When you have a dental emergency — whether it’s caused by a sudden accident or chronic disease — your teeth and/or the tissues of the mouth that surround them need to receive proper care right away. As with any type of medical emergency, it’s important to be aware, before you’re actually in the situation, of what you can do to ensure the best outcome.
Traumatic Dental Injuries
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires quick thinking and immediate action. You’ll increase the chances that the tooth can be saved if you pick it up without touching the root, gently clean it off with water, and put it back in its socket facing the correct way. Hold it in place with gentle pressure as you rush to the dental office or emergency room. If you can’t replant it immediately, tuck it between the patient’s cheek and gum, or carry it in a container of cold milk.
For a more traumatic injury such as a tooth that has been moved or loosened, treatment needs to occur within six hours. However, if there is uncontrollable bleeding, go immediately to the ER. Fortunately, other dental injuries that happen most frequently are less severe. The most common traumatic dental injuries are chipped teeth. If a tooth is chipped, try to find any pieces that have come off, as it might be possible to reattach them. Make an appointment for an office visit as soon as possible, and bring the pieces with you.
Tooth Pain
Acute or persistent tooth pain always signals a need for an urgent visit to the dental office. The most common cause of dental pain is tooth decay, a bacterial infection that can spread through many parts of the tooth, and even into the gum tissue. Sometimes, tooth pain indicates that you may need a root canal treatment — a procedure that not only relieves the pain of an infection deep inside the tooth but also can keep the tooth from having to be removed. Other times, pain may be caused by a loose filling or sensitive tooth. The only way to know for sure what’s causing your tooth pain is to make an appointment at the dental office right away.
Gum Emergencies
Injuries and infections involving the soft tissues of the mouth may also require emergency treatment. The tissues of the gums, tongue, or cheek lining can be damaged by accidental bites, falls, sports injuries, and scalding liquids. They may also suffer injury from foreign bodies that become lodged below the gum line, and they can develop painful and potentially serious abscesses. A periodontal (gum) abscess is a pus-filled sac caused by an infection and is usually quite painful. Abscesses require immediate attention at the dental office. Any injury to the soft tissues of the mouth should be rinsed with dilute saltwater. If there is visible debris, it should be cleared. Bleeding can usually be controlled by pressing a clean, damp material to the area for 10-15 minutes.
If this does not work, go to the emergency room immediately.
A foreign body lodged beneath the gum line can sometimes be gently worked out with dental floss or a toothpick. But if this can’t be accomplished easily, make a dental appointment so the area does not become damaged and/or infected.
Orthodontic Emergencies
Although there can be discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment, there are only a few true orthodontic emergencies. They include trauma or injury to the teeth, face or mouth. Infection or swelling of the gums, mouth or face, and severe, unmanageable discomfort or pain in these areas can also be orthodontic emergencies. In any of these situations, seek immediate care from the dental office or emergency room — whichever is your best option. For loose, broken or irritating pieces of orthodontic hardware, please call the dental office for advice.
source:
mytoothstory.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
The festive season is well and truly upon us. This probably means you’re preparing to throw yourself into the many traditions and routines you have this time of year with loved ones, friends and colleagues.
Eating and drinking play a big role in the social calendar and Christmas is no exception. Filling food and tasty treats are the norm for many. But while it may be easy to over-indulge during this time of year, just take a moment to think about the impact this can have on our oral health.
Our teeth are really suspectable to damage and wear during the holidays. This is not only down to our choice of food and drink, but how much and how often we are having it. Our oral health also tends to slip down the priority list and might means we care for it a little less than usual.
To keep our teeth fighting fit heading into the new year, we have put together five top tips for maintaining oral health during the festive period. By following these simple rules, you can keep a healthy smile, which is the best gift you can give yourself this Christmas.
Whether it’s a selection box, giant Toblerone or another slice of Christmas cake, snacking on sugar is one of our biggest problems during Christmas.
It means our mouth is constantly exposed to acid attacks and does not have a chance to recover. Eating too much sugar too often leads to tooth decay, the leading cause of tooth loss. It might even leave us with a nasty toothache.
The best thing to do is to keep sugar consumption to mealtimes. It means we can still enjoy our favorite treats while reducing the number of times during the day that our teeth are vulnerable to sugar.
