Our Duncanville dentist believes that brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once per day are great ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums between checkups.  However, being diligent in daily oral hygiene doesn’t mean that you don’t need to visit the dentist regularly.

No matter how good of a job you do cleaning your teeth at home, there will almost always be some residue left behind in hard-to-reach spaces. Visiting the dentist routinely is imperative to ensure that you’re doing all you can to maintain the best oral health possible.

How Often Should You Be Going To The Dentist For A Cleaning?

The frequency of your dental visits depends on your oral health.  The typical healthy patient will come in for a preventative dental cleaning (aka prophylaxis, or prophy,) every six months. During this visit, our hygienist will remove the tartar buildup along the gumlines, measure your gums, and polish your teeth.

What are Probing Depths?

During your hygiene visits, we periodically evaluate your gum tissue by measuring your probing depths.

Healthy gum tissue is snug around the base of each tooth. Our dental hygienist will use a special measuring tool that when inserted between healthy gum and tooth, only slips down about 1-3 mm.

When we slack on flossing, the gums become swollen and pull away from the teeth, creating a deep pocket because of bone and gum detachment. In this case, the probe slips a bit deeper down into the pocket.

Deep pockets are a breeding ground for bacteria, as they collect excess tartar along the root of your tooth. This condition is called periodontitis, or gum disease.  Periodontal disease requires a deeper cleaning called scaling and root planing (SRP) where we use different instruments and need a bit more time to complete than a regular prophy. Usually, we’ll numb your mouth for a deep cleaning, to ensure that you’re comfortable as we remove the buildup beneath your gum line.

An SRP is usually easier if you split it into two visits, cleaning half of the mouth at a time. Once your initial SRP is completed and your gum disease is under control, we recommend that you return for a maintenance cleaning every 3-4 months.

Dental Check-Ups and X-Rays

Other important elements of your dental cleaning appointments are your x-rays and exam. Our dentist will examine your teeth and mouth to identify any abnormalities, such as cavities, TMJ issues, or oral cancer.

X-rays are important to take on a regular basis because they show things that we can’t see when we look inside your mouth. For example, decay between your teeth, abscesses or infections, impacted teeth, and bone loss.

Has it Been 6 Months Since Your Last Dental Cleaning?

Single Dental is passionate about holistic, patient-focused dental health care. Dr. Singla is happy to answer any of your questions. Contact our Duncanville office today to reserve your next checkup and dental cleaning. We look forward to meeting you!

Root canal treatment—also referred to as “endodontic therapy”—is probably one of the less “popular” types of restorative dental services among patients. Fortunately, technology and treatment methods have come a long way over the last several years. Yet, there are several misconceptions about getting root canals. Here are just a few you’ll want to know the truth about:

It’s Painful to Get a Root Canal

Just like a crown or filling, it shouldn’t hurt to get a root canal. Modern numbing medication (local anesthetic) is very effective, so the only thing you should feel is a bit of pressure. Endodontic treatment is meant to treat and eliminate tooth pain, not cause additional discomfort. Getting a root canal can be practically pain-free if you manage the infection quickly enough. But if it’s delayed for too long, you can put yourself in a lot of unnecessary discomfort. 

I Don’t Need a Root Canal Because My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt

Never base the need for dental care on the level of discomfort you’re experiencing. Dying or abscessed teeth can pose life-threatening infections at times, yet never cause discomfort. These areas of infection can seep into the face (and in rare circumstances, your brain) requiring emergency medical care. Instead of basing treatment urgency on how you feel, it’s best to evaluate the tooth with an X-ray to see just how deep the infection goes. When you treat it early enough, you can prevent the infection from spreading to adjacent teeth.

It’s Better to Just Pull the Tooth

Removing a tooth creates an extra space in your bite, which can lead to an entire host of additional concerns. When a tooth goes missing, it needs to be replaced fairly quickly. Otherwise, other teeth in your bite will start to shift, drift out of place, or even “super-erupt” as they look for a biting partner. The best option for replacing a tooth is usually a dental implant or bridge. Partial dentures are another option. 

However, the better, less-invasive, more affordable, and preferred standard is to preserve the natural tooth you already have. In this case, get a root canal to avoid an extraction altogether. 

I’ll Have to Sleep Through the Appointment

It may come as a surprise, but getting a root canal doesn’t have to feel much different than any other basic dental treatment. While some people may want a mild analgesic like nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) you really don’t need to necessarily “sleep” through the appointment. Depending on the number of roots your particular tooth has, some visits can last a little longer than others. Dr. Singla will work with you to discuss your comfort level and identify the best plan of action to ensure a pleasant experience. 

