Gingivitis and Peridontal Disease

February 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Dental Care, Tooth

How does one define gingivitis? Gingivitis is a grave form of periodontal disease which results in loss of teeth. This is the most widespread form of disease related to the gums. How can one ensure that we do not fall a prey to this disease. Dentists advise that one needs to brush teeth at least twice in a day. You need to also wash your mouth and clean your teeth whenever you have consumer food either in a liquid or a solid form. Once you form a practice of gargling your mouth, there are lesser chances of tartar to get accumulated on your teeth. Lesser tartar means healthier teeth, and lesser chances of a gum disease to develop.

Gingivitis is defined as a sore or a swelling on the gum tissues. In case one allows plaque and tartar to accumulate on the lining of the gum, the gums would get puffier and swell. If you ignore these signs, there would be a situation where your gums could get tender and you would experience irritating pain of the gums. This would further results in oozing of blood from the gums. Even if your gums are exposed to the slightest force, there would be bleeding of the gums. At any point of time, you would notice bleeding of teeth, even when you perform normal brushing or flossing.

One has to take note of the fact there are no bleeding gums. The first signs of gingivitis are bleeding gums. Now how does one prevent this condition? The answer is simple. You need to take simple oral hygiene steps. Brush your teeth and flossing would help to a great extent. Do this several times a day, but with care. Ensure that you do not damage the enamel of your teeth in the process. Untreated gingivitis would result in periodontal disease.

One can ensure spreading of this disease by regular visiting the dentist. Periodontal disease is indeed a severe form of oral disease, which needs to be treated immediately. Never wait for this mishap to happen. Prevention is better than care. Rush to your dentist immediately.

What are the initial signs of this disease? In the initial stages, one would experience redness and soreness of the gums. The reason for this is that you have let plaque and tartar build over the years, without even bothering to visit your dentist. Further laziness in visiting your dentist would ensure that you teeth and gums are totally dead in a few years or months, depending on the condition of the disease.

It is not always true that plaque is seen or noticed in a periodontal disease. Unless your dentist has examined you, you would not even be aware that you are suffering from this grave thing. The dentist would want you to undergo certain tests, to ascertain the gravity of the problem. Trust your dentist and abide by whatever he has to say. Even though the damage has been done, still there is a ray of hope, if you religiously follow his say.

Individuals suffering from gingivitis and periodontal disease experience excruciating pain. There would be signs that you are suffering from this disease at a later stage. If left undetected, there are chances that you would lose your tooth.

Note that you need your tooth and gums till the time you are alive. In case you do not take enough care of both of them, it would be a very tough time for you. Ensure that you do go the dentist regularly to be on the safe side. It would be difficult for your dentist also in case you are too late.

How does dental extraction work?

February 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Dental Care, Tooth

Extracting a tooth is the easiest way to get relief from a painful tooth. In case your dentist feels there is no possibility of saving your tooth, then extraction would be the last resort. Depending on the gravity of the problem, and the extent of infection, your dentist would decide the course of extraction, be it simple or a complicated one.

How does simple extraction work?

These are the commonest of extractions resorted to by most of the dentists worldwide. In this type of extraction, the dentist would loosen the gums around the tooth and just pull it out with forceps. He would need to loosen the tooth by moving it from side to side. This way the ligament is loosened and the tooth comes out without much of a botheration.

This type of tooth pulling does not take much time. The dentist would inject anesthesia around the area of the tooth which needs to be extracted. You would experience a lack of sensation in that area and within minutes the job is done. Once the process is through, the dentist would place disinfectant gauze, you would need to hold it place on the extracted area and then you are free to go.

How does a complex extraction work?

