All posts by writeradmin

writeradmin writes blog posts on behalf of Dr. Kevin Peck

Oral Yeast Infections

I recently have been diagnosed with asthma and have to use an inhaler. Since I’ve started there is this white stuff on my tongue and cheeks. The affected areas are sore. Do you have any understanding of what could be happening?

Alethea B.- Mississippi

Alethea,

I suspect you have oral candidiasis, which is commonly known as an oral yeast infection. You can find the candida fungus in everyone’s body. Generally in their mouth, skin, and digestive tract. Sometimes, a medication that you are using can cause the microorganisms in your body to go out of balance. In this case your asthma medicine likely caused the candida fungus to grow more quickly, leading to a yeast infection.

It is simple to treat. Either your doctor or your dentist can prescribe and anti-fungal medication for you. What kind and how long you will need to take the medication will depen d on the severity of your case. Don’t leave this untreated, because it will not heal itself and can lead to other problems.

You may also be interested in learning about mercury-free dentistry.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Denture is too hard

Is there a way to get a softer denture? Mine is too hard and is hurting the roof of my mouth.

Eileen S.- Babylon, NY

Eileen,

There isn’t really a soft denture. You can get a soft lining for your dentures. They are more comfortable than other types of dentures. The downside is they are more expensive and do not hold up as well.

You are not the only patient who finds dentures hard to deal with. The best solution is to switch to dental implants. They function and feel just like your natural teeth. You’ll be more comfortable, you’ll be able to eat the foods you love again.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Gray Tooth

My dentist says I have a gray tooth and she wants to see me again. Do you know why?

Bennie- Los Angeles

Bennie,

A gray tooth can mean your tooth is dying. Usually teeth die because of decay or trauma, though it is possible to die for other reasons or even no reason.

You didn’t mention  if  your tooth hurt. If you don’t feel any pain it is possible the nerve for the tooth has already died. If that is the case, bacteria will feed on the dead tissue. Eventually that will lead to an infection.

Depending on the situatioin, your dentist can treat this with a white filling or a root canal treatment.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Does marijuana cause tooth decay?

I just found out my son is taking marijuana. I know it is a horrible thing for his brain and that he can get addicted to other drugs becuase of it. I’m trying to deal with all that. But, I was wondering if it affects his teeth as well? I’m trying to get everything taken care of at once.

B.C.- Wisconsin

B.C.,

Your head must be spinning right now. I can’t imagine the worry you are going through. You didn’t mention how old he is. You’ll have a little more control if he is a minor. There are several things to factor in to his oral health knowing that he is smoking marijuana.

All smoking, no matter what kind, contributes to tooth decay for several reasons. First, it hinders saliva production. Many people do not know that saliva production is an important factor in preventing tooth decay. There are minerals in our saliva that fight bacteria in our mouths. Smoking also decreases the oxygen in our bloodstream, which will lead to gum disease.

Additionally, marijuana contributes some additional problems. Not only does marijuana lower our immune system, but the THC in marijuana interferes with the way calcium moves about it our bodies. Calcium is a key ingredient in healthy tooth structure.

Because of the staining on the teeth, you may also be interested in looking into teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Denitst Dr. Kevin Peck.

White spots after braces

My daughter had braces and now she has white spots on her teeth. Our dentist had recommended whitening her teeth, but my friend said that whitening won’t help because the teeth will be whiter but still be uneven in color. I know she isn’t a dentist, but is really quite bright and doesn’t usually say something she isn’t knowledgeable in. Is it possible my friend is right and my dentist is wrong?

Donna M.- Mississippi

Donna,

I’m am really frustrated to say that your friend knows more than your dentist. When you have uneven tooth color, using teeth whitening just makes the difference in color more obvious.  The white spots on her teeth are decalcification that occured while wearing her braces. This happens when there are some oral hygiene issues.

