What We Treat

Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is extreme grinding of the teeth, clenching of the jaw, or both. This condition tends to be common during the night but can also happen during the day. Some symptoms that relate to teeth grinding are jaw aches, headaches, and sensitive teeth. If bruxism is left untreated, it can cause long-term oral health issues like tooth wear, cracks, or it can even crack restorations that are currently in our mouths. The first step we recommend is to schedule  you schedule an appointment with us to prevent further issues to your child’s teeth and oral health.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a strong smell that remains in our mouths for an extended period. If your child is struggling with bad breath, it may be due to dental issues, mouth infections, dry mouth, gastrointestinal disease, tonsil stones, or other causes. Bad breath is most commonly caused by bacteria that can be removed with thorough brushing and flossing.  Brushing the tongue is also very important.  If bad breath does not resolve with good hygiene, we suggest scheduling an appointment at our office to discuss options.

Bleeding gums can be caused by brushing teeth too aggressively, however, bleeding is also a common symptom of gum disease. This occurs when bacteria are stuck to our teeth, which resulted in the buildup of plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden into tartar, which irritates our gums and increases the chances of bleeding and periodontitis.

Cavities are areas of teeth that have become decayed, resulting in holes in our teeth. Cavities are caused by the buildup of plaque, a substance that sits on our teeth and is made of bacteria, saliva, and food particles. Although cavities begin small, there is the chance for them to become larger if they are left untreated. Cavities are difficult to see because most do not show pain in the beginning, however, by visiting our office, cavities can be caught early using digital x-rays.

Cold sores are small blisters that form near the mouth which are commonly connected to the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores are complex because some patients who carry the virus do not have breakouts; however, those who have a weak immune system or high stress, may find themselves getting cold sores more often. Some symptoms that arise during a cold sore breakout are burning sensations on the lips or face, raised red blisters, fever, and muscle aches.

Gum disease, often called gingivitis, is an inflammation of our gums. Most of the time gingivitis is a result of poor oral hygiene and results in swollen gums and bleeding when brushing or flossing.  As gingivitis worsens it leads to another type of gum disease called periodontitis.  Periodontitis is a more severe form of gum disease and is associated with bone loss and destruction.  Good oral hygiene prevents gum disease.

Gum recession is a condition where the gums begin to pull away from the teeth, which ends up exposing tooth roots. Gum recession can be caused by aggressive brushing, poor oral hygiene, hormonal changes, grinding, stress, and genetics. If you suspect your child’s teeth are exposed to gum recession, it is best to contact us to help prevent further oral health complications.

We provide oral cancer screenings at each visit, and if you have any concerns about oral cancer for your child it is best to have them evaluated right away.  Oral cancer looks like a small sore, but will not go away like most lesions that occur in the mouth.  It can develop on multiple areas around our mouths including our gums, lips, tongue, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, or the floor of the mouth under the tongue.

Stained teeth can be caused by lifestyle habits such as the food we eat, what we drink, poor dental hygiene, medications, genetics, and aging.  Permanent teeth are generally more yellow than primary teeth, and as a result we are often asked why children’s new teeth are so yellow.  This is especially common when kiddos have both permanent and primary teeth in the mouth.  Bleaching can help to whiten teeth, but should not be done prior to a dental visit to ensure your child is cavity free, and that they are ready for bleaching.

Tooth sensitivity is no fun, and can be especially painful when eating or drinking items that are hot or cold.  Sometimes sensitivity is a result of cavities, gum recession, or another problem.  If your child suffers from tooth sensitivity, please get them in for an examination so we can recommend ways to help.