teething baby chauvin dental lafayette la

Healthy tips for soothing a teething baby

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Anyone who has ever dealt with a teething baby knows that it is miserable. They’re in so much pain, and you feel helpless while they cry, bless their little hearts. The good news is, there are things you can do to help!

Signs of teething:

First thing to determine: is your baby just being extra moody? Or do they have another tooth coming in? It’s hard to tell sometimes, especially if the tooth hasn’t broken the surface yet. There are other signs to look for that mean your baby is teething:

  • Lots of drooling
  • Crankiness or irritability
  • Chewing on hard objects
  • Tender/sore gums

They may also be extra clingy, or have trouble sleeping. And who can blame them? They literally have a new tooth breaking through their gums, that has to hurt!

Soothing a teething baby:

If you suspect your baby is teething, here’s what you can do to help.

Medication – you can give your baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce the pain and swelling. Always make sure you give them the correct amounts! Check with your pediatrician if you aren’t sure about the correct dosage. Avoid homeopathic remedies, as these have been proven recently to pose a health risk to babies.

Cool them down – cold helps with swelling, so you can use a cold washcloth, teething ring, or spoon, and let them chew on it. Avoid frozen teething rings, as the extreme cold may do more harm than good.

Rub the gums – take a clean finger or soft, clean rag and gently rub your baby’s gums. The pressure does help. If your baby does have other teeth, be careful! When their teeth hurt, they will bite down hard.

Hard food – if your baby has begun to eat solid food, you can give them a carrot, cucumber, or apple slice to gnaw on. Watch them carefully, in case they bite off a piece – as that poses a choking hazard. We recommend the mesh nets that are attached to a teething ring. You can put anything in it, and they can chew safely, without the risk of choking.

Dry their faces – if your child is drooling a lot, try to keep them dry. Wipe their face with a soft clean cloth frequently. Their skin can get irritated from all the drool. You can also use a moisturizer to protect their skin. Just make sure you use one that’s safe for babies!

 

vitamins and minerals for teeth dr chauvin lafayette la dentist

The best vitamins and minerals for your teeth

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At this point, we should all know the basics for taking proper care of our teeth from an oral hygiene standpoint. (If you don’t, click here.) Brushing and flossing properly aside, there are dietary factors to taking care of our teeth as well. In addition to avoiding refined carbohydrates, excess sugar, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, there are some essential vitamins and minerals that your teeth need in order to stay healthy.

Calcium

Of course we need calcium! It’s one of the primary components of our bones and our teeth. The good news is, it’s in a lot of stuff, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, beans, and oysters, to name a few. Low calcium levels could lead to tooth decay and gum disease, so make sure you get enough!

Vitamin A

This vitamin helps inflamed gums to heal, as it maintains mucous membranes and soft tissues in the body. You are also more susceptible to infections when low on vitamin A. Good sources of it include: beef, liver, milk, cheese, and eggs.

Vitamin B2, B3, and B12

Vitamin B also contributes to the health of the mucous membranes, and a deficiency could result in mouth sores and bad breath. When it comes to vitamin B3 and B12, you can kill two birds with one stone, as they’re both found in chicken and fish. B12 is also found in red meat, pork, and dairy products. B2 can be found in spinach, almonds, pasta, and bagels.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is very important when it comes to dental health, as too little can cause bleeding gums and loose teeth. Ever heard of scurvy? It was caused by a lack of vitamin C. If you need to up your intake, citrus fruits are rich in the vitamin, but use caution. They are acidic, which can erode the enamel of your teeth. You can also eat sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is especially important. It helps the body absorb calcium. It also helps prevent gum inflation. A vitamin D deficiency may result in burning mouth syndrome – which gives the mouth a burning sensation, a dry mouth, or a bitter/metallic taste. The best way to get vitamin D? Go outside. We get it from the sun! You can also eat milk, eggs, and fish.

Taking good care of your teeth doesn’t end at the toothbrush. You have to eat right too. You can also take vitamin supplements, but make sure you read the directions carefully. Some need to be taken with food, others require you to avoid certain foods. If you are concerned that a vitamin or mineral deficiency is affecting your teeth, contact Dr. Chauvin’s office and we can take a look!

