Understanding Dental Pain

As we all know, toothaches are the result of several different factors.  The pain that stems from a toothache is always apparent, normally in the form of throbbing.  The pain will normally intensify as time goes by, when you eat, lay down, or drink hot/cold liquids.  Toothaches are very painful, and it may seem that no matter what you do – it seems to hurt more and no painkiller work.

In the dental world, toothaches can include such things as cavities, infections or abscess in the teeth or gums, debris that has been trapped between the teeth and gums, and trauma to the face, teeth, or the jaw.  Sometimes, toothaches can result from medical conditions and have nothing to do with dental.  In most cases, if the problem goes without being checked, it can lead to serious trouble and maybe even become a life-threatening situation.

Normally, when you have a toothache, you’ll experience tremendous pain.  The pain will stem from the affected tooth or the jaw, and you’ll know it almost immediately.  It will start out to be a throbbing pain, then continue to get worse and worse until you get it treated.  If you wait too long and allow the infection to spread throughout the tooth, you’ll end up having to have this tooth extracted or having to have root canal treatment that is the treatment of nerve canal.

Anytime you start to experience a toothache, you shouldn’t hesitate to make an appointment with your dentist to have it checked.  Sometimes, getting an appointment when your tooth starts hurting is easier said than done.  Even though you may be able to use certain products to stop the pain, the pain will always come back until you get the problem fixed.  A toothache will always come back, until you get the tooth taken care of.

If you visit your dentist in time and they diagnose the problem early, they may be able to save your tooth with less discomfort and less cost.  Normally, this will result in a filling, crown, or root canal, and hopefully you won’t have to have the tooth removed.  Dentists always look to save teeth, as they don’t like to remove a tooth unless they absolutely must. If the tooth has become abscessed, the dentist will put you on antibiotics until the infection has subsided enough to remove the tooth or start a root canal treatment if possible.

Throughout our lives, most of us will experience the pain and agony of a toothache at some point.  A toothache can be the worst pain you have ever felt in your life. Therefore, we recommend regular examination to detect any problem early and avoid problems such as dental pain.

Dr Bita Craig D.D.S.

Taking Care Of Sensitive Teeth

As millions of people all around the world know, sensitive teeth can make life in general a nightmare.  Sensitive teeth come with pain and discomfort that can make eating or drinking your favorite foods a painful experience.  Although you may suffer from sensitive teeth, you can rest assured that they can be treated.

Normally, this condition presents tooth pain after drinking cold liquid, eating hot or cold foods, or breathing cold air.  If the pain becomes too much to bear, you should immediately see your dentist, as the nerve of your tooth could be exposed.  Normally, sensitive teeth starts when the gums begin to pull away from the teeth.  With the gums being a protective blanket, they cover and protect the teeth’s roots.  When the gums recede and pull away, the roots have no protection, and therefore they will be exposed.

The exposed root tips contain small tubules that lead directly to the nerves of the teeth.  Whenever pressure, hot, or cold elements travel down the tubules, it will trigger the nerves and result in pain.  Those who don’t have sensitive teeth will have their gums covering the tubules, which prevents these types of things from happening.

The idea here is to stop tooth sensitivity and keep the gums healthy.  If you reduce the pressure you use when brushing your teeth, you’ll find that your gums will remain healthy.  When taught to brush their teeth, most people are instructed to use a lot of force.  While this can get the teeth clean, it will also tear at the gums, which can lead to sensitive teeth.  If you have sensitive teeth now, you should try using an electric toothbrush such as the Sonicare advanced.

Although you may have sensitive teeth now, there are ways you can help to improve your gums and your teeth.  There are several toothpastes out there on the market that contain potassium nitrate, which helps to reduce pain and discomfort associated with sensitivity.  Although there are several toothpastes to choose from, Sensodyne is the preferred.  It’s recommended by dentists as being the best, simply because it affects the nerve of the tooth and stops the pain where it starts.

Mouthwash can also help tooth sensitivity, providing it contains fluoride.  You can also ask your dentist which mouthwash he recommends, as there are several to choose from.

If you start using fluoride toothpaste such as Sensodyne and mouthwash, you will notice a bit improvement in your teeth and gums.  The sensitivity will begin going away, giving you almost immediate relief.  When you brush, make sure you brush gently, and avoid using any type of force, as it will always cause your gums to recede again.

If using Sensodyne, and fluoride mouthwash doesn’t help, you should ask your dentist about other options available to you.  Your dentist will know what will help you, so you shouldn’t hesitate to ask.  Your dentist will know how to eliminate your sensitivity once and for all, and how to prevent it from coming back.  Tooth sensitivity is something that many of us must deal with – although there are ways that you can fight back and prevent the pain and discomfort associated with sensitivity from making your life harder than it must be.