Still, feeling peckish? Try sugar-free or low-in-sugar alternatives. Cheese and nuts are fantastic festive snacks that won’t torment our teeth.
This the season to be jolly and Christmas classics like mulled wine are frequently consumed alongside beer, white wine, cider, and other alcoholic concoctions. Last Christmas, the average Brit consumed 26 units of alcohol a day and more than half the population (52%) admit to drinking more than usual throughout the holiday.
Most alcohol is packed full of sugar and can be extremely acidic. When consumed in bulk, this will cause erosion of the tooth enamel, leading to pain and sensitivity. We are also far more likely to forget to brush our teeth after drinking heavily – leaving the sugar and acid to bubble away in our mouth all night – another disaster for our oral health.
Keeping our drinking in moderation, alongside having some alcohol-free days over the winter break will not only do our oral health the world of good but also our overall bodily healthiness.
We all have jam-packed diaries in the build-up to the big day. Christmas is the time for socializing with family and friends, but even so, this isn’t an excuse for us to slack off when it comes to our daily routine.
It doesn’t matter whether we are out until the early hours celebrating or at home binging on Christmas films – it is essential to stick to our normal routine.
We can keep a healthy smile by brushing twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. The best time to do this is the last thing at night and at any other time during the day.
Cleaning in between our teeth daily using interdental brushes is also really important, as it removes the plaque a toothbrush can’t reach. A dental check-up either before the holidays, or afterward in the new year can also be a really good idea to catch any problems and make sure they don’t go unnoticed.
Keeping fully hydrated during the cold months is important for the health of our mouth and our general health too. Be sure to make the right choices when choosing tooth-smart beverages. Water is the best option for our oral health.
Drinking water directly after eating has been shown to help remove acids from the mouth, reducing the effects on dental decay and erosion.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water (bottled and tap) that can help to reduce the risk of tooth decay by making tooth enamel more resistant to acid attack.
The holidays are a great chance to pick up a bargain and treat ourselves to something that could really help our smile shine.
Whether we are looking to replace our old toothbrush, have an eye on a new air flosser, or change those frayed brush heads, there are plenty of special offers to be had.
Taking advantage of these offers will make our daily home routine even better and our oral health something to smile about as we move into 2020.
source:
dentalhealth.org
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Good oral health contributes to a healthy smile, teeth, and gums. Poor dental hygiene, on the other hand, can put you at risk for tooth decay, also known as a cavity or a rotten tooth.
Decay is caused by plaque, which is a sticky, colorless film that forms over the teeth. Plaque contains bacteria, and when these bacteria mix with sugar in foods, it creates an acid that eats away at the tooth. If left untreated, a severely decayed tooth can become loose and fall out, so it’s essential to recognize the causes and symptoms of a rotten tooth.
Tooth decay, or a rotten tooth, refers to a permanently damaged area on the tooth’s surface. Because some cavities can go undetected with no symptoms, it’s essential to schedule regular dental visits. A dentist can identify and treat cavities early to stop further tooth rot.
An untreated cavity can become larger and gradually affect the deeper layers of the tooth. Along with a hole, other signs of a rotten tooth include:
A rotten tooth isn’t only an adult problem, it can also occur in infants, toddlers, and children. Symptoms of tooth rot in children are generally the same as those in adults but may also include swollen gums, irritability, and a fever, which indicates an infection.
If your child seems irritable and is unable to express the location of pain or discomfort, check inside their mouth and look for signs of a problem.
There isn’t only one cause of rotten teeth, but rather a collection of possible causes. Understanding factors for tooth decay can help prevent future problems with your teeth.
Regular brushing and flossing are necessary to remove plaque and keep your teeth strong and healthy. Brush your teeth at least two times a day and floss daily. Additionally, see a dentist twice a year for a professional dental cleaning.
Eating a diet that’s high in sugar and carbohydrates can also contribute to tooth rot because these foods cling to the teeth.
Sugar also feeds bacteria, and the more bacteria in your mouth, the more acid in your mouth. If you eat a lot of sugary foods and don’t brush regularly, you may experience a faster breakdown of your tooth enamel, which is the outer layer of your tooth. Likewise, consuming too many acidic drinks (soda and juices) and having acid reflux disease can also cause tooth decay. The acid in beverages can slowly dissolve tooth enamel. With acid reflux, stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus and mouth can also erode tooth enamel.
