Q. My teeth don’t hurt; why do I need a check up?
A. Pain is a good indicator that there is a problem, but it is also a late indicator. All dental problems start small and don’t hurt. That is the time to fix them, before they hurt. When a tooth hurts, it may already be abscessed and require a root canal. Don’t wait for pain.

Q. My tooth is sensitive to cold drinks. What could that be?
A. Sensitivity to cold means that the nerve of the tooth is inflamed. If the sensitivity goes right away after the cold food or beverage is swallowed, the inflammation is usually reversible by fixing the cause, such as a deep cavity, grinding your teeth or gum recession. If the cold sensitivity lingers, the tooth may need a root canal.

Q. My tooth is sensitive to hot food and drinks. What could that be?
A. Sensitivity to hot is usually more serious. That often means that the tooth inflammation is more advanced and may not be reversible unless root canal is done.

Q. When I bite down on hard foods, it hurts. What is that?
A. Biting down on hard foods means that there is inflammation at the top of the root, just like walking with a stone in your shoe would cause your foot to hurt. If it is due to biting too hard on the tooth, such as would be the case with a new filling that is too high, or tooth clenching or grinding, fixing the bite will help. If it is due to an infection in the tooth, a root canal is probably needed.

Q. My teeth have chips in the front. What causes that?
A. Chips in teeth are caused by mechanical trauma such as a blow to the tooth or, more commonly, tooth grinding. You can see if the chipping is due to tooth grinding by putting your top and bottom teeth together edge to edge, and seeing if the chips or worn spots on the top and bottom teeth line up.

Q. My teeth are sensitive along the gum line to cold. What can I do?
A. Usually these sensitive areas are caused by tooth clenching or grinding. The solution is to try to desensitize them by using a prescription-strength fluoride product, such as Prevident, if over the counter products like Sensodyne don’t help. Also, you need to determine the cause, such as tooth clenching or grinding or gum recession, and correct that to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Q. I keep getting cavities. What can I do?
A. You don’t have to keep getting cavities. You have to stop what is causing them. Cavities are due to either eating too much sugar relative to the strength of your teeth and not flossing, or due to old fillings leaking and letting decay under them. You need to discover the problem and then cut down your sugar, start flossing and fix leaking old fillings. Using a prescription strength fluoride is helpful too.

Q. I don’t like ugly black fillings. What are my options?
A. Today, you do not need to have old fashioned metal fillings in your mouth. Bonded fillings, inlays and crowns are all natural tooth color and can be used to replace old fillings to give you a younger, natural look.

Q. If you cap a tooth, can it ever decay again?
A. A tooth with a cap is much less likely to decay than one with a big silver filling that is more prone to cracking and leaking. However, a cap is not a permanent solution to prevent decay. You still have to brush and floss and avoid sugar foods because where the cap ends the tooth can still decay.

Q. If I lost a tooth, do I need to replace it?
A. Except for wisdom teeth, teeth that are lost should generally be replaced because when a tooth is lost, several things happen. The other teeth may start to shift, causing food traps which can lead to more decay or gum disease. In addition, it can throw the bite off leading to bite problems. The last problem is difficulty with chewing, leading to poor digestion and eating processed foods which aren’t as healthy as harder to chew fresh fruits and vegetable and high fiber breads and cereals.

Q. I get food, particularly meat or stringy foods, stuck in between my teeth. Why is that?
A. Food traps between your teeth may be due to cavities between the teeth, fillings that are breaking or your teeth may be shifting if you have lost and not replaced missing teeth. It is important to fix these problems because the trapped food can cause gum disease in addition to being annoying.

Q. I have fillings in my teeth but they don’t match the color of my teeth.
A. If you have fillings that do not match the color of your teeth, you can have them replaced with new bonded fillings. Over time, tooth-colored fillings, especially the older ones, can discolor, or the color of your teeth may have darkened due to food or beverage stains. Modern bonded fillings hold their color for much longer than older materials. .

