Dentist Clarendon Hills - Is Your Jaw Sore?

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) are issues you experience with your jaw, as well as the joint and facial muscles surrounding your jaw. This can cause stress and discomfort in your daily life. Symptoms of TMD include tension and tenderness in your face or jaw, difficulty with opening your mouth wide, locking or clicking or your jaw, difficulty in chewing, a tired feeling in your face, and swelling on the side of your face.

Your dentist in Clarendon Hills can examine your jaw in order to diagnose TMD. Your dentist will check for locking of the jaw while opening and closing your mouth. Additionally, your bite and facial muscle function will be examined, and your dentist will evaluate your jaw pain and tenderness. In some cases, x-rays will be taken to check your jaw, jaw joint, and teeth for irregularities.

It can be difficult to diagnose TMD and TMJ because the symptoms of these are similar to symptoms of other health issues such as toothache, arthritis, and sinus problems. However, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist Clarendon Hills if you experience any of the symptoms of TMD and TMJ.

There are precautions your Clarendon Hills dentist recommends to avoid TMD and TMJ problems from arising. First, you can avoid hard foods and excessively chewing gum. Although gum can have many oral health benefits such as preventing cavities and tooth decay, it can tire your jaw and cause some soreness if you are not accustomed to regularly chewing gum. 

Another way to prevent TMD problems is to develop and practice relaxation techniques to reduce tension in your face and jaw. Clenching, especially in your sleep, can cause tension in your jaw, so you can reduce soreness by learning to relax your jaw. For example, by placing the tip of your tongue at the roof of your mouth, your jaw will automatically relax, reducing some of the tension. If you struggle with clenching your jaw while you sleep, you may want to consider getting fitted for a mouthguard from your dentist Clarendon Hills IL.

If you are feeling soreness or tenderness in your jaw, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist in Clarendon Hills IL in order to receive a proper diagnosis and to explore your options. Your dentist can help you to maintain a beautiful, healthy mouth that is free of discomfort.

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Have You Visited Your Dentist in Clarendon Hills Recently?

You brush your teeth twice a day, flossing daily. You regularly rinse with mouthwash. You might even wear your retainer each night if you have received orthodontic treatment. Overall, you maintain great oral hygiene on a daily basis. However, you keep rescheduling that dental appointment. Don’t sell these visits short. Even if you maintain the best possible oral health on your own, you still need to keep your appointments with your dentist Clarendon Hills.

Depending on the state of your oral health, your dentist in Clarendon Hills will recommend a timeline of when you should be stopping in for an appointment. This could range from every couple months to twice a year. Whether you need more extensive dental care or just a regular check up, you need to keep these appointments in order to ensure that your oral health needs are met.

During a regular visit, your Clarendon Hills dentist will evaluate your gums and teeth, checking for the early signs of periodontal disease and/or tooth decay. Missing out on regular visits can increase your chances of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Your dentist might also take x-rays, check your bite, and look for any changes in your gums. You will also be screened for oral cancer. Next, you will receive a cleaning. Your dentist has special tools to clean off any tartar or plaque build-up that at-home brushing cannot remove. Your dentist will also polish and floss your teeth. Once your mouth has been evaluated and cleaned, your dentist will make recommendations and inform you of the state of your oral health.

While practicing good oral hygiene on your own is very important, your dentist serves as a great resource. Your dentist Clarendon Hills IL can recommend brushing and flossing techniques that you may not be using, answering any questions you may have about the state of your oral health. Also, your dentist has the tools to give your mouth a deeper cleaning, rejuvenating your smile and offering dental care customized to your needs. 

When’s the last time you’ve stopped in for a visit with your dentist in Clarendon Hills IL? In order to maintain your beautiful and healthy smile, it is critical to keep your appointments. Don’t put it off--call your dentist today.

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Clarendon Hills Dentist - Pick Up A Pack (Of Chewing Gum)

If you are in the habit of chewing sugarless gum on a regular basis, you’ll be happy to know that this can have a positive effect on your oral health. It is a simple way to give your oral health a little boost. If you don’t typically chew gum, your dentist Clarendon Hills recommends picking up a pack. 

Chewing gum increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. Your saliva washes away acids, sugars, and food debris in your mouth, preventing tooth decay and cavities. The flow of saliva can help to strengthen your tooth enamel, helping you to maintain strong, beautiful teeth. Your dentist in Clarendon Hills recommends chewing gum right after you eat for about 20 minutes to best fight off cavities caused by food consumption.

Chewing gum has aesthetic benefits, as well. It can ward off bad breath and brighten your smile. By washing away the food debris that may have remained in your mouth from your last meal, chewing gum rids your mouth of any lingering odors. Additionally, it prevents the acids and debris in your mouth from staining your teeth, leading to a healthier, whiter smile.

Not only does chewing gum protect your teeth, but it can also help your gums. Chewing gum reduces plaque build-up, which is a way to prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease. Although this is not a cure to gum disease, chewing gum is a helpful way to supplement your oral hygiene in between visits to your Clarendon Hills dentist. 

In order to maximize the benefits of chewing gum, your dentist Clarendon Hills IL recommends that you look for sugar-free gum, specifically gum that has been sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol prevents harmful bacteria from lingering in your mouth, reducing your risk for cavities. Additionally, xylitol can help to repair damage to enamel, strengthening your smile.

