Dental Info

Toothache pain can be a minor annoyance to a major disruption of life. While your dentist is the only one who can identify severe tooth pain, there are many tooth pain remedies you can try at home for temporary relief. Depending on the cause of your toothache, certain remedies are likely to work better.  For instance, if you have an exposed tooth nerve, a numbing gel or clove essential oil may work. For a tooth abscess from untreated tooth decay, an over-the-counter painkiller such as ibuprofen is going to be more effective. The best toothache remedies to try at home are: Salt water rinse Painkillers Benzocaine Clove oil Elevation Cold compress Acupressure/acupuncture Peppermint tea Knotted floss Guava leaves Wheatgrass juice If you are in severe pain, have had pain for more than 2 days, or experiencing other symptoms with your toothache, call your dentist right away. IF YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT USING A LINK BELOW, WE MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO ADDITIONA...

Nicknamed for the fact that they come into your mouth and your life by the time you are mature and supposedly “wise”, wisdom teeth are simply the last set of molars that grow furthest back in your mouth. If you’re experiencing some specific pain in your gums and jaw, you may be wondering if you have impacted wisdom teeth . Dr. Brickey and Dr. Provine takes care of wisdom teeth from all around Salt Lake City! Let us tell you more about impacted wisdom teeth and what to do if you have them. What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth? Your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars you’ll get. They usually come in when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Sometimes they appear later in life, while some people’s wisdom teeth never grow in at all. (Does that mean those people never become wise? Hard to say.) As with other teeth, wisdom teeth are expected to break through the gums and become totally visible when they emerge. However, in some situations, they remain deep in the jawb...

If you get to go on a tropical vacation, your ability to feel the warm sun and the smooth sand is crucial to enjoying the atmosphere. There are, however, times in life when you would rather not feel anything. Getting a dental procedure can be one of those times—as important as the procedure might be. In that case, thank goodness for modern medicine and anesthesia. Ancient dentists used a number of herbs and drugs to numb their patients. Thankfully, today, you have the option of completely safe and effective anesthesia . Dr. Colleran, San Luis Obispo dentist shares more below about what anesthesia is and when you might need it. What is Anesthesia? Anesthesia is a type of medicine best known for dulling pain. The root-word “an” means without and “aesthesis” means feeling. Anesthesia literally means “without feeling.” That perfectly describes how most people want to feel if they need to get a cavity filled or a tooth pulled. Anesthesia can also help you feel relaxed during your treatm...

Having a great smile is a privilege that everyone should enjoy. The confidence that comes from having genuine pride in your pearly whites is irreplaceable. However, many of us struggle with imperfections in our teeth. Broken, chipped, cracked, stained, and crooked teeth can really put a damper on your smile. At Park Slope Dental Arts, we know how much a healthy, happy smile means, so we’d like to talk about how Park Slope Dental Arts can help get you the smile you deserve with veneers .   What are Veneers ? Veneers are thin layers of composite or dental porcelain that are placed on the surface of a tooth to correct cosmetic and functional issues. Invented in 1928 by Charles Pincus, veneers were originally intended to give movie stars perfect teeth for the silver screen. Back then, they were only temporary due to a lack of competent adhesive, but modern dental medicine has advanced to the point that veneers can last for up to 30 years, and are nearly identical to natural teeth in...

Dentistry is serious medicine, and daily oral hygiene is a top priority. But teeth can be pretty fun, too—not to mention fascinating. For starters, have you ever seen the full sets of baby teeth and adult teeth present in a child’s head x-ray? Go ahead, look it up. There are tons of interesting dental facts out there! Northern Trails Dental Care in Gwinn treats our patients professionally and joyfully—our team thinks teeth are cool. Take Dr. Buck’s word for it, there’s much to learn and admire about even the most average set of teeth. Facts About People & Teeth According to a survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than listen to one end of a cell-phone conversation. By age 17, 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. Tooth prints are as unique as fingerprints. About 2 million teeth per year fall out due to sports-related accidents. Babies have 20 teeth bu...

