Dental Questions Answered

Dental deep cleaning 
I had my last dental deep cleaning three weeks ago and my gums are slowly getting better, shrinking back and starting to change colour.

How long does ...

Food stuck in back teeth. 

Hi Shelly,

My son has some orange stuff stuck in the surface of a back tooth. He has tried swishing with warm water, using a normal toothbrush, an ...

Pain in Mouth 
I had deep cleaning about 2 months ago and a crown on left top back tooth. One specalist said I need a root canel and the second opinion person said I ...

Sore Tooth 
Hi, I have a strange gum and tooth problem.

I'm 23 and reasonably healthy except this morning when I woke up, one of my top front teeth was sore and ...

My Endless Struggles with Gum Disease 
I'm very glad to have found this site. What follows is a bit of an epic, and I hope you don't mind if I take the chance to tell a bit of a story about ...

Can having teeth removed cause ear problems? 

I recently had the remainder of my bottom teeth pulled (10 of them)and now my left ear keeps stopping up. Would the pulling of my eyetooth on that side ...

Dental anesthetic. How many shots are needed for a deep cleaning? 
How many shots does it take to numb the whole mouth for a deep cleaning?

Thanks

reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Sue,

To numb every tooth upper ...

Taking Dental Xrays and Other Dental Records With Me 
If it should happen that I don't like a dentist after the first visit (or the 100th), can I take the dental xrays and other test results with me?

I ...

Is Sensodyne toothpaste causing tooth sensitivity? 
Hey, I have really good teeth and never had any fillings or sensitivity issues however Ive been using a different toothpaste - Sensodyne original toothpaste ...

Dental Question about wobbly teeth 
My teeth always seem quite wobbly in the morning, and sometimes ache. I'm worried that I grind them in the night and are damaging them.

Do you know ...

Why do I really need to floss? 
I hate to floss! What does it really do for me? Every six months when I see my hygienist, she scolds me for not flossing.

I always resolve to do better ...

Cause of Gingivitis? 
Hi Shelly I have battled with gingivitis for 3 years now and cannot get rid of it.

I have a pocket in my lower jaw between the last and second last ...

Dental bridge came off 
My 3 tooth bridge came off and I see the tooth black and rotted. I have been complaining for a long time, spent over $20 grand.

So how did this not ...

Dental Scaling Question 
Why am I paying for full quad scaling and the hygenist not brushing, flossing and polishing teeth like my hygenist who retired?

Should I ask?

Will ...

Swollen spot on gums 
I have a spot on my gum in front left side between the 2nd and 3rd tooth that is swollen and now causing my tooth to move.

Sadly this has been going ...

ANUG - help 
I am hoping you can help me. I visited my dentist yesterday and was very sad to learn that I am suffering from ANUG after letting my gums bleed every time ...

Bruxism solutions? How do I prevent teeth grinding? 


I have bruxism, which is grinding one's teeth.

I have the habit of grinding my teeth while I'm asleep.

I also have sleep apnea, fibromyalgia,...

What's the difference between bleeding gums and gingivitis? 
I've been doing some research, and it seems to me like there are two different problems: bleeding gums and gingivitis. I know bleeding gums is a symptom ...

Two molars missing. Is this a problem? 
Hello,

I hate dentists...with a passion.

About three years I had two molars pulled (next to each other left side upper), I had such a bad experience ...

Aphthous ulcers or canker sores  Not rated yet
What are painful little white sores on gums?

My 25 year old daughter has had trouble with little white sores on her tongue, cheeks, lips and gums.

Doctors ...

Alternative to dental crown?  Not rated yet
Why do I need to get a crown?

I had a root canal because of an abscess.

Now I am told I need a root canal.

With no insurance, is this a necessary ...

Deep dental cleaning?  Not rated yet
Was I charged for a deep dental cleaning?

What is the difference between these two procedures...

Periodontal maintenance/D4910 vs full mouth debridement/...

