Dental issues and ailments can come in many forms, and some are more complicated than others. Being prepared by having knowledge about how you should handle them if they happen to you, will ensure the best outcome.
Here are some of the most common dental complaints and ailments that we see and what to do about them.
Bad Breath
There are many causes for bad breath. Some of the culprits include food, tobacco products, poor dental hygiene, medications, infections, and more. We recommend brushing and flossing after you eat, brushing your tongue, avoiding dry mouth, adjusting your diet, and changing your toothbrush regularly. If you have tried all these tips and the problem persists, please discuss with us. We can help you fight bad breath by getting to the bottom of the problem and providing the appropriate treatment.
Stained Teeth
Your teeth are like laundry. The right treatments can remove stains. Food, medication, tobacco, and trauma are just some of the many things that have the potential to discolor your teeth. But there’s hope. There are plenty of whitening toothpaste and rinse products, in addition to at home bleaching kits, on the market and readily available. We can also help you remove stains from your teeth and would be happy to discuss the best option with you.
Cavities
Cavities, or those little holes in your teeth, are bad news. Cavities are caused by plaque building up on your teeth and slowly destroying the outer shell or enamel. To prevent cavities, brush your and floss your teeth at least twice a day and keep up with your regular appointments. If you do get a cavity, we will need to treat it with a filling. If you have good oral hygiene and continue to suffer from cavities, we may recommend dental sealants.
Toothache or Oral Pain
Oral Pain is one of the most common complaints we hear in our office. If you are experiencing oral pain, there are some things you can do at home to provide a bit of relief. Give your mouth a good rinse with warm water. Next, apply a compress (both cold and warm are helpful, so use whichever you prefer). Additionally, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. The severity of your pain should dictate how soon you call us. If your pain is mild, you can be more casual. If your pain is very severe, you should call right away as a more serious problem could be causing the pain.
Cracked or Chipped Tooth
If you’ve chipped your tooth, you will want to find and save any pieces you can. Next, whether your tooth is chipped or cracked, use warm water to rinse out your mouth. If there is any bleeding, apply some slight pressure with gauze (if you don’t have gauze on hand, paper towel or tissue are ok too). A cold compress on the outside of the mouth can be helpful in preventing and reducing any swelling. The sooner we treat this problem, the better, so don’t wait to call.
Lost Filling
If you can find the filling piece that fell out, rinse it off and save it in a plastic bag to show us. You will want to cover the empty cavity until you are seen. Over the counter dental cements work well and are available at most pharmacies. Sugarless chewing gum can also do the trick. We’ll clean out any remaining portions of the filling and work to refill or repair the tooth as needed.
Sensitive to Cold
Tooth sensitivity can be caused by cavities, worn tooth enamel or fillings, gum disease, exposed roots, and more. You’ll want to discuss the specifics of your tooth sensitivity with us to help determine the cause. From there, a treatment plan will be discussed to help provide relief.
Broken Braces
Check to see if the wire is still attached to the bracket. If you can, leave it in place. If any part of the wire is sticking out, you can gently press it back into position using a pencil eraser. If the bracket is loose, you can remove it and bring it with you to see us. If wires are long or sticking out, you can trim them down with a pair of nail clippers to be sure that they do not cut the inside of your mouth. If there is still anything sharp that you cannot trim or press into place, try using an orthodontic wax or pieces of gauze to protect your mouth until you can get in for repair.
Dental Check Ups
Preventative care is much easier and less costly than treatment once damage has been done. Do yourself a favor and keep up with your preventative care check-ups. If you or your children are due and need to make an appointment, please contact us here.
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