Recent Posts

Yes, dry mouth can cause bad breath. When there is not enough saliva, food particles, bacteria, and odor-causing debris can stay in the mouth longer. This can make the breath smell worse, especially in the morning, after long periods of talking, or when dry mouth is related to medications, mouth breathing, dehydration, or other health…

If gum disease is left untreated, it can progress from bleeding or inflamed gums to deeper periodontal pockets, gum recession, bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss in more advanced cases. Gum disease does not always cause pain early, so it can worsen quietly before a patient realizes how much support has been affected.At…

Gum disease can sometimes be reversed if it is caught early, especially when it is still gingivitis. Once gum disease progresses into periodontitis with deeper pockets, bone loss, or damaged support around the teeth, it is usually managed and stabilized rather than fully reversed.At Bailey Family Dental in Whittier, we evaluate gum disease by checking…

Teeth can feel loose for several reasons, including gum disease, bone loss, trauma, bite pressure, grinding, infection, or changes around the supporting gum and bone. A loose-feeling adult tooth should be evaluated because adult teeth are not supposed to shift noticeably under normal pressure.At Bailey Family Dental in Whittier, we evaluate loose teeth by checking…

If you knock out a permanent tooth, act quickly. Pick up the tooth by the crown, avoid touching the root, keep it moist, and call a dentist right away. A knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved when it is handled carefully and treated as soon as possible.Do not scrub the tooth,…

A dental abscess, also called a tooth infection, usually does not go away on its own. Pain, swelling, or pressure may temporarily improve if the abscess drains, but the source of the infection often remains until it is treated by a dentist.If you think you have a dental abscess, it is better to call a…

If your face is swollen from a tooth, call a dentist promptly for guidance, especially if the swelling is new, worsening, painful, or connected to a toothache. Facial swelling can happen when a tooth infection, dental abscess, gum infection, or damaged tooth causes inflammation or infection to spread beyond the tooth area.Go to the emergency…

A tooth infection, sometimes called a dental abscess, can be an emergency if there is facial swelling, fever, severe pain, swelling that is spreading, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, or symptoms that are getting worse quickly. Some tooth infections can be handled by calling a dentist promptly, but others may need urgent medical attention first.At Bailey…

You may need a deep cleaning if plaque and tartar have built up below the gumline, your gums bleed easily, periodontal pockets are deeper than normal, or there are signs of gum disease. A deep cleaning is different from a regular dental cleaning because it is designed to clean areas under the gums that routine…

Swollen gums can happen when the gum tissue is irritated, inflamed, or reacting to plaque, tartar, food trapping, dental work, or infection. Some swelling is mild and temporary, while swelling that keeps coming back may point to a dental or gum problem that needs attention.At Bailey Family Dental in Whittier, we evaluate swollen gums by…

Bad breath can be a sign of gum disease, especially when it keeps coming back or happens with bleeding gums, swollen gums, gum recession, tartar buildup, or a bad taste in the mouth. Occasional bad breath after certain foods is common, but persistent bad breath may point to bacteria collecting around the gums or inside…

A cracked tooth does not usually heal on its own. Unlike bone, tooth structure does not grow back together once a true crack has formed. Symptoms may come and go, but the crack itself can remain and may worsen under normal chewing pressure.That does not mean every small line in a tooth needs aggressive treatment.…