Mouth and Teeth Diseases Archives - Healthhype

Tongue | Anatomy, Parts, Pictures, Diagram of Human Tongue

Dr. Chris — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:04:36 +0000

The human tongue is a muscular organ that is covered by a thin mucous membrane. It lies partly in the mouth cavity and partly in the oropharynx. It is highly mobile and can be shifted into a number of different positions and also assume various shapes. The tongue’s primary function is often seen as that of being the organ of taste, however, its role in various other activities is also crucial. Functions of the Tongue Taste. The taste buds, the sensory receptors for taste, are located on the tongue. Speech. The movements of the tongue are crucial for articulation. Chewing and swallowing. The tongue helps the teeth and other parts of the mouth with chewing food and passing it down the throat as the first part of the swallowing process. Cleaning. The movements of the tongue dislodge food particles stuck between the teeth, gum and cheek so that it can be spat out or swallowed. Parts of the Tongue The top of the tongue (superior surface) has a V-shaped line known as the terminal sulcus that divides the tongue into the anterior and posterior surfaces. The anterior surface is made up of the apex at the tip and body. The [...]

The post Tongue | Anatomy, Parts, Pictures, Diagram of Human Tongue appeared first on Healthhype.

Palates | Hard Palate, Soft Palate Anatomy and Picture

Dr. Chris — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 21:28:45 +0000

The palate is the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities as well as the nasopharynx. It is arched and lined with oral mucosa, which has mucus producing glands on it known as the palatine glands. There are two parts to the palate – hard and soft. The hard palate lies more anteriorly (in front) while the soft palate lies posterior to it (at the back). Hard Palate The hard palate is the fixed anterior two-thirds of the palate that is formed by the palatal processes of the maxillae and horizontal plates of the palantine bones. It is arched (concave) and creates a vault within the oral cavity that is mostly filled by the tongue. The depression running on the midline of the hard palate is known as the incisive fossa. Numerous canals allows the nasopalatine nerves to pass through from the nose. Other foramina allow for the entry of the greater and lesser palatine nerves and vessels. Soft Palate The soft palate is the flexible, posterior one-third of the palate from which the uvula hangs. It is largely muscular and has no bone in it. It has a thicker aponeurotic part anteriorly which attaches to [...]

The post Palates | Hard Palate, Soft Palate Anatomy and Picture appeared first on Healthhype.

Salivary Gland Stone – Symptoms, Treatment for Stones in Duct

Dr. Chris — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:51:06 +0000

What is sialolithiasis? A stone in the salivary gland most commonly occurs and causes symptoms when it is lodged in the duct of the gland. The medical term for the formation of a salivary duct stone is sialolithiasis and a stone is known as a salivary calculus or sialolith. A stone usually results in partial or complete blockage of the salivary duct. This obstructs the flow of saliva out of the gland and gradually leads to inflammation as the accumulated saliva seeps into the surrounding glandular tissue. A secondary infection, often bacterial, may then arise in the salivary gland. Causes of Salivary Gland Stones There are three pairs of salivary glands in the human mouth – sublingual, submandibular and parotid. Each of these glands have a duct through which saliva drains into the mouth. The saliva contains a mucus and serous component as discussed under saliva secretion. While the glands produce a combination of both mucus and serous fluid, the parotid gland almost exclusively secrete serous fluid in response to food in the mouth. Most salivary gland stones arise when saliva crystallizes. Although dehydration has been implicated as the main cause for this crystallization and thus stone formation, there may [...]

The post Salivary Gland Stone – Symptoms, Treatment for Stones in Duct appeared first on Healthhype.

