What are clear signs indicating it’s time for a visit to the dentist?

What are clear signs indicating it’s time for a visit to the dentist?

If you don’t normally plan regular dental check-ups for prevention, then your body will make sure you know when it has a problem. Your body will give you signs, letting you know that you should book a visit to your dentist as soon as possible. Some conditions can occur before you feel any symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms appear when the problem is already serious.

Here are some of the warnings you should pay attention to:

  1. Bad breath

Bad breath (halitosis) can affect your relationships and social life. In addition to the fact that it is unpleasant for those around you, it can be a sign that you suffer from gingivitis or gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. The chronic inflammation that causes halitosis may lead to total tooth loss. If bad breath persists, make an appointment with your dentist to detect the cause of the problem.

  1. Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Tell your doctor if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing. The dentist will help you determine why. This is not a healthy situation, so the sooner you treat the condition, the more likely it can be cured.

  1. Dental pain

Dental pain can indicate a serious underlying condition. Despite the fact that it is uncomfortable, we often wait a few days to see if the pain passes. Our advice is to go to the dentist, even if the pain subsides. The cause of the discomfort needs to be diagnosed and properly treated.

  1. Swollen or bleeding gums

If your gums are swollen or bleeding during brushing, it may be another sign that you have gingivitis. Inflammation of the gums occurs due to bacterial plaque that builds up at the base of the gums. If left untreated, as in the case of bad breath, it can lead to periodontitis.

  1. White spots on the teeth

White spots on the teeth are often the first indication of cavities. Acid produced by bacteria in the oral cavity dissolves tooth enamel, which can lead to decay. Regular visits to the dentist will identify and treat cavities in the early stages, before the onset of any complications.

  1. Teeth sensitivity

If left untreated, decay can advance to the center of the tooth, reaching the nerve. Once this happens, the tooth will be sensitive to air and hot or cold drinks. This sensitivity is a sign that you may have an advanced cavity. The faster you get treatment, the easier it will be to avoid other problems.

  1. Dry mouth

Dry mouth can occur for simple reasons such as aging or the administration of certain drugs. However, dry mouth can also be a sign of the presence of bacteria or disease in the oral cavity. It’s best not to ignore it. Schedule a visit to the dentist to find out why.

  1. Headache

Have you ever thought that oral problems can cause headaches? In fact, they are closely linked. If you often wake up with a headache in the morning, you may suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding during sleep). A dentist can detect the problem, and may recommend a night guard to protect your teeth, at the same time relieving the morning headaches.

In summary, early intervention will reduce the chance of diseases and further complications. It will also save you from other potentially expensive treatments in the future. At Pacifica Dental, we have experienced specialists and a modern clinic waiting for you. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment to discuss your oral health.

Custom timing for dental check-ups at Pacifica Dental

Custom timing for dental check-ups at Pacifica Dental

There are two main scenarios for going to the dentist: when you want to or when you need to. The second option is less desirable, because, most times, it involves dental pain or discomfort. The ideal option is to have dental check-ups regularly, according to a custom plan built together with your doctor, depending on your needs. At Pacifica Dental, we create such plans for our patients.

Some people think that, in order to have healthy teeth, going to the dentist once a year will suffice. In our opinion, this is not usually enough for most people. As you well know, every person is unique, with specific body types, habits, and health conditions. These factors influence our oral health, which in turn impacts our general health.

For example, permanent teeth are very vulnerable to cavities as soon as they come in, so in children aged six to eight, dental check-ups are recommended at shorter intervals. In adolescence, the teeth are less vulnerable until the wisdom teeth appear, on average around twenty years old. As people age, the rate of dental decay, tooth loss, mouth infections, and gum disease increases. It is also common to find that our teeth will start to move. Our oral health, and hence our general health, varies at different stages of life.

We are aware that smoking is a habit that can lead to various health problems. Not only does it increase the likelihood of bad breath, canker sores and even cancer, but it also strengthens the bacteria in the mouth, making them more resistant. The mouth is already one of the dirtiest parts of the body, and cigarette smoke will encourage the growth of bacteria, which in turn can lead to cavities and gum disease. Smokers are recommended to visit the dentist more often than non-smokers.

Stomach conditions, such as acid reflux, can often have a negative impact on our oral health. If the acidity reaches our mouth, it results in not only bad breath but can also cause cavities at the base of the gums. These cavities can be easily treated if they are found at an early stage. If not discovered right away, they can reach the tooth root or even expand to neighboring teeth, possibly becoming painful and making the treatment process a bit more complicated.

Other factors, such as frequently drinking coffee, red wine or eating sweets, will influence how often your dentist recommends you schedule a visit. To maintain excellent oral hygiene, it is often suggested that patients have professional cleanings 3-4 times a year and follow a personalized hygiene plan.

