Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth can cause major pain or complications to the point where they need to be extracted. At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we can perform experienced extractions for our patients. With all of these extractions needed, you may be wondering why we even have wisdom teeth in the first place. Keep reading to learn more!

The theory behind our wisdom teeth is that around 20,000 years, they were probably more necessary than they are now. Back when humans ate tougher foods like nuts, roots, and raw meat, the extra teeth may have helped with chewing. These days, we have a wide variety of foods to eat and we can cook them so they are easier to eat.

In addition, human faces and jaws have become smaller over time. So when the wisdom teeth grow in, there is often not enough room for them. Some people are born without them or only some of them.

If you are experiencing signs that your wisdom teeth are growing in, be sure to schedule an appointment with us so we can evaluate them. Appointments may be scheduled for Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX by calling our office at (903) 455-6701 or by visiting our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Flossing with Braces

At Greenville Family Dentistry, Dr. Christopher Emuedue will tell you that flossing can be difficult when you have traditional metal braces. However, it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. Therefore, here are some tips for flossing effectively and keeping those brackets and wires clean.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

How a Night Guard Protects Your Teeth

Grinding your teeth at night can lead to pain, TMJ problems, and the wear-down of your teeth. To protect our patients’ teeth and jaw joints, at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we provide our patients with custom-fitted night guards.

The night guard is a plastic mouth guard worn while sleeping or even while awake if needed. Each guard is customized for each individual patient so it fits them uniquely. It creates a barrier between your upper teeth and lower teeth so that grinding at night does not wear down teeth or cause damage. Night guards can last for up to ten years, depending on the patient’s use.

If you wake up with a sore jaw, tender teeth, or are experiencing sensitivity to your teeth, be sure to visit us for an examination. A custom-fitted will offer you protection while still being comfortable to wear.

To learn more about night guards, or the damage grinding your teeth can do, visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. To schedule an appointment with Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call our office at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website. 

How Scaling and Planing Helps Fight Gum Disease

Gum disease is irritating, painful, and if not treated, it can lead to major oral health problems. Not to mention, it can seriously affect the aesthetics of your smile. When gum disease has progressed down near the roots of teeth, a scaling and root planing procedure must be performed to remove the bacteria and allow healthy healing. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, we perform scaling and planing right in our Greenville, TX office.

Disease gums begin to pull away from the teeth. This creates gum recession and deep gum pockets. Bacteria can hide in these pockets and cause problems below the gum line. It also makes clearing up gum disease much more difficult. The tooth roots are now vulnerable to the bacteria and can be decayed. When left untreated, this will eventually lead to the loss of the tooth and further spread of infection. In order to clean out the bacteria, a scaling and planing procedure is performed. A scaling procedure is first performed with a metal tool that will scrape the tooth clean of any bacteria. A planing procedure is then the process where the tooth is smoothed out. Any rough patches where bacteria can hide in are smoothed down. This process is usually completed in a couple of appointments. Depending on the level of disease, the mouth may be split into several sections for completion.

If you are experiencing signs of gum disease including bleeding gums, sores, and pain, do not wait to schedule an appointment with us. To schedule at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call our office at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com.