Dental Implant Failure  Not rated yet
How common is dental implant failure? Having a dental implant how can I maintain optimal home care?

reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Kristie, Great ...

How to prevent bad breath  Not rated yet
How do I get rid of white plaque on my tongue?

It causes my breath to have a very bad odor and I need a quick solution.

reply by Shelly ~ admin ...

Brown spots on teeth?  Not rated yet
I went to the dentist one month ago and they found & filled two cavities.

I was looking in my mouth with a flashlight a few days ago and I found these ...

Cleaning stained teeth  Not rated yet
I'm wondering how to cleaned stained teeth that have been filled?

The area around the fillings on my molars is getting brown.

Is About two years ...

Jaw bone cancer?  Not rated yet
I have a growth on my lower right jaw below my ear. There is no jaw pain but it doesn’t feel normal either. It almost feels like a root is growing larger....

Jaw pain treatment  Not rated yet
I need a jaw pain treatment.

I am a chronic grinder of teeth, and over the last week or so, my jaw has had a dull ache in it. I have tried over the ...

How can I reverse occasional bleeding and swollen gums? Its only been happening since I've been pregnant.   Not rated yet
How can I reverse occasional bleeding and swollen gums? It's only been happening since I've been pregnant.

Well, the swollen gum part only for a few ...

Could a waterpik damage teeth or loosen fillings?  Not rated yet

Could a waterpik damage teeth or loosen fillings?

I'm having problems since I started using it.
reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Jane, Thanks for ...

how to cure gum disease   Not rated yet

I have a lump behind one of my teeth and I have been flossing. And salt watering it. What eles shall I do?

reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Mark, I'...

baby tooth decay  Not rated yet
My son is 2 years old. I brush his teeth everyday, but lately it looked like there was a "film" on the top 4 teeth by the gumline.

After he finally ...

Dark Tooth  Not rated yet
If a dark spot on a molar isn't a filling what could it be?

During my last cleaning, my hygienist commented on what she thought was an old filling on ...

Could this be bone protruding through my gum?  Not rated yet
I had a tooth break off at the gum line a month ago. It abscessed and I recieved antibiotics for 10 days.

It went down but a few days ago it swelled ...

Pregnancy Gingivitis  Not rated yet
Do I have pregnancy gingivitis?

Recently a small gap has formed between my bottom two front teeth and tonight I noticed that the gums between them ...

Tooth pain after filling  Not rated yet
Hello, I had 4 deep (white) fillings done back in June and haven't been able to chew any hard food since. Not just crispy bacon, but I can't chew any ...

How to prevent bad breath  Not rated yet
How can I prevent bad breath?

No matter how much I brush or rinse with mouth wash, bad breath and a bad taste just come back within a few minutes.

Would ...

Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash  Not rated yet
Can I use hydrogen peroxide and water to rinse my mouth out to help with my receding gums that are tender and bleed off and on?

I can't afford all ...

I had a tooth pulled 5 days ago and having alot of trouble still  Not rated yet

I am not sure what to do. They pulled it but still having trouble and nothing is helping what do I do?

reply be shelly ~ admin

Hi Trina, I'...

Painful Gums  Not rated yet
My gum line hurts but not my teeth.

my gums are hurting in between two of my teeth. The teeth don’t hurt at all.

What causes painful gums?

reply ...

Tooth extraction site  Not rated yet
I had an extraction 2 days ago and now its white and looks like a tooth there.

Is this normal?

It does look like a tooth also up above my gum is ...

Bleeding gums cause  Not rated yet
What is the cause of bleeding gums?

I woke up this morning and I felt a little pain I on my left side of my jaw. I went to check in the mirror and ...

Dental crown information  Not rated yet
If caps are put on too close to the gums will this cause inflammation and gum disease?

My current dentist has told me that all my caps have been put ...