Keeping your teeth in good condition

The Basics Of Brushing

Brushing and flossing are something we all learn at an early age.  The proper way to brush your teeth takes less than 2 minutes, although many people tend to spend much longer, or much less.  Most adults tend to spend less than a minute, which isn’t enough time to clean your teeth.  To get the right amount of time brushing, you should try using a stopwatch while you brush.

When you brush your teeth, you should avoid using pressure but instead use short, gentle strokes.  You should focus on hard to reach places, and make sure that you get the areas between your teeth as well.  You should also make sure you get eating surfaces as well, along with your upper and lower gums.  If you focus on all areas of your mouth, you’ll get everything when you brush.

Along with using the proper brushing techniques, you will also need to use the right toothpaste as well.  There are a variety of toothpastes available, designed to help you with a variety of different conditions.  You can get toothpaste that will prevent toothaches, stop sensitivity, and prevent things such as tartar and gingivitis.  Toothpaste is the best way to protect your teeth, therefore you should always ask your dentist what type of toothpaste he recommends for you.

To get the most out of brushing, you’ll need to have a good toothbrush.  There are many different models to choose from, which can make it extremely difficult to choose one.  When you make your choice, you should look for brushes that have soft bristles.  Soft bristles are easy on your gums, and they will remove plaque and other debris from your teeth.  A small head is also preferred, as it can easily reach hard to get places, such as your back teeth.

You should also remember to replace your brush every couple of months, or when it starts to show signs of wear.  If you’ve had a cold you should replace your toothbrush, simply because the bristles can contain germs that could get you sick all over again.  Toothbrushes that show wear should always be replaced, as they can have an impact on your gums.  If the bristles start to get worn down, they can tear away at your gums, leading to sensitivity.

To get the most from your brushing, you should always use a bit of common sense and ask your dentist for his recommendations.  Brushing your teeth will help keep them healthy, and prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar.  Keep in mind that brushing does help your teeth, although you still need to go to your dentist for regular checkups.  If you take care of your teeth and brush them on a regular basis – you will keep them free of infections and cavities.

Woman smiling with teeth close-up

When it comes to teeth whitening, most people think of professionally administered in-office whitening treatments. However, there are a wide range of at-home do-it-yourself whitening options available as well. In this feature, we compare these two whitening options, helping you weigh the pros and cons of each.

Getting over your fear of dentist

Dental anxiety or fearing the dentist is a problem that many people have, and something that is somewhat difficult to overcome.  This fear normally prevents rational people from visiting the dentist and maintaining the health of their teeth.  The key to keeping your teeth healthy is to prevent problems before they start.  Those who suffer from dental anxiety will try to avoid going to the dentist, which results in problems.

When someone who suffers from dental anxiety finally goes to the dentist, they normally find that even the smallest of problems can turn serious and require a lot of work and intervention from the dentist.  Even though you may not realize it, regular cleaning visits to your dentist is the best way to keep your teeth healthy, and prevent problems such as decay and cavities.

You can use several techniques to overcome dental anxiety.  Some of the techniques require mild sedatives, also referred to as sedation.  Sedation is a way to relax, given by breathing or IV (Intra Vein) through a vein in your arm.  Sedation will help you to calm down, although you will normally be awake to answer questions or talk to your dentist.

Some people who suffer from dental anxiety have had bad experiences.  Any type of negative dental experience will normally result in emotional scarring and last for years.  Anything that results in negative feelings for the patient will normally cause them to feel in a negative way toward the entire dental profession.  Although all dentists aren’t bad – a negative experience will certainly make a patient feel that way.

When you look fora dentist, you should always ask your family and friends who they use, and who they recommend.  When you visit a dentist, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask him any questions that come to mind, so you can be more relaxed.  You should always keep in mind that you are customer, and the dentist is the one who needs to make you feel relaxed.  Never should you feel intimidated, as the best dentists will do everything they can to establish a sense of trust.

Establishing trust is very important with the patient/dentist relationship.  You’ll be going to your dentist on a frequent basis, so you’ll want to be sure that you can trust him.  When you go to your dentist for the first time, you should let him know about your dental anxiety.  If he isn’t willing to talk about it with you or do things to help you relax, you should look into a new dentist.

You can always tell who the better dentists are by the type of facilities they have.  Dentists who have  a lot of customers or nice offices, have established themselves and proved that they are indeed the best.  If a dentist has a lot of customers, it lets you know that he has them for a reason.  People that are satisfied with a dentist, normally return. 

If you suffer from dental anxiety, you should always let your dentist know in advance.  This way, he work with you to overcome your fear.  Over time, you’ll find that you can overcome your fear and establish a great relationship with your dentist.  You can get over your fear of dentists, no matter how bad your fear may be.  It will take you some time, although your dentist should be willing to work with you.  Before you know it, you’ll be over your fear and more than willing to go to your dentist.