Q. Do you have to cap a tooth that had a root canal?
A. Usually a tooth has root canal due to severe decay. In that case, a cap is needed to fix the tooth properly so it does not continue to decay or break. Ask your dentist about your specific situation.

Q. I hate to be numb for fillings. Is there another way?
A. No one likes the numb feeling, but most people prefer numbness to pain. If the cavity is small, you may be able to do it without Novocain. Also, air abrasion, which does not use a drill, can sometimes be used for smaller cavities without Novocain.

Q. Are there different types of Novocain?
A. As a matter of fact, Novocain is actually not used any more at all. There are several different types of local anesthetics used by dentists. Some are longer and some are shorter lasting.

Q. Novocain makes my heart pound when I get it. Are there other types of Novocain?
A. The heart pounding is an annoying but temporary effect of a chemical in the local anesthetic that helps it work better. If it is a problem for you, there are local anesthetics that do not have that chemical. Often those don’t last as long, so for a longer procedure, the numbness might not last long enough, requiring re-injection of additional local anesthesia. Ask Dr. Phelps what would be best for you.

Q. My teeth are generally sensitive. What can I do?
A. Generalized sensitivity of teeth is usually due to gum recession caused by gum disease or tooth grinding due to a bite problem. You need to find the source of the problem and fix it. If it is only one tooth, then it could also be due to decay.

Q. Can I get white fillings instead of dark metal ones?
A. Yes. Many dentists today do not even use dark silver mercury fillings at all.

Q. I want my mercury fillings taken out. Can that be done?
A. Silver mercury fillings can be removed easily and replaced with tooth colored materials. The dentist does it all the time if there is decay or if they are leaking or broken. They can be removed for cosmetic reasons to lighten dark teeth as well, as if the patient requests it.

Q. I heard gold is best for teeth, but I want a natural look. What are my choices?
A. Gold is a very excellent material but some people object to its appearance, even in back teeth. Now there are several choices of materials to repair decayed or broken teeth. Laser bonded composite fillings are used for small-to-medium-sized cavities. They are natural tooth color. Gold or porcelain inlays are used for very large cavities. The traditional gold, while an excellent material in terms of durability and strength, is generally not selected in areas where it would be visible. Porcelain, on the other hand is very natural looking. In the case of even more extreme tooth damage, a porcelain crown can be used.

Q. Is there such a thing as a permanent filling?
A. There are three reasons why a restoration in a tooth could fail. First, the material could break or wear out. Second, the remaining tooth could break or start to decay. And third, some conditions such as gum disease could damage the support of a tooth or cause gum recession that would cause a cosmetic problem with an otherwise successful restoration. Based on this, considering that people bite, chew and swallow 24 hours a day, eat cold foods and drinks as low as 35 to 40 degrees (F) to hot beverages as warm as 150 degrees (F), there is nothing that could be considered “permanent”. That said, if the material selected is appropriate for the size of the cavity and the individual brushes and flosses daily, eats minimal sugar and uses prescription strength fluoride, most dental repairs will be very long-lasting.

Q. I’ve always had weak teeth. What can I do to make them stronger?
A. Some people do have weaker than average teeth. These people can use prescription-strength fluoride, like Prevident, to make their enamel stronger and more decay-resistance.

Q. Weak teeth run in my family. How can I help my kids avoid cavities?
A. To help your kids avoid decay, make sure they are getting optimal fluoride in water or by prescription and minimal sugar. In addition, make sure they are getting dental check-ups twice a year to catch problems while they are small and practice effective plaque removal at home.

Q. How can I get decay when my teeth are already filled?
A. Teeth that are filled can get more decay if the filling chips or cracks open and starts to leak. That is why the material selected must be strong enough. In fact, an extensively filled tooth is generally weaker than an unfilled tooth. In addition, if the person does not practice effective plaque control and continues to eat too much sugar for their own system, decay can start in the remaining unfilled tooth structure.

