Dr. Sasaki’s Dental Blog

February 2, 2009

Gary Sasaki DDS, MS in Ann Arbor Cares For Teeth

Filed under: Dental Health, General Dentistry — Tags: , , — @ 7:42 am

Gary Sasaki DDS, MS in Ann Arbor Cares For Teeth Dentists in Ann Arbor are concerned with your oral health and thus care about the condition of your mouth and all of your many teeth. At Gary Sasaki DDS, MS we recognize that your teeth help you both eat and speak. You use your teeth to tear, scrape, and chew food, as well as to form words with your tongue. Teeth are an important part of your oral health and Gary Sasaki DDS, MS located in Ann Arbor, Michigan wants to help keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

We humans have two sets of teeth in our lifetime. The first set are your ‘primary teeth’, which many folks around Ann Arbor often call ‘baby teeth’. Baby teeth typically start to come in at about 6 months old. An average healthy mouth for a Ann Arbor resident has a total of 20 primary teeth by about age 5.

Your primary teeth will eventually fall out and new teeth known as ‘permanent teeth’ will grow in. Permanent teeth typically begin to come in around age 6 for most Ann Arbor residents, but every person is unique and it could be a little earlier or later. By about age 13 an average healthy mouth should have 28 of the total 32 permanent teeth. The last four permanent teeth may or may not come, but typically come in between the ages of 17 and 21 if they do. Because of the late age that these last teeth come in they are commonly called ‘wisdom teeth’.

Many adults in the city of Ann Arbor have their wisdom teeth pulled out because these teeth can be problematic to your oral health, such as crowding a mouth. Other adults in the Ann Arbor area may not have these teeth pulled out because they are not causing problems. If you are concerned about the state of your wisdom teeth you can visit our local Ann Arbor dental office and we can help you make a decision.

Caring for all of your teeth whether you are young and have 20 primary teeth or are an adult and have 28 to 32 permanent teeth is important for your overall health. Visiting your Ann Arbor dentist regularly, and brushing and flossing daily are great ways to care for your many teeth. Gary Sasaki DDS, MS located in Ann Arbor, cares about your oral health and teeth and can be reached by phone at, 734-482-7466.

September 16, 2008

Ann Arbor Dentists And Your Mouth Sores

Filed under: Cold Sores and Fever Blisters — Tags: , , , — @ 3:32 pm

Ann Arbor Dentists And Your Mouth Sores

As your local Ann Arbor dentist, one of my roles is to help you take care of your mouth. Sometimes mouth sores can be an issue, and while Ann Arbor dentists often defer to an oral surgeon for extreme cases, we can help you make an assessment.

If you live in the Ann Arbor area and have a mouth sore that lasts more than a week or two; come and see me. Mouth sores can be an indicator of disease, and an early assessment is the best bet. A better understanding of your mouth sores can lead quickly to comfort and a resolution. If necessary, treatment and pain relief can be offered.

There are two common types of mouth sores that are common in the Ann Arbor area; canker sores and cold sores.

Canker sores are small ulcer-like sores with a white or gray base and a red border. They are found on the inside of the mouth and while they are not contagious, they can be painful. Typically a canker sore heals in a week or two. Antimicrobal mouth-rinses, over-the-counter topical anesthetics, and avoiding spicy and acidic foods may offer you temporary relief while your sore is healing.

The cause of a canker sore is not certain. Possible explanations range from a cut on the inside the mouth, and reactions to extreme temperatures or acids from food or drink, to fatigue, stress, and allergies. Some studies point to bacteria or viruses, or combinations of all these factors.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters or Herpes Simplex, are groups of fluid-filled blisters that often appear around the lips, sometimes appearing under the nose or around the chin. Cold sores are contagious and painful, but usually heal in about a week. Some over-the-counter anesthetics may provide relief. There are some antiviral drugs on the market that have shown promise in reducing outbreaks, but there is currently no known cure. The initial infection, known as primary herpes, often occurs before adulthood. Once the virus infects you, it may stay in your body and remain inactive or cause occasional cold sore outbreaks. Outbreaks may be triggered by a fever, sunburn, skin abrasions, stress, or exposure to extremes in temperature.

As your Ann Arbor dentist, I can’t do much to stop canker sores or cold sores in your mouth. I can discuss the health of your mouth, and examine any causes that make your mouth sore. In some cases a change in the way you care for your mouth can reduce the chances of getting mouth sores. If you are in the
Ann Arbor area, and would like to speak with a dental professional about mouth sores, give us a call at Gary Sasaki DDS, MS.

Our number is 734-482-7466.

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