FAQS
DENTAL HYGIENE
Good dental care begins with good oral hygiene.This is important as good oral hygiene keeps many common dental problems away. Remember:
- Brush your teeth and gums 2 times each day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily and rinse with an antibacterial mouth wash.
- Visit your Dental Associates dentist every 6 months.
WEARING A FULL OR PARTIAL DENTURES? Remove the dentures, clean them thoroughly and store in water to prevent brittleness.
BAD BREATH
If you are suffering from bad breath for more than a few days even after practicing good dental hygiene, don’t be embarrassed or hesitate to make an appointment. It’s just your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Chronic or persistent bad breath can be a sign of an oral health problem such as: tooth decay, dry mouth or gum disease (periodontal disease) or a problem in another part of your body such as: diabetes, tonsillitis, liver or kidney problems among others. Book your appointment. Have it diagnosed. Follow the treatment plan.
DENTAL HYGIENE FOR BABIES & TODDLERS
BABIES AND TODDLERS NEED GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE TOO!
Here’s what to do.
- Use a soft, clean wash cloth to wipe the gums and tongue twice daily until the first 2 teeth come in.
- Ask your dentist for guidance on the right time to begin using a soft children’s tooth brush.
- Baby should be taken to see the dentist once the first tooth appears.
- Give babies and toddlers water between feedings and meals as it helps with good dental health.
- Once you have introduced the tooth brush, brush teeth with a soft baby’s toothbrush and a squeeze (size of a rice grain and a pea size after age 2) of children’s toothpaste twice a day until age 3.
- Flossing should begin once there are two teeth that touch.
- Children’s tooth brushes should be changed every 3 to 4 months and after an illness.
WHO ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS FOR?
Dental implants are a modern dental option for patients who have missing teeth. One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is that they look like your original teeth. This however, is only the beginning. Dental implants also help to correct problems with your bite. They allow you to regain the natural function of the teeth without compromising the strength of adjacent teeth as would have happened with traditional bridgework. Other benefits include: Enhancing your appearance. Protecting your jawbone. Restoring your smile.
PREGNANCY & DENTAL CARE
NOW THAT I’M PREGNANT. WHY ARE MY GUMS AND TEETH SO SENSITIVE?
You’re pregnant. Congratulations! At a time like this nothing should come before you and your baby’s health. It may surprise you to know that your visits to the dentist during this period are just as important as your visit to the doctor. Plaque buildup increases during this period and puts you at greater risk of developing tooth decay. Your gums may become irritated, swollen and may bleed. Although pregnancy does not cause gum disease; it exacerbates it.
Use the following tips to help you maintain your dental care routine on days that are anything but routine:
- Morning Sickness – If you are challenged with morning sickness; one thing to keep in mind is that the enamel on your teeth can be worn away by the acid that accompanies each episode. It is therefore recommended that you maintain your regimen of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day. However, it is advised that you rinse your mouth after the episode and wait at least one hour after vomiting before brushing your teeth.
- Dry mouth is another common condition that pregnant women experience. To manage it drink lots of water and limit your consumption of sugar.
- Visit your dentist! Ensure you visit your dentist during your pregnancy for the best chance of healthy teeth for you and your unborn baby. Schedule your appointment now.
FILLINGS
MY DENTIST HAS RECOMMENDED FILLINGS. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DO NOT HAVE THEM DONE? Once your dentist identifies decay in the teeth, fillings may be recommended. This is to prevent the decay from becoming worse and affecting the surrounding teeth and keeping gum disease away. Failing to have them done could mean pain, infection and loss of teeth in the not so distant future.
WHY ARE MY TEETH SO SENSITIVE AFTER HAVING FILLINGS DONE?
Tooth fillings are a routine, pain free dental procedure when done right. However, after the filling procedure has been completed you may experience discomfort or pain. This pain comes from increased sensitivity to heat, cold, air pressure, biting and grinding that your teeth. You may experience discomfort for 2-4weeks post treatment. If the sensitivity does not go after 4 weeks you need to contact your dentist. Schedule your appointment now.