Q. What is the best way to check for decay?
A. To check for decay, you need to use a combination of dental x-rays to “look” in between the teeth where you cannot see. In addition, it is necessary to use a video enhanced system to magnify the size of the image so small cracks or chips in the filling that allow decay can be found. Very large cavities often form under what appears to be acceptable old fillings. These cavities can easily be missed unless the teeth are carefully evaluated.

Q. Are x-rays safe?
A. X-rays, when used properly, are definitely safe. Over the years, the amount of radiation has been going down as better systems have been developed. Today, the average set of dental x-rays provides far less radiation than a day in the sun. And remember, the dental technician uses a lead apron to cover your neck, chest and stomach to minimize radiation exposure.

Q. Why do you need dental x-rays?
A. You need dental x-rays because there are some areas like in between the teeth or under the gum line that are just not visible any other way. If the doctor does not catch decay, infection or bone tumors while they are small, and waits for the patient to complain of pain or other symptoms, little cavities can grow to the point where root canal is needed.

Q. I have broken several teeth and had a cap made. Why do teeth break?
A. Most commonly, teeth break due to large cavities weakening the remaining tooth structure. That is why, with large cavities, they usually need to be fixed with a material that can strengthen the tooth, such as a crown. The other reason teeth sometimes break is from the pressure of tooth clenching or grinding, which is far more common than most people think.

Q. If you have decay, will an x-ray find it?
A. If you have decay, an x-ray may not find it depending on where the decay is located on the tooth and whether there is a metal filling in the tooth that could block the x-rays. That is why you need to combine dental x-rays and a careful, video enhanced dental examination.

Q. I brush my teeth 5 to 6 times a day. Do I still need to floss?
A. From a decay point of view, two good brushings a day will clean the places a brush can reach. The problem is that the brush can’t go between the teeth where most decay forms. No amount of brushing will replace flossing. They just don’t do the same spots. Just like cleaning the bathroom 6 times a day doesn’t make the kitchen clean. You need to brush and floss.

Q. Fluoride is mainly for kids. Does it help adults?
A. Yes, it does. Adults can get great benefits from fluorides applied to their teeth on a daily or weekly basis because fluoride hardens the outside of the tooth. If the outside is harder, decay can’t start.

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Q. If my teeth are crooked, do I have any options besides braces?
A. In addition to braces, teeth can be straightened by using porcelain veneers or crowns. This method is especially useful with adults who want a result in two weeks, instead of two years. In addition, if the teeth are dark or have decay or unattractive old fillings, that can all be corrected at the same time.

Q. Is tooth whitening safe?
A. Tooth whitening is absolutely safe and many studies have demonstrated that tooth whitening does not weaken or damage the teeth.

Q. I have a wedding soon.  How can I whiten my teeth overnight?
A.  We've had wonderful success stories with our new Zoom! whitening light.  After only and hour and a half of your time you'll notice several shades lighter.  Click Here to learn more.

Q. How old do you have to be to whiten your teeth?
A. The company who supplies us with the tooth whitening materials we use recommends that it is safe and effective for children age 12 and up.

Q. Can you be too old to whiten your teeth?
A. You cannot be too old to whiten your teeth. Some of our most excited tooth-whitening patients have been in their seventies and eighties as they found that tooth whitening quickly and easily takes years off their appearance.

Q. I want to improve my smile, but I don’t want fake looking teeth. What can I do?
A. A dentist trained in proper cosmetic dental procedures does not create the “white chiclet” tooth look you may have seen. We can discuss the shape, color and arrangement of your teeth so you get a great “natural” looking smile.

Q. Is it possible to get a preview of how my teeth could look before doing any cosmetic work?
A. Yes, you absolutely can get a preview before your work is done. Cosmetic Imaging is a system where we take a picture of your smile and then, in our computer, change your teeth so you can see how great you would look with cosmetic dental treatment.

