Dental and Mouth Clinic

DENTAL AND MOUTH CLINIC

Dry Mouth Clinic

The Dry Mouth Clinic at Tufts School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to the assessment and treatment of dry mouth and other oral conditions in medically compromised patients.

What is dry mouth and how can it affect your oral health?

Dry mouth also known as xerostomia is a condition where there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by chronic diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, bone marrow transplants and side effects of medications. Dry mouth can cause an increased risk to caries, periodontal disease, bad breath and infections in the mouth.

What are the symptoms?

·         Dry sticky feeling in the mouth

·         Burning tongue

·         Difficulty swallowing and eating

·         Sores int the mouth

·         Dry lips

Treatment

Dry mouth is treated by increasing saliva and decreasing dryness in the mouth.

The following are suggested treatments to increase saliva.

·         Vitamin E and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

·         Use of a sonicare toothbrush to thoroughly remove plaque from teeth and gums

·         Use prescription flucridated toothpaste for example, Prevident

·         Chew sugar free gum and candy

·         Use MI-Paste or other over the counter dry mouth products, such as Biotene products

·         Use of prescription medications, Evoxac or Salagen

·         Get your teeth cleaned and receive a fluoride treatment every 3 months.

DENTAL DISEASES

Dental diseases may affect the teeth, the gums, or other tissues and parts of the mouth. Dental diseases can cause much more serious problems than a toothache; the can affect our ability to chew , smile, or speak properly. Their severity may range from a simple aphthous uleer, to a common tooth cavity, or up to a deadly oral cancer.

These are among the most common diseases in humans and include dental caries, gingivitis, periodonitis and many more oral conditions. The prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of these diseases are the base to the dentistry profession, in which are dentitst and dental hygienist, and its sub-specialtist, such as oral medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and endodontics.

DENTAL DISEASES & TEETH PROBLEMS

Oral health play an important role in our well being. Several dental diseases can cause oral health problems affecting the teeth, gums, or other tissues and part of the mouth. The may range in severity from a simple mouth ulcer to a common tooth cavity, or up to a deadly mouth cancer. Dental diseases may cause pain and compromise our ability to chew, smile, or speak properly, however, most of the dental health problems can be prevented with simple measures such as following proper daily oral hygiene and regularly visiting a dentist.

1.      Dental plaque is an almost invisible film of bacteria that accumulates on our teeth and gums. It is the cause of the main dental diseases; tooth decay and gum disease.

2.      Dental Calculus (or dental tartar) is a hard layer of mineral deposits created on the teeth by hardened dental plaque. It cause inflammation of the gums, gum recession and gum disease.

3.      Tooth decay, also called “dental caries” or “cavities”, is a disease causing the progressive destruction of the tooth structure. It is one of the main causes of tooth loss.

4.      Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a serious inflammatory disease of the gums and bone around the teeth. Bleeding or receding gums are the main signs of periodontal disease.

5.      Tooth abscess in a accumulation of pus at the area around a tooth root or in the gums, as a result of a tooth or gum infection. It is a painful condition that may lead to tooth loss.

6.      Toothache is a sign of dental problems. Tooth pain can be a symptom of may different dental conditions. You should visit your dentist without delay for an exam to prevent any complications.

7.      Tooth loss can occur when one or more teeth fal! Out or they are extracted due to dental diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease, or lost due to tooth injuries or mouth trauma.

8.      Other dental problems include teeth injuries, bad breath, functional problems e.g. TMJ disorders, aesthetic problems e.g. yellow teeth, and pathological conditions affecting the human mouth.