You may think of our team at Harp Pediatric Dentistry as part of your child’s defensive line keeping them safe from gum disease and tooth decay, but we’re also myth busters! You’ve probably heard one of the most common misconceptions we have to challenge: dentistry isn’t important until after children lose their baby teeth. The truth is that oral health routines should be developed right from the beginning, and visiting the dentist is a foundational part of creating healthy habits . From the beginning? That’s right! There are tips you’ll want to follow as your little one’s smile forms and grows, and around the time you’re celebrating their first birthday, you’ll want to schedule their first dental visit . For an overview of why early introductions are crucial and what you can do to keep them on the right track before this milestone, we invite you to come to see us! If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a visit with Palm Harbor dentist, Dr. Mark Dawoud to get your kid...

Maybe Mona Lisa would have cracked a real smile if she had been more confident in her teeth! All jokes aside, you don’t have to live every day embarrassed by your own smile. Orthodontic treatments today are much more desirable than those of yesteryear. There are a lot of good reasons to straighten your teeth, both functional and aesthetic. And there are a lot of good times in your life to commit to treatment – like now! But how do you decide among all of your options for teeth straightening? Tomball dentist Dr. Michael Cimino of Modern Smile Center can help you understand your options. A Healthy Bite In an ideal world, your top teeth should rest down and in line with their opposing tooth on the bottom. This helps you smile, chew, and speak smoothly. If you have any problems with this, like a crooked tooth or odd spacing between teeth, you’ve got an improper bite. Improper bites (also called malocclusion) can cause overbite, underbite, and crossbite. An improper bite can make you ...

Dr. Ceneviz can diagnose and screen for a host of maladies thanks to sophisticated imaging technology . X-rays are now so frequently used and so effective that most of us take their capabilities for granted—but it was not so long ago a tumor or damaged bone couldn’t be found without the patient actually being cut open! The discovery of x-rays was a happy accident. A physics professor named Wilhelm Roentgen was testing whether cathode rays could pass through glass and observed a mysterious light that would pass through human tissue and to reveal details of the bones and tissue underneath. Because Roentgen didn’t know what the rays were, he called them “x”, meaning “unknown”. The medical community and the public alike were very excited about x-rays, and as their use became commonplace, the potential side effects of radiation exposure were ignored at first. Scientists like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla sounded the alarm about the dangers of radiation, but x-rays were still used for en...

If you are an adult and notice a loose tooth, this is definitely something that should be of concern . Ideally you should see your dentist right away. When teeth become loose, that is evidence that there is a problem that should be addressed. It could require your dentist to  adjust your bite or fabricate a night guard to protect against grinding or bruxisim at night. It also could be symptomatic of a worse problem, such as a fractured tooth, failing root canal,a loose post and crown, an endodontic infection or periodontal involvement. All of these problems should be diagnosed by your dentist during an exam. He or she can take radiographs , check your bite, use a periodontal probe and check the degree of mobility that your loose tooth has. Once a thorough examination has been performed appropriate treatment can be provided. While here are a number of possible causes, most dentists can ascertain the cause after an in person examination. During this pandemic many of us have bee...

The recent pandemic has changed our life in more ways than many of us could have ever imagined. Since SLO County’s reopening, many of our patients have shared concerns about going to the dentist during COVID-19. We know coronavirus is easily spread by close contact with other individuals. With this knowledge, it may be frightening to consider that during your appointment “I will have a dentist near me.” However, we take our patient’s safety and peace of mind seriously and we continue to adhere to the strictest CDC guidelines for dental providers .   What Is It Like Going to the Dentist During Coronavirus? Much like our day-to-day life, coronavirus has changed the way our office operates. When our patients visit the San Luis Obispo dentist, they can expect the following procedures to be followed : Each patient will have their temperature taken. If you have a temperature, we will ask you to reschedule your appointment. We will not allow more than three patients in our waiting...

