A dental emergency isn’t always the same for every person. However, there are certain situations in which you’re better off seeking help from a dentist as soon as you can. While you can go the emergency room if your dentist isn’t available, it’s always best to try and see a dentist for injuries or conditions specifically relating to the oral cavity.

So what exactly is considered a dental emergency? Here are a few conditions that you shouldn’t wait to seek help for.

Severe Pain, Swelling, or Bleeding

If you have sudden or severe pain, swelling, or bleeding, it’s time to call your dentist. Pain could be a symptom of a wide range of conditions, from knocked-out or cracked teeth to a life- threatening infection.

Any pain, swelling, or bleeding that’s uncontrollable needs to be evaluated by your oral healthcare professional as soon as possible. While some people who have dental health issues may not experience symptoms, others will.

For example, for some patients, a cracked tooth may not be a dental emergency if the crack is small, but for others, a major crack can be very painful and require immediate attention [1].

Always pay attention to your symptoms and listen to what your body needs!

Trauma to the Oral Cavity

Trauma to your oral cavity can take many forms. You may have been in a car accident and have a broken jaw, or sustained another type of injury that’s affected your facial bones or even your airway.

Any acute trauma to the oral cavity is generally considered a dental emergency [2]. Sports injuries, falls, car accidents, and many other types of situations could affect your jaw, teeth, or gums, leading to the need for immediate professional attention.

Post-Surgery Complications

If you’ve recently had a dental procedure—whether an extraction, wisdom tooth removal, or dental implant placement—and are experiencing adverse symptoms, you may need to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a post-surgery complication or infection that you should never ignore include:

• Swelling at the procedure site
•  Unexplained bleeding
• Loose or missing stitches
• A bad taste in your mouth
• Uncontrollable pain

These could all be signs that your mouth isn’t healing as it should be and may even have an infection [3]. If you’re not sure whether a symptom you’re experiencing is normal, never hesitate to reach out to your dentist to ask!

Broken Orthodontia

If you or your child has metal braces, any type of injury or accident involving your oral cavity could be dangerous. If metal braces are damaged or begin to come apart for any reason, the wire could puncture your soft tissues and require a prompt repair.

While some broken or damaged orthodontia can wait until the next available appointment, other cases are considered an emergency. Never wait to get your braces evaluated if you’re experiencing severe pain or bleeding!

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out to Your Dentist!

Most dentists offer emergency care and will do their best to accommodate you in the event of a dental emergency. Always reach out to your dentist first before going to the emergency room to ask if they can see you or if you have any questions about a potential dental emergency!

Sources:

1. https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/you-asked-what-qualifies-as-a-dental-emergency/
2. https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emer
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071467/

The post What Exactly Is Considered a Dental Emergency? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Bacteria in Your Oral Cavity Have Been Linked to Heart Problems

The oