Archive for the 'Dental Care' Category

Dental Emergencies

As we all know, toothaches and any type of oral injury can be extremely painful and should be seen by a dentist immediately.  Dental emergencies should be seen immediately by a dentist, day or night. These emergencies include broken teeth, teeth that have been knocked out, or teeth that have been forced out of the socket.  With some emergencies, the cheeks, lips, or gums will have cuts or abrasions on them from where the teeth come out of the socket.

If you’ve had a tooth recently knocked out, the first thing you should do is look for that tooth.  When you’ve found the tooth, gently scrub it to get rid of any dirt or debris.  Once you have cleaned it, you should place it back in your mouth between the cheek and gums.  Whatever you do, you should never try to put it back in the socket.  If you can make it to the dentist in time, he may be able to put the tooth back in place.

If you’ve had a tooth come out of place, you can normally reposition it with your fingers.  You shouldn’t use a lot of force, simply because it could damage the tooth.  You shouldn’t force the tooth into place, rather try and jiggle it around.  You can also use moist tissue to hold the tooth in place, until you can get to a dentist.

If you’ve got a fractured tooth, the treatment will all depend upon how bad the booth has been fractured.  No matter how light the fracture may be, it is very important that you get to a dentist as soon as you can.  Minor fractures aren’t that bad, as they can normally be smoothed out using sandpaper.  Sometimes, the tooth can also be restored with a composite.  Either way, you’ll need to make sure that you use extreme caution with the tooth for the next few days.

The more moderate fractures, normally include damage to the dentin, pulp, and even the enamel.  These fractures can be nothing to worry about at times, yet painful with other cases.  Providing the pulp hasn’t been damaged, your dentist will be able to restore the full shape and function to the fractured tooth.  In cases where pulp damage has occurred, the dentist may need to do a root canal or other type of serious surgery to repair the tooth.

Whenever you encounter a dental emergency, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact a dentist immediately.  Your dentist will be able to assist you, fix the problem, and stop the pain.  Dental emergencies can happen at any time, so you should always the emergency number of a dentist who will be there at a moments notice.  Tooth pain can be very excruciating - and you’ll obviously want to get the problem fixed immediately.

Understanding Toothaches

As we all know, toothaches are the result of several different factors.  The pain that stems from a toothache is always apparent, normally in the form of throbbing.  The pain will normally intensify as time goes by, when you eat, lay down, or drink hot/cold liquids.  Toothaches are very painful, and it may seem that no matter what you do - it seems to hurt more.

In the dental world, toothaches can include such things as cavities, infections or abscess in the teeth or gums, debris that has been trapped between the teeth and gums, and trauma to the face, teeth, or the jaw.  Sometimes, toothaches can result from medical conditions and have nothing to do with dental.  In most cases, if the problem goes without being checked, it can lead to serious trouble and maybe even become a life threatening situation.

Normally, when you have a toothache, you’ll experience tremendous pain.  The pain will stem from the affected tooth or the jaw, and you’ll know it almost immediately.  It will start out to be a throbbing pain, then continue to get worse and worse until you get it treated.  If you wait too long and allow the infection to spread throughout the tooth, you’ll end up having to get it pulled or cut out.

Anytime you start to experience a toothache, you shouldn’t hesitate to make an appointment with your dentist to have it checked.  Sometimes, getting an appointment when your tooth starts hurting is easier said than done.  Even though you may be able to use certain products to stop the pain, the pain will always come back until you get the problem fixed.  A toothache will always come back, until you get the tooth taken care of.

If you visit your dentist in time and he catches the problem early, he may be able to save your tooth.  Normally, this will result in a filling, crown, or root canal, although you won’t have to have the tooth removed.  Dentists always look to save teeth, as they don’t like to remove a tooth unless they absolutely have to.  If the tooth has become abscessed, the dentist will put you on antibiotics such as penicillin until the infection has subsided enough to remove the tooth.

Throughout our lives, most of us will experience the pain and agony of a toothache at some point.  A toothache can be the worst pain you have ever felt in your life, especially if you are feeling the pain of an abscess.  If you’ve never had a toothache, you should consider yourself lucky.  Those who have had toothaches though, will tell you that the pain is something you never want to experience - it will make you feel as if your whole world is falling apart.

The Basics Of Brushing

Brushing and flossing are something we all learn at an early age.  The proper way to brush your teeth takes less than 2 minutes, although many people tend to spend much longer, or much less.  Most adults tend to spend less than a minute, which isn’t enough time to clean your teeth.  To get the right amount of time brushing, you should try using a stopwatch while you brush.

When you brush your teeth, you should avoid using pressure but instead use short, gentle strokes.  You should focus on hard to reach places, and make sure that you get the areas between your teeth as well.  You should also make sure you get eating surfaces as well, along with your upper and lower gums.  If you focus on all areas of your mouth, you’ll get everything when you brush.

