You may not know that your teeth are alive, but in fact, they are! The tooth is composed of three different layers – the enamel, dentin, and pulp. The pulp contains the blood vessels and nerve tissues that keep the tooth viable or ‘alive’. If the blood supply to the pulp is cut off, the tooth will no longer have any blood flow to it, which eventually leads to a condition called a non-vital tooth or widely known as a ‘dead tooth’.
Signs of a Dead Tooth
- Discolouration is a common first symptom of a dead tooth
- Mild to severe pain (but some people don’t suffer any pain at all)
- Halitosis or bad breath
- Swelling around the gum line
- A pimple on the gums
- A bad taste in the mouth
If you experience any of these symptoms, see a dentist as soon as possible.
Causes of a Dead Tooth
The two leading causes of a dead tooth are poor dental hygiene, resulting in tooth decay, and a tooth injury or trauma. Poor oral care can cause decay and tooth decay if left untreated can cause infected pulp. Once the pulp is infected, the blood supply is cut off, and the tooth dies.
On the other hand, a dead tooth can be due to a physical injury or trauma. For example, a sports injury could be the incident that caused the dead tooth. If one was hit in the mouth while playing basketball, they could damage or burst the blood vessels in the pulp of their tooth. Ultimately, this could create a case of a non-vital tooth.
If you are concerned, you may have a dead tooth, consult with us at Toronto Beach Dental as soon as you can! We can perform an extraction or root canal treatment depending on the severity of your condition. The sooner we treat the problem, the better!
-Dr. Jay Rabinovich
Concerned about your wisdom teeth? Let us help! Wisdom teeth are the third molars that usually emerge between the ages of 17 to 25 years old. They grow at the back of your mouth and are the last teeth to appear. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when there isn’t enough room for them to grow in, or they come through at an angle and push the adjacent teeth.
As impacted wisdom teeth grow, they can cause misalignment, overcrowding and other serious dental problems. Most often they don’t show signs and symptoms. However, when impacted wisdom teeth become infected or swollen, they can cause the following signs and symptoms:
● Jaw pain
● Bad breath
● Headache
● Bleeding gums
● Swollen gums
● Unpleasant taste when eating
● Swollen neck lymph nodes
● Stiffness of the jaw
If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. Regular dental checkups and x-rays can help determine if wisdom teeth are impacted before any symptoms occur.
To learn more about impacted wisdom teeth, contact our dental office in Toronto.
-Dr. Jay Rabinovich
Have you ever experienced any soft tissue injuries in your mouth? ‘Soft tissue’ is the collective term used for the sensitive and delicate parts of the mouth, which includes the cheeks, gums, tongue, and lips. These soft tissues are often involved in traumatic injuries concerning the orofacial area. They can sometimes be lacerated or bruised by a fall, accidental bite and/or impact of the teeth against the tissue. If you have any soft tissue injuries, it is vital to know what to do about them, especially if they are bleeding. Here are some helpful tips for these scenarios.
- Right after an injury, rinse your mouth with a mild salt and water mixture.
- Moisten some gauze and use it to apply pressure to the bleeding area for 15 to 20 minutes. You can use a sanitary napkin or any clean piece of cloth if you don’t have any gauze at hand.
- Use a cold compress to help slow down the bleeding and relieve pain. Hold a cold compress for 5 to 10 minutes over the affected site.
- See your dentist as soon as possible if the bleeding persists.
Usually, applying pressure with some gauze to the bleeding site can prevent further bleeding. However, if the injury is severe, sutures are recommended and can be done by your dentist or an oral surgeon.
To learn more about soft tissues injuries in your mouth or any other dental related concerns, contact our office in the Toronto Beaches.
-Dr. Jay Rabinovich