Healthy Smiles Family Dental

We want all the patients visiting Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem to understand how to best care for their teeth. To do that, they need to understand the different functions teeth serve and what kinds of problems they are likely to encounter. Normally, thirty-two permanent teeth grow in an adult mouth, with sixteen in each jaw. Starting from the front of the mouth, we have two pairs of incisors per jaw. These are the first teeth to grow in when we are children and are the most important for forming speech. The top central ones are the teeth most likely to have a gap. On each side of the incisors is a single canine tooth, which is also called a cuspid or eye tooth. These teeth are for piercing food and occupy a position that is crucial for maintaining jaw stability. The upper ones are the most likely teeth besides the wisdom teeth to have difficulty erupting. In the back of the mouth are the teeth used for chewing. They include, per jaw, two sets of premolars and three sets of mol...

When gingivitis is left untreated, it will advance to periodontitis. Periodontitis is inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. When periodontitis is left untreated, teeth can eventually fall out. Our doctors at Healthy Smiles Family Dental want patients to keep their permanent teeth for a lifetime, which is why we encourage all of them to take preventive measures when it comes to oral health. Periodontitis is caused by the build-up of bacteria in the form of dental plaque. The best way to avoid plaque build-up is by keeping the teeth as clean as possible by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing at least once a day. As inflammation progresses in the gums, it will cause the gums to recede and the tooth roots to become exposed. This will cause pain, sensitivity, and soreness. Healthy gums are firm and pink in color, if your gums don’t fall into this category, schedule an appointment, today. If you have questions or concerns regarding periodonta...