It is not always possible to just pull out a tooth when it is damaged, broken or fractured. The dentist would first have to ascertain the extent of damage. In case the tooth is totally infected or broken or there is absolutely no place for the dentist to hold the forceps to extract the tooth, he needs to go in for a complex extraction. The dentist would have to pull out the tooth which has gone much below the gum line. He would have to first make an incision around the infected tooth, so that the tooth bone is exposed. Once he is able to grab the tooth with the help of forceps, he can just pull it out. Sometimes, it could also so happen that the tooth is fixed and deep rooted in the bone.

This type of extraction is common among individuals who have impacted teeth or who suffer from severe decayed tooth. The decay has entered the bone. Once the dentist is through with the cutting of the tooth, he has to sew the flap back. Antibiotics are effective I healing both the flap of the skin and the socket. One also needs to keep that portion clean as advised by the dentist.

Dental extractions are common incidences nowadays. But it is advised that one goes in for an oral surgeon to tackle these problems, since it is their field of expertise. Time is the greatest healer. But with enough care and oral hygiene, you would feel much better.

Pulling Your Own Teeth Out

February 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Dental Care, Toothache

Toothache can be a nightmare. So people do try and pull out their own tooth by applying their own techniques. Just to get relief from this throbbing pain, they do not mind pulling their tooth. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable that you cannot think of anything other than trying ways to reduce this pain. Sometimes the cavity is so bad that any amount of medicines would not help in giving relief to the tooth. Tooth problems have existed since man has been there. Pliers were used in the good olden days to extract tooth. In the olden days, there were no tranquilizers. So people used to get drunk so much that they would forget the pain and then the tooth would be pulled out. In case you venture out on pulling out the tooth on your own, then it is for sure that you would definitely experience some amount of pain and discomfort.

It is not always possible to pull one’s own teeth. Baby teeth can be pulled out, in case it moves a little. But certain times, we are not quite sure whether the tooth which is shaking is due to an abscess or something else. When you are unsure, heed for a dentist.

Another instance where you could just pull out the tooth is when one is suffering from a severe gum disease. The socket of the tooth becomes so loose and flimsy that even without any effort; your tooth would become loose and just fall off. But in case the infection is so severe, that you experience unbearable pain even on merely touching the tooth, do not play mischief with it. In case you manage to shake it, there are chances that you are not able to pull out the entire tooth, only a portion of the tooth comes out in your hand. For clearing the remaining portion, you would not have to go to a dentist.

It is not always likely that you just hold the loose tooth with pliers and rip it off. It would result in more damage than good. One need to appreciate teeth are fragile and delicate and they need to be handled with care. Handling your tooth with cutting pliers is definitely not a wise option. It would also lead to other mouth infections. It is advised that one does not deal with abscesses. You need to go to a dentist immediately to sort out the problems. The dentist would give you some antibiotics which could help in healing the wound.

It is advised that one does not wait till the tooth problem becomes so grave that you have to rush to the dentist. Teething problems should be taken care of immediately. Never venture into pulling off your tooth on your own. It would lead to more problems. Your dentist would do a clean job and you would not experience any pain or discomfort. He would numb the infected area with injections and then rip off the tooth. Antibiotics would also be prescribed by healing the infected area of the tooth. In case you manage to pull out the tooth by any chance, you would still have to go to the dentist.

What are cavities

February 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Cavities, Dental Care

Cavities are nothing but tooth decay. Given below are the factors that lead to decaying tooth. It is mainly influenced by our eating habits, our oral hygiene and fluoride content in the toothpaste we use. Hereditary plays a very important role in our oral health. Certain families have unhealthy teeth. These problems are passed down hereditarily.

For good oral hygiene, there has to be enough saliva content in the mouth. In case there is less saliva generated by the mouth, it leads to a parched mouth. This is the main cause of tooth problems. People who consume tobacco in forms like cigarettes have a parched mouth. The tobacco would just absorb all your saliva, thereby giving rise to a parched mouth. This is when cavities are born.

Untreated cavities could lead to a number of tooth problems. It not only affects the tooth, but also the nerve endings of the tooth. It could also develop into abscess. Abscess is a sore or a boil which appears the tip of the tooth root. It can results in fatality, if left untreated. Cavities are something which could results in other grave problems.

