Saliva lubricates your mouth so that you can swallow, it also protects your teeth and gums from bacteria and keeps dentures in place. It makes your breath smell better and helps you digest your food. Sometimes these glands can become blocked, preventing the drainage of saliva. If this happens you can have dry mouth, pain, fever, bad tasting secretions, and swollen salivary glands. Common problems that can arise in these vital glands include the following;

Cysts and tumors – these can arise from stones, injuries or infections which block the saliva flow in the glands.  Cysts may show as a soft raised area or blister and can interfere with eating and speaking. Tumors are usually painless and grow slowly.

Salivary stones – (sialoliths) come from crystallized saliva deposits. They cause the salivary glands to swell, and if the stones block saliva flow it can cause swelling and pain. Treatment is required to avoid infection in the swollen gland. You will feel pain that comes and goes and worsens.

Salivary gland infection – (sialadenitis) is a bacterial infection in the salivary gland which blocks the duct into the mouth. You will feel a lump in the mouth that is painful which secretes pus. Without treatment this will cause fevers, abscess and severe pain. These tend to erupt in one gland rather than both, accompanied by fever and pain.

Infections – viral infections like the flu or mumps can cause your salivary glands to swell. This usually happens in the glands inside both cheeks, and you will have puffy looking cheeks.

Treatment for any of these conditions may require medication, antibiotics, stone removal, warm compresses, and even sour candies to increase saliva flow. Surgery may be required to remove tumors or large cysts.

If you have any questions or concerns about your salivary glands, you can schedule a visit with one of our four caring dentists, Dr. Edmon R. Hutchison, Dr. Eric J. Gabrielsen, and Dr. Lena R. Craig, by calling our Royse City Dental Care team in Royse City, Texas at 972-636-2417 today!

The post What If There Are Problems with the Salivary Glands? first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.

Streptococcus is a type of bacteria which lives in your mouth, and every time you eat a piece of food, or drink something, it feeds on the sugars and starches left behind. Then it reacts with the sugars and starches and creates acid. Eventually this acid turns into a sticky film—plaque—that coats your teeth and if left untreated, hardens into tartar.

Tooth decay happens in stages. As the bacterial acid breaks down your tooth enamel, it exposes the softer, sensitive dentin layer underneath. As it strips the minerals from your enamel it causes holes. The dentin, because it is soft, is even more vulnerable to acid erosion. If it is allowed to continue unchecked, it wears down the tooth’s structure until it reaches the pulp, which houses the nerves and blood vessels. Here the bacteria irritate the pulp until is swells, which means you can experience severe toothache and sensitivity, and pain when you chew. If your becomes abscessed, you will have an infection, which is the creation of a pocket of pus as your body sends white blood cells to fight the infection.

To avoid the damaging effects of plaque and the resulting cavities, there are some things you can do:

–Brush and floss at least twice a day.
–Drink water to stay well hydrated by maintaining saliva production to protect your teeth and gums.
–Eat a healthy balanced diet, avoiding excess sugars and starches.
–Visit your dentist at least once a year to remove hardened plaque.

Our dental team at Royse City Dental Care is here to help you keep cavities at bay. Call us at 972-636-2417 if you have any questions or to schedule your next appointment!

The post Plaque and Your Oral Health first appeared on Royse City Dental Care.