Q. I don’t have a lot of money, can I still improve my smile?
A. Many cosmetic procedures, such as tooth whitening and cosmetic contouring, which reshapes crooked and misaligned teeth, are not very expensive and can make a big difference in your smile.

Q. I’d like to cap my teeth but I hate it when it looks dark at the gum line. Can that be avoided?
A. The dark area at the gum line with traditional caps is usually due to metal in the crowns. At our practice, with teeth that show when you smile, we avoid metal in crowns whenever possible and use all ceramic crowns.

Q. I don’t have much time, how long does it take to do cosmetic work?
A. Cosmetic dental procedures can be accomplished in as few as two visits over as little as a week or two. Of course, every patient's situation is different so you need to discuss your specific requirements and circumstances with us prior to starting any cosmetic work.

Q. If I get a cap to whiten my teeth, does that mean I need a root canal?
A. Getting a cap does not require that the tooth get a root canal.

Q. Does bleaching always work?
A. Bleaching is an inexpensive process that is designed to take the dark pigments out of the teeth. It will not whiten fillings or crowns on teeth. In addition, certain types of discolorations tend to respond better to bleaching than others. Based on our experience bleaching several thousand people's teeth, we can give patients a reasonably accurate predication of the results they can expect with tooth bleaching, but there can be no guarantee of results.

Q. Can you bleach old fillings or crowns?
A. Bleaching only affects natural tooth structure, not artificial fillings or crowns.

Q. I want to bleach my teeth, but I have fillings or crowns on my teeth. If they won’t bleach what do I do?
A. If you have old fillings or crowns, don’t be concerned. Bleach your teeth and then, when you are happy with the results, we can replace old fillings or crowns to match your new whiter smile.

Q. Can bleaching weaken my teeth?
A. Bleaching only takes the dark pigments out of teeth and does not weaken them in any way.

Q. Is bleaching bad for my gums?
A. The bleaching materials we use today were actually developed originally as a treatment for periodontal disease. Researchers noticed that, while they had no long term benefits for gum disease, the oxygen released during the bleaching process did help kill certain types of bacteria during the actual bleaching sessions.

Q. How long do porcelain veneers take to get?
A. Porcelain veneers can be done in as little as one to two weeks.

Q. Do porcelains veneers discolor over time?
A. Porcelain veneers are very strong and the glazed surface is generally impervious to stains. Just like a dinner plate can be washed, porcelain veneers can be cleaned and professionally polished to keep them looking great.

Q. How long do porcelain veneers last?
A. Porcelain veneers last for many years. As long as the patient exercises proper home care to prevent decay or gum problems, gets regular professional cleanings at least twice a year and avoids unreasonable force on their teeth, they can expect many years of service from porcelain veneers. You cannot abuse them by using your veneered teeth to crack open nuts, pull pins out of shirts, or as one of our patients said, “use your teeth like a Swiss Army Knife”. Doing so would likely cause breakage.

Q. Can I eat normally with porcelain veneers?
A. You can eat normally with veneers. Foods like corn, apples, chicken, ribs, fresh fruits and vegetables, carrots, etc., are all fine. So are sandwiches and bagels. You cannot use your teeth to break open nuts or eat stale breads that would require a hacksaw without causing veneers to develop cracks or actually break. Repeated abuse of veneered teeth will weaken them and then, one day, something might break while you are eating a tuna fish sandwich on white bread. This would only happen if the veneers had been damaged by prior abuse.

Q. What do you do if something happens to a porcelain veneer?
A. If a veneer chips or cracks, it can usually be repaired successfully. If it completely breaks, it may need to be replaced.

