Sjögren’s Syndrome

The doctors of Vista Dental in Medicine Hat are determined to provide patients with all sorts of medical needs with top-quality dental care. Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is one problem with serious implications for oral health, and that’s particularly true in cases caused by the autoimmune disorder Sjögren’s Syndrome.

An autoimmune disorder is one in which the body’s immune system attacks the body. It is unclear what causes Sjögren’s Syndrome but it has a high comorbidity with lupus, which usually appears in people who are genetically predisposed to it after they suffer trauma or an infection. Sjögren’s Syndrome affects the entire body but it first dries out the tear and saliva ducts. Without saliva, food debris accumulates in the mouth, allowing bacteria and fungi to rapidly multiply. Dryness also disrupts the functioning of the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infection.

Testing for Sjögren’s is done with a sample of the patient’s salivary glands. These are plucked from the inside of the patient’s lower lip during a procedure called a biopsy. Only a local anesthetic is necessary for this, although suturing is sometimes done afterward. If Sjögren’s is confirmed as the cause of dry mouth, the patient will need to begin using saliva substitutions and may be prescribed medication to stimulate additional saliva production.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

Enamel Erosion

Tooth enamel is the strongest mineral substance in the body and once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back. Enamel helps the teeth fight against sensitivity and many different chemicals from food that causes the teeth harm. When enamel erodes, a patient may cringe while sipping hot or cold beverages and while brushing and flossing the teeth. To prevent enamel erosion, visit our doctors at Vista Dental twice a year for an oral exam and professional cleaning.

Enamel can erode from acids in the food and beverages that we consume. You may have enamel erosion if you experience pain or high sensitivity when exposed to cold, hot, acidic, or spicy foods. If left untreated, enamel erosion can lead to yellow-stained teeth, increased tooth decay, and fractured teeth. Though enamel can’t repair itself, if a significant amount of enamel is lost, dental bonding or another cosmetic procedure may be suggested as treatment.

If you have questions regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Oral Care for Senior Citizens

Because seniors are more likely to develop arthritis that limits movement of the hands, it’s important for them to have a vigorous oral care routine to keep teeth in optimal shape. Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for dry mouth, root decay, a diminished sense of taste, and tooth loss. If you are a senior struggling with dental care, our doctors at Vista Dental are here to assist you.

Wearing dentures, taking medications and general health conditions are some of the issues many seniors face. Teeth can also become more sensitive with age because our gums naturally recede over time, exposing areas of the tooth that are not protected by enamel. Unfortunately, as we age, arthritis can play another role in our oral health. For people who have this condition and have trouble using a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush may be easier to use and increase effectiveness.

If you have questions regarding family dentistry or oral care habits, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Bad Breath in Children

Vista Dental in Medicine Hat is proud to offer families assistance caring for the oral health needs of their children. Bad breath, or halitosis, is not something any child should have to go through, and it’s something we can help with.

Usually, bad breath is the result of excessive bacterial growth in the mouth. There may be medical problems contributing to this, but it is always essential for children to learn to brush their teeth properly. A brushing session should last for two full minutes and cover the tongue as well as every tooth surface. Non-alcoholic mouthwash is safe for children to use, and if they have difficulty with the mechanics of brushing, an electric toothbrush can help.

Bacteria build up faster when they have a food source such as nasal drip, so allergies or an infection could also be contributing to halitosis. Dry mouth, a common side effect of ADHD and mood disorder medication, prevents the mouth from washing away bacteria. It is also possible for bad breath to be a sign of diabetes, so the problem is worth taking seriously.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

White Spot Lesions

White spot lesions are the first sign of dental decay. At Vista Dental in Medicine Hat, we want our patients to understand their significance, which is why this week’s blog post is about how to prevent them and what can be done if they develop.

A white spot lesion, or incipient lesion, looks chalky compared to the rest of the teeth. It resembles enamel that is being eroded by acid reflux, although it can be stained brown with time. Tooth decay tends to begin around the edge of the gum line, where patients have the most difficult time brushing. People with fixed orthodontic brackets tend to develop lesions around the brackets’ edges, leaving them with white spots shaped like hollow rectangles on their teeth after the brackets are removed.

It only takes a month for white spots to form. Good brushing is essential to prevention, but fluoride treatments can also prevent them. A lesion may look shinier after it is no longer active. Once the progress of decay is arrested, mineralization can reverse the damage if it was not severe. Otherwise, teeth whitening, bonding, and veneers are popular cosmetic treatments.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

Flossing with Traditional Braces

If our doctors at Vista Dental are going to teach you how to brush with traditional braces, it’s only natural that we teach you how to floss as well. You may think that you get a pass from flossing because the brackets make it hard to do so. Fortunately, there’s a way to alter your flossing method during this time and we are here to tell you how to do it.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions regarding oral care for orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Brushing Teeth with Traditional Braces

If you’ve made the decision to straighten your teeth with traditional braces, it’s time to step up your oral care game. It’s important to thoroughly clean between the brackets and wires to remove food particles that can cause bad breath, plaque build-up, and potentially, gum disease. To guarantee optimal oral care, our doctors at Vista Dental are here to teach you how to brush with traditional braces.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

If you have questions regarding oral care for orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077.