Treatment for Chronic Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be detrimental to a person’s mental health as well as his or her oral health. This is because chronic bad breath is something that mints, mouthwash, or countless hours of brushing can’t fix. Unlike a smell that lingers after a pungent meal, halitosis may be a sign of an underlying condition. To prevent bad breath it’s important to visit Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, to get the odor under control.

Dental issues such as cavities or periodontal disease can cause bad breath because bacteria are lingering and haven’t been removed. Bacteria are constantly forming inside the mouth which is why it’s important to keep the oral cavity as clean as possible at all times. Lifestyle habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco can also wreak havoc on your breath. Tobacco also tends to dry out the mouth which can additionally place a factor in bad breath. If you notice that your breath is less than fresh, treatment will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic treatment or orthodontic care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Foods to Eat and Avoid with Traditional Braces

It’s natural to think that once traditional braces are applied to the teeth, you won’t be able to enjoy the foods that you’ve grown so accustomed to eating. Though traditional braces come with limits, there are ways to modify your diet to adjust to this new lifestyle of wires and brackets. Once you complete your orthodontic appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, he may give you a list of the foods that are safe to eat and the ones to avoid such as the following.

Because you are likely to experience some discomfort during your first week with braces, you’ll probably want to incorporate more soft foods into your diet. Avoid foods that are tough, and opt for something like yogurt, cheese, mashed potatoes, pasta, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s critical to avoid hard and crunchy foods, especially during the first few months, as they can loosen your wires and brackets. We understand that the urge to resist pizza crust, potato chips, and sticky foods like gum, licorice, or any type of candy, but we assure you that you will be able to enjoy these foods to the fullest at some point.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic treatment or orthodontic care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Vertical Dimension Loss

As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Dennis Morehart of Enid is has experience treating some of the most complicated oral health problems. In people who are missing several teeth, the loss of vertical dimension in the face poses a threat to their appearance, comfort, and overall quality of life. It can even lead to bite collapse, which is why we want our patients to know more about it.

The teeth help to stabilize the jaw bones. When tooth roots are removed, the tissue from the jaw bone dissolves, and the face shrinks. This causes wrinkles to develop in the skin in between the nose and the mouth and makes the lower part of their heads look disproportionately small. It can also trigger temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), resulting in pain throughout the jaw, head, neck, and shoulders. If the back teeth are missing, patients may attempt to chew with their incisors, causing the front teeth to be pushed horizontal and causing misalignment problems as well as loss of vertical dimension.

There are a few options for preventing or repairing this. When a full set of dentures are fabricated, dentists take care to match the height of the artificial crowns to the patient’s needs. The temporary dentures worn as part of the treatment help to ensure the crown size is correct. If larger implants are being used to secure dental bridges, the patient may have additional jaw bone material grafted on by a surgeon.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Tooth Sectioning

Recently, we described some of the reasons why a person might need to have a wisdom tooth removed. At Enid Dental Care, we always carry out extractions with maximal effort to keep the patient safe and as comfortable as possible. For that reason, wisdom teeth sometimes need to be cut into sections while being extracted.

The wisdom teeth are large and often unable to erupt fully. They can be trapped partially or completely beneath the gum line, in which case incisions will need to be made through which they can be removed. However, the wisdom teeth are also anchored by strong ligaments and have thick roots. Attempting to pull or elevate them out all at once may be impossible or require a great deal of force, which could hurt the patient or break the tooth accidentally. To avoid this problem, after the patient has been numbed, the tooth will be cut using a dental drill. The extraction site is bathed continuously with water to prevent heat damage and the smaller sections of the tooth can be removed with less force and through smaller openings.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.