Q. What is the difference between a porcelain veneer and a crown?
A. A classical porcelain veneer covers just the outside and biting edge of a tooth and requires a minimal amount of tooth reduction. A crown would go completely around a tooth and require more then twice the amount of tooth reduction. That is why we recommend porcelain veneers unless the tooth is extensively decayed beyond the point where a crown is necessary. Sometimes, in one patient, we use a combination of porcelain veneers and crowns to get the best most conservative result.

Q. Can a porcelain veneer close spaces between my teeth?
A. Porcelain veneers are an excellent way to close spaces in between teeth in just two weeks with no braces.

Q. Can a porcelain veneer make crooked teeth straight?
A. Porcelain veneers are an excellent way to make crooked teeth straight in just two weeks with no braces.

Q. If I’m not sure what I want, can I try bleaching my teeth first and then do veneers later if I am not happy with the results.
A. You can always start with bleaching and then use veneers later. In your consultation with the doctors, they will let you know what results you can expect from bleaching and then you can decide what you want to do. Some people may decide to start with bleaching and contouring and then do veneers in the future.

Q. Can teeth darken after tooth whitening?
A. It depends on how they are whitened. The same process that lets us bleach teeth can let them darken again. Teeth are permeable. That means stains can go in and out. Generally teeth that have been bleached will darken a little over time but it would take at least several years for them to return to their original color. If the teeth are whitened with veneers or crowns, they will not darken significantly at all.

Q. If teeth do darken after whitening, what can I do?
A. If they darken more than you want, you can them again. As long as you save your models and bleaching trays, you can do a touch up bleaching for a few days at any time in the future by purchasing an inexpensive touch-up kit of bleach material.

Q. What can cause teeth to be dark?
A. Some people simply start out with darker teeth than other people. Anything that could stain a white cloth can cause your teeth to darken. The worst offenders are smoking of any kind, dark beverages like red wine and cokes, and dark gravies and sauces. Skipping regular cleanings also lets deposits build up and penetrate into the tooth to darken them.

Q. If I smoke or eat and drink foods that tend to stain teeth, does that mean I can’t whiten my teeth?
A. Regardless of your habits, you can have whiter teeth. If your teeth are dark and your habits tend to stain your teeth, you will get a less than desirable result from the tooth bleaching and will have to do it longer and more frequently. You do have other options, such as porcelain veneers, that can give you the color you want without relying on tooth bleaching.

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Q. Does root canal have to take many visits to the dentist?
A. A root canal is done to remove the infection and seal the canals in the tooth. This can often be done in one visit. Sometimes two or three visits are needed depending on the individual tooth and degree of infection.

Q. What does a root canal hurt?
A. Root canal treatment is done in the case of an infected nerve. Usually a tooth having root canal treatment can be made numb with a local anesthetic and it doesn’t hurt at all. Sometimes, a tooth with an infected nerve does not react to Novocain as well as a normal tooth and takes more work to get it completely not sensitive.

Q. I had a root canal and then my tooth broke. Why did that happen?
A. The root canal treatment was fine. The problem is the tooth was weakened by prior decay and required a cap to fix the tooth. If that was not done, the tooth. even with a successful root canal can break.

Q. Why do people need a root canal?
A. A root canal is needed due to an infection in the tooth. This is usually due to an extremely deep cavity or, less often, due to a blow to the tooth. A tooth could have a deep cavity and the doctor might not know that the tooth needs a root canal because nothing shows in an x-ray and the patient has no pain. Then, a week or a year or many years later, something may show up in an x-ray or the patient could report pain. If that happens, root canal treatment would be done at that time.

Q. What is a root canal treatment?
A. A root canal is a process where infection is cleaned out of the inside of the tooth and the canal is sealed to prevent re-infection.

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Q. If I have my gums treated, can gum diseases come back?
A. Gum disease can be controlled and slowed down, but in cannot be permanently cured. Anyone with teeth can develop gum disease. If you have already had problems with your gums, you know you have the potential for future problems. However, you do not need to lose your teeth because of it. If you can control the cause of gum disease your gums can be returned to a state of health and you can consider yourself a “healed periodontal patient”.

