Stages of Gum Disease

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to listen when Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry tells you to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. Additionally, there are three stages that you need to be aware of. You should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams twice a year to keep your teeth healthy.

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you experience gum inflammation, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

Details on Dental Emergencies

Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry understands that accidents happen and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you or your child experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please give our office a call immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you experience a dental emergency, call us immediately. 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.

Tips for a Camera-Ready Smile

At Greenville Family Dentistry, we always want our patients to have a camera-ready smile. With a variety of whitening options to choose from, we can restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color, if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, we’d like to provide you with some tips to show off the smile you already have!

•  Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.

• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.

• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

If you wish to improve the appearance of your smile, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Different Reasons for Tooth Extractions

Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, having a tooth pulled is sometimes necessary. At Greenville Family Dentistry, Dr. Christopher Emuedue would like you to know that before he considers extraction, every effort will be made to try to repair and restore your tooth.  You’re probably most familiar with wisdom teeth extractions, but other reasons for the procedure may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


• Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.greenvillefamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Emuedue at Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, call 903-455-6701.

Occlusal Adjustments for Uneven Bites

Do you feel like your jaw or bite is uneven? You may have malocclusion. This can cause pain, sensitivity, and even damage to your teeth. At Greenville Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX, we perform occlusal adjustments so that our patients can have a set of chompers that meet and distribute pressure evenly.

An occlusal adjustment is performed using a fine filing stone and a dental drill. An advanced computer system scans the mouth to detect the uneven alignment. This technology can pick up even the tiniest difference. We then use the filing stone to make minor adjustments to the teeth so that they will meet together correctly.

When teeth are misaligned, biting and chewing can introduce uneven pressure in the mouth. This can cause difficulty with chewing food. It can also result in damage to the teeth like fractures and worn down enamel. Pain, sensitivity, and pressure are common symptoms of malocclusion.

If you have been experiencing an uneven feeling and pain in your teeth or jaw, you may benefit greatly from an occlusal adjustment. To schedule an appointment with Greenville Family Dentistry, call our Greenville, TX office at (903) 455-6701 or visit our website, www.greenvillefamilydentistrytx.com. 

Consequences of Missing Teeth

As children, we all experience tooth loss – our baby teeth begin to fall out around the age of six to make room for our permanent teeth. If all goes according to plan, our “adult” teeth will erupt and stay there for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Although tooth loss is typically associated with the elderly, sometimes we experience dental trauma that may knock them out sooner than expected or other dental problems. Whatever the reason may be, if you are missing teeth, our staff at Greenville Family Dentistry offers a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic treatment options to give you a brand new smile.

Although a missing tooth might look cute on a child, it’s no laughing matter as an adult. Not only will one’s smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if he or she is missing too many teeth, the skin around the mouth won’t be properly supported and will start to sag, making the individual appear older than they are. This can hurt one’s self-esteem, impact their social life and even lead to depression down the road. Like most dental problems, the dramatic effects produced by missing teeth will increase if left untreated. If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your restorative and cosmetic treatment options, please give us a call.

To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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.

Fluoride Facts

Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, we can provide patients with fluoride treatments to help protect our patient’s pearly whites. Fluoride is commonly called nature’s cavity fighter and there’s a good reason for this. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. Fluoride also promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before a cavity forms in the tooth. Here at Greenville Family Dentistry, we can provide patients with fluoride treatments to help protect those pearly whites.

Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, foods, and several minerals. When present at the right level, fluoride in drinking water has two beneficial effects: preventing tooth decay and contributing to healthy bones. The type of fluoride we use here at Greenville Family Dentistry is called topical fluoride. Topical fluoride is applied directly to and absorbed by the surface of the teeth. It can be found in personal oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, or may be applied as a foam or gel after a professional cleaning.

If you have further questions about fluoride treatment, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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.