What is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the tooth surface. Saliva, food and fluids combine to produce these deposits that collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque buildup is the primary factor in periodontal (gum) disease, including gingivitis.

How to Get Rid of Plaque

To help prevent plaque buildup, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with an anti-plaque toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for around the clock protection against plaque buildup, and floss once a day.

Adding a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse to your routine can help against plaque buildup, without the burning sensation of alcohol. Eating well-balanced meals and brushing after snacks will reduce the formation of plaque. Visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings, during which your dental professional will scrape away any accumulated plaque with a special instrument.

Above article from: Crest.com

Palm Beach Smiles 
Michael Barr, DDS
COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
650 W. Boynton Beach Blvd, Suite 1- Boynton Beach, FL 332426
(561) 736-2377
http://palmbeach-smiles.com/

Sports Safety: Avoiding Tooth and Mouth Injuries

A few years ago, a dental newsletter published what seemed like an unusual story. A boy snagged his teeth on a basketball net while doing a slam-dunk.
A freakish accident? Not quite. After the article appeared, nearly 40 dentists wrote in with their own stories. They all told of would-be Michael Jordans who sacrificed their front teeth in pursuit of the perfect dunk.
In older children and adults, sports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.
About 80% of all dental injuries affect at least one of the front teeth. Damage to the tongue or cheek is common, too.
Basic Protection
Even if a tooth has been knocked out, it often can be saved if you get to a dentist quickly enough. Minor chips and cracks can be repaired. Dentists use tooth-colored materials that are nearly as strong as the original tooth. However, even "minor" injuries can cause serious and costly damage. If you enjoy sports or other high-risk activities, protect yourself. The use of mouth guards among football players, for example, is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year.
Depending on the sport, two types of protection are available:

• Helmets- A helmet is a must for activities that involve speed or impact. These include football, hockey, skating and bike riding. The helmet should fit correctly. It should also be appropriate for the sport you are playing.
• Mouth guards - Wearing a mouth guard is one of the best ways to prevent injury to your teeth, tongue and lips. A custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist is recommended. This type of mouth guard usually fits better than a ready-made one (found in sporting-goods stores). That means it may protect your teeth better.

If a custom-fit mouth guard isn't an option, try a "boil-and-bite" mouth guard. You can buy one in a sporting-goods store. You place the mouth guard in boiling water. Once the plastic is soft (but not too hot), you bite down on the mouth guard and mold the softened plastic around your teeth. If the mouth guard doesn't fit comfortably the first time, you can reheat it and do it again.

©2002-2013 Aetna, Inc. All rights reserved.
09/25/2013

The above article is from: Colgate.com 

Palm Beach Smiles 
Michael Barr, DDS
COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
650 W. Boynton Beach Blvd, Suite 1- Boynton Beach, FL 332426
(561) 736-2377
http://palmbeach-smiles.com/

Tooth Anatomy

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

• Crown- the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.
• Gumline- where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.
• Root- the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.
• Enamel- the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body - yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.
• Dentin- the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin - where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.
• Pulp- the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?
Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

• Incisors- the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.
• Canines- sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.
• Premolars- these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.
• Molars- used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface

The above article is from: Colgate.com

Palm Beach Smiles 
Michael Barr, DDS
COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
650 W. Boynton Beach Blvd, Suite 1- Boynton Beach, FL 332426
(561) 736-2377
http://palmbeach-smiles.com/

Tooth Decay and Sensitivity

What Causes Tooth Enamel Damage?

What happens when tooth enamel is damaged? The exposed part underneath becomes vulnerable to decay. Cavities aren't the only problem.

Teeth with damaged enamel can become sensitive to extreme temperatures. Suddenly, eating ice cream or sipping hot coffee can be painful or unpleasant.

 

Above article from:  WebMD.com/oral-health

Palm Beach Smiles 
Michael Barr, DDS
COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
650 W. Boynton Beach Blvd, Suite 1- Boynton Beach, FL 332426
(561) 736-2377
http://palmbeach-smiles.com/

Dr. Oz at it again... Are your silver fillings making you sick?

Here we go again... with a debate that is 150 years old. Yep!  One hundred and fifty years old!  Dr. Oz had a show yesterday about silver fillings.  The implication was that silver fillings, which contain mercury (as a chemically-bound component), can cause illness.  This notion isn't new. But, it's never once been proven by any credible scientific studies.

I haven't used silver fillings at Palm Beach Smiles in at least 15 years.  A long time ago, I decided to use composite instead.  It's more conservative (requires less removal of healthy tooth structure) and it's certainly more cosmetically attractive.  Who wants silver fillings that end up turning black?  Today, most people want white fillings (which are not completely without risks, either, by the way).

Silver fillings replaced by composite.  Actual Palm Beach Smiles case.

Dr. Oz's show was sensationalistic, which is what TV is all about.   Furthermore, the premises and "guidelines" were completely without any scientific basis.  Yes... I realize that Dr. Oz is a famous TV celebrity (whose training is in cardio-thoracic surgery), and I'm "just a dentist."  But, I dare say that I know more about dentistry than he does.  I am an expert on dentistry.  He is not.   Of course, he could find some dentists to be on the show to support the premise.  But, that doesn't make their arguments any more scientific or based in fact.  The real facts contradict their assertions.

Actual Palm Beach Smiles case.

We dentists serve two masters: Science and business.  If we were to focus on business, we should WISH that silver amalgam fillings have been deemed harmful.  It would make us all VERY busy (and wealthy).

Finally, my point is that the scientist in me cannot endorse the categorical or routine removal of of silver amalgam in order to cure or prevent medical illness.  I do understand that some patients would like their silver fillings removed for cosmetic purposes.   And, I'm happy to do it... as long as patients know the risks.  Removing and replacing fillings can be traumatic to teeth.  This can lead to other issues down the road that may require root canal treatment or crown restorations.

If you'd like more information, you can click on my webpage:  Should I have my mercury-silver fillings removed?

Large fillings may need to be replaced with crowns.

If you have any questions about your silver fillings, give us a call at Palm Beach Smiles in Boynton Beach.

You'll Shoot Your Tooth Out!

Just when I thought I had heard EVERYTHING... well you know the rest.  But, this one is new.

A man had a toothache and decided to SHOOT it out with his gun.  Of course, only a MAN would consider this.  Women are far smarter!

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that the man was also drinking, and I dare say... lives in Alabama.  Oh, I'm going to get flamed for that!  It was probably his last tooth!  ;-)  Drinking and do-it-yourself dentistry don't mix!


Click here to read "Decatur man tries to ‘shoot out’ aching tooth."