Q. If my gums aren’t that bad, do I still need surgery?
A. Periodontal surgery is done in a case where there is extensive gum disease, bone loss or gum recession. In cases where the gum disease is more moderate, more conservative procedures such as scaling and root planing may be performed.

Q. Are there any options besides gum surgery for bleeding gums?
A. Bleeding gums is a sign of infection but bleeding gums alone do not tell us how extensive the damage is or what treatment is needed. Unless there is an acute abscess, we always start with cleanings, scaling and root planing and, especially, home care instructions. Sometimes that is all that is needed to treat the gum infection.

Q. Can gum recession be prevented?
A. Gum recession can usually be prevented by detecting a condition that could cause the recession and then stopping it before recession occurs. Examples of causes of gum recession are gum inflammation that could lead to recession and bone loss, tooth clenching and grinding that can lead to bone loss, developmental defects in the gum tissue or cheek muscles and, rarely, people who brush compulsively with a very hard tooth brush.

Q. How is gum recession treated?
A. Gum recession is treated by first stopping the cause. Then periodontal grafting procedures can be performed to replace the missing gum tissue.

Q. If my tooth is loose, how can it be tightened?
A. Loose teeth are a sign of bone loss. A tooth with healthy bone will never be obviously loose. If the damage is not too severe, especially if it is due to tooth clenching or grinding, the damage can usually be reversed by fixing the bite. If the tooth is moderately loose due to bone loss, it is often possible to join it to a stronger adjacent tooth, often with a cap to strengthen it. If it is very loose due to severe bone loss, it may not be treatable at all.

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Q. Do dental implants hurt?
A. Placing dental implants is a surgical procedure, so there is definitely some mild discomfort after the surgical phase. After the initial healing phase passes, there is nothing to be fearful of in so far as pain is concerned.

Q. Do dental implants look and feel natural?
A. Dental implants can be made to look great. Patients with dental implants report that biting and chewing feel perfectly natural.

Q. How long does it take to get implants?
A. Placing an implant requires one surgical visit and several follow up visits to check the healing and remove the sutures. The purpose of the dental implants is to replace missing teeth, so in addition to the surgical placement of the implants, the patient must wait 3 to 6 months while the bone heals and then another month or two for the final dental bridgework.

Q. Can you be too old for dental implants?
A. You cannot be too old for dental implants. The issue is your health. As long as the patient is a candidate for elective surgery, they can have dental implants. A patient with medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, severe hypertension etc., would not be an appropriate candidate for dental implants.

Q. Can you be too young for dental implants?
A. Usually dental implants are done for patients whose jaw bones are fully formed, so that would be late teenage years.

Q. Are there any medical conditions why a person couldn’t have dental implants?
A. Medical conditions that would preclude the placement of dental implants would include people with problems healing, such as people with AIDS and people who are not candidates for elective surgery, such as people who have uncontrolled diabetes, severe high blood pressure or heart disease.

Q. Can dental implants replace a single tooth?
A. Dental implants are a good way to replace a single missing tooth as long as the adjacent teeth are in good health and good alignment.

Q. Can dental implants replace many teeth at the same time?
A. Dental implants are often used to replace several missing teeth when there aren’t sufficient teeth for fixed or non-removable bridgework. In that case, one implant is generally placed for each missing tooth to be replaced.

Q. If you already have removable bridge work or dentures, could they be replaced by dental implants.
A. Many patients who get dental implants do so because they are uncomfortable with the old removable bridgework that they had.

Q. Why would I get a dental implant compared to a fixed bridge to replace a missing tooth?
A. Placing dental implants and then putting a cap on it is a great way to replace a missing tooth if you do not want to put caps on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, or if there aren’t enough strong teeth to support a fixed bridge near the missing tooth. This is especially true if the adjacent teeth are perfectly healthy, straight, decay free-teeth and the patient would rather avoid capping them.

