Archives for January 2020

Three Facts About Chewing Gum and Your Teeth

January 22, 2020 by AllSmiles

I found some all-natural chewing gum online. It contains raw sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup. I’m a habitual gum chewer, and my husband insists it’s not good for my teeth. Am I harming my teeth? – Thanks. Summerlynn

Summerlynn,

Chewing gum can be good for your teeth, but if you have existing jaw joint problems, it’s best to limit or avoid gum. Consider a few facts.

1. Chewing Gum Cleans Your Teeth

Although the dental profession used to think chewing gum was bad for your teeth, it cleans them. If you chew gum long enough to dissolve the sugar in it, the gum won’t harm your teeth. Chewing stimulates saliva flow, and is healthy for your teeth in several ways:

Cleans your teeth when you don’t have a toothbrush
Stimulates saliva flow
Minerals from saliva strengthen tooth enamel
Combats tooth decay

2. It’s Not a Substitute for Flossing and Brushing

Flossing and brushing thoroughly clean your teeth—chewing gum doesn’t. Dental floss removes food debris between your teeth and helps prevents bacteria growth.

3. What About Chewing Gum and TMJ?

Diagram of a human skull, with focus on the temporomandibular joint.

The temporomandibular joint and related parts

If you have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), extensive chewing gum can overwork your jaw muscles. It can make your jaw muscles sore or cause spasms.

The temporomandibular joint is on the side of your face near your ears. It helps your jaw open and close as you speak, laugh, chew, or yawn.

Limit or avoid chewing gum if you have TMJ symptoms:

Jaw clicking, popping, pain, or stiffness
Ringing in your ears
Neck pain
Earaches
Headaches

Don’t Ignore TMJ Symptoms

If you have TMJ symptoms, avoiding or limiting chewing gum might not be enough. Schedule an appointment with a dentist who has advanced training in diagnosing and treating the disorder. You might need a custom nightguard to wear at night, relax your jaw muscles, and prevent you from grinding or clenching your teeth.

Colorado Springs dentist Dr. Joseph Rota sponsors this post.

Why Did My Teeth Suddenly Fall Out?

January 10, 2020 by ectree

Hello there,

I just turned 80 years old. I have lived a long and full life, but there are definite downsides to getting old. Namely, my teeth have started to decay, and I have quite a nasty case of gum disease. The other day, some of my teeth just fell out! They had been loose for a little while, but I did not think they were in danger of falling out! My daughter thinks I should look into getting dentures, but I’m not sure if things are dire enough for that. Do I need a full denture, or can I get a partial one? Are dentures my only option, or can I consider dental implants? Is a bridge or something similar an option? Part of why I want to keep my natural teeth as long as possible is to save money on dental costs.

Ayato, from Kings County, Washington

Hi Ayato,

Judging from your description, you have quite an advanced case of periodontal disease. Due to this, it is likely you have a large amount of decay on all your teeth. A bridge would not be possible since it seems like you have no solid teeth remaining. A dental implant or denture would place less stress on the surrounding teeth left in your jaw.

Dental implants are always preferable to dentures when it comes to replacing missing teeth. However, you may not have enough bone left in your jaw in order to get dental implants placed. You may need a bone graft prior to getting dental implants, and you may have lost too much bone in your jaw to even consider one. A trustworthy, quality cosmetic dentist would assess you prior to surgery, instead of jumping right into surgery and risking the bone implant or dental implant failing.

Given the current state of your mouth, it is likely you would need a full-mouth restoration, which could cost you over ten thousand dollars. To save your remaining teeth, you could opt for a removable partial denture to cover the missing teeth. If you do not want to wait for more teeth to fall out, you can opt for extractions on the teeth most in need of it, and replaced by a removable full or partial denture.

The biggest risk of getting dentures over dental implants is the side effect of bone resorption. Bone resorption can lead to facial collapse, which is aesthetically unpleasant. However, resorption happens slowly over ten years or so, so it would be a larger worry if you were a younger patient opting for dentures. In your case, getting dentures would improve your oral health and prolong the use of your teeth. If you’re worried about aesthetics, you can seek a high quality denture from a cosmetic dentist or a dentist skilled in making aesthetically-pleasing dentures.

This blog post is brought to you by Colorado Springs affordable dental implant and aesthetic denture provider, Dr. Joseph Rota, of Rota Advanced Dental.

Should I Get Crowns In Another Country?

January 3, 2020 by ectree

Hi there,

I have had crowns for many years, but they need replacing. I have over a dozen in my mouth, on both my top and bottom teeth. However, I cannot afford to get them replaced by my usual cosmetic dentist, so I was considering going overseas to get them done. My research shows that I can get all my crowns replaced for a fraction of the price in the US. I was looking at several places, but Costa Rica is the place I’m most considering. Even when factoring in hotels and airfare, it is still cheaper. Would I be able to get high-quality cosmetic dental work overseas? Would the dental work I get in Costa Rica be as good as it would be in the US? Or should I just bite the bullet and get my porcelain crowns done here in the US?

Solaria, from Mars, Pennsylvania

Hi Solaria,

When you need so many crowns replaced, the sticker shock can be intense. Due to the high price, you probably want to do anything in your power to save money, including seeking dental care overseas. However, comparison shopping when it comes to dental work is not a great idea. If there was something wrong with the care you received from your cosmetic dentist, you are free to look for a different dentist; however, there are things you should consider prior to seeking dental care in another country.

For example, everything may seem fine after you get the crowns, but once you return home, you may notice not everything is as it seems. Many things could go wrong – a tooth could break off, become sensitive, or need a root canal or extraction. The material used for the crowns could be low quality, look unnatural, chip, or cause an allergic reaction. If something did go wrong, you would have still have to seek help in your home state.

If the crowns are done by an inexperienced cosmetic dentist, it may cost you far more to repair the damage than it would cost to get the work done in the US in the first place. If there is a problem with the work you received, you will have few options for recouping your money or getting the work repaired. Worst case scenario, if your dentist was negligent, you will find yourself having to navigate a different country’s legal system, and may not be able to recoup your losses.

If cost is a major factor, you can try to find a different cosmetic dentist in your home state that is willing to work out a payment plan for you. You use your teeth every day, for everything from eating to speaking, so you do not want to skimp on caring for your teeth, as trying to save money could wind up costing you more in the long run. Poorly placed crowns can affect your bite so severely you develop TMJ disorder, a serious problem that requires a dentist who has studied TMJ and TMD extensively to treat.

This blog post is brought to you by Colorado Springs porcelain crown provider, Dr. Joseph Rota, of Rota Advanced Dental.