| Allan I. Abolafia, D.D.S. |  |
Allen W. Ackerman, D.D.S. |
| THE TOOTH TRIBUNE |
What’s Up In My Mouth
Every one of us will at one time or another feel a change in or around the mouth. It may be an enlargement, a change in appearance, difficulty chewing or pain. Most people take a “wait and see” approach. More often than not your problem won’t be anything to worry about, but if that’s not the case, early diagnosis is always best. With that in mind, the wise choice is to make an appointment to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist is qualified to help you evaluate the problem. Your dentist can determine if your problem is related to your teeth or gums. If the nerve (pulp) in your tooth is affected, your dentist may treat you or, in some cases, may refer you to an endodontist, who specializes in the nerves and roots of the teeth.There are any number of conditions in the mouth which are relatively harmless, but there are also some which are potentially dangerous. In either case, early intervention, diagnosis and treatment are your best bet.
Here are just a few of the changes you may or may not notice.
- An abscess is an infection around your teeth or gums. It may be caused by any number of things, including tooth decay, trauma (injury to the mouth), or something nonspecific.
- A Canker Sore is a painful ulcer that forms where the gums and the soft flexible tissues in your mouth meet. Canker sores usually are gone within two weeks. There are medications which can help a canker sore to heal more rapidly.
- An external force such as a blow to the face or an internal force like biting your cheek may cause a change in your mouth. Ill-fitting dentures or a foreign body that may have lodged under dentures may also cause an uncomfortable condition in your mouth.
- Your mouth may be subjected to a Chemical or Thermal Burn. These can be caused by an aspirin placed against your gums or by hot foods such as the cheese in pizza. You actually can burn your mouth and even realize you have done so until a day or so later.
- Muscular or TMJ Problems appear when muscles in the jaw area become swollen. The swelling may be a result of several things; trauma, the way your teeth fit together, clenching or grinding your teeth.
- Sometimes changes in your mouth may be normal and you just may not have noticed them. One example of such structural changes is an enlargement of the bone, common in some areas of the mouth.
- Benign (non-cancerous) Cysts or Tumors may also appear “suddenly” in your mouth. They may be a result of any number of causes. Your dentists may send a sample to a lab for microscopic examination (biopsy). In this way, he can know for certain if a cyst or a tumor is cancerous.
- Sometimes, diseases that have their origin in other areas of your body (Systemic Diseases) are first discovered by changes in your mouth. If your dentist believes that the condition in your mouth is related to a systemic problem, you will be referred to your general physician.