite an impressive variety of conditions and illnesses that can affect tongue health,” explain cosmetic dentists in Arizona. “Thankfully, most of them are not serious at all and can either be treated promptly or will disappear on their own. Having said this, problems such as discoloration, textural abnormalities and growths can be indicative of far more serious ailments, including oral cancer, HIV/AIDS and vitamin deficiencies. If you notice persistent problems with your tongue, it is of vital importance that you seek professional attention.”

In our previous article post, we spoke to Sun City dental professionals about the various causes of red or “strawberry” tongue. In this article, we shall move our attention to white tongue, a condition marked by the development of white spots or a white coating.

What Can Cause White Tongue?

• Oral Lichen Planus: This condition results in the formation of a lace-like mapwork of white lines on the surface of the tongue. While the exact cause of oral lichen planus is uncertain, it often disappears on its own with the help of certain lifestyle changes. Try to avoid smoking and foods and beverages that contain irritants, such as alcohol, chili and acid. “Also, be better about brushing and flossing regularly and thoroughly,” advises the cosmetic dentist in Arizona.

• Oral Thrush: Thrush is an oral yeast infection that most commonly affects the elderly, infants or people with a compromised immune system. If your tongue and possibly mouth is covered in whitish patches that can be likened to cottage cheese, you may have thrush or candidiasis. Other risk factors for this condition include lung disease, diabetes and asthmatics on steroid inhalers. “Medications are available for the treatment of thrush,” says the cosmetic dentist in Arizona. “Also, if you’re on antibiotics for an infection and develop thrush, eating plain yogurt can help restore the balance of natural oral fauna.”

• Leukoplakia: Leukoplakia is characterized by the excessive growth of cells in the soft tissues of the mouth. This results in the appearance of white, rough patches on the inner cheeks, tongue and palate. “This condition can simply be caused by exposure to an irritant, such as smoking, but it isn’t by itself dangerous,” say Sun City dental professionals. “Having said that, leukoplakia can herald oral cancer, so it’s best to have yourself assessed before you assume it will simply go away.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 3 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause a grizzly black hairy tongue.

Sun City Dental Professionals Talk About Tongue Health, PART 1

This four-part article series talks about the various ailments and conditions that can cause tongue problems, from unsightly discoloration to uncomfortable bumps and ridges.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you use your tongue almost all the time. It is an essential organ for communication, taste and digestion. Because it is integrally involved in these activities, the various conditions and ailments that can affect it can cause acute discomfort and frustration. In order to better understand the importance of the tongue, we spoke to some Sun City dental professionals about some of the common and perhaps not so common problems that can affect this major muscle.

About The Tongue

The tongue is made up of a number of interconnected muscles, rather than just one large one. These muscles work together to provide you with the incredible control and dexterity is has in helping you eat, speak, swallow and even pull silly faces. Your tongue is covered with a blanket of tiny nodules referred to as papillae (taste buds) and when it is healthy, it should be pink right to the back of the mouth.

There are four over-arching tongue problems that one might develop and our panel of Sun City dental professionals will be discussing them in detail throughout this four-part article series:

• “Strawberry” Tongue or Red Tongue
• White Tongue
• Black Hairy Tongue
• Sore and Bumpy Tongue

Let’s begin with the first…

Sun City Dental Advice: What Can Cause “Strawberry” or Red Tongue?

“A healthy tongue is a nice pink color,” say Sun City dental professionals. “But, there are a number of reasons it can become red and inflamed and for the papillae or taste buds to become swollen. This is why it is sometimes referred to as Strawberry tongue.”

Some of the causes of red tongue include:

• Scarlet Fever: An infectious disease characterized by fever, a sore throat and a red rash, hence the name. It can also cause the tongue to turn an angry shade of red. Scarlet fever typically affects young children between the age of 4 and 8 and is spread via inhalation. While there is no cure for this sickness, it can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

• Geographic Tongue: This uncomfortable condition causes the development of a network of red and, at times, white-bordered spots on the tongue. Also known as benign migratory glossitis, this condition is named after the fact that these spots develop in a pattern that looks somewhat map-like and can also shift positions.“Geographic tongue is typically harmless, although it can be uncomfortable and aesthetically unpleasing,” say Sun City dental professionals. “However, if the red bumps persist for more than two weeks, you should book an appointment with your dentist to make sure that you do indeed have this condition and not something more serious. Discomfort can be treated with topical anesthetic gels.”