Reserve an Exam Today

Do you suspect that you need a root canal or want a second opinion about endodontic treatment? Contact Single Dental in Duncanville today to reserve an exam with Dr. Singla. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have.

If you’re like most people, flossing isn’t your favorite thing to do. You might even be one of those individuals who proudly proclaim, “Yes, I floss twice a year—when my hygienist does it at the end of my checkups!”

The truth is, no matter how great you are at toothbrushing or how expensive your toothbrush model is, there are some spaces in your mouth that it just can’t reach. Like between teeth and just under the edges of your gums, where periodontal disease (gum infections) starts.

That’s where flossing comes in. But what would you think if Dr. Singla told you that there was an alternative? Because there is. At Single Dental, we encourage our patients (who hate flossing) to invest in something called a water flosser.

How Water Flossing Works

Water flossers are handheld devices that spray a thin, steady stream of water out of the tip. Depending on the type of water flosser you’ve purchased, you can adjust the pressure and control the temperature of the water.

A water flosser works by flushing away loose plaque and food debris. Instead of rubbing buildup away with floss, you’re using pressured water. Simply trace the water flosser along your gums, angling it slightly down into your gumlines. Pause between each of your teeth to clean the contact points, as well as below the gums in those spaces.

It can take a little practice to get used to water flossing. Some people need to use a lighter pressure while others find it tickles their mouth. In time, you’ll find that it’s almost hard not to use it each day because of how clean it makes your mouth feel.

 

Why it’s Worth the Investment

 

Toothbrushing only cleans the sides and tops of your teeth. When you use a water flosser, you can easily trace all of the gumlines, reach between teeth, and even clean underneath fixed appliances such as dental bridges or implants. It’s also great for our patients who are wearing braces!

Best of all, water flossers reach down into “periodontal” gum pockets around your teeth. These are the areas of detached tissues where plaque likes to hide out. Flossing can generally clean below your gums by 2-3 millimeters, but water flossing can reach far deeper if you have unhealthy pockets. It’s an excellent investment for our patients with gum disease.

 

Healthier Smiles in Duncanville

When you switch to a water flosser and use it daily, chances are Dr. Singla will see a big difference in your gum health during your next checkup. We want our Duncanville patients to be able to preserve their smiles for life. And it all starts with the health of your gums and supporting tissues!

If you have swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, request an exam and cleaning to get things back on track. Then invest in a water flosser to clean your smile daily and keep things healthy. Contact Single Dental today to schedule your next checkup.

Periodontal disease — or gum disease — is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss in Duncanville. But it’s not just dangerous to your smile. It also turns out that active oral infection associated with periodontitis can raise your chances of other medical complications. 

 

Heart Attack and Stroke

They say that your mouth is the gateway to your entire body. If you have gum disease, you’re also at an elevated risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease. The reason for that is because oral bacteria can spread directly into your bloodstream, via infected tissues inside your mouth. 

 

Diabetes

There’s a cyclic relationship between your blood sugar levels and gum infection. Numerous studies have shown that someone with diabetes who also has untreated gum disease will have an extremely challenging time stabilizing their blood glucose levels. The more aggressive the periodontitis becomes, the more unstable the blood sugar level tends to be. 

But diabetics with good oral hygiene tend to see more stable readings. Experts recommend treating the two conditions jointly, so as to stabilize both of them at the same time (rather than only focusing on one or the other.) Be sure to let Dr. Singla know what your most recent glucose reading was at the time of your appointment. 

 

Respiratory Diseases

People with active oral infections are more likely to develop respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia. Why? Because oral bacteria can simply be inhaled into the respiratory tract during normal daily activities. If you’re already immunocompromised or at-risk for lung disease, you could be putting yourself at additional risks with unhealthy gums. 

Over the past year, we’ve also seen that aggressive periodontal disease equates to a higher chance of requiring a hospital ventilator/respirator during COVID-19 infection. 

 

Reproductive Health Concerns

Men and women alike can be affected by periodontal disease. It turns out that active gum disease can make it more difficult for couples to conceive. Gum treatments can help by reducing time to conceive by at least a few months. 

Women with periodontal disease are at a statistically higher risk of pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor, and stillbirth. Similarly, men with gum disease may struggle with erectile dysfunction until their oral infection is stabilized. 