In conclusion, exactly how long you wait between visits with your dentist depends on the assessment you and your doctor will make. Schedule an appointment with Pacifica Dental and start taking better care of your oral health!

Autumn: the best season to start a dental treatment

Autumn: the best season to start a dental treatment

We’re leaving the hot summer days, busy vacations and long weekends behind, making room for the many new opportunities that autumn brings every year. With this change in season comes adjustments to our schedule and our routine, so why not our dental care as well? If you feel as though you would like to improve your oral health, now is the best time to act.

Most dental treatments require more then one visit to the dentist’s office. In summer-time, it might be challenging to accommodate those visits into your schedule, considering children’s holidays, summer camps, family or doctors’ vacations. In October, people are often back to school and work and our more predictable schedules allow us to set up appointments in advance.

The weather is also more moderate these days, making it easier for us to avoid hot or cold beverages and food. Some dental treatments can cause sensitivity in the teeth and gums for a few days, so it is important to be careful what we eat and drink. For example, after a root canal treatment or an extraction, it is recommended to eat only soft foods, and drink beverages that are warm (not hot or cold) for anywhere from 5-10 days.

Holiday season countdown

Now that autumn has arrived, many people start preparing for the wonderful winter holiday season. Winter celebrations are coming up soon, and we all want to look and feel amazing by then. Dental pain, and cracked or missing teeth will prevent you from fully enjoying the festive meals and showing a big bright smile in the family pictures.

At Pacifica Dental, thanks to the state-of-the-art CEREC technology, we offer complete reconstruction of your tooth in a single visit, however extra visits may be required in order to get the perfect results.

If you’re planning on replacing one or more missing teeth, it is best to make an appointment sooner rather than later, as dental implant treatment takes several months and requires 3 to 5 visits.

On average, the dental veneer process from consultation to final placement takes approximately 3 weeks, with the recovery period lasting about a week. You can expect at least 2 visits to the office for veneers.

For treating gaps, under and over bites, crowding and other spacing issues, the Invisalign aligners are the perfect solution. Unlike traditional, metallic brackets, you do not have food restrictions or extra hygiene rules, and they are removable. Treatment usually takes between 8 months and 2 years to complete.

Start thinking about your needs and schedule your next appointment with your favorite dentist in Victoria, @Pacifica Dental

Dental pain – causes and treatment

Dental pain – causes and treatment

Dental pain and sensitivity are quite common after some treatments or procedures performed in the dental office. This does not mean that you should give up regular visits to the dentist, but you should be informed about the possible causes of the pain and know what to expect.

During a filling, we fill the holes created by dental cavities with substances such as composite or amalgam. It is a simple and fast procedure but afterwards, it leaves many patients with sensitive teeth. Some of them may even experience minor dental pain, especially when brushing or flossing, breathing in cold air, drinking or eating hot or cold liquids and foods. These go away naturally within a few days or several weeks. If you want to speed up the process, your dentist may advise you to take anti-inflammatory drugs, avoid foods and drinks too hot or too cold, chew on the opposite side of the mouth, or use a special toothpaste and brush gently.

You may also experience some dental pain after having a crown placed. It is not unusual, and it normally goes away in one to two weeks. If it does not do so, then you should see the dentist and investigate possible causes. One of the reasons of the pain might be tooth decay under the crown. It could be an infection or a pulpal inflammation, especially if you did not have a root canal treatment before the crown. The most common signs of infection are pain when you bite, sensitivity to extreme temperatures, gum swelling and sometimes a fever. Depending on the cause and intensity of the pain, your dentist will prescribe medications or other treatments. In extreme cases, the affected tooth may need to be extracted.

Thanks to modern anaesthetics, tooth extractions have become pain free procedures. Occasionally, after the anaesthetic wears off, some patients experience sensitivity, pain, swelling or bleeding. After a tooth has just been extracted, these reactions are normal and controllable part of the inflammation process, as the body is making efforts to restore balance in the affected area. The tissues begin the healing process with the help of blood circulation and the dental alveoli narrows. A blood clot forms to close the incision site.

Sometimes, the blood clot fails to develop, or it dislodges or dissolves before the wound has healed. We call that alveolar osteitis or dry socket. It usually occurs within three to five days of an extraction. Symptoms of dry socket may include severe pain that often radiates to the ear or temple, bad smell and taste in the mouth or visible bone at the extraction site. These are clear signs that you should see your dentist as soon as possible in order to alleviate the pain and speed up the healing process. The dentist will flush out the mouth with a saline solution to remove any debris that could cause pain or infection and then apply a medicated gel or dressing to the area to ease pain quickly and permanently.

Dental pain is not something that you should ignore. There are multiple causes that can determine it, but after we figure out which one is it, Pacifica Dental professionals will apply the best treatments for you to have a rapid and successful recovery. We specialize in pain therapy and we offer emergency appointments for patients that are in pain.