Q. Are there any disadvantages to a dental implant compared to a more traditional fixed bridge?
A. The disadvantage of the implant is that two surgical procedures need to be done to place the implant and then place the supporting post in the implant so that a cap can be placed to replace the missing tooth. This takes several months. And the cost for a dental implant, plus the post and crown, is greater than a conventional fixed bridge. If the patient has perfectly good teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, the benefits of not having to cap those teeth may be worth the extra time and expense.

Q. Are there cases when an implant is not the best way to replace a missing tooth?
A. If the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth are crooked, decayed or already have big leaking fillings, and need to be capped anyway, it makes no sense to go through the time and expense of a dental implant and then have to cap the adjacent teeth anyway. Also, if there is not an adequate amount of jaw bone to hold the dental implant, bone grafting procedures may need to be done and the patient would need to evaluate the benefits of the implant approach versus the time and expense of the implants and bone graft.

Q. Do implants always look as good as other tooth replacement methods?
A. There are times when dental conditions such as bone loss or gum recession may allow a dentist to use a dental implant to adequately replace a missing tooth but not restore the normal shape and contour of the gum tissue. In the back of the mouth, where it doesn’t show, this may not matter. In the front of the mouth, it could result in a chewing success but an appearance failure. That is one reason why dental implants, as great as they are, are not a panacea for the replacement of all missing teeth.

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Q. My gums bleed. Is that normal?
A. No, that is not normal. Bleeding gums are a sign of infection. Start brushing and flossing and seek professional care.

Q. If I brush my teeth regularly at home, do I need to use dental floss?
A. Yes you need to floss because flossing cleans in between the teeth where even the best brushing cannot clean.

Q. My gums have receded; can that be fixed?
A. Gum recession can often be repaired by periodontal reconstruction procedures. Even if the tooth has a filling or crown, it can usually be done.

Q. My gums receded and the tooth is sensitive, can that be stopped?
A. The sensitivity can be treated by fluoride treatment, repairing the gum recession or replacing a bonded filling in the tooth, depending on the situation. Finding the cause ofthe recession is very important so the process can be stopped or it will continue.

Q. I’ve always had gum problems, will I lose my teeth?
A. If you don’t stop the gum problems, it is likely that you will lose teeth. However, gum disease can be successfully treated and controlled with modern state-of-the-art periodontal care as long as you catch it soon enough. Do not wait till it gets so bad that it is too late.

Q. Does gum disease cause bad breath?
A. Most bad breath is caused by bacteria and bacterial by-products in the mouth. Gum disease is a major cause of bad breath

Q. My gums are red, why is that?
A. Redness is usually a sign of gum infection. The classic signs of infection, whether in the gums or any other part of the body are swelling, increased temperature and redness.

Q. Does the monthly menstrual cycle affect your gums?
A. Hormonal changes affect all of the body, including the reaction of our gums to the germs in plaque. In other words, the plaque causes gum problems. The hormonal changes lower the body's resistance to plaque. Extra flossing and brushing should stop bleeding gums during menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Q. Do certain medicines cause bleeding gums?
A. No, they don’t cause gums to bleed. Germs cause gums to bleed. However, certain medicines, like anti-convulsion drugs such as dilantin and blood pressure drugs such as Norvasc, do make your gums more sensitive to plaque that is already there, resulting in more bleeding.

Q. My gums are receded but don’t bleed or hurt, is that a problem?
A. Yes, it is a problem. When the gums recede, the bone that holds the teeth also recedes. That can reduce the support for the teeth and result in tooth loosening and ultimate loss of teeth.

Q. My gums hurt. What could cause that?
A. Pain in the gums is the result of an acute gum infection. Causes could be gum abscess or an abscess originating from a tooth. Virus infections such as herpes can make gums sore. Canker sores, cold sores and trench mouth (ANUG) can also make the gums hurt.

