By Kinsi Heaton

Many don’t realize that when you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems. We interviewed Baton Rouge orthodontist, Dr. Rick Martin, to tackle important issues dealing with oral health. 

Mouth sores or lesions

Causes 

Traumatic lesions from rubbing on a filling or braces; injury, brushing too hard, viral lesions, or burns

Effects 

Pain and discomfort, altering of food choices

Treatment

“Use a topical ointment containing benzocaine. There are several available in the toothbrush area of most pharmacies. There are also some prescription medicines available for canker sores if they occur frequently. Your dentist can prescribe these.” 

Gum swelling 

Causes 

Bacteria in the mouth, cutting of teeth, dental abscess or infection 

Effects

Redness, pain, sores, ulcers, bleeding, infection, gum disease 

Treatment

“Rinse with salt water twice a day for a few days. The swelling may be due to an erupting tooth or a mild gum infection, but if the gums continue to swell you should see your dentist.” 

Tooth decay 

Tooth decay is the destruction of the outer surface (enamel) of a tooth. 

Causes 

Debris turns into plaque, then cavities. Plaque is a filmy deposit on the surface of  the tooth consisting of a mixture of bacteria, food, and debris.

Effects

Pain in mouth, sometimes severe; higher risk of new decay in other teeth  

Treatment

“Although small cavities in baby teeth don’t always need to be filled, you should see a dentist if you see a cavity because the cavity can be bigger underneath the tooth’s surface than it appears on the outside. Only an X-ray can reveal this.” 

Gum Disease 

Gum disease is an inflammation of the soft tissue (gingiva) and an abnormal loss of bone that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place. 

Causes 

Poor oral hygiene or plaque buildup

Effects

Bleeding, puffiness, gum recession

Treatment

“This normally requires having your teeth cleaned by a dentist and then following a disciplined home care regimen of brushing three to four times a day and flossing daily.” 

Sensitivity to sweets, cold, or heat 

Causes 

Cavities, tooth grinding, incorrect brushing or with too much pressure, chipped or fractured teeth, gum recession

Effects if untreated

Wearing away of enamel, painful eating, loss of teeth

Treatment

“Use a desensitizing toothpaste. If the sensitivity persists, see a dentist to make sure the sensitivity isn’t due to a cavity.” 

Bruxism 

Bruxism is the involuntary or habitual grinding of teeth, typically during the night. 

Causes 

Top and bottom teeth alignment, earaches, teething, stress, hyperactivity

Effects

Headaches, Damage to the teeth  

Treatment

“Sometimes improving the occlusion with braces or an occlusal equilibration can eliminate the grinding. However, some people are going to grind their teeth no matter what you do, so a night guard will be necessary to prevent damage to the teeth.” 

Dr. Martin explains that occlusal equilibration is a term used in dentistry to describe the adjustment of the way your upper and lower teeth bite together. Altering the chewing surfaces of some or all of a person’s teeth allows the jaw joints to be in the proper location when the teeth are fitting together. 

Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is an infection of the mouth caused by candida fungus (i.e. yeast).

Causes 

Small amounts of the candida fungus are present in the mouth, digestive tract, and skin of people and are normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. However, certain illnesses, stress, or medications can disturb the delicate balance, causing the fungus candida to grow out of control, causing thrush. 

Effects

Difficulty swallowing, mouth pain, fever, spreading of infection to other parts of the body 

Treatment

“This normally requires prescription medicines to eliminate.” 

Cutting Teeth 

Causes  

Usually beginning between six to nine months after birth, this normal process occurs when roots reach a certain stage of development, allowing adult or new teeth to come into the mouth. 

Effects

Elevated fever, drooling, pain

Treatment

Use a topical ointment containing benzocaine. There are several available in the toothbrush area of most pharmacies.” Some pediatricians will also prescribe a fever-reducing medication.

Q & A with Dr. Martin

Tap water vs. bottled water: Does it matter if my child drinks only bottled water concerning fluoride? 

“Tap water has chlorine to kill bacteria and can also contain fluoride which makes teeth stronger and more resistant to decay. Bottled water normally doesn’t contain either chlorine or fluoride. The level of fluoride in tap water varies by location, so sometimes vitamins containing fluoride are also necessary. If your child is drinking only bottled water, he will probably need to take extra fluoride to strengthen his teeth. Fluoride vitamins are not necessary after the age of 12.” 

Can sippy cups be harmful for a child’s teeth? Is it better to have the child switch from a bottle to a sippy cup and stop sucking as quickly as possible?

“Sippy cups are not inherently harmful, but if they contain sugary drinks and are used constantly, the child is more likely to develop cavities. The same thing can happen with a bottle. There’s no difference in dental health between sucking and sipping, but keeping anything in your mouth (like a thumb) for an extended period of time can affect the eruption of the teeth and growth of the jaws if not stopped before the permanent teeth start erupting (about age six).”