| The ABC's of Toothaches |
There can be several different causes of a toothache: decay, abscess, an infected gum, a damaged filling, a tooth fracture or even repetitive motions such as tooth grinding.
How do you know when you've got a toothache? Sometimes, it's obvious. You've got a tooth pain that is sharp or throbbing or painful to the touch. Maybe there is swelling near the tooth or you have a bad taste in your mouth. Maybe you have a headache or fever.
We'd like you to come in and see us if you've got acute pain or had a toothache lasting longer than a day or two. If you've got other discomfort such as earache or a pain when you open your mouth or if you have a fever, give us a call. It's important to act promptly because a dental infection can spread and even enter the bloodstream.
When you come in, we'll get some medical history and examine your mouth and other areas related to the specific pain. Additional causes of toothache may be cavities, infected nerves or bacteria in the tooth. Depending on the issue, we may prescribe an antibiotic or other therapies to reduce the pain and inflammation.
It you'd like to avoid toothache altogether, reduce the likelihood by following a good oral hygiene routine. If you are unsure what to do in order to care for your teeth, give us a call or visit the website of the American Dental Association, www.ada.org.
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| Brother, Can You Spare a Tooth?
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Taipei Medical University in Taiwan has established a tooth bank for autogenous tooth transplantation. According to some research, autogenous, or self-generating, transplants of healthy human teeth have proven better and less expensive than artificial dental implants, according to Professor Lee Sheng-yang of the university's School of Oral Hygiene.
In a cooperative effort with the commercial cryogenic tooth bank of Japan's Hiroshima University, unwanted premolar and wisdom teeth and teeth removed in orthodontic treatments can be preserved by deep freezing.
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| Fish Oil May Promote Periodontal Health |
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Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth is known as periodontitis.
A recent review by Australian academics suggests a possible oral health benefit for sufferers who take fish oil supplements. In an attempt to evaluate its potential eight different studies were included in the review. Although evidence of an absolute benefit for periodontitis sufferers is not conclusive at this stage, we'll keep you informed as we learn more.
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