| Dealing with Dental Emergencies |
If you have never suffered a dental emergency, consider yourself lucky. If you should suffer one, however, you should know what to do. The actions you take immediately following the emergency could mean the difference between a minor repair to one that is very serious and results in permanent loss of your tooth or worse!
The Knocked out Tooth
The most crucial thing to remember about a knocked out tooth is how to preserve it, especially if you are dealing with a permanent tooth. The key is to keep it moist. Before you pick it up, however, make sure that you can do so from the top of the tooth, not the bottom as you could touch and damage the roots. If you can easily put the tooth back in the socket, do so. If not, place it in your mouth, between your cheek and gums. If that makes you uneasy, you can also store it in a glass of milk.
The Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth is not as serious as a knocked out tooth, but it still requires an emergency dental visit. As soon as you are able, rinse your mouth out with warm water. You should rinse until you can no longer see blood. Once your mouth is clean, apply a clean, cold compress to the area to limit the amount of swelling that occurs as well as the amount of pain you suffer.
In either of these dental emergencies you should call us and get to the dental office as soon as possible.
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| Do you Have Trouble Chewing?
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If you suddenly find yourself having difficulties chewing, you could be dealing with a serious issue such as cavities or gum disease. It is important to call us right away if you suffer any issues related to chewing, as too many people switch their diet to solely consist of soft foods to minimize pain. While this could help temporarily relieve your pain while you eat, it could cause nutritional deficiencies down the road as well as more serious issues with your mouth. Your diet as well as the health of your teeth depend on your seeking the attention of a dentist right away. If this is you, give us a call!
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| What Causes Canker Sores? |
Canker sores are one of those ailments that nobody has a real answer as to why they occur; however, a poor diet has been determined to be a contributing factor. When your diet is lacking in proper nutrients, you put your oral health at risk including risking the contraction of more canker sores. If you are trying to eliminate these sores from your mouth, try limiting the intake of chocolate, foods that contain high amounts of citrus and spicy foods. Lack of sleep may also be a contributing factor, so be sure to get your z's! These changes might not eliminate canker sores altogether, but may help decrease the occurrence of canker sores or help them go away faster.
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