• Kawasaki Syndrome: A condition that affects the blood vessels in the body and especially targets children younger than 5 years of age. It can cause fever, strawberry tongue and red, swollen feet and hands during the more severe phase of illness.

• Vitamin Deficiencies: “If your diet is short of vitamin B-12 or folic acid, your tongue may appear redder than normal,” say Sun City dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about the various conditions and illnesses that can affect your tongue, stay tuned for part 2 of this four-part article series! Next time, we’ll be looking at the problems that can cause white tongue.

Sun City Dental News: A Comprehensive Look at Dental Implants, PART 3

In this three-part article series, we will be explaining everything you need to know about dental implants. We will clarify what they are, how they work, when and why they are necessary. Furthermore we will compare the advantages and benefits that come with dental implants vs. traditional dentures or bridges.

Welcome back to the final post of this three part article series about dental implants. Thus far we have covered a variety of questions related to dental implants, such as: What are dental implants? How do they work? What does the procedure involve? And what are their benefits and advantages? In this post, Sun City dental experts will answer some final questions you may have about dental implants and explain why they really are the best solution available for the replacement of missing teeth. One of the most obvious concerns when preparing for any kind of surgery would be whether or not it is painful. So…

Is Getting Dental Implants Painful?

The wonderful and incredibly advanced technology that is used in modern dentistry today ensures that your surgeries are designed to be as pain, discomfort and risk free as possible. By using 3-D Cone Beam CT scans and sophisticated computer software capable of creating virtual images of the mouth, Sun city dentists are able to design the best possible surgical plan, meaning fewer incisions and sutures and minimal post-operative pain and discomfort.

In addition to a carefully planned surgery, you will be placed under either local or general anesthesia (depending upon the nature of your procedure), so you won’t experience any discomfort at all. If you are particularly anxious about your procedure, you may opt for sedation.

Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?

Pretty much! The wonderful thing about modern dental implant procedures is that nearly everyone is a candidate. Whether you are in your late nineties or still in your teens, if you have lost a tooth, dental implants can work for you!

Who Can Do Dental Implants and Where Should I Go?

Dental implants are becoming more and more popular at dental practices around the United States, with many general dentists offering this service. Having said that, a Sun City dentist advises that it is always in your best interest to have such a procedure done by someone with a lot of experience and with advanced qualifications, such as in the administering of sedation.

How Do I Maintain and Care For My New Teeth?

One of the benefits of dental implants when compared with conventional dental bridges or removable dentures is that they do not require fancy materials and expensive tools to be cleaned. Your new teeth will require exactly what your natural teeth did. A good oral hygiene routine, meaning regular brushing, flossing and rinsing, as well as a few visits to your dentists will ensure that your new teeth are well kept.

A Final Word…

Dental implants are an incredibly smart investment to make when replacing missing teeth. They can help improve your quality of life, restore your confidence and enable you to eat all the foods you love.  When it comes to an asset as important as your smile, don’t settle for options that will keep you from enjoying your fullest life. Dental implants are made to be virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth – in look, feel and function – and this allows you the freedom to live your life!

Essential Factors Contributing to a Healthy State of Dental Implants

There are numerous possible reasons why your tooth may be lost. For instance, negligence toward taking care of your oral health, decay of a tooth; and sometimes as a result of an accident or falling down; or even the side effect of medication in some cases can result in tooth loss. Undoubtedly no one likes to lose a tooth, but, having lost one, you would certainly look to replace your missing teeth with dental implants. Getting dental implants is equally as important as taking care of them post the implant surgery.

Sun City dental implants are being considered by an increasing number of patients as a great alternative to dentures and bridges, and once placed they are expected to last for a longer duration of time under proper care and maintenance. There are certain factors that contribute to the healthy state of your implants and make them last throughout their lifespan.