Along with using the proper brushing techniques, you will also need to use the right toothpaste as well.  There are a variety of toothpastes available, designed to help you with a variety of different conditions.  You can get toothpaste that will prevent toothaches, stop sensitivity, and prevent things such as tartar and gingivitis.  Toothpaste is the best way to protect your teeth, therefore you should always ask your dentist what type of toothpaste he recommends for you.

To get the most out of brushing, you’ll need to have a good toothbrush.  There are many different models to choose from, which can make it extremely difficult to choose one.  When you make your choice, you should look for brushes that have soft bristles.  Soft bristles are easy on your gums, and they will remove plaque and other debris from your teeth.  A small head is also preferred, as it can easily reach hard to get places, such as your back teeth.

You should also remember to replace your brush every couple of months, or when it starts to show signs of wear.  If you’ve had a cold you should replace your toothbrush, simply because the bristles can contain germs that could get you sick all over again.  Toothbrushes that show wear should always be replaced, as they can have an impact on your gums.  If the bristles start to get worn down, they can tear away at your gums, leading to sensitivity.

To get the most from your brushing, you should always use a bit of common sense and ask your dentist for his recommendations.  Brushing your teeth will help keep them healthy, and prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.  Keep in mind that brushing does help your teeth, although you still need to go to your dentist for regular checkups.  If you take care of your teeth and brush them on a regular basis - you will keep them free of infections and cavities.

Dealing With Cracked Teeth

Also known as the third set of molars, the wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth in the mouth to erupt, which normally happens around the ages of 17 - 25. For many years, there has been a lot of controversy as to the need to remove these teeth.  If the teeth don’t cause any harm or pain, they are normally fine to stay in place.  If they present a bad position or cause you a lot of pain or discomfort, they will need to be removed.

When the wisdom teeth first come in, they will sometimes be impacted.  Impacted teeth will normally need to be extracted.  Sometimes they can be pulled, although in most cases they need to be cut out by a qualified surgeon.  When the time comes to have your wisdom teeth extracted, you’ll need to go to an oral surgeon and have a consultation first.

During the consultation, you’ll take a few x-rays that will let the surgeon know how bad your wisdom teeth are.  He will go over the results with you, take a look in your mouth, then tell you what options you have.  If he is going to pull or cut out your teeth, you’ll have the option of using local anaesthesia or going with an IV sedation.  An IV sedation is the preferred way to have wisdom teeth extracted, as you’ll be so relaxed you won’t know what is going on.  If you decide to just use local anaesthesia, which is numbing, you’ll be fully aware of the procedure.  You’ll also hear the popping and cracking involved, which can make you feel quite uncomfortable.

Depending on the shape, size, and the formation of the wisdom teeth, the removal process can vary from easy to hard.  If the root tips have managed to wrap themselves around the bone, the removal process can be very time consuming and quite painful.  Once the extractions have been completed, there is normally little to no swelling involved.  Your dentist will prescribe you some pain medicine, which you should use as soon as you arrive home.  If you are going to use IV sedation, you’ll need to someone to accompany you, as you won’t be able to drive home.

After the removal of your wisdom teeth, your dentist will go over what you need to do to ensure the proper healing of your gums and mouth.  Normally, he will give you information to go over, to make sure that you experience no problems in the healing process.  Someone will need to be with you for the first 24 hours, to make sure that you ok.  You won’t be able to eat certain foods for the first 48 hours, which is to be expected.  Once you get your wisdom teeth removed through - you’ll notice a big improvement in your mouth - and your health.

Causes Of Toothaches

When it comes to toothaches, there are many different things that can cause a toothache.  A toothache can come at any given time, even though you may not expect it.  The pain can be unbearable at times, and you’ll do practically anything you can to make the pain stop.  When a toothache first comes on, many of us start to wonder what caused it to happen.

Some of the main causes of toothaches include decay, a fracture in the teeth, and cavities.  A crack in the tooth is also a cause, although it can be difficult to diagnose, as cracks will normally appear to be invisible to the naked eye and x-rays.  Cracks can make your tooth feel as if it is exploding, as they expose the dentin and nerves to the air and anything else you put in your mouth.  If you don’t get them fixed, they will get worse, possibly leading to your tooth breaking off at the gums.

Pulp irritation is another cause of toothaches, as it occurs after dental treatment.  No matter how well your filling or crown was done, the materials that were used to fix the tooth can end up causing pain later on down the road.  There really is nothing you can do, as crowns can sometimes come off or the filling can sometimes come out.  If this happens, all you can really do is go back to the dentist to get the problem fixed.

If you have an exposed root or nerve, it can also be the cause of your toothache.  This normally happens due to rough brushing, receding the gums and exposing the root.  If the root is exposed, the air or liquid you drink can trigger a toothache.  To prevent this from happening, use care when you brush and never try to tear your gums apart thinking it will get your teeth cleaner.

If you use tobacco products, you’ll more than likely get toothaches on a frequent basis.  Chewing tobacco is a common contributor to toothaches and tooth pain, as the tobacco will eat away at your teeth until there is nothing left.  It doesn’t take long for it to happen either, especially if you have been chewing for a long time.  Smoking can trigger toothaches as well, as the smoke is bad for your teeth and eats away at them as well.

Even though there are many causes to toothaches, there are things you can do to stop and pain and prevent toothaches.  You should always brush your teeth on a daily basis, and go to the dentist for your regular checkups.  If you get a toothache you should always go to the dentist and get the tooth fixed.  The dentist may be able to catch it early enough to save the tooth - which will prevent you from having to get it pulled and save you a lot of money - and pain in the long run.

Natural Toothache Remedies

Not many people are aware of the fact that several herbs can be used in the relief of toothache pain.  Natural herbs such as cloves, calendula, tarragon, and yarrow can be used to help relieve th pain until you can get to the dentist.  For many years, different cultures have counted on herbs to help get the pain of a toothache control and get temporary relief.

Native Americans for example, used the inner bark found in the butternut tree to their gums to get relief from toothaches.  The butternut tree is found in North America, and is also the cousin of the black walnut tree.  Butternut trees are found along rivers in well drained soil, rich woods, and even in back yards.  Once the tree matures, it can reach heights of up to 60 feet, with the bark being light grey in color, and the leaves and the fruit resembling the black walnut tree.  The bark of the tree can be applied to the gums, helping to alleviate toothache pain.

Yarrow on the other hand, can be found in Asia, Europe, and North America.  It normally grows wild in meadows, fields, and in open wood lands.  The root of yarrow, is what contains the anaesthetic effect.  If you apply the fresh root of yarrow to your tooth or gums, it will help to stop the pain - until you can get an appointment with the dentist and get it taken care of.

The herb known as clove is an evergreen tree, native to tropical areas.  These days however, it can be found throughout the world.  As many already know, the dried flower bud of clove is what contains the medicine.  The oil from clove, when used on a toothache, will help to stop the pain almost immediately.  If you compare cloves to other natural toothache remedies, you’ll find clove to be the best.

For many years, natural herbs have been used to stop toothache pain.  Hundreds of years ago, herbs were the only way to stop the pain.  Dentists were just starting to come around, although they didn’t have near the equipment and sophistication that they have these days.  Even though teeth were pulled during these times, it normally happened with alcohol to numb the pain then pliers to remove the tooth.

Throughout the course of time, herbs have proven to be very effective with stopping toothache pain.  If you are interested in herbs or have any questions about them, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask your dentist his opinion.  Dentists know herbs, and should be able to recommend natural remedies to you if you request them.  The next time you experience the pain of a toothache - you should always remember that herbs are a great way to relieve the pain.

Stopping The Pain Of Toothaches

Everyone out there at some point in time, will experience the pain of a toothache.  Toothaches are very excruciating, some of the worst pain you will ever feel in your life.  Even though you may have had dental work in the past and follow proper hygiene, toothaches can happen at anytime.  Although it can be very painful, there are ways to get relief through natural herbal remedies or pharmaceuticals.

If you plan to use herbs, you should use them in tincture form, as the alcohol content will disinfect the area, and help to reduce the inflammation and kill the infection.  Once you have the tincture, you should use roughly a teaspoon of it and gently rinse your mouth out.  Once you have help it in your mouth a minute or so, you should either swallow it or spit it out.  Tinctures are natural remedies that use herbs and alcohol to massage the affected area and stop the pain by numbing the nerves of the tooth that is causing you so much pain.

The best way to deal with toothache is to put out the fire.  If you manage to put the fire out, the pain will follow.  Even though the pain may go away, the problem will still be there until you go to the dentist and get it treated.  Although the dentist is the preferred way to go, you may have to wait on an appointment, or the toothache may occur on a weekend or a time when the dentist isn’t available.

Your best advice is to seek dental care ASAP, as the infection can always return at any given time.  If you don’t get problems fixed as soon as you can, they can spread and cause you more problems with your teeth.  Cavities will need to be filled, while the rotten or dying teeth will need to be extracted.  If caught in time, the dentist can normally save the tooth via root canal.

The most common way to stop the pain of a toothache is by using a pharmaceutical such as Ambesol.  With these types of toothache relief products, you simply rub the ointment on the affected area and it will kill the pain. These products work quickly, although they may not be able to help if the infection has spread or has gotten so bad that the tooth is literally dying.

Another way to stop the pain is to use Tylenol or aspirin.  If you are going this route, you should use tablets that dissolve.  Simply take the tablet and put it in your mouth, then use your tongue to hold it against your tooth.  The aspirin or Tylenol will start to dissolve, and work it’s way into your nerve and stop the pain.  This is a very effective way to stop the pain, although once the pill dissolves it can leave a terrible taste in your mouth.

The best way to stop the pain is to visit the dentist and have it treated once and for all.  Keep in mind that if the problem is an infection, you’ll need to use antibiotics until the infection is gone.  Once the infection is gone, the dentist will be able to proceed with treatment.  Most toothaches are the result of a cavity, which will need to be filled.  Anytime you start to experience a toothache you should get it treated.  If you aren’t able to make it to the dentist, simply get some Ambesol or other product that will give you relief from the pain until you can get to the dentist and get the problem taken care of.