HOW DO I CARE FOR MY TEETH AFTER FILLINGS ARE DONE?
Your teeth may be sensitive after having fillings done. Making the following adjustments will help to manage the sensitivity.
- Don’t eat until the anesthesia has worn off or until your mouth is no longer numb. You may end up biting your tongue and cheeks without realizing.
- Enjoy your beverages at room temperature. Avoid hot and cold beverages as far as possible until the sensitivity goes away.
- Avoid biting into hard foods and grinding your teeth.
- Care for your fillings as you would your regular teeth.
- Brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice daily and floss daily.
- Rinse with an anti-bacterial mouth wash twice daily.
- Visit your Dental Associates Dentist every 6 months so that your fillings can be checked periodically.
CAN MY FILLINGS FALL OUT?
From time to time fillings may become cracked or dislodged. The act of the filling falling out may not be painful, however, exposure of the underlying tissue may make the tooth or gum sensitive to heat, cold and air pressure and generate discomfort or pain. The best option therefore, is to visit your dentist to have your filling replaced. Make an appointment now.
WHAT ARE CONSEQUENCES OF UNTREATED GUM DISEASE?
If left untreated gum disease can result in:
- Receding gums.
- Tooth loss.
- Bone loss.
- Dental pain.
- Appearance of premature aging & heart disease.
IS GUM DISEASE PREVENTABLE?
In most cases gum disease can be prevented by practicing good dental hygiene. However, diseases such as diabetes and HIV are also contributing factors in the development of gum disease. If you are managing either of those conditions, your dentist is a critical member of your wellness team that needs to be seen regularly. See a dentist now.
MEDICAL HISTORY
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SHARE MY MEDICAL HISTORY WITH MY DENTIST?
To administer the very best in dental care it’s important that you are open with your dentist about your any health challenges that you are experiencing. Your dentist needs to have an understanding of your medical history because many oral issues begin in other parts of the body and are triggered by existing medical conditions. Conversely, many dental issues are an indication of a problem in other parts of the body.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
Root canal treatment is the most effective way to treat bacterial infections to the pulp of the tooth due to advanced dental decay or trauma. Without root canal treatment the infection may spread to other teeth. The alternative treatment to root canal therapy is extraction. Root canal treatment is a multi-step process that is administered in 1 or 2 visits depending on the state of the tooth and your circumstances.
Great news! We can take care of the procedure with minimal or no discomfort.
After the root canal, the tooth is typically restored and protected from future fracture with our high quality dental crowns.
WISDOM TEETH
Your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars (back teeth) to grow. They typically appear between the ages of 17 to 22. Although they may grow without any challenges the moment that you experience pain as a result of wisdom teeth it is time to see the dentist.
WHAT CAUSES MY WISDOM TEETH TO HURT
Pain from wisdom teeth can be caused by a variety of reasons such as:
- Improper alignment of the tooth which may also cause to nearby teeth
- A sack of tissue can grow around it and form a cyst while it is trying to grow
- Wisdom teeth may become impacted which means that there is insufficient room to come out of the gum
- There may be insufficient space to clean and floss the teeth based on their placement making them susceptible to inflammation, tooth decay and gum disease.
WILL MY TOOTH HAVE TO BE REMOVED?
Based on the type of problem; the wisdom tooth may have to be extracted. If the wisdom tooth has fully erupted, it may require a simple extraction. If not, a more complex surgical procedure is required. At Dental Associates, we use advanced dental procedures and local anesthetics to allow for a fairly pain-free process. We also provide referrals to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon if the tooth extraction will be complicated.
WILL MY WISDOM TEETH GROW BACK?
Like all permanent teeth, wisdom teeth do not grow back.
HOW TO RECOVER FROM MY WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION?
Your teeth and gums will heal naturally after your wisdom tooth extraction.
Use the tips below to manage discomfort as it heals:
- Hold a cold pack to your jaw to soothe any soreness that you may experience
- Stay hydrated with water- but no rinsing or spitting on the day of the extraction.
- Do not consume sodas, alcohol or hot beverages for at least 24 hours after surgery
If your dentist recommends pain killers. Take them as per recommendation.