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Past Procedure Care

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Having dental work done is an investment! After all, you only get one set of adult teeth, so you want to take care of them. That’s why proper dental hygiene, as well as regular dental checkups, are so important. If you have had dental work done, you need to make sure you follow the instructions your dentist gave you to ensure your full recovery. Properly caring for past procedures will greatly increase the lifespan of your dental repairs.

Braces

The most important thing you can do after braces is wear your retainer. Your bones will want to try to put things back to the way they were. Wearing your retainer at night prevents your teeth from wandering back into their old positions. Beyond that, normal dental hygiene will keep your teeth looking beautiful and straight!

Dental implants

Dental implants involve surgery, and require very special care immediately after the procedure. You have to take antibiotics, use a special mouth rinse, drink lots of fluid, and eat soft food for a day or two. Physical activity should be avoided as well until everything has healed. Once it’s all healed up, you treat your dental implant as if it were a normal tooth. Proper dental care will ensure that your implant lasts a long time.

Root canals

After a root canal, it’s important to not eat anything until the numbness has worn off (lest you bite your cheek or tongue). Your new crown can be treated like an ordinary tooth once it’s all done. So brush and floss your teeth like usual after a root canal. You may experience sensitivity to pressure or extreme temperature at first, but that will fade as time goes on.

Cavity fills

Cavity fillings have the easiest post procedure care – treat it like a normal tooth. Like the root canal, you may have some pressure or temperature sensitivity immediately afterwards, but this will go away with time. Make sure you brush and floss to prevent more cavities from forming, and let your dentist know immediately if the filling falls out!

In many cases, dental procedures leave you with tooth repairs or replacements that can be treated just like normal teeth once the procedure is complete. Then you just have to take good care of your teeth! Your dental repairs should last for years under the right circumstances. Not sure what the post procedure care is for something not listed here? Give Dr. Chauvin’s office a call. We’ll tell you what you need to do.

dental implant dr chauvin lafayette la

Can my body reject my dental implant

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When you lose a tooth as an adult, there are several options available to you for tooth replacement; removable dentures, fixed bridges, and dental implants. Dental implants are the best option, as they’re a permanent solution that’s fully functional. They have a very high success rate, as they are made with titanium – the most biologically compatible of all metals. Can your body reject your dental implant? Yes, although it’s far more likely that your implant failure is due to one of the following.

Failed Osseointegration

This means that your jaw did not take to the implant. Osseointegration is a term that describes the development of a connection between an artificial implant and the bone. Broken into its root Greek, the word literally means bone integration. This is determined by the implant either falling out, being excessively loose, or has shifted more than 1 mm after a year. Dental implants must be placed into a healthy jaw. There should be enough bone density and volume in order for the implant to fully osseointegrate. In some cases, a bone graft or a sinus lift is necessary for a dental implant, in order to create more bone mass.

Infection (Peri-Implantitis)

As you know, the human mouth is loaded with bacteria, and not all of it is good. With any surgery, and having a dental implant installed is a surgery, there is a risk of infection. The bone and gums around your implant can also be infected by improper dental hygiene, or if any dental cement from the implant gets caught in the gums. In rare cases, the infection can be treated and the implant left alone. However, if infection occurs, it’s most likely that the implant will have to be removed.

Teeth grinding

Grinding your teeth, normally very harmful anyway, can be devastating to dental implants (especially new ones). It takes a long time for bone to heal, as anyone who has ever broken a limb can tell you. Since dental implants are drilled into the bone, the jaw has to recover, and create new bone mass around the implant to hold it in place. Grinding your teeth can shift the implant, or wear it down. If you are a habitual teeth grinder, it would be wise to wear a mouthpiece at night in order to protect your dental implant.

These are just a few of the ways a dental implant can fail. In most cases, your body doesn’t reject the implant. There are other factors that have caused your implant to fail. Have more questions? Contact Dr. Chauvin’s office!

why is your bite important dr chauvin lafayette dentist

Why is your bite important

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Think about when you were a kid and you lost a tooth. You kept fiddling with the missing spot with your tongue and it drove you nuts! For a few hours anyway. Then you adjusted to it and didn’t even notice the missing spot, right? Our bodies ignore certain things after a certain point – it prioritizes new stimuli over existing ones. For example, you can always see your nose! Your brain just ignores it.