Q. I have a bump on my gum that comes and goes. What could that be?
A. It is probably an abscess that is draining through the gum tissue. It is very important to cure the infection because damage to the bone is happening all the time, even when the bump goes away.

Q. My gums have a whitish color between the teeth. What could that be?
A. It could be a sign of a gum infection called ANUG. This also used be called Trench Mouth and typically occurs in teenagers and young adults who don’t brush and floss regularly when they are going through a period of high stress.

Q. My gums have receded, especially in the front in between the teeth. What could that be?
A. It could be due to teeth clenching or grinding, damaging the bone. As the bone recedes, so does the gum tissue causing gum recession.

Q. I have a bad taste in my mouth. Could that be from my gums?
A. Yes, it could. Bacteria and bacterial products such as sulfur compounds can accumulate and putrefy. These compounds taste and smell like rotting meat - a most unpleasant taste and smell. Unfortunately, most people cannot smell their own breath and don’t notice the foul taste of gum disease because they get used to it.

Q. I am concerned about bad breath. Could that come from gum disease?
A. Gum disease is by far the number one cause of bad breath. But it can be treated.

Q. Does Listerine help treat gum disease?
A. Listerine can kill some germs but not the germs that cause periodontal disease, so it is not an effective treatment for gum disease.

Q. Are there any toothpastes or mouthwashes that can prevent gum disease?
A. Today, the most effective toothpastes and mouth washes to fight periodontal disease are the ones that contain chlorine dioxide. There are several brands, most of which have been developed by a dentist and dispensed directly from dentist offices. They are designed to neutralize and break up the volatile sulfur compounds that are made by bacteria to break down the gum tissue.

Q. What is plaque?
A. Plaque is a film that accumulates on the teeth and contains bacteria, bacterial by-products and food particles.

Q. What is calculus or tartar?
A. They are both the same thing. If plaque builds up on the teeth and is not removed every day, calcium in the saliva may be deposited into the plaque, creating a hard layer on the teeth. If that is not cleaned off by your dentist or hygienist, it encourages more plaque to form and leads to gum disease.

Q. Is plaque the problem or is it tartar?
A. The problem is the bacteria and bacterial by-products in plaque. Tartar or calculus on the tooth makes plaque accumulate faster and together leads to bone loss and gum disease.

Q. How can I have gum disease, my gums don’t hurt?
A. Gum disease rarely hurts. In fact, sometimes the only sign of gum disease is when a patient notices a tooth has become loose or a bad taste develops in their mouth. At that point, it may be too late to save the tooth. Regular cleanings and check-ups are the key to discover these problems before they get too bad.

Q. How often do I need professional cleanings?
A. The frequency of professional cleanings depends on the individual. Everyone is different. Some people need more sleep than others to be properly rested, and cleanings are no different. People with good plaque control, daily brushing and flossing and high natural resistance can have cleanings twice a year and still maintain optimal dental health. People with less effective plaque control at home and lower natural resistance need cleanings three or four times a year.

Q. I’ve heard hard brushing can cause gum recession. Is that true?
A. Hard brushing with a hard toothbrush could cause gum recession over a long period of time but hard brushing is usually not the problem, especially if you use a soft brush. Gum recession is usually due to other factors such as tooth grinding.

Q. What kind of toothbrush is best for your gums?
A. The best type of brush to use is a soft brush with round ended bristles in the case of a manual brush. Electric brushes are good too, such as the Rotadent.

Q. I have a receded area on my gums and the dentist put in a filling because the tooth was sensitive. Can the recession still be fixed?
A. Even if there is a filling in the tooth in the receded area, it probably can be fixed. You’ll need to consult with a Periodontist to be sure. The procedure is to remove the old filling or even a crown, graft the gum tissue to fix the recession and, in the case of a crown, make a new one. In the case of a filling, a replacement is usually not needed.