Toothaches are one of the worst pains to deal with. Now only does the tooth hurt but it often makes your whole face and head hurt as well. Toothaches cause swollen gums, throbbing headaches and sometimes cause the pain to spread to other teeth.

The best way to deal with a toothache is to visit a tooth doctor. A tooth doctor also known as a dentist or DDS can offer patients answers as well as solutions to their tooth problems. There are many tooth doctors throughout all cities so finding a great dentist can be easy. Finding a dentist that you are comfortable with is the key to getting the best service because it is recommended to go to the dentist’s every few months for a check up.

After visiting the dentist there are many other things that can be done to relieve tooth pain. One of the most common ways to deal with tooth pain is to take some type of over the counter aspirin. The aspirin will not only help with pain but it can also help with the swelling. It typically takes about 20-30 minutes for aspirin to take full effect. Aspirin is not recommended as a daily help for toothaches.

Another good way to get rid of tooth pain is to brush your teeth and focus on the area where the pain is. The ingredients in toothpaste can actually help alleviate tooth pain. If brushing is to hard for your painful tooth simply take a small drop of toothpaste and rub it on the affected area. This will help make a seal over the tooth so not as much air or food particles can touch the affected tooth.

Ice packs are another good way to help tooth pain. Many times when a tooth hurts it becomes swollen and eventually the gum or face in that area will also become swollen. Holding an ice pack on the area for about 15 minutes at a time will help relieve some of the pain and swelling. The key to getting the best results from using an ice pack is to follow a system of icing on and off for about an hour. Ice the area for 15 minutes then take the ice pack off for 15 minutes repeating this until an hour is up.

Toothaches are one of the worst pains so it is important to take preventative care so you will get less toothaches. Brushing teeth twice a day is the number one way to keep your teeth healthy and clean. Brushing removes any food particles, surface stains and can help freshen breath. Aside from brushing be sure to use mouthwash, floss and visit the dentist regularly.

No one wants to be ill. We want to have long and healthy lives. We visit our primary care physician, hoping to keep illness away or to get better in a timelier manner if we have some kind of illness. We do not often view visiting the tooth doctor, the dentist, as being more than a cosmetic endeavor. Certainly, if we have not been careful with our dental hygiene, we may have a cavity or two, but generally we think of a dental cleaning as being a minor procedure and not very urgent.

This attitude about skipping dental care can cost people a lot in the long run. The expense can be monetary, but it can also be at the cost of your ongoing health.

The obvious cost of not seeing a tooth doctor regularly, or as soon as a small problem crops up is that the problem gets worse. Skipping regular cleaning and x-rays allows plaque buildup, and can permit the onset of gum disease. It is much better to go in to the dentist, get regular cleaning and exams and to have the teeth treated with sealant than it is to have to have a root canal. Treat dental problems as urgently as you would treat a problem in the rest of your body. If you have fillings and one comes loose, get it looked at immediately. It may be that the cavity is growing again, and needs to be cleaned and refilled. Delaying regular care can result in severe decay. You then may need a root canal, or you may lose the tooth and need expensive extractions, bridges and crowns to replace the damage to your bite.

A second, less visible cost of poor dental care is a decline in your overall health. A cavity can lead to a systemic infection. Bacteria that are causing decay in your mouth can go to other parts of your body. Poor dental health can actually lead to heart trouble. It will migrate to the inside of any arteries that have problems and cause inflammation there as well as in your mouth. If you happen to have a joint replacement, the bacteria from your mouth will be inclined to settle there and attack that joint. Make your tooth doctor aware of any other health problems you have. It may be that you will need to take antibiotics before any procedure, including cleanings, just to keep infections out of your system.

The dentist is part of your health care team. People who have access to dental care live longer lives and save money as well. Dental problems lead to poor nutrition, but regular preventative dental care helps prevent other health problems as well.

What’s the first thing people might notice about another person? Is it that certain clothing style, or beautiful hair, or the perfect shape?
To tell the truth, it’s often the smile. The teeth.

Teeth have a way of biting back, however. They are supposed to grow in even rows, but they frequently refuse. They need strong, white enamel, but they often give up and decay. Sometimes the gums around them give way. Teeth do, indeed, have a way of becoming troublesome.

What’s to be done with difficult teeth? Oral Surgery San Antonio performs surgical procedures for troublesome teeth. Sometimes, oral surgery is required before a person can obtain the beautiful smile and healthy mouth tissue that is optimal.
Here are some of the ways in which an oral surgeon might assist a person to gain a beautiful smile.