Well when it comes to your bite, we don’t really notice the way our teeth fit together. As a result, our bite could be off and we wouldn’t even know it! Your bite is very important though, as a misaligned bite could lead to a host of other issues.

What could a misaligned bite cause?

When something isn’t right in our body, a host of other, in some cases seemingly unrelated problems can emerge. For example, sinus problems or digestive problems could be caused by an off-kilter vertebrate in your back! If your bite doesn’t line up correctly, you could experience:

  • Headaches
  • Tooth wear that is excessive
  • Sore muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the head and neck
  • Gum recession
  • Broken or loose teeth

There’s also the self-esteem factor to consider; if your bite is off your smile could be crooked. The good news? A misaligned bite can be fixed.

How can my dentist fix my bite?

Depending on what is causing your bite to be off, there are a variety of solutions your dentist can employ. In some cases, a missing tooth is causing a bite to be off, or a poorly fitted crown. Genetics could also be a factor, some people just have mouths that are too small to fit all of their teeth comfortably. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to keep up with regular dental checkups so your dentist can notice the signs of a misaligned bite and take steps to correct it before extreme measures are required. Some options your dentist may consider include:

  • Replacing any missing teeth
  • A dental mouth guard
  • Bite splints
  • Adjusting teeth (for example, shaving down problem areas)
  • Braces or other orthodontic methods can be used to straighten the teeth that are out of alignment

The solution used by your dentist will be entirely dependent on the issue causing your bite to be misaligned. If you are experiencing headaches or any of the other issues mentioned above, contact Dr. Chauvin’s office! We can take a look and see what is going on.

     

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Baby bottles and tooth decay

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Babies will start getting teeth around six months of age. Dentists recommend that infants are seen before their first birthday in order to assess dental health. Without proper dental care, baby bottle tooth decay occurs. It’s a common problem, also known as early childhood cavities. The good news is, as with most dental issues, the sooner you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

How does baby bottle tooth decay happen?

Kids drink a lot! As a result, the teeth are exposed to lots of sugar. It comes from what they drink and what they eat, including:

  • Formula
  • Milk
  • Fruit juice
  • Other sweet drinks
  • Fruits
  • Sugary snacks

When children (and especially babies) drink, the sugars will pool in their mouth around their teeth, creating a perfect environment for cavity and plaque causing bacteria. As time goes on, each time the child eats or drinks something with sugar – their teeth are attacked by acid. This weakens the enamel, and makes it that much easier for cavities to form.

Preventing baby bottle tooth decay:

Basically you prevent baby bottle tooth decay the same way you prevent cavities in adults! With proper dental care. For a toothless infant, you need to clean their gums daily with a clean, wet rag. Wash your hands, wrap the washcloth around your finger, and then gently wipe and massage the gums. This helps keep your infant’s gums healthy, and gets them used to you cleaning their mouth (which will be a very good thing when it’s time to start brushing teeth and going to the dentist). And never leave your infant with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice at night.

Once the teeth begin to erupt, you’ll switch to a toothbrush. Make sure to get an appropriately sized brush, with soft bristles. You will also need a fluoride free toothpaste until they are old enough to spit. Use a pea sized amount, and gently brush their teeth and gums. When they can spit, switch to a toothpaste with fluoride. Modifications to your child’s diet can also help prevent baby bottle tooth decay. Offer water instead of sugary drinks, limit sugary snacks, and acidic foods.

It’s important to instill good dental habits at a young age, that way your children will take care of their teeth for the rest of their lives. Is it time for a dental checkup, or do you suspect baby bottle tooth decay? Call Dr. Chauvin’s office to set up an appointment.

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What is the Difference Between Periodontitis and Gingivitis?

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Everyone has heard of gingivitis – it’s mentioned in practically every commercial for dental products! It’s like the boogeyman of the dental realm, but unlike the boogeyman – gingivitis is very real. Less commonly talked about is periodontitis. The two are related, but what’s the difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?