If your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to help wash away plaque and bacteria in your mouth, you could have more plaque and acid in your mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay or rot.
Tooth decay can also occur if you have deep dental crevices. These groves can make it harder to brush effectively, and if plaque settles in these groves, it can eat away at your tooth’s surface. Applying a dental sealant to healthy teeth may prevent the buildup of plaque.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that can strengthen tooth enamel, making it resistant to cavities. Fluoride is added to public water supplies, but it’s not usually found in bottled water. If you don’t use a toothpaste with fluoride or drink from your city’s water supply, there’s a risk for tooth decay.
Tooth decay can also occur at an early age if your child falls asleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or formula in their mouth, or if you dip your child’s pacifier in sugar or honey. In both instances, sugar can collect around the teeth and lead to tooth decay.
Treatment for rotten teeth | Treatment
The treatment for rotten teeth is generally the same for both children and adults, and saving the tooth is the goal of treatment.
In the early stages of tooth rot (small cavity), your dentist may perform a fluoride treatment to strengthen or remineralize the tooth, which may reverse a cavity. This method, however, only works for smaller cavities and isn’t effective once other signs of rotting develop, such as dark or white spots on the tooth and bad breath.
When a fluoride treatment isn’t an option, your dentist can remove decayed parts of the tooth and perform either a dental filling or a dental crown to fill holes in the tooth. For a filling, your dentist uses a tooth-colored composite resin or an amalgam filling such as mercury, silver, or another type of metal. With a crown, your dentist places a dental cap over the decayed tooth.
You may need a root canal if the decay has spread to the center of the tooth and there’s inflammation or an infection. Your dentist removes the infected nerve and pulp, and then fills and seals the space.
When a tooth can’t be saved due to severe rot, your dentist may extract the tooth and replace it with a denture, bridge, or implant.
If your child has a rotten baby tooth that can’t be fixed with a dental filling, you may feel a root canal is unnecessary since this isn’t your child’s permanent tooth. But although a decayed tooth will naturally fall out on its own, your child’s dentist may still recommend a root canal to prevent premature loss of the tooth. If the tooth were to fall out early due to decay, this could cause misalignment of their permanent teeth.
source:
healthline.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.
Even if you had cavities when you were young, your child doesn’t have to develop them. Find out how to protect kids’ teeth from tooth decay. Practices like using fluoride to strengthen teeth and eating a balanced diet can set your child up for a healthy smile for life.
What Causes Cavities?
When plaque has the chance to build upon the surface of teeth, the germs in plaque mix with sugars and carbohydrates in the mouth. This dangerous cocktail of bacteria and sugars forms acids that can attack the outer surface of teeth. When this process, known as demineralization, goes unchecked, cavities form. Using fluoride can strengthen the outer enamel of teeth and help to prevent cavities. Brushing and regular dental visits can help to fight plaque. Eating a healthy diet can help to nourish young teeth and gums.
Fluoride and Kids’ Teeth
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as kids are old enough to spit, getting fluoride treatments at the dentist’s office and getting a small amount of this mineral through water and some foods can set your child up for cavity protection. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with toothpaste. Little ones can look forward to brushing with a fun, fruit-flavored toothpaste like Colgate Dora the Explorer. Older kids may enjoy a toothpaste with cavity protection like Colgate Fresh ‘N Protect. Talk to your dentist about how much fluoride your child is exposed to. He or she may tell you to use fluoride water or supplements in addition to using a fluoride toothpaste.
Oral Care Essentials for Kids
To fight childhood cavities, use fluoride as part of a healthy oral care routine. When kids are still young, they need help brushing their teeth. For those independent spirits, let them brush first and then you can brush a second time. Floss your child’s teeth for her to remove plaque from the gum line and between teeth. Children should start seeing a dentist two times a year around the age of one.
Healthy Eating Habits
Another way to protect your child’s teeth from cavities is to make a healthy diet a part of your family’s lifestyle. Cut back on sugary snacks and starchy foods. Crunchy foods like apples, carrots, almonds, and celery make wonderful snacks for developing teeth. Serve whole grains and plenty of low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt. Encourage brushing after meals. With good oral hygiene and healthy habits, you can ensure that your kids will be less likely to have to deal with cavities.
source:
colgate.com
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment today.