Oral Piercings and Teeth

Issues and complications with oral piercings can begin immediately after the piercing procedure. These can include swelling, infection, and discomfort. Oral piercings may look cool, but they can sometimes do more harm than good. Though Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS doesn’t want to hinder you from self-expression, he wants to explain the possible consequences that are associated with oral piercings.

Your mouth is full of bacteria and whether or not these bacteria decide to cooperate with a new piercing depends on the patient. For instance, if your body rejects an oral piercing such as a tongue ring, your tongue could swell so much that it blocks your airway. In some cases, the jewelry alone could crack or chip a tooth. It’s important to remove jewelry as it becomes a problem. If you notice signs or symptoms of an oral infection, contact us immediately to discuss your treatment options.

If you have questions or concerns about oral piercings and how they affect your oral health, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. If you’ve been told by Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS that you have gingivitis, periodontitis is what will happen if you’re gingivitis isn’t treated. Gingivitis is a mild inflammation of the gums, while periodontitis has the ability to result in tooth loss. Overall, periodontal disease is preventable and we encourage you to visit our office twice a year to keep your gums in tip-top shape.

With periodontitis, the gum and bone pull away from the teeth, forming large pockets. Bacteria such as plaque can linger in these pockets and infect the area. To avoid plaque from attacking your teeth, you simply have to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine. We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. If you have swollen, puffy gums, and/or gums that bleed easily or are tender to touch, you should visit us for a dental exam as soon as possible. The sooner you seek care, the more likely you are to prevent invasive dental procedures in the future.

If you have questions or concerns about periodontitis, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fullertondental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, in Fullerton CA, call 714-879-7943.

Dry Sockets

At Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental practice, we have several doctors who are experienced in all manners of saving teeth. But when extractions are inevitable, we want our patients to know they can rely on us if complications from dry sockets arise during their recoveries.

We always ask about patients’ medications before performing surgeries. This is partly because medications which prevent blood clotting put that patient at a high risk of developing a dry socket. Blood clots protect an empty socket from dryness and infection during the time it takes for a socket to close. Patients also are advised not to sip through straws in the days following an extraction, as the suction may tear a clot loose.

If the patient’s bleeding never stops or they are still in severe pain two days after the extraction, we will see them during an emergency appointment. We have tools for cleaning sockets and medicated wound dressings for re-moisturizing them and fighting infection. We may also prescribe painkillers and will monitor the patient’s recovery while changing the dressings every few days. Dry sockets are most common following extractions which required incisions and sutures, and the appointment to remove the sutures provides us with a chance to ensure all is well.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Childhood is the period in life when people are most vulnerable to cavities, and very young children often experience what dentists call Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. We want the families visiting Dr. Meyer’s Fullerton office to understand this problem so they can better care for their children’s oral hygiene.

When babies feed from bottles, sugar tends to accumulate on the fronts of their incisors. Although milk and formula may not be particularly sugary compared to juice, if the sugar they do contain remains stuck to babies’ teeth for too long, the teeth will be at risk for decay. Unfortunately, the sugar often does remain when babies are given bottles of milk or formula to swig from for hours but have no opportunity to rinse their mouths by drinking water. Older children and adults are also at a higher risk for tooth decay if they snack throughout the day, but they can choose when to brush their teeth or chew sugar-free gum, whereas babies are dependent on others to brush their teeth for them.

The easiest way to avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is to limit the amount of time babies are allowed to keep bottles. But for nutritional as well as dental reasons, children should transfer to drinking from cups around the time of their first birthdays.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.