Tips for Healthy Teeth
- Regular Check Ups
should be scheduled every 6-12 months depending on your individual needs.
- X-Rays
serve many purposes and are necessary to detect decay between your teeth.
- First Dental Visit
for a child, should be between the ages of 2-4 years old, unless you suspect a problem.
- Baby Teeth
guide permanent teeth into proper alignment unless they are removed prematurely. Therefore, it is important to restore them if necessary.
- Cavities Grow
small problems are easier and less expensive to repair.
- Food that Contain Sugar
are the leading cause of tooth decay.
- Gum Disease
most adult teeth are lost to this condition rather than tooth decay.
- Bleeding Gums
are a sign of gum disease
- Brush Tongue Daily
to help eliminate bad breath and bacteria build-up
- Fillings
seldom fall out on their own. Usually they are weakened by surrounding decay.
- Dental Problems
should be taken care of as soon as possible. Putting off treatment often times makes the tooth more difficult and more expensive to treat.
Brushing
- Type of Brush
Use a soft nylon brush with two or three rows of bristles which are rounded at the tips. We will recommend the brush that is best for you.
- Brush Properly
Although it is important to brush the grooves and all sides of the teeth thoroughly, it is perhaps even more important to brush the crevice between the gums and the teeth – the area most often overlooked. Let us repeat: A primary brushing objective is to cleanse the gum crevice. Brush with short strokes in a gently vibrating or circular motion. Make sure that the bristles are moving into the gum crevice. Angle the bristles accordingly.
First Aid for Dental Problems
- Toothache
Take pain medication. If discomfort persists, call your dentist. Do not place aspirin directly on teeth or gums
- Cracked Filling or Tooth
If painful, take medication. Call your dentist as soon as possible to have the tooth repaired. If not, it will only get worse.
- Bleeding Gums
Brush and floss thoroughly even though it may be tender and continue to bleed. Rinse with warm salt water and consult your dentist
- Wisdom Tooth Pain
Take pain medication. Rinse with warm salt water. Consult your dentist about this often recurring problem.
- Canker Sore
This condition usually heals on its own within 7 – 10 days. Consult your dentist or pharmacist for over the counter medications.
- Loose Crown
Do not use any type of glue to recement the crown back on the tooth. This could cause pain and damage to the tooth and gums. See your dentist immediately.
- Gum Boil
If painful, take medication. Rinse 4 times a day with warm salt water. This is a sign of an abscess (infection). This problem will not solve itself. Call you dentist.
- Teething Pain
Cold objects such as teething rings usually help. Also, over the counter teething ointments will give relief.
- Chipped Baby Tooth
If painful, give the child the pain medication of your choice. If you notice swelling, place cold packs over that area. Call your dentist.
- Broken Denture or Partial
Do not attempt to repair the plate yourself. This will almost always make things worse. Save all broken pieces and see your dentist.
- Knocked Out Tooth
If you have the tooth, there is a good chance it can be reimplanted. Rinse tooth gently and if not too painful, try to insert it back into the tooth socket and see your dentist immediately. Or, rinse tooth gently and place it in your mouth or in a glass of milk and immediately go to your dentist.
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