 

How to Know if You Have Gum Disease

If your gums bleed easily when you brush and floss, you could have gum disease. Symptoms of moderate periodontal disease often include warning signs like:

• Tartar buildup
• Bad breath
• Gum recession
• Tooth mobility
• Spaces between teeth
• Bleeding

 

Schedule a Periodontal Evaluation

Has it been longer than six months since you’ve seen a dentist? When you contact Single Dental, be sure to request a periodontal assessment during your next exam. Dr. Singla will thoroughly evaluate your soft tissues and bone levels to determine if any gum infections are present. We’ll guide you through the appropriate channels to establish a healthy smile that’s beneficial to your teeth and overall body!

Contact our Duncanville dental office today to request your next appointment.

Are you having trouble with a continuous toothache? This type of pain can interfere with your day to day tasks and overall mood. The good news is that there are some at home remedies you can implement to alleviate the pain if your toothache is mild.

Keep in mind that if you have a severe toothache, or your toothache lasts more than three days, you should contact your dentist in Duncanville and schedule an appointment to identify the underlying cause. Identifying and addressing the source of the pain allows you and your Duncanville dentist to effectively alleviate the symptoms you are feeling, usually for good.

The symptoms of a toothache generally include:

• Pain
• Sensitivity to food or drink
• General discomfort in the mouth near infected tooth when eating or drinking
• Inflammation of gums surrounding tooth

Whether its drinking, eating, talking or smiling, we use our mouths continuously throughout the day, for practically everything we do. Because of this, an ongoing toothache can really affect one’s quality of life. As a caring dental practice in Duncanville, Dr. Singla and the team want to help. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, keep reading, because we have some at-home remedies to help alleviate your toothache! Remember, if the pain is severe and has lasted three days or longer, you should give us a call. In the meantime, try out these at-home remedies.

• Rinse your mouth with a hydrogen peroxide mix

Hydrogen peroxide is a compound that helps kill any harmful bacteria that could be the cause of (or worsen) your toothache. Hydrogen peroxide also helps reduce inflammation, which could help alleviate pain.

To make the mix, take equal parts water to the hydrogen peroxide in order to dilute the compound. Swish this around in your mouth as you would with regular mouth wash for thirty seconds to a minute. It’s important to not swallow any of this mixture, be sure to spit it out after swishing. Repeat this two-to-three times a day.

• Gargle with warm saltwater
  Saltwater is a natural disinfectant. The mixture of warm saltwater reduces inflammation by killing germs that could be causing your pain. This home remedy for toothaches will probably be most readily available as salt is a common household item.

Simply mix a half a cup of warm water with a one-third teaspoon of sea salt. Stir the mixture until the salt partially dissolves in the warm water. Finally, swish this mixture around in your mouth for thirty seconds or longer. Also lean back and gargle with the salt mixture to kill bacteria in your throat. You can repeat this three-to-four times a day for the best results.

• Apply ice on your cheek near the area

Cold temperatures are effective in reducing swelling and pain. The cold pack works by reducing the size of the blood vessels in the infected area which reduces inflammation. Reducing inflammation therefore reduces pain.

Simply wrap ice in a towel and place it to your cheek near the sore tooth. It’s important to remove the ice pack every five minutes, for two minutes, before repeating to avoid irritating the skin. After a few times, give the area a break. Repeat this method every few hours daily until you are able to visit your dentist in Duncanville.

• Apply Clove oil on the sore area/soft tissue surrounding the tooth

Clove oil is a century-old home remedy for toothache used to dull the pain. Rumor has it that this natural home remedy for toothache is often just as effective as an over the counter antiseptic.

You should first wash your hands to kill any bacteria you could have on your fingers. Once your hands are clean, put a small amount of clove oil on a cotton ball or your finger and apply it to the sore area. You can do this twice a day after meals.

• Apply a peppermint tea bag to the sore area in the mouth

Another natural home remedy for toothaches involves a peppermint tea bag. This household item can help numb and soothe the pain of a toothache. Start by resting the tea bag in a cup of hot water for about two minutes, then, remove it from the water and allow it to cool down. Put the bag in the freezer for an extra soothing effect. You can then apply the frozen tea bag to the sore area on your gum to help numb and soothe the pain.

With these home remedies for toothaches you can certainly soothe and even heal a mild toothache. While ongoing toothaches are often a sign of underlying oral-health issues, such as an infection, tooth decay, and cavities, we will again stress how important it is to alert your dentist in Duncanville when symptoms occur continuously. You must also remember the importance of regular dental checkups and cleanings with Dr. Singla to ensure the prevention of said oral health issues.

Here at Single Dental, we put our patients first and ensure the highest quality of care. If you are experiencing continuous tooth pain or need a checkup or cleaning, call us today to schedule out your next appointment. Your smile is our number one priority.