How do you feel when you see that little plastic floss container in your medicine cabinet? Eagerness to achieve that clean feeling in your mouth? Or regret over a habit you have trouble keeping? Did you get excited about recent headlines saying flossing isn’t necessary? We’re sorry to break the news, but as your oral health experts, we’re here to tell you floss is still incredibly important. In fact, it’s one of the most important foundations for oral health. Dr. David Case at Family Dental Health shares more below about why you should floss, how to floss, and what to do if flossing causes your gums to bleed. What is Floss? Floss is a simple waxed thread designed specially to clean between your teeth (the hardest spots in your mouth to reach) comfortably and effectively. Floss was invented around 1820 and was first seen on store shelves decades later. There are countless brands and types of floss. It can be thin or thick, flavored or unflavored. Most often, floss is waxed to help i...

This whole pandemic experience seems a little reminiscent of the Texas Holdem tournaments that I use to play online (the free variety). When playing you had a fixed amount of capital and you had to play your cards wisely if you wanted a place at the final table. Sure playing with a fair amount of risk might reap bigger rewards but over the long haul, playing risky tended to get you busted, broke and out of the tournament.  It took discipline to fold early and often and only back hands that would likely be sure winners. That being the case, playing conservatively didn't guarantee success but it tended to keep you in the tournament long enough to have a chance to get to the final table. This pandemic has some similarities since it will likely go on for the next 6 months or more and the risks we take will cumulatively make it more likely for us to become infected. Taking needless risks seems unwise, regardless of whatever nonsense others are saying. Let's face it, for the ne...

Xerostomia is the technical term for dry mouth , the condition that results from absent or reduced saliva flow. It is not a disease on its own, but it may be a side effect of medication or radiation treatments.  Xerostomia affects about 20% of the elderly population—not because of their age, but due to the increased likelihood of using medication or having radiation therapy that causes dry mouth. Dr. Colleran is here to discuss some foods and beverages to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth . Food & Beverages that Help Dry Mouth 8-12 glasses of water per day are ideal to keep saliva production on track, so making a habit of carrying a water bottle with you is a great idea. Sugar-free juices, reduced-sugar sports drinks, club soda, and herbal tea with lemon are good beverage choices when you just can’t stand the idea of drinking any more water. A soft, high-protein diet is recommended for people with dry mouth. Substitute moist fish, eggs, and cheese for red meat. Serving fo...

Dentistry is serious medicine, and daily oral hygiene is a top priority. But teeth can be pretty fun, too—not to mention fascinating. For starters, have you ever seen the full sets of baby teeth and adult teeth present in a child’s head x-ray? Go ahead, look it up. There are tons of interesting dental facts out there! Natural Smiles Dentistry in Salt Lake City treats our patients professionally and joyfully—our team thinks teeth are cool. Take Dr. Brickey and Dr. Provine’s word for it, there’s much to learn and admire about even the most average set of teeth. Facts About People & Teeth According to a survey by Time magazine, 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than listen to one end of a cell-phone conversation. By age 17, 78% of Americans have had at least 1 cavity. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for people over the age of 35. Tooth prints are as unique as fingerprints. About 2 million teeth per year fall out due to sports-related accidents. Ba...

Headaches in Gwinn are a dime a dozen. We all know the frustration of having your day interrupted by throbbing, shooting pains in the head. If you suffer from frequent headaches that never seem to go away, Dr. Buck would like you to know about bruxism , or teeth grinding. At Northern Trails Dental Care , we love spreading the news about all things dental health, so here is some headache information that just might change your life. Bruxism & Headaches You may not be aware of it, but everyone clenches and grinds their teeth at some point and to some degree. It’s a natural reaction to stress. During the day, you might catch yourself doing it and make a conscious effort to stop, but during the night, you are unaware of it and will naturally grind much harder. Unfortunately, some people in Gwinn have such problems with bruxism that they may experience: Frequent, painful headaches Damaged, worn-down teeth and surrounding tissues TMJ/TMD According to Dr. Noshir Mehta, chairman ...