1. Extractions
Wisdom teeth are teeth that arrive after all the other permanent teeth are in place. They sometimes create pressure on the other teeth, causing them to crowd and decay. Oral surgery can remove them.

2. Treatment of dental infections
Teeth decay, and if unattended, a dental infection may result. An oral surgeon will extract the infected tooth and clear the mouth of infection.

3. Periodontal surgery
Infected gums cause loss of teeth. Oral surgery is sometimes needed to clear infection from gum tissue.

4. Pre-prosthetic surgery.
If teeth are badly decayed, pre-prosthetic surgery is done to fit dentures in place of the former teeth. Multiple extractions and bone modification may need to be done.

5. Implants
Implants are permanent replacements for lost or extracted teeth. An oral surgeon may be required to seat them or modify surrounding gum tissue to accommodate them.

Preparing for oral surgery involves X-rays of the mouth. These will be reviewed by the surgeon and a medical history will be recorded. The patient will be informed of the risks of oral surgery, including information about the type of anesthetic to be used. When well-administered anesthetic is utilized, oral surgery need not be stressful. If a person is anxious, conscious sedation with medications can be given to calm jumpy nerves.

After oral surgery is performed, a detailed instruction sheet is given to the patient about how to care for post-surgical trauma and what medications to take.

Oral surgery can be the prelude to a beautiful smile. For instance, when the crowding of wisdom teeth is relieved, teeth are easier to floss and clean. When infected gum tissue is cleared up, teeth become firm and healthy.
Dentures look very natural and beautiful today, and the pain and health problems of decayed teeth are gone.
Implants look and feel like beautiful, perfectly natural teeth.

Oral surgery may be the first step to what people will notice first about you, that wonderful smile!

There are several reasons for children’s dental care. One, it is important to keep one’s teeth healthy and clean from the start. Second, it keeps bad breath and odor down. Third, having a dentist for one’s children helps keep their children healthy. Dental problems that are left unchecked for a long period of time can make a person physically sick and in a lot pain. Using a dentist for one’s children on a regular basis can stop these problems before they get worse. A dentist can also give recommendations on any dental procedures such as braces, retainers, or extracting a tooth to create space that might be needed as a child grows.
Children’s dental health is an important part of being a good parent. Children can get the same dental diseases that adults can get. When children get sick from dental issues it makes them not want to brush their teeth even more. This is the wrong message for children to receive. It is vital to oral and physical health that a person keeps their teeth and mouth clean. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing for cavities is not enough for protection. Children need to visit a dentist on a regular basis to make sure that cleaning is working properly.
Parents do not want their children to have bad breath, cavity ridden teeth, or oral gum disease. Problems like these can occur when children do not clean their teeth properly, often enough, or do not see a dentist on a regular basis. Smelly breath or bad mouth odors from cavities and tooth decay can be really embarrassing for children and adults. Keeping kid’s teeth and mouths clean and healthy is a good way to prevent embarrassing episodes from happening in the first place.
Unclean teeth and improperly cleaned teeth can breed bacteria and cause oral mouth disease. These oral mouth diseases, when left untreated, can become physically harmful and even deadly. There are certain bacteria that when left untreated, can move into the blood stream through dental decay and reach other parts of the body. These bacteria can lead to heart problems, breathing issues, stomach ulcers, and blood infections. In a worse case scenario, improper dental care can lead to death.
Children’s dental care is an important part of keeping a child safe and healthy. Teaching them how to properly take care of teeth is as important as seeing a dentist on a regular basis. A dentist can find problems before they get bad and can offer suggestions to help kids clean their teeth better or easier. A regular cleaning by a dental hygienist is important as well. Each cleaning lets the dentist do a good check for cavities and oral health problems.

Those who want to give their children the most in life should ensure that they protect their smiles. Children should start going to a family dental practice early, and they should learn good oral hygiene to get them started on a road to good oral health for their entire lives. Families which have noticed that their children may be developing crooked teeth may need to ask their dentist if they should see an orthodontist. Children may need braces or other corrective care to leave them with great looking teeth for years to come.

As dentists continue to monitor children’s teeth, they may be able to tell whether or not a child will eventually need orthodontic care. Going to a family dental practice can help to ensure that children aren’t eventually frightened by the dentist. They are going to be able to have care from a professional who knows how to explain oral hygiene practices in ways that children will be able to understand. This can make seeing the dentist a fun experience, so that children will want to be able to continue doing this for the rest of their lives.