Regular visits to your dentist would prevent cavities because the dentist would detect a cavity immediately and start the necessary course of action. It is for sure that most of the cavities take their birth in the gum roots, where it is visibly not possible to locate them, unless you take an x-ray of your tooth and gums. In case there is a cavity, it will discolor that particular tooth. In case you see a blackened portion inside your teeth, do not wait any longer. Rush to your dentist. He could possibly save your tooth or if not at least go in for a root canal.

Eating and dietary habits are the contributors to cavities. A person with a sweet tooth has maximum chances of a cavity. People who consume too many alcoholic and soda drinks are also at risk to cavities. These artificially sweetened foods erode the outer enamel of your tooth resulting in tartar formation and later cavities. The acids present in the soda drinks would erode the enamel lining of your tooth. In case you do not take effective steps, the dentist would be left with no other option but to extract your tooth. Negligence on your part would further make the condition even worst, when the entire enamel has been scraped off and the roots of your tooth are exposed which would result in unbearable pain.

The main place of cavities is normally the behind tooth, places of chewing in between the teeth. The best way to avoid its occurrence and regular visits to a dentist. Your dentist would advise you on the x-rays to be taken so that he gets a perfect idea of the cavities and whether they can be treated or not. If your dentist feels there is no other option, then he will have to rip it off.

Fear of Dentist? Read This

February 16, 2009 by  
Filed under Dental Care, Dentist

The fear and panic associated with visiting the dentist is one of reasons why people put off visiting the dentist. The anxiety accompanied on visiting a dentist prevents even sane and balanced individuals from visiting the dentist. Prevention is better than cure. This proverb perfectly fits the criteria when you have to visit a dentist’s clinic. Individuals facing oral and dental problems dodge visiting the dentist, the result being more and more troubles.

A person suffering from fear and anxiety to visit a dentist finally is dawned with the fact that the problems which he thought very small have become grave. The dentist would finally pen down the exact problems and what course of treatment you would have to undergo, the time taken for the treatment etc. The best way to maintain oral hygiene is regular visits to the dentist. One needs to get one’s teeth cleaned at least once a year. You can be rest assured that you would not have problems like decay and cavities, since your dentist would trace these out immediately on your frequent visits.

There are many methods you can rely on to prevent from getting tensed and conquer the fear associated with it. It could be anything from anesthesia to IV sedation. Injecting an anesthesia is the best way to calm a person. These tranquilizers help an individual to relax and you would not experience the pain. You would not only be able to answer all the questions put forth by your dentist, but you would also be fully aware of whatever is taking place around you.

There are people who have experienced awful experiences. These types of traumas can leave bad memories. These memories would prevail for a very long period. It is difficult for people to get over it. People who have experienced dental nervousness and have encountered bad experiences would start hating the entire dentistry world. There could have been instances where certain dentists would have been rough, but it would leave a permanent scar on the patient for a life time.

Always go in for a dentist who has been referred to by your relatives, acquaintances and friends. One can be in a better frame of mind, if one is relaxed so be bold enough to ask all questions which create doubt in your mind. Once these doubts are cleared, you would be more at ease. The customer is the king. So here you are the king. It is the responsibility of the dentist to ensure your comfort.

There has to be a comfort level between the patient and dentist. Since there would be frequent visits, one needs to ensure that your dentist is reliable. Next time when you make a visit, be open in telling him about your apprehensions. In case you feel your queries are not answered enough, or you are even slightly uncomfortable, hunt for another dentist.

It is easy to identify a dentist who has the latest sophisticated equipment. Dentists who has his database of clients or who have well equipped offices have indeed themselves in this field. Established dentists have clients who religiously visit them for regular checkups.

Individuals who experience tension while visiting dentists should inform the dentist about it so that he is able to ease you out of your stress. This way you could build a long lasting relationship with your dentist.

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