What is Gingivitis

This is the precursor to periodontitis. Gingivitis is a term that means “gum inflammation” and occurs when enough plaque has built up to allow bacteria to thrive in the mouth. The irritation in the gumline is most noticeable when brushing, as the gums bleed very easily. The good news is, gingivitis is reversible, and no permanent damage has occurred at this stage. Signs of gingivitis include:

  • Swollen gums
  • Reddened gums (healthy gums are pink)
  • Gums that bleed during brushing
  • Receding gums
  • Tender gums
  • Bad breath
  • Soft, puffy gums

If you experience any of the symptoms above, it’s important to seek dental care to prevent the disease from developing any further. Typically, a professional cleaning will clear up gingivitis, as long as proper steps are taken at home to reverse the effects of gingivitis. This includes brushing at least twice daily, flossing once a day, and using an antiseptic mouth rinse. However you should be doing those things anyway! If you don’t catch gingivitis in time…

What is Periodontitis

You’ll wind up with periodontitis – gum disease. At this stage, your gums will begin to pull away from your teeth, creating small pockets where food, plaque, and other debris will build up. As these pockets fill, they become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. And bacteria just loves to destroy healthy tissue. The bone and connective tissue that is normally protected by your gums will start to break down. The longer it goes untreated, the more damage is caused. Periodontitis eventually results in tooth loss – because the bone and connective tissue anchoring the teeth in place gets destroyed. As a matter of fact, gum disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss.

There are other factors that can contribute to gum disease, including:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Decreased immunity due to certain illnesses
  • Certain medications
  • Poor oral hygiene habits
  • Smoking
  • Old age
  • Certain viral or fungal infections
  • Substance abuse
  • Poor nutrition
  • Poorly fitted dental restorations

In the case of either gingivitis or periodontitis, it’s important to visit the dentist immediately in order for proper treatment. Without it, you could lose one or more teeth! If any of these symptoms sound familiar, call Dr. Chauvin’s office to set up an appointment today.

sleep-apnea

The dangers of sleep apnea

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Imagine being sound asleep and suddenly you stop breathing. So you startle awake. You start breathing again, and fall back asleep. And it happens over. And over. And over. Over the course of one night, a person may stop breathing hundreds of times! This is the painful reality for people who suffer from sleep apnea, and results in the brain and body not getting enough oxygen. The dangers of sleep apnea include:

High blood pressure

Sleep apnea causes your body to be very stressed, as it essentially goes into a panicked state every time it needs to restart your breathing. Your hormones go on overdrive, increasing your blood pressure. Couple that with the reduced oxygen level and you are a prime candidate for high blood pressure.

Heart disease

The stress of waking up often, alongside the low oxygen levels, make a person much more likely to have some form of heart trouble. It may be atrial fibrillation, strokes, or heart attacks. Since the brain is receiving less oxygen, it has a hard time maintaining all of the background functions that keep us alive – including controlling blood flow to the heart and brain.

Type 2 diabetes

Did you know that if you don’t get enough sleep, your body can’t use insulin correctly? This can ultimately result in type 2 diabetes, and of everyone with type 2 diabetes, at least 80% of them have sleep apnea.

Mental health issues

Not getting enough sleep has a drastic effect on your mental health. It can present as simply being cranky, or as serious depression or anxiety problems. There is good news though, treating the sleep apnea can greatly improve your mental well-being.

Weight gain

Extra weight not only makes you more susceptible to sleep apnea, if you have sleep apnea, it’s harder to lose weight! Luckily, treating sleep apnea will give you more energy – making it easier to lose those extra pounds.

Dentists are often the first medical professional to notice the signs of sleep apnea, since they typically interact with their patients on a more regular basis than a general practitioner. If you are experiencing any of these side effects:

  • Lethargy
  • Headaches
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Snoring, choking, or gasping in your sleep
  • Dry mouth
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability and impaired mental/emotional functioning

Then your dentist may send you to a sleep specialist to be evaluated. If this sounds familiar, call Dr. Chauvin’s office to set up an appointment, as there are other signs that a dentist can look out for in diagnosing sleep apnea.