Pockets in gum after fillings.  Not rated yet
After being at the dentist less than a year before with a clean bill of health, I went back to the dentist to be told I had some gum disease and needed ...

Can I Smoke After My Surgery?  Not rated yet

I recently had an accident and totally knocked out both my front teeth to the root and cut my gums, I have had surgery to put them back in and see if ...

Infected tooth  Not rated yet
Is it possible to have a tooth that’s infected for "a long time" but not need to be treated with an antibiotic?

This dentist claims my friend needs ...

Tooth Abscess Symptoms  Not rated yet
can I get a tooth abscess with a tooth that has a filling?

I have a tooth that had a filling for years then my dentist said it was cracked so she redid ...

can a partial denture be modified  Not rated yet

I have a partial denture and need a tooth added. Can this be done without replacing the partial?

reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Tim, Sometimes ...

Dental calculus  Not rated yet
How can I reduce the tarter build up on my teeth? I brush, floss and use a waterpik twice a day and still am unable to get rid of all the tarter.

Could ...

Concerned about discharge from gums.  Not rated yet
I'm a 26 year-old male with a slight history of gingivitis, and essentially undamaged teeth (one has a slight surface chip near its end).

For the ...

Teeth With Cavities  Not rated yet
What happens in a cavity fixing procedure?

Reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Sophie, It really depends on how large the cavity is. Assuming is a small ...

Gum Graft Surgery  Not rated yet
My 22 year old son's was hit during a hockey game and tore gum over front tooth.

It's a tiny area but the gum is scraped off. The dentist told him ...

Why is my body absorbing one of my teeth?  Not rated yet
I just went to the dentist and I have noticed pressure pain from one of my teeth. The xray showed a darkening halfway down the tooth and the dentist said ...

Is $18,000 for top and bottom implants too high ?   Not rated yet
Shelly , I told a friend about dental implants so he made an appointment and went to a dentist that told him for top and bottom with 4 screws each would ...

Reconstruction of Molar  Not rated yet
My dentist is going to do a reconstruction of one of my molars that I just had a root canal on instead of a crown what exactly does that mean?

reply ...

Palor gums and mouth ulcer   Not rated yet
The gum line where it meets 2 of my teeth looks bluish black, gums seem a bit paler too. What is this? I also have a mouth ulcer a fair bit higher up over ...

Swallowing Fluoride in toothpaste   Not rated yet
Any problem if we/children swallow toothpaste?

I wish to know if there any side effects on toothpaste swallowing.

Usually children swallow toothpaste....

Porcelain Crown vs Gold Crown  Not rated yet
Do I need porcelain margins?

I am having crowns put on back molars (16&18).

Do I need porcelain margins for health? Or are they simply aesthetic?...

Chipped Tooth  Not rated yet
One of my upper front tooth was already treated with a root canal 7 years ago... but after brushing, I noticed that my gums are bleeding.

To my surprise ...

Tooth Implant Procedure  Not rated yet
Can I get a dental implant some where other than my dental clinic?


I had a front tooth extraction and I need an implant, can I pay out of pocket ...

Jaw Infection Treatment  Not rated yet
My dentist says I have a jaw infection in my lower inside jaw.

The xray confirmed the teeth are ok and he thinks it came from when I got a strong hit ...

When should baby teeth be lost?  Not rated yet
My 7 old year son has lost 6 of his milk teeth gradually. Is it ok or should I consult a dentist?

Hi Viji,
If they are his front teeth, it's Ok. Milk ...

Dentures and Gum Disease?  Not rated yet
I have gum disease bad and wear dentures, can gums still be repaired?

I have worn dentures for approx 7 yrs or so and I am on my 3rd set cause they ...

previous dentist won't release my records  Not rated yet
Hello, I have a dental account balance at my previous dentist and the office says they won't release my records.

