WHAT PROBLEMS CAN IT CAUSE?

CALL ON US AS SOON AS THE EMERGENCY OCCURS

The very first thing you should do is of course not to ignore the emergency – pain is a natural mechanism to tell you something is wrong. Don’t opt for just choosing a pain killer rather than coming to our office or calling us to see when we can squeeze you in. Taking a painkiller will only mask the symptoms and won’t get to the cause of the pain. The longer you avoid going the worse the infection can become and spread and do even further damage.

Do not turn to the internet for tooth pain home remedies, even though it sounds like a really good idea. There are suggestions for just about everything, but rest assured – again, tooth pain is often a sign of a dental emergency at the very least it certainly is a signal that something isn’t right inside your mouth with your teeth and your gums. The only way to essentially deal with the situation is to call our office so we can then give you the best advice on a course of treatment that will be best for you and the health of your tooth.

HANDLING A BROKEN TOOTH PROPERLY

Perhaps the most serious mistake is not handling things correctly if a tooth gets knocked out. This is probably the most immediate and serious dental emergency. The mistake is that the assumption is made that the tooth cannot be saved, but if handled immediately and correctly a tooth probably can be saved. In order to try and save the tooth – take a hold of the white part of the tooth that sticks out normally.

Then do your best to try and clean the tooth either with your saliva or by licking the tooth or even running it under cold water for a few seconds if possible. Lastly, try and put the tooth back where it came from. If it doesn’t just go back in with ease, then try doing so with a little milk or saliva. If your tooth has been knocked out if you have it put back or you don’t still do your best to visit our office immediately so we can secure the tooth back in place while it heals and ensure that it has been placed correctly.

HOW DO WHITENING TOOTHPASTES WORK?

Whitening toothpastes scrub at the surface stains of your teeth. They are not effective against some types of stains, including those that are deep within the teeth. These toothpastes use different ingredients, not all of which are totally safe for your teeth for long-term use. We recommend that you speak with us about what type of whitening you desire and let us help get you the results you want most. For whitening toothpastes to work, they must be used at least twice a day and repeatedly for at least 4 weeks, so you should not expect quick results. Most of these products promise to show results within at least a month.

THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH

If you continue to use tobacco or drinking coffee, the effect of the whitening toothpaste will be watered down. If you want strong results, you need to allow us to use a whitening system with stronger chemicals. They are not available over the counter, so you would have to come in and let us do it. Call us today to schedule a consultation or to find out what options we can provide.

CAUSES OF TOOTH CRACKS

There are various reasons for a cracked tooth. The most common reason is that certain cracks occur without any known preceding factors. The other reason a crack may occur is when there is trauma to the oral cavity or the teeth such as from a fall.

Aging is another cause of cracks in the teeth. Additionally, wide variations in the temperature of food may also cause cracks to occur. Other conditions such as Bruxism, or teeth-clenching or grinding can also lead to cracked and damaged teeth.

It is important to note that there are different types of cracks. The most common are the craze lines which are small, often microscopic cracks that are limited to the enamel. They are often harmless and sometimes occur spontaneously.

The other types of cracks are either vertical or horizontal. Vertical crack lines may be a cause of concern, especially if they extend past the gums. This is because they may cause the spread of bacteria and infection into the gum line. Horizontal cracks are often traumatic and are largely a cosmetic problem.

WHEN DOES A CRACKED TOOTH REQUIRE TREATMENT?

First and foremost, if your cracked tooth starts bleeding, call us immediately. Additionally, if the crack keeps getting wider or deeper, you should definitely book an appointment with our office today. The other reasons you may seek treatment are if the crack is painful, if you get an infection or if you begin to perceive it as a cosmetic problem.

WHAT IS A CAVITY?

Cavities are the result of a bacterial infection in your teeth. There are always bacteria in your mouth. Ordinarily, you can wash a lot of the bacteria away through brushing and flossing.

However, if you aren’t practicing good oral hygiene, bacteria will eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Eventually, the bacteria will create a hole in your tooth. If it is left untreated, the bacteria will continue to eat away at your tooth, and infect the pulp, which will cause you a lot of pain.

HOW ARE CAVITIES TREATED?

If we can catch it early enough, we can treat cavities quickly. Usually to treat a cavity, we numb your teeth and gums. We then drill the cavity out with a small drill. We then fill the hole left by the cavity with composite material, so that it matches the rest of your tooth. If your tooth is really infected, we will clean out the infection and the tooth pulp and fill the tooth with medicine and composite. We then put a crown on your tooth.