Useful advice by your Sun City dental surgeon for ensuring that an implant process is a success:

Listed below are the factors that can help keep your implants in a good state.

Smoking: Smoking poses a lot of damaging affects on your overall health. It can also prove to have a detrimental impact to your dental implants, as well; particularly, in the time period on either side of undergoing the implant surgery – pre and post. Thus, your dentist will recommend that you at least quit smoking during this period of treatment. By ceasing to smoke, it will permit better blood flow around the area where the implant is to be inserted. Thus, in turn, it will ensure more oxygen supply to that area and will help the implant area to heal more quickly. Continuing a smoking habit can increase the chances of infection of the gums that will further deter the implant procedure from taking place smoothly.

Drinking: A glass of beer or wine might be a good idea, but if you drink more, it will pose a high degree of risk similar to a smoking habit. Heavy drinking is associated with the increase in the risk of mouth cancers and various other diseases or infections. All these ailments have the tendency to lower the overall health of the mouth and gums, thereby, escalating the prospective risk for the implant treatment.

Patience: Once the implant has been inserted, there will be a period of time before the crown is attached to the abutment in most cases. This is necessary for the process of osseointegration (bonding) to take place. Thus, at this point in time, the implant is not as strong and you are required to take care while eating so that no strain is put on the implants. You have to show a lot of patience and eat soft foods and intake liquid foods for a short time after the procedure.

Once you get your implants and the bonding process is complete, you might tend to return to your previous smoking and drinking habits, however, you must remember that even though the dental implants may not be at immediate risk, these factors will still contribute to poorer oral health and may even therefore affect the longevity of your implants.

Get Acquainted with Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are the best solution for replacing your missing tooth or teeth. These implants offer a sturdy base for fixed or removable replacement teeth that match your natural teeth as closely as possible. In comparison to any other dental restorations that usually demand frequent removal as well as cleaning, Sun City Dental methods offer dental implants that are easy to take care of just like your natural teeth. These teeth implants conveniently fit over your gums, and get attached to your jawbone thus providing the much needed chewing support and essential stimulation to your jawbone as well as gums.

Benefits Associated with Dental Implants

If you have been recommended to have tooth implants, then by knowing the benefits associated with them can surely help you to pursue the procedure confidently.

Natural Appearance: The procedure offers an appearance that is just the same as your own teeth. Because the implants placed onto the bone structure would prevent gum recession and bone loss that is usually associated with dentures and bridgework. Hence, undergoing the procedure will let you have a complete teeth replacement and they’ll look so good that no one will know if they are your natural teeth or not.

Saves Your Tooth: Most of the teeth left in your mouth are kept untouched, so the implant keeps your remaining original tooth healthy.

A Reliable Solution: With a successfully done implant procedure, you are able to achieve the desired result. Owing to the high success rate, this treatment procedure is also regarded as the best choice and most recommended for replacing your missing tooth or teeth.

Enhanced Self-esteem and Confidence: You get your self-esteem and confidence back that you had lost due to your missing teeth. You can smile with confidence and feel more comfortable while interacting and talking with other people.

Easier eating with Implants: Ill-fitting dentures make your chewing a difficult task. However, as implants function like your own natural teeth, you are able to eat all your favorite foods without any pain and with more confidence.

Convenience Offered: Removable dentures as the name indicates are removable; but dental implants put an end to the embarrassing inconvenience caused by frequently removing the dentures along with the need for untidy adhesives for keeping them in their place.

Durability Factor: Implants prove to be quite durable and can even last for many years if you take proper care and maintain proper oral hygiene.

Dental Implants Post Care – Very Important

• Post dental implants procedure, it is suggested to eat nutritious semi-liquid food that can be eaten comfortably.
• Have soft foods for the first six days to avoid food particles from causing any harm to the implant surgery site.
• Completely avoid extremely hot foods and liquid.
• Your Sun City dental surgeon will instruct you to rinse thoroughly with warm saline solution after each meal or with a mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine.