Leukoplakia is a thick, whitish-color patch that forms on the inside of the cheeks, gums or tongue. They are caused by excess cell growth and are common among people who use tobacco. They can also result from irritations, including a denture that doesn’t fit right or constantly chewing the inside of the cheek. Leukoplakia can progress to cancer. If you notice these patches forming, visit Henrickson Dental, where we can examine the patches and determine how to manage them. You may have to quit using tobacco, or you may need to have  ill-fitted dentures or bridges replaced.

Cold sores are annoying and painful fluid-filled blisters. They are also called Fever Blisters or Herpes simplex. They often break out around the lips and sometimes under the nose or around the chin. Cold sores can be very contagious. Once a person is infected with primary herpes, the virus stays in the body and causes occasional attacks. An attack can follow a fever, sunburn, skin abrasions, or stress. Cold sores usually heal by themselves in a week. Over-the-counter anesthetics can provide some relief, and prescription antiviral drugs may reduce these kinds of infections.

Surely at one time or another, we have all experienced the irritation of canker sores. Canker sores are small ulcers with a white or gray base and a red border. They appear in the mouth and are not contagious. Factors that may increase the likelihood of a canker sore include fatigue, stress, allergies, biting the cheek or tongue, and reactions to hot food or beverages. Canker sores usually heal on their own after a week or two. If you notice an occurence of one or an more, keep away from spicy, hot, or acidic foods that could irritate the sores.

Mouth sores can be caused by a variety of factors, such as bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, a denture that doesn’t quite fit right, or a sharp edge from a chipped tooth or filling.  They could also be symptoms of a disease. Among the most common mouth sores are canker sores, cold sores, Leukoplakia, and Candidiasis. If you notice any mouth sore that has lasted longer than a week, visit Henrickson Dental and get the sore examined.

At Henrickson Dental, we believe nothing is more beautiful than a healthy smile. However, you can’t have your best smile if you are a user of Methamphetamine (meth). It is a highly addictive drug and it can cause serious mouth damage. Meth users can have teeth that are described as black, rotting, stained, crumbling, or falling apart. Often, the teeth cannot be saved and must be extracted.

Oral piercings are becoming very popular, especially with youth. However, you probably don’t realize that piercings can damage the teeth. Common symptoms after oral piercings include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva, and injuries to the gum tissue. If a blood vessel was in the way of the needle during the piercing, it can cause severe bleeding that is difficult to control. It can also cause chipped or cracked teeth, blood posioning or even blood clots. Visit us at Henrickson Dental, and let your bright smile do the talking.

Several of the biggest risk factors include tobacco and alcohol use. However, many oral cancer patients have no known risk factors. Cutting out tobacco and alcohol could majorly help you avoid getting oral cancer. Regular dental visits could help you avoid oral cancer, because they can give you mouth examinations and check for any early symptoms. Knowing some symptoms could help yourself detect oral cancer in its early stage. If you notice any oral cancer symptoms, come to Henrickson Dental right away.

Regular dental visits are essential in detecting early oral cancer symptoms. Oral cancer often starts as a tiny, unnoticable whtie or red spot or sore that shows up anywhere in the mouth. Oral cancer can affect any area in the mouth. Other signs include a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal, a color change of oral tissues, a lump or rough spot, difficulty swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue, and a change in the way the teeth fit together. If you notice any of this in your mouth, visit Henrickson Dental right away, where we can check you for oral cancer.

This is a true story about one of our actual patients who suffered greatly from severe headaches. She was a thirteen year old girl. Her severely painful headaches caused her to miss school for days at a time and get about 1 to 2 hours of sleep on average every night. She visited the Mayo Clinic twice, but they could not find out what was wrong. When she heard that we were able to make splints that could help her headaches, she came in and we equilibrated her teeth. That night, she slept for 9 hours, and her severe headaches were gone. If this story relates to you, come in right away to Henrickson Dental and we can help your headaches.

Occlusal Equilibration is a procedure to help balance your bite. This procedure allows your lower teeth to contact your upper teeth evenly around the mouth. The goal is to create a “solid bite” and make your smile even all around. This can prevent loose teeth, chipping teeth, muscle-tension headaches, gum recession, severe wear of your natural teeth, joint pain, and more. If your bite is uneven, visit us at Henrickson Dental, where we can give you a solid and even bite.