Other ways to improve a child’s smile is start with their diet. Sugary foods and drinks can be bad for the teeth, and lead to getting more cavities when they go in for their regular visits. The first dental visit should be scheduled before a child turns one year old. It is also important not to share any eating utensil with a child, as bacteria from a parents mouth can spread to a child and contribute to them getting cavities. Using the correct type of toothpaste while the child is a toddler is important as well, as some contain ingredients that children shouldn’t have in their mouths.

Using too much toothpaste is not good as well, as very little toothpaste is needed to brush a child’s teeth. If they are using too much, then the teeth may end up getting stained as well. Getting a timer for brushing the teeth is important as well, so that children know how long they should be spending on this activity. This can lead to good brushing habits throughout the rest of a child’s life, and maybe even keep them from having to undergo uncomfortable dental procedures like having a cavity filled. There are many other things which can help to improve a child’s smile, including things like getting enough exercise which improves digestive health. This can ultimately improve the child’s smile, and set them up for good oral hygiene practices for their entire lives.

Gingivitis

Gum disease, also referred to as gingivitis (characterized by the inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (characterized by a bacterial disease of the gums), occurs when bacteria is allowed to grow and eat away at the soft tissue of the mouth, especially the already sensitive gums. Symptoms of gingivitis can be as minor as slight sensitivity to cold and warm temperatures of food or to severe concerns such as loss of teeth. Gingivitis is the beginning stages of gum disease with periodontal disease being the more advanced incarnation of the illness. Periodontal disease can progress to the point that irreversible damage has been sustained and even if the disease can be reversed there will still be the need for extensive dental work to restore the appearance of a healthy mouth, which may or may not be possible dependent on the amount of gum decay, tooth loss and bone damage sustained throughout the disease.

Gingivitis begins when the bacteria collected in plaque builds up to such a degree that it causes the gums to become inflamed, appearing swollen and red. Other symptoms include bleeding from the gums due to brushing and increased sensations of pain and irritation while brushing, flossing and eating. At this point gingivitis is merely an annoying development that can still be reversed. The teeth have not been affected nor have the gums become too weak or damaged to sustain their hold on the teeth. It is extremely important to begin the reversal process immediately once the beginning signs of gingivitis have come to the patient’s attention. This will help to keep the disease from developing into a much worse state.

If gum disease is allowed to progress to the periodontitis stage then the symptoms will develop into inner layers of the gums and bones pulling away from the teeth and forming pockets in the tissue. These pockets become hiding places for food particles and other oral bacterial debris, greatly increasing the risks for infection of the soft tissue of the mouth and of the teeth. Having a bacterial infection growing within the gum line can cause major health hazards and, if allowed, the infection may spread to other parts of the body as well. As the body wars against the growing infection bone and connective tissues that hold the teeth in place begin to erode. As this happens the teeth become looser and tooth loss can occur. Gum disease is currently the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Often sufferers become aware of their symptoms before the disease is irreversible but they allow themselves to let their embarrassment color their decisions and do not seek help until it is too late to correct the extensive damage.

The best way to fight against the onset of gum disease is to take preventative steps for oral health. Brushing teeth daily is a must, especially in the mornings and before bed, as these are the times when bacteria will begin to become corrosive. Flossing is another important step to eliminating as much bacterial and plaque build up in the mouth as is possible. For those already experiencing the beginning stages of gingivitis brushing and flossing may seem painful but the only way to reverse the disease is to cleanse the mouth as thoroughly as possible until the bacteria is no longer infectious. Brush and floss softly but thoroughly.

Try to avoid salty or sharp food items while the gums are repairing themselves. Chips and similar food items can cut the overly sensitive gums and cause increased pain or discomfort during necessary daily brushing and flossing sessions. It is also recommended that sugary beverages and foods are avoided while healing is taking place as these foods are damaging to the overall health of the mouth and instigate greater bacterial growth. There are instances when a family history of gum disease may be a contributing factor and it is important for a gum disease sufferer to keep their dental health professional apprised of their family history and their current concerns. Regular visits with a dentist will help to alleviate the symptoms of gingivitis in the hopes that nothing more severe will develop. Through proper care gum disease can be beaten and it is important to follow all the daily dental health steps that have been recommended by a dental health professional.