Mouth Herpes (Oral) Symptoms, Pictures, Spread, Duration

Dr. Chris — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:41:59 +0000

What is herpes of the mouth? Oral herpes, commonly referred to as mouth herpes, is a viral infection of the mouth and gums primarily by the Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but may also be due to the genital variant (HSV-2). It is also known as recurrent herpetic stomatitis or acute herpetic gingivostomatitis. The infection of the mouth typically causes small fluid-filled blisters known as vesicles on the roof of the mouth (palate), inside of the cheeks (buccal muscosa), tongue, gums and even the lips (herpes labialis). It may also occur on the skin around the mouth and extend to the nose and into the nasal cavity. Oral herpes is also known commonly as cold sores and fever blisters but is different entity from oral canker sores although canker sores may sometimes be associated with HSV infection. Canker sores occur solely inside the mouth. Oral herpes occurs inside and around the mouth. Most of the time HSV-1 causes mouth symptoms and in a minority of cases it may also be responsible for genital symptoms. The opposite is true for HSV-2 – it causes genital symptoms in the majority of cases while only a few cases of HSV-2 infection will [...]

The post Mouth Herpes (Oral) Symptoms, Pictures, Spread, Duration appeared first on Healthhype.

Root Canal Purpose, When to do it, Procedure, Alternatives, Video

Dr. Chris — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:18:16 +0000

What is a root canal? Root canal therapy, commonly referred to simply as a root canal, is a dental procedure for repairing and salvaging a badly decayed or an infected tooth. The root canal procedure involves removal of infected and decaying debris within the pulp of the tooth, thorough cleaning, and sealing of the tooth cavity with synthetic materials. This procedure helps to relieve the unbearable pain associated with tooth decay, to prevent further spread of the decay, and also to halt the spread of infection to the surrounding normal tissue. The procedure is usually performed by a dental surgeon or an endodontist. An endodontist is a dental surgeon who is specialized in management of diseases of dental pulp and nerve. Purpose of a root canal The central cavity which is normally present in the tooth is called root canal. The soft area within this canal is the pulp and the nerve supplying the tooth lies in the canal within the pulp. After the tooth completely emerges, the nerves are not essential for maintaining normal function and health of the tooth. The prominent function of these nerves is only in sensing hot and cold. Damage to the nerve or the [...]

The post Root Canal Purpose, When to do it, Procedure, Alternatives, Video appeared first on Healthhype.

Tonsillitis (Swollen Tonsils, Sore Throat Tonsils)

Dr. Chris — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:38:43 +0000

Most of us will experience a sore throat several times in life. It tends to come with the flu or a cold and often goes away in a few days without need for medication. In most of these cases we give little thought to what is happening in the throat. Located within the throat are small clumps of lymphoid tissue, a part of the immune system, known as tonsils. It traps germs like bacteria and viruses from the air that enters the throat and destroys it. Sometimes a sore throat is due to inflamed tonsils although the surrounding tissue of the throat is also usually inflamed. What is tonsillitis? Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils in the throat. The term tonsillopharyngitis is often preferred because the tonsils as well as the surrounding tissue of the throat (pharynx) are affected at the same time. It is usually the tonsils that can be seen on either side at the back of the throat, known as the palatine tonsils, that are inflamed in tonsillopharyngitis. The tonsils at the back of the nose (adenoids) and tongue (lingual tonsils) which cannot be seen may also be affected. Tonsillitis is more common in children between 5 [...]

The post Tonsillitis (Swollen Tonsils, Sore Throat Tonsils) appeared first on Healthhype.

Cheilitis Glandularis (Lip Gland Swelling)

Dr. Chris — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:49:57 +0000

What is cheilitis glandularis? Cheilitis glandularis is an abnormal enlargement and protrusion of the lower lip with the loss of the clear demarcation between the lip surface and the surrounding skin. The delicate lining of the inner lip becomes exposed to the environment gradually damaging it and sometimes leading to infections. Cheilitis glandularis is rare and poorly understood. It should not be mistaken with other lower lips disorders often caused by biting, excessive licking, sun damage to the lip and abnormal drying of the lip. The term cheilitis glandularis is used to describe changes in the lip rather than being a diagnosis on its own. The exact reason for these changes is unclear although it is believed to revolve around dysfunction of the minor salivary glands on the lip. Even microscopic examination of the lip tissue may show different changes among patients and the minor salivary glands may be completely normal in some instances. Despite the condition being vague in terms of the underlying disease process, causes and even responsiveness to treatment, it is needs to be attended to as it will continue to worsen over time and even increase the chances of squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) of the lip [...]

The post Cheilitis Glandularis (Lip Gland Swelling) appeared first on Healthhype.

Periapical Abscess (Pus at Tooth Root)

Dr. Chris — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:27:21 +0000

What is a periapical abscess? A dental abscess is a broad term used to describe an abscess in the tooth and structures around it. A periapical abscess is an inflammatory reaction with the accumulation of pus at the root of an infected tooth. It can lead to death of the central region of the tooth known as the dental pulp. Generally a periapical abscess is an acute dental infection requiring immediate dental intervention. The condition is associated with significant discomfort and extreme pain. If left untreated it can lead to various complication and permanent loss of the affected tooth. A periapical abscess is the most common type of dental abscess among children. Another type, a periodontal abscess, is where the abscess is located in the tissue around the tooth, including the alveolar bone. A periodontal abscess is more commonly seen among adults. How does a periapical abscess form? A tooth is composed of three layers of tissues at the crown (visible) portion namely enamel, dentin and pulp. Dental pulp is the vital portion of the tooth located below mineralized layers of enamel and dentin. The pulp is responsible for nutrition, nerve supply, blood supply and defense mechanism of the tooth. [...]

The post Periapical Abscess (Pus at Tooth Root) appeared first on Healthhype.

9 Common Reasons for Sensitive Teeth and Mouth

Dr. Chris — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:27:21 +0000

The environment within the mouth and structure of the teeth are geared to handle a range of chemical, thermal and physical insults during the course of a day. After all, the mouth is one of two main points for a range of external substances to enter the body – the other being the nose. While these areas tend to react to the entrance of any noxious substances, it should not be painful of uncomfortable if food or drinks enter the mouth just like air should not pose a problem to the nose. However, there are instances where eating regular food and drink can be a problem due to abnormal sensitivity of the teeth and mouth. Sensitive teeth (dentinal hypersensitivity) is a common problem that is fairly well understood. It is a result of the outer enamel of the teeth being eroded. This allows for the food, drink and air to make contact with the inner sensitive tissue of the teeth known as the pulp. Sensitivity of the mouth is often as symptom of stomatitis – inflammation of the mouth lining. Similar conditions can affect the gum (gingivitis) and the bony tissue that anchors the root of the teeth (periodontitis). There [...]

The post 9 Common Reasons for Sensitive Teeth and Mouth appeared first on Healthhype.

6 Reasons And Remedies For Persistent Bad Breath

Dr. Chris — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:39:57 +0000

A slightly foul mouth odor in the morning is common for most people, even if they brush at night. With proper dental hygiene after waking, the odor quickly goes away. However, some people suffer with persistent bad breath. Brushing, flossing and rinsing with a mouth wash offers only momentary relief, if any. Even mouth sprays, chewing gum and strong breath mints does not do the trick. It is an embarrassing problem but even more important, it may be a sign of some underlying disease that needs medical treatment. Why Does The Mouth Smell? Bad breath that recurs or persists in known medically as halitosis. There are several medical reasons why this occurs. But first it is important to understand why we all suffer with that bad morning breath yet we do not have as much of a breath problem during the course of he day. Much of it revolves around good dental hygiene but the mouth has its own natural mechanisms to counteract the causes of bad breath. When we eat, tiny food particles get stuck between the teeth and other crevices in the mouth. It is these food particles that nourish bacteria in our mouth. Saliva not only helps [...]

The post 6 Reasons And Remedies For Persistent Bad Breath appeared first on Healthhype.