“Top 5 questions you should ask your dentist during your consultation “

Many people clench or grind their teeth to the point of destructiveness. Most people are completely unaware that they do it, because often they do it while they sleep. Partially because patients don’t know they grind their teeth and also because the thought of wearing a night guard is pretty unappealing What Happens If I Grind My Teeth and Don’t Wear a Night Guard? Bruxism is the medical term for forceful clenching and/or grinding of your teeth. It is considered a major cause of tooth problems. Some patients will say that they notice signs of wear, but it is not just a cosmetic problem. The action of grinding- where your upper and lower teeth move back and forth with great force against each other- causes your teeth to flatten. Allowed to persist, grinding causes temperature sensitivity, pain because the wear gets down to the nerve, cracks in the teeth, receding gums and eventually lost teeth. To fix these, patients will need  crowns ,  bridges ,  veneers ,  ...

What causes tooth stains? Chemical compounds called chromogens give certain foods and drinks their strong colour, and these can stain our teeth. Foods and drinks containing a substance called tannin can also make your teeth much more likely to stain. Acids can wear down your teeth, increasing the chances of stains setting in. In general, if something could stain your clothes or your tongue, the chances are it’s also going to stain your teeth. Common teeth-staining foods Here are some of the most common types of food and drink that can stain your teeth. Somewhat confusingly, some of them can also contain vitamins and minerals which have lots of health benefits! So you don’t necessarily want to cut all of them out of your diet altogether — especially if you don’t consume them too regularly. However, if you have a certain food or drink often and it’s causing teeth staining which bothers you, cutting down can be part of the solution. ...

Chewing on Ice It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead. Playing Sports with No Mouth Guard Whether you play football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get in the game without a mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic that protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. You can have one custom made by your dentist. Bedtime Bottles It’s never too early to protect teeth. Giving a baby a bedtime bottle of juice, milk, or formula, can put new teeth on a path to decay. The baby may become used to falling asleep with the bottle in his or her ...