There are a couple of ways to treat this. There is something called Tooth Mousse that was specifically designed for this issue. Another possible treatment is tooth bonding. The softened and decalcified enamel will be removed and then replaced with composite materials that will be bonded onto her teeth. It goes without saying that I would go to a different dentist to do this procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

 

Sensitivity after root canal

I had a root canal treatment. The procedure itself wasn’t too bad and everything seemed fine until a few days ago. Now all of a sudden my tooth is sensitive to cold. I can’t figure out why. Do you have an idea?

Brooke- maryland

Brooke,

If you’ve had a tooth canal and then the tooth becomes sensitive to cold, it means there was a hidden canal that didn’t get cleaned out and needs to be re-treated.  Fortunately, most dentists charge for root canal treatment by the tooth, so there would not be an additional fee for the re-treatment.  If, however, your dentist treats by the canal, there would be an additional fee.

These canals can be tricky and it is not unusual for the best dentists to miss one.  If it is a difficult canal, your dentist may decide to send you to a root canal specialist.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Help for stopping thumbsucking

I’m a little embarrassed to be asking this. I’m 12 and still suck my thumb. I want to stop because I have a slumber party in a month. Can you help?

name withheld

First, I want you to know that you are not the only girl your age who still sucks her thumb. There are many teenagers who are still trying to break this habit. The part that will help is you are motivated to quit. Here are some suggestions:

  • You could wear a sock on your hands when you sleep at night. The good part about this process is it doesn’t cost any money.
  • There are liquids you can purchase to put onto your thumb that taste absolutely horrible.
  • You could also purchase a thumb guard. This is a plastic appliance that goes over your hand and protects your thumb so you will no longer be able to suck it.
  • If there is enough time, I recommend you visit a pediatric dentist, who will also have ways to help.

I hope this helps and have fun at your slumber party.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck

Crown prep pain

I’ve gotten one of my teeth prepped for a crown. At first there was some normal tenderness. That went away, but for some reaason now my lower left jaw (the side where the crown is being placed) is having a lot of pain. The pain is to the point that I have to take medicine. Is that normal?

Anthony H.- Cincinnati, OH

Anthony,

The type of pain you are describing is not normal after a dental crown preparation. It is possible the pain is coming from the tooth itself. If your tooth has already been through a significant amount of trauma, such as large fillings, the inflammation may not be reversible.

If that is the case, the best solution would be a root canal treatment. Your dentist will know best if that is the case. Either way, you’ll want to let your dentist know. He’ll probably coat your tooth with some type of desensitizer sealant on the surface of the dentin to try to get the pain to go away. Hopefully that is the solution.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Teeth whitening troubles

Can you tell me the secret to getting really white teeth. I’ve been wearing some teeth whitening trays with gel for a week and they aren’t very white yet.

Melissa- Detriot

Melissa,

The only secret to teeth whitening is persistence. The gel has to be in contact with your for extended periods of time. Wear the gel for as long as you’re able each day. You may even want to sleep with it. In just a few weeks, your teeth should be significantly whiter.

If you’re in a hurry to have your teeth whitened, some offices do a Zoom whitening, which will whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.

Baby Tooth Eruption

Hi, I’m a first time mom and was wondering when I should expect my daughter’s teeth to start coming in.

Cammie Anne S.- Atlanta, GA

Cammie Anne,

Below is a chart to show  you the location of the teeth and a list to give you some general guidelines. Bear in mine that each child is different, so don’t panic if your child doesn’t follow the schedule exactly.  It will be important that you find a good dentist. Look for someone who does pediatric dentistry.

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6 to 10 months:  Lower Central Incisors

8 to 12 months:  Upper Central incisors

10 to 16 months:  Lower Lateral Incisors

9 to 13 months: Upper Lateral Incisors

17 to 23 months:  Lower Canine

16 to 22 months:  Upper Canine

14 to 18 months:  Lower First Molar

13 to 19 months:  Upper First Molar

23 to 31 months:  Lower Second Molar

25 to 33 months:  Upper Second Molar

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.