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Tips for Healthy
Teeth
Regular
Check-ups should be
scheduled every 6 months to maintain optimum dental health.
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.
Foods
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 can be 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
makes the tooth more difficult and more expensive to treat.
First
Aid for Dental Problems
Toothache - can be a forewarning to a possible
abscessed tooth. Take pain medication and call your dentist.
Do not place aspirin directly on teeth or gums.
Cracked
Fillings - 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 - can be an early
warning to gum disease. Brush and floss thoroughly and rinse
with warm salt water. Consult your dentist.
Wisdom
Tooth Pain - take pain
medication. Rinse with warm salty water. Consult your dentist
about this recurring problem.
Canker
Sore - This condition
usually heals on its own within 7-10 days. Consult your dentist
for proper diagnosis and symptomatic relief.
Loose
Crown - Do not use
any type of glue to re-cement 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 your dentist.
Teething
Pain - Cold objects,
such as teeth rings usually help. Also over the counter teething
ointments will give relief.
Chipped
Baby Tooth - If painful,
give pain medicine 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 re-implanted.
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.
Dental
Nutrition
A diet with
nutritional well balanced meals that is good for your general
health is also good for your teeth and gums.
All foods
that contain sugar can contribute to tooth decay
The amount
of time foods containing sugar stay in the mouth is more damaging
than the amount of sugar consumed at one specific time. For
example; it is better to eat 5 pieces of candy in 10 minutes
instead of sucking on them for 2 hours.
If you chew
gum, suck on breath mints, or drink soda pop a lot, at least
select the sugarless brands.
If you or
your children like to snack between meals, try more nutritional
foods such as popcorn, nuts cheese, raw vegetables, etc.
This is
the sequence by which sugar causes tooth decay:
Plaque
+ Sugar = Acid
Acid + Tooth Enamel = Tooth Decay |
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