If you are a parent, you probably know how difficult it is to get children to brush and floss regularly. On top of that, young children often lack the necessary motor skills to properly care for their teeth. We want your whole family to have excellent dental health, so here’s some information on how Park Slope Dental Arts can help protect your kids from tooth decay. Kids and Cavities In the back teeth, there are numerous nooks and crannies that toothbrushes can’t quite get to. Referred to as pits and fissures, these areas on the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars are particularly susceptible to tooth decay in children between the ages of 6 and 14. Food can easily get stuck in the tiny grooves and remain for long periods of time, which, combined with bacteria, creates the perfect environment for tooth decay and cavities. How Dental Sealants Can Help Dental sealants are thin coatings of plastic applied directly to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. By covering areas w...

When you’ve got your child’s first dental visit noted on the calendar, you might feel more anxious than they do as you approach the big day. At Harp Pediatric Dentistry, we want to help both of you relax and see there’s nothing to fear about having your smile cared for. Our team is kind and gentle, and though our technology might seem intimidating, it’s all geared toward increasing comfort while we get a clear picture of the condition of your little one’s oral health. Knowledge is Power We think one of the main reasons visiting the dentist can seem scary is because of the unknown. If you know more about what to expect, it’s easier to get comfortable in the chair! We want you and your young one to be informed and as prepared as possible, so we’re sharing this list of children’s books you can read together before we have the pleasure of sharing smiles with you. Do you and your child have a favorite children’s book about going to the dentist? We’d love to hear about it! Contact us ...

You love your teeth. You brush them twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist regularly. Right? We love your teeth, too! In fact, there’s so much to know about caring for your oral health that dentistry has quite a few categories of specialties and different kinds of dentists. The primary dentist in your life should be your family dentist, also known as a general dentist. Your family dentist is who you will see most often for dental check-ups. But how exactly is family dentistry different from other kinds of dentistry? Dr. Michael Cimino in Tomball shares more below about family dentistry. Types of Dentistry All dentists have an undergraduate degree and then go on to about four years of dental school. This earns them either a doctorate of dental medicine (DMD) or a doctorate of dental surgery (DDS). To become more specialized, the dentist will need additional education and clinical experience. General Dentist : A family dentist is a general dentist. They treat patients ...

If your child loses a tooth too soon or needs a baby tooth extracted due to decay, Dr. Ceneviz may recommend space maintainers to support their dental health. Space maintainers are custom-made acrylic or metal dental appliances that can either be removable or cemented into the mouth. Their purpose is to keep the space open for the future permanent tooth or teeth. Baby teeth are essential to the development of permanent teeth, jawbones and muscles, which guide those adult teeth into the place absent baby teeth once were. If there is no space for permanent teeth to grow, teeth can shift drastically enough for orthodontics to be needed. Not every child with premature baby tooth loss needs space maintainers, but a consultation with Chamblee Orthodontics is advisable to see if a space maintainer is the best solution. Dr. Ceneviz can also advise you about best practices for eating habits and oral hygiene for fixed space maintainers. Your child should be seen regularly by their den...

Cold sores, or “fever blisters”, are painful blisters that form on the face, usually near the lips.  They’re caused by one of the most common viral infections in the world. According to the CDC , nearly 50% of people have at least one cold sore outbreak every year. You can’t cure cold sores permanently, but certain medications and home remedies may help shorten outbreaks and improve symptoms. IF YOU PURCHASE A PRODUCT USING A LINK BELOW, WE MAY RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU. READ OUR AD POLICY HERE . What is a cold sore? A cold sore is a red or dark pink fluid-filled blister around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores may appear on other parts of your face. Rarely, cold sores can spread to your nose, inside of your mouth, or even your fingers. Cold sores are also known as fever blisters, herpes labialis, or oral herpes. Generally, cold sores spread through close contact, like kissing or oral sex, with another person during an ...