I am wondering if it is legal and a ...

what can I do to reduce bleeding gums  Not rated yet
I usually brush twice a day and when I wake up in the morning I can see my gums bleeding ...
what should I do to see my gums healthy?

reply by Shelly ...

tooth risen in front of a tooth that has just been removed is this normal?  Not rated yet

I've had one of my back teeth removed about 4 days ago, its still in the healing progress.

I was looking at my teeth earlier on and noticed that ...

Infected Wisdom Tooth  Not rated yet
My wisdom tooth in the upper left has been coming in for 10 years! It has never bothered me until recently -- I have pressure there but no pain.

Not ...

Receding Gum Treatment  Not rated yet
I have only been to a dentist once in my life and I just washed my teeth and filled a tooth.

He said my dentition was pretty good considering, but he ...

Red Swollen Gums  Not rated yet
My gums are red and swollen.

I just got out of the hospital from a bout with diverticulitis and I notice that my gums are red, swollen and sometimes ...

Gum infection sinus infection  Not rated yet
I have developed a gum infection after having a dental injection.

It is on the inside, left side of my mouth. My Dentist says it is 1 of only 2 cases ...

tooth abscess treatment  Not rated yet
What causes an abscess after a filling has been fitted?

I had a filling done six months ago. After suffering some discomfort the filling was removed ...

Is there a cure for receding gums?  Not rated yet
My gum seems to have risen up my tooth, why?

I went to sleep one night and I woke up this morning and my gum has sort of climbed up my tooth on my bottom ...

Oral Cancer Symptoms  Not rated yet
Do I have oral cancer symptoms?

A small flap of skin on my gum where my tooth broke off has turned almost black in a day...should I be worried about ...

trouble with pockets around back teeth  Not rated yet
Shelly, I Continue to have trouble with pockets around back teeth. I have cleanings 3 times/yr and use a SoniCare electric toothbrush.

I Would appreciate ...

I have a wobbly adult tooth, what should I do?  Not rated yet

It's my front right tooth and it's been wobbly for ages now! I haven't told my dentist about it, as she has said to me that everything is fine.

I ...

Can Wisdom teeth grow back????  Not rated yet
Ok, I had my lower wisdom teeth removed over 20 years ago in the Navy. My problem is 4 days ago, I developed a sore right behind my last molar.

A friend ...

Which toothpastes are flouride free and tartar control free?  Not rated yet
My daughter has dermatitis on her chin and I was reading about the condition...it stated that sometimes flouride and tartar control toothpastes are the ...

Dental Biofilm or Plaque?  Not rated yet

Plaque appeared on one tooth at top recently, I never had it before, it's at the top of tooth and looks like my gums risen up.

I've had a very ...

Dental bridge too small  Not rated yet

My new bridge is too small and has to now be removed, how do they remove it without pounding on your teeth?

will cutting it off be a better option?...

Does grinding teeth cause teeth to shrink on one side of the mouth?  Not rated yet
The teeth on the upper left side of my mouth are shorter than the rest of my teeth. They started shrinking about three years ago.

reply by Shelly ...

Do palatal Injections hurt and how much?  Not rated yet
Do palatal Injection hurt and how much?

reply by Shelly ~ admin

Hi Chris, Yes they sting a little more than other dental injections. Since the ...

What causes a gum blister?  Not rated yet
Can you tell me what to do about a blister that is on my gums above a bad tooth? the tooth as been bad for a while but I have no money and also dental ...

Reaction to dental anesthetics?  Not rated yet
Why do I get increased heartbeat with injections also my legs go funny? I am worried about dental injections because of increased heartbeat ...

Does breath spray cause tooth problems?  Not rated yet
Hi, i am using a mouth spray for bad breath.... will it cause any tooth or gum problems?

please...I need your valuable answers.

reply by Shelly ...

How can I stop clenching my teeth?  Not rated yet
I use to chew a lot of gum and noticed that my jaw muscles were really tight. I found myself clenching my teeth a lot and I am looking for a way to relax ...