Causes of Gap Teeth

Of all the cosmetic issues people have with their teeth, a gap-toothed grin is one of the most common. Regardless of whether it’s causing a patient to whistle unintentionally or just looks awkward, we at Downtown Dental in Chicago can help fix it, but it will help if we know what’s causing it.

The Invisalign series of invisible aligners is ideal for cosmetic orthodontic work. If the teeth are somewhat jumbled but there are no major rearrangements or reshaping of the maxillary bone to be done, our Invisalign providers can bring teeth together, closing the gap. If there’s hardly any misalignment at all, veneers could be used to fill in the space.

However, if the gap accompanied an overbite that formed in response to patient behavior, the behavior must be stopped for treatment to work. Some people push their tongues against their teeth when they swallow. This problem requires attention from an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Other people suck their thumbs, which could be a psychological issue. Sometimes, a gap between the top front teeth is caused by the labial frenum, which is the vertical strip of tissue that connects the lip to the skull. In these cases, the frenum is surgically reduced in size.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

We’re always happy to see that our patients at Downtown Dental are brushing their teeth well! Sometimes, if people are having difficulty, they may benefit from switching to an electric toothbrush, but there are several important factors to consider when making the choice.

Electric toothbrushes are able to make thousands of times as many brushstrokes per minute as the manual kind. Clinical trials have not yet found them to be more effective than properly-used manual toothbrushes, but lots of people misuse manual toothbrushes. Examples of that would include failing to brush for the full two minutes and by failing to brush on every tooth surface.

Some electric toothbrushes come with apps to encourage patient compliance. These include games for children that reward them for brushing, as well as timers and trackers of which tooth surfaces the patient missed and warnings if the patient is brushing too hard. An electric toothbrush is an expensive initial investment, but for a patient who has difficulty moving their hands or isn’t getting good results with a manual toothbrush, it may be worthwhile.

Downtown Dental LLC operates at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. To schedule an appointment, call 312-782-8862 or visit Downtown-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Losing the First Tooth

If your kid is turning into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  It’s an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  Downtown Dental wants kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience.

Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy can usually ease the pain a little, too!

To learn more about tooth loss and the services we provide at the practice, visit downtown-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Downtown Dental LLC in Chicago, IL, call 312-782-8862.