Treating Small Enamel Cracks Could Help you Avoid a Tooth Fracture

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Although our teeth are the hardest substances in our body, they aren’t invincible to physical trauma. It is possible to crack your teeth. Things like biting too hard on a piece of candy, catching an elbow in the face during a basketball game, or falling down can all result in a cracked tooth. The most important thing you can do is treat enamel cracks immediately in order to avoid a dangerous tooth fracture.

While it may seem that these fractures happen out of nowhere, they’re usually related to cracked tooth syndrome, which has three stages:

  • Stage one – tiny cracks, known as craze lines, develop in the enamel. They are fairly shallow and by themselves, are not dangerous. However; these develop into the second stage eventually.
  • Stage two – the craze lines have deepened into a bigger crack that affects the dentin as well.
  • Stage three – full tooth fracture that can extend to the root. At this stage, the tooth is at risk of loss, especially if the pulp is exposed.

Unfortunately, craze lines are too small to detect with x-rays. They can be found through other methods, such as using an explorer to feel for cracks, or using special lights and dye stains.

Treatment of the crack will depend on what stage it is in. There are several options for a cracked tooth. Bonding involves the use of composite resin to fill in and seal the crack. This is the easiest and cheapest way to repair a cracked tooth, however it is also the weakest method. It’s better suited to teeth that aren’t exposed to as much bite pressure – such as the front teeth.

A crown can also be used to repair a cracked tooth. Using this method will depend on how much of the original tooth remains. After all, there has to be enough tooth left for the crown to bond to. If the crack is deep enough that the pulp is affected, a root canal is in order, because the inflamed pulp needs to be treated before the damage is repaired.

If the tooth is not salvageable at all, or if the crack extends below the gumline, a dental implant will be used to replace the damaged tooth. The original tooth will have to be removed first, and then the implant will be installed.

A cracked tooth can turn nasty very quickly, so it’s important to see a dentist immediately if you suspect that one of your teeth have cracked. Set up an appointment with Dr. Chauvin today!

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Anatomy of your mouth and dental structure

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Although the femur is the strongest bone in the body, the teeth are actually the hardest substance! They have to be in order to stand up to the rigors of chewing. The anatomy and dental structure of our mouths have evolved to make human beings the perfect omnivore; our front teeth (incisors) are designed for biting through and cutting our food, whilst our back teeth (molars) are designed for chewing. This allows us to eat pretty much anything!

Anatomy of the teeth

Adults have 32 teeth, and children have 20. The teeth are held by the bones of the jaw, and have multiple parts:

  • Enamel – the tooth’s exterior, which is hard, white, and made primarily of calcium phosphate.
  • Dentin – living tissue within the tooth that secrete a hard mineral substance
  • Pulp – softer than dentin, pulp contains nerves and blood vessels, which is why cavities and other tooth injuries hurt!
  • Cementum – connective tissue that keeps the gums, jawbone, and teeth roots bound together.
  • Periodontal ligament – tissue that helps keep the teeth tight inside the jaw.

There are five different main types of tooth within the mouth:

  • Incisors – the front four teeth, top and bottom (8 total) that are used for biting and cutting.
  • Canines – our “vampire teeth” are four pointed teeth, situated at the edges of the incisors. These are for tearing meat.
  • Premolars – we have 8 of these as well, and they are between the canines and proper molars. These help with chewing
  • Molars – the best teeth for chewing, they are flat to help grind up food. We have 8 of them.
  • Wisdom teeth – these are our third set of molars. There are 4 of them, but as we’ve evolved, our jaws have gotten smaller. Nowadays, in most cases wisdom teeth must be surgically removed to prevent other teeth from being displaced.

Anatomy of the mouth

The mouth is made up of the following components, (in addition to the teeth):

Gums – soft tissue that holds the teeth in place and protects them as well as the jawbone.

Tongue – the tongue is a muscle that we use to speak, chew, and swallow.

Hard palate – this is the hard roof of the mouth that extends from the front teeth towards the back of the jaw.

Soft palate – the soft roof of the mouth back towards the throat.

Cheeks – muscle, fat, and mucous membranes that allow us to chew, swallow, smile, speak, and eat food.