While there are many benefits to chewing gum, there are also complications that can arise if you chew excessively. Frequent gum chewing can lead to inflammation and soreness in your jaw, causing TMD and TMJ. Also, you are putting stress on your facial muscles when you chew, which may cause headaches.

Although chewing gum can be beneficial to your oral health, it is still very important to floss daily and brush twice a day. Chewing gum should serve as a complement, not a substitute. Additionally, you should regularly schedule visits with your dentist in Clarendon Hills IL to ensure that you maintain the best possible oral health.

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Hinsdale Dentist - Preventing Dry Socket

After having a tooth extracted by the dentist in Hinsdale, it takes time for your mouth to heal. You have just undergone a procedure that will benefit you in the long run, and you are looking forward to your once-again healthy smile. During the healing process, though, it is important to take certain precautions to avoid a condition called alveolar osteitis, or dry socket.

When you have a tooth extracted by dentist Hinsdale, a blood clot forms over the socket in order to keep the bone and nerves protected. Sometimes, though, this blood clot can become dislodged prematurely. If the mouth has not healed sufficiently at the time of the dislodging, the bone and nerves are exposed to air, liquids, and food, and dry socket occurs. It is an uncomfortable experience that can last for about five or six days.

While dry socket is definitely something to keep on your radar, it is an uncommon occurrence in most patients. Dry socket is most likely to develop within the first week or two after you have had a tooth extracted, and only about 2% to 5% of patients develop this condition. Still, the Hinsdale dentist recommends the following precautions in order to prevent this from happening to you.

First, you should avoid intense exercise for at least 24 hours after the extraction. It is important to rest up and avoid excessive movement while your mouth begins to heal. Your dentist Hinsdale IL also recommends that you avoid drinking through a straw for at least a week after receiving an extraction. The suction from the straw could cause the blood clot to dislodge. Additionally, you should avoid spitting in order to reduce the risk of dry socket. After the initial 24 hour period, you should begin gently rinsing with warm salt water about four times a day in order to remove any food particles in the area.

Although some patients have a greater risk of developing dry socket than others, all patients can avoid this condition by closely following after-care instructions from the dentist in Hinsdale IL.

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Clarendon Hills Dentist - Caring For Dental Implants

If you have received a dental implant from your dentist Clarendon Hills, you have invested both time and money into the future of your smile. It is important to protect this investment in order to maintain good oral health. There are certain steps you should take after undergoing a dental implant procedure in order to care for your mouth.

After the procedure, your mouth might be tender at first. This tenderness only lasts about ten to fourteen days. Your dentist in Clarendon Hills recommends a diet of warm soup, soft foods, and cold foods during this time. Additionally, you should refrain from smoking. Although the healing time for a dental implant tends to vary depending on the patient and the situation, it generally takes between two and four months for your mouth to fully heal after receiving a dental implant. You will not experience discomfort throughout this period, though.

Once your mouth has healed, caring for an implant is very similar to caring for a natural tooth. Although an implant cannot develop a cavity, it can still undergo the same wear-and-tear as a normal tooth. When not maintained properly, there is a risk for peri-implantitis to occur, which is similar to periodontal disease. However, this is easily preventable through regular check-ups, as well as daily brushing and flossing.

In order to maintain good oral health, it is important to continue to regularly visit your Clarendon Hills dentist. Your dentist can clean the areas that you are unable to reach. Additionally, your dentist in Clarendon Hills IL will be able to check the surrounding gums and bone to ensure that they are healthy.

As always, your dentist Clarendon Hills IL recommends thorough brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Paying attention to your oral hygiene will ensure that your implant survives. If you continue to maintain good oral hygiene, your implants can last a for the rest of your life without a need for replacement.

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Dentist in Clarendon Hills - It Starts With What You Eat

Have you ever wondered about natural ways to prevent cavities and tooth decay? Your refrigerator is a great place to look. In addition to getting regular oral exams and cleanings from your dentist Clarendon Hills, the American Dental Association recommends reducing the amount of sugary foods you eat.

One of the many cavity preventers that your Clarendon Hills dentist recommends is cheese. Cheese contains the protein, casein, which helps re-mineralize teeth and increase the calcium levels in the mouth. In addition to cheese, unsweetened kefir or yogurt contains calcium and phosphorus which help strengthen the enamel and other minerals found in your teeth. Another cavity preventer that reduces bacterial growth is apples. Not only do apples and cheese prevent tooth decay, but your local dentist also recommends cranberries as well. Cranberries, like apples, contain traces of flavonoids which help prevent bacteria from sticking to the surfaces of your teeth. Peanuts are another great cavity preventer. Your dentist in Clarendon Hills IL recommends eating foods that require more chewing because they tend to decrease plaque build-up.

Your dentist Clarendon Hills IL also firmly believes in drinking properly as well. Drinking water regularly helps your mouth and gums to stay hydrated and provide your teeth with fluoride. Another beverage that can help to prevent cavities is black tea. Black tea contains flavonoids and fluoride to help strengthen the mineral composition of teeth, much like water and apples. Although there are many benefits to drinking tea, drinking too much tea can cause staining and darkening of your teeth, so it is important to maintain good oral hygiene in order to prevent this from occurring.

In addition to eating and drinking a few of these oral promoters, regular visits to your dentist in Clarendon Hills not only saves money, but it also helps you to maintain a beautiful smile for the rest of your life. 

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