Canker Sores

Canker Sores are one of the most common and hated oral problems in the modern world. They’re painful and irritating, making everyday activities like eating unbearable. Dr. Ramin Bahram and his staff at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania have experience with a triage of oral problems. That’s why we’ve put together a simple guide on Canker Sores and how to treat them. To learn more, contact one of our four locations in the Philadelphia, Clifton Heights, or Folsom areas.

 

Canker Sores are small, yellow or white sores with a red border. They’re often on the soft tissues, like the gums or lips. They come in three distinct forms: minor, major, and herpetiform. Minor, as the name suggests, are small, healing between a week or so. Major sores are quite larger. These can take up to six weeks to heal. Herpetiform appear in clusters of ten to one hundred. They are about the size of a pinprick. If canker sores are severe or reoccurring, visit the dentist or your local physician.

 

There are a handful of naturalistic or holistic treatments for canker sores. Apply ice to the corresponding area on the face. Other remedies suggest placing a wet tea bag over the ulcer. You can also never go wrong with good old-fashioned salt water or baking soda rinse. Combine water with either substance, swishing it around your mouth for a minute or so. Certain studies indicate that there may be a connection between canker sores and nutritional deficiencies. Make sure your diet includes foods that are rich with iron and several B vitamins.

 

Over-the-counter treatment options are also available. Most grocery stores sell a large variety of canker sore relieving products. Benzocaine is a numbing agent used in most of the various gels. Dabbing a small amount of the agent temporarily numbs the canker sores. This gives you a chance to eat or drink pain-free. There are also antibacterial rinses that target canker sores. These clean the area while also soothing the sore.

 

Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania provide treatment for all your needs, including canker sore relief. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ramin Bahram and our staff, visit our website or call. We have four offices across the PA area, including Philadelphia, Clifton Heights, and Folsom.

Oral Pathology

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we provide oral pathology procedures. If your doctor finds any suspicious bumps, lumps, or spots on the lips, gums, inside the cheeks or on the tongue, they will perform more tests through oral pathology. Your doctor will inspect your nose, mouth and throat. 

Before beginning oral pathology, we look for common signs and symptoms of oral cancer, such as the following:

 

• Sores in the mouth or gums that bleed and don’t heal


• Red or white patches in the mouth


• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness of the throat


• Difficulty with chewing or swallowing


• Thickening or lumps of the skin inside the mouth

 

During oral pathology, a biopsy may be needed. We remove a very small piece of tissue in the mouth and run it through a series of tests. The tissue is removed under anesthesia so no pain is experienced. At the laboratory, a pathologist looks for signs of cancer cells, which can take about two weeks to complete. If results are positive for oral cancer, we consult the patient about their next steps.

We push our patients to be diligent about their oral health, even encouraging them to perform self-examinations at home. If you feel that you might need an oral pathology consultation, please visit our website www.oralsurgerypa.com to schedule an appointment.

Dental Hygiene

Proper dental hygiene is very important to us here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, which is why we encourage all of our patients to pay close attention to their oral health. Oral hygiene not only affects dental health, but the patient’s overall health as well.

 

With regular home care, our patients can have teeth that are free of debris and bacteria, better smelling breath, and healthier teeth overall. It helps them battle gum disease, infection, and prevents possible procedures as a result of tooth decay.

 

We recommend the following practices for dental hygiene and periodontal health:

• Brush their teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes each time.
• Floss their teeth at least once a day.
• Use toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride.
• Eat a healthy diet with minimal snacks and sugar-filled choices.
• Drink plenty of water and decreasing soda, coffee and wine.
• Visit your general dentist twice a year for a check-up and professional cleaning

With these simple daily practices, patients stand to have a healthier mouth and better overall health. They are taking good care of their teeth in between visits, and seeing us regularly to assess the health of their mouth and provide more education for good dental hygiene. 

Dental Implants

Do you have a missing tooth?  Whether your smile gap is accidental or your tooth has been extracted, it’s still important to have your smile restored.  Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore the natural look and feel of your smile.  Compared to other tooth prosthetics, dental implants have unique advantages that set them above the rest. 

 

If you are not sure which dental restoration is best for your smile, our team here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania is always happy to help.  Just arrange an appointment at our office for a consultation.  For many patients, dental implants have proven to be a successful restoration with a number of benefits:

• There is no need to modify the surrounding teeth or rely on adjacent teeth for support.  Dental implants stand alone.
• They can be placed anywhere within the mouth, serving as a great replacement for teeth in the front or back of your smile. 
• Dental implants can be used to restore a single tooth, or entire rows of teeth through multiple implants.
• They provide patients with a natural look and feel that makes the restorative indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.
• Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime with regular brushing, flossing and dental checkups

Can Cheese Prevent Cavities?

Consuming dairy products is extremely important to your overall health; many people do not know that these dairy products, like cheese, can be very beneficial when it comes to preventing cavities. Studies have shown that eating cheese increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. Salvia is the body’s natural way of maintaining a healthy pH level.

 

The study sampled 68 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 15, and the authors looked at the dental plaque pH in the subjects' mouths before and after they consumed cheese, milk, or sugar-free yogurt. If the pH level is lower than 5.5, they would be at risk for tooth erosion. If the pH level is above 5.5, there is less risk of developing cavities. Researchers instructed the first group to eat cheddar cheese, the second group to drink milk, and the third group to eat sugar-free yogurt. Each group consumed their product for three minutes and then swished with water. Researchers measured the pH level of each subject's mouth at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.

 

Researchers found that the fermented dairy product made the mouth more alkaline, which in turn reduced the need for dental treatment. They also discovered that cheese created a protective film around teeth. The results suggest that cheese has the highest anti-cariogenic property among the dairy products studied, and that milk and yogurt can be considered as non-cariogenic.

Oral Pathology

Here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we provide oral pathologyprocedures . If you or your dentist finds suspicious bumps, lumps, or spots on the lips, gums, inside the cheeks or on the tongue,  visit us for biopsy of these growths.

 

Before beginning oral pathology, we look for common signs and symptoms of oral cancer, such as the following:

• Sores in the mouth or gums that bleed and don’t heal
• Red or white patches in the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness of the throat
• Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
• Thickening or lumps of the skin inside the mouth

During oral pathology, a biopsy may be needed. We remove a very small piece of tissue in the mouth and run it through a series of tests. The tissue is removed under anesthesia so no pain is experienced. At the laboratory, a pathologist looks for signs of cancer cells, which can take about two weeks to complete. If results are positive for oral cancer, we consult the patient about their next steps.

Call us at 215-463-4141 to learn more about oral pathology and oral cancer detection.