Having a healthy mouth affects your entire health. Some oral problems are linked to serious health conditions like stroke and heart disease. So it’s important to avoid common problems like gum disease, cavities, and a clenched jaw. Let’s learn some easy strategies to help you fight off these problems.
Gum Disease
If your gums are painful, swollen, and bleed easily, it is likely that you have gum disease. In its early stages gum disease is called gingivitis, but if left untreated it will advance to periodontitis. See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease, so that treatment can begin. If caught early, the effects of gum disease can be reversed. The best way to prevent it in the first place is proper dental hygiene. Floss once a day and brush with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily. See your dentist for professional tooth cleanings every six months. Also, quitting smoking and eating a nutritious diet may help prevent gum disease.
Cavities
To stop tooth decay and the resulting cavities, you must practice good dental hygiene. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, ask your dentist if fluoride treatments would be recommended for you. Reduce the amount of sugar you consume, especially carbonated sodas since they contain acid that can damage your tooth enamel. Stopping the use of tobacco is also another way to avoid cavities.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
TMJ is known to cause jaw tenderness, headaches, jaw popping, and facial and neck pain. The most common source of TMJ is grinding or clenching your jaw, although it can also result from head trauma or arthritis of the jaw. Teeth grinding can also lead to other dental problems like tooth erosion, gum disease, or cracked teeth. See your dentist if you think you might be grinding or clenching your teeth. You may benefit from a customized mouth guard to decrease the pressure on your jaw and teeth. Learning techniques to reduce your stress may also help prevent TMJ.
It seems that most toothaches happen at night, causing both pain and frustration. Toothaches are usually caused by dental problems like a cavity, cracked tooth, exposed root, or gum disease. Seeing a dentist as soon as possible to resolve the issue is the best solution. However, if you’re unable to get an appointment right away, here are some home remedies that may help.
• Laying down causes increased blood pressure to your head. Elevate your head to decrease some of the pressure, and decrease the pain along with it.
• Take an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve some of the pain. Avoid taking aspirin because it may increase bleeding.
• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water in case there is any trapped food causing discomfort. Gently floss your teeth to dislodge food particles around the aching area.
• Try placing 2-3 drops of vanilla extract on the aching tooth for instant pain relief.
• Press a hot tea bag to the tooth to relieve soreness.
• Try gargling with antiseptic mouthwash, or a glass of water mixed with one teaspoon of salt after meals and at bedtime.
• Put an ice cube on the tooth or on the nearest cheek for 20 minutes several times a day.
• Apply clove oil or an over-the-counter antiseptic containing benzocaine onto the gums or tooth. Both of these items will numb the area to provide temporary pain relief.
One of the keys to a successful oral surgery is following the rules of recovery afterwards. You should always follow the post-operative instructions that your surgeon gives you to avoid complications and heal quickly. Here are some areas to concentrate on after oral surgery to help you achieve your recovery goals.
Pain
The amount of pain you experience depends on the procedure. Your surgeon will prescribe medications for pain management. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, and consult your surgeon before taking any additional over-the-counter medicines. If you are given an antibiotic, make sure you take all of the medication so that infection will be adequately avoided.
Swelling
Swelling is normal after some types of oral surgery. Elevate your head with pillows, and use an ice pack on the outside of your face for the first 24 hours. Swelling should subside in 7 to 10 days. It’s also normal to have some stiffness in the facial muscles for up to 10 days after surgery. Bruising sometimes occurs, especially if your lower wisdom teeth were affected.
Bleeding
It’s common to bleed after a tooth extraction, and may continue slightly for up to 24 hours after surgery. Bite on the gauze that your doctor provided for one hour using firm pressure, and then gently remove it. Sometimes it’s necessary to sip water to moisten the gauze so that it comes out without restarting the bleeding. If your bleeding continues, contact your surgeon for advice.
Rest
You should rest for at least two days following oral surgery, and not participate in physical activity for 2 to 3 days. After that time period, you should be able to resume normal activities.
Oral hygiene
Avoid vigorous rinsing and spitting for the first day, and don’t use mouthwash. Brush and floss gently, but be careful about opening your mouth too wide. After the first day, try rinsing with a salt water mixture to help keep the surgical site clean and help the healing process.
Having a tongue piercing or a lip ring may be a trendy thing to do, but many people don’t realize the risks that come along with it. Teenagers and young adults especially don’t think about the side effects of these mouth accessories. If you’re considering an oral piercing, talk with your dentist first to make sure you know how to perform good oral hygiene. Some of the dangers that accompany an oral piercing include:
Infection
Our tongues and mouths are covered with bacteria, so the piercing site is at risk for infection. In fact, your entire body is endangered because bacteria can enter the piercing and get into your bloodstream. Unclean piercing equipment can also lead to infections like bloodborne hepatitis.
Tooth fractures
Teeth can be chipped and broken by mouth jewelry while you eat, talk, and sleep. A damaged tooth may require a filling, root canal, or even extraction. To lessen the risks to teeth, dentists suggest removing the jewelry while eating and sleeping.
Swelling
Tongue swelling is a common side effect of piercing. In severe cases, a swollen tongue can cut off your airway and prevent breathing.
Choking
If your mouth jewelry comes loose, it can create a choking hazard. You can also injure your digestive track or lungs if you swallow the piercing.
Uncontrolled bleeding
If the piercing hits a blood vessel, it can cause heavy bleeding that requires medical help. If your nerve is damaged, numbness may occur.
Injury to gums
An oral piercing can increase your risk for gum disease, which is a serious issue that can cause tooth loss if left untreated.
Severe dental problems can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and impractical. The good news is that there’s a solution to problems such as broken teeth, gaps in your smile, or teeth that don’t fit together. Full mouth reconstruction allows your dentist to treat the health, appearance, and function of your mouth so that you can renew your smile and improve the way you feel.
What does full mouth reconstruction mean?
Severe dental problems can be treated through a combination of restorative and cosmetic procedures. It may involve repairing or replacing broken or missing teeth, bones, and tissue to help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
What kinds of procedures are involved?
The procedures necessary depend on the extent of the damage in your mouth. Some types of dentistry that are considered reconstructive include dental implants and bridges, both used to replace teeth that are missing or broken beyond repair. Dental crowns can be placed to repair cracked and damaged teeth. Tooth-colored fillings may be implemented for a healthy smile without noticeable repairs. Inlays and onlays can be used to address tooth decay, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) treatment may be needed to deal with biting problems.
Who do I see for full mouth reconstruction?
A general dentist usually can perform most of the procedures, so meet with your dentist for a full evaluation to see what kind of treatment is recommended for you. Ask to view samples of your dentist’s restorative dentistry work and previous full mouth reconstructions to make sure you are happy with the examples of procedures that might be performed on you. If not, seek the advice of another dentist until you find the right one for your needs.
A tooth that becomes infected is called an abscessed tooth. It is often very painful, and is accompanied by pus and swelling. Tooth abscesses can be dangerous if not treated, because the infection may spread throughout your body. You will want to identify and take care of an abscessed tooth as soon as you can, not only because of the associated risks but also due to the pain. Let’s learn more about this problem so you’ll be prepared if this happens to you.
Symptoms
An abscess occurs when the pulp, or center, of your tooth gets infected. It fills with pus, which is made up of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead tissue. This infection and the accompanying swelling around your tooth causes a very painful toothache, usually described as throbbing coupled with intermittent sharp pains. The pain is often so severe that you can’t even identify which tooth is causing the problem, because the pain resonates throughout your whole mouth. Some other common symptoms are fever, pain when biting or chewing, sensitivity to heat or cold, bitter taste in your mouth, foul smell to your breath, and red swollen gums.
Causes
Tooth decay or trauma, like a broken tooth, can cause an abscess. It you have a cavity, bacteria may enter the center of your tooth and form an abscess. Advanced gum disease is another cause of tooth abscesses.
Treatment
Your dentist will perform some simple tests like tapping your teeth to diagnose an abscess. X-rays are also sometimes helpful. If an abscess is found, your dentist will try to eliminate the infection, save your tooth, and avoid complications. The abscess may require draining, which is often achieved with a root canal. Sometimes extraction is necessary. Antibiotics are prescribed to fight the infection, as well as pain medication to make you more comfortable. The main thing to remember is that treatment is necessary no matter what, because an untreated abscess can lead to a life-threatening infection in your blood.
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