Dr. Michael Donohoo, DDS

The newer waterpiks (not the ones from decades ago though) are showing great promise as an alternative to traditional flossing. Peer reviewed studies are documenting their effectiveness in proper cleaning of the interproximal areas...between the teeth. They are a bit messy though as I have found out myself. Do either or both if possible.

Too many possible reasons to list them all here. Best to receive a proper diagnosis from a dental professional. A few more common ones..a cavity in the tooth, a tooth that is being excessively ground on or clenched, gum recession at the root that can expose the root of the tooth which is much more porous than the crown of the tooth, etc. The solution to the problem depends on diagnosis the reason behind the sensitivity.

Are you asking if the clicking or seeing an oral surgeon is the normal thing to do? A lot of my patients have some clicking or other noises upon opening but most do not suffer with any painful symptoms and prefer to leave things alone. A consultation with an oral surgeon or a dentist who treats pathology of the TMJ area might be a wise thing to do. Especially if any pain is associated with opening of the jaw.

Unless one's teeth have become broken or reshaped purposely the actual original shape would most definitely be an inherited trait...genetic in nature. He should be great at "tearing or ripping up" foods...the primary purpose of canine teeth. Thus the increased length in the canine world and with tigers, etc. Keep them healthy and enjoy them throughout your lifetime.

Bleeding gums while brushing one's teeth is never a good sign. Stinky breath might be coming from the gums/teeth but can also be a sign of systemic problems. A child is at higher risk of cavities if the mother has or had a lot of cavities. Might be due to transmission of harmful bacteria from mother to child with kissing.

Get those wisdom teeth out of there. Garbage collectors. Obviously though you would discuss this first with a dental professional who can review the risks and benefits of both leaving them in or removing one or more of them.

If there is sugar involved, YES!! Be careful. Water, water, water. Boring yes, helpful, YES!

Generally a cavity is from one of two sources. Either sugar in the diet will feed the bacteria which then produce acid, or direct acid reaching the teeth. Examples of this might be sucking on lemons or limes, patients who suffer (sometimes without any overt painful symptoms) from gastric reflux, etc. Regarding your child you first need to review any sources of sugar in his diet. Soda, juices (huge source of sugar!), kool aids, etc. You have stated he doesn't eat sugar. Does he drink it? If no, is it possible he might be experiencing gastric reflux while sleeping? I would expect the back teeth to show more effects than the front ones. Discuss with his pediatrician or his dentist. Find the reason so you can properly manage his health.

Primary teeth in children will erupt whenever they darn well please. Some children lose their first primary teeth when four years old, and I've seen others that are 8 or 9 years old when losing their first. As Aaron Rodgers tells us Packer fans, RELAX. Unless there is an unusual genetic factor at play the teeth will erupt but at a later pace than a lot of kids the same age.

It is absolutely safe to have a root canal done during pregnancy. There are so many "old wive's tales" floating around regarding what is safe and what's not safe regarding dental treatment for pregnant women. Suffice to say that most dental procedures are safe during any normal pregnancy but that being said always feel free to also ask your obstetrician.

If you know anyone who owns an in ground pool you might know that in addition to the constant chlorine being added to the water daily the owner needs to "shock" the pool occasionally with a much higher amount of chlorine. Think of your fluoride treatment in much this manner. The dentist is using a prescription strength dose of fluoride to help the rapid uptake of fluoride by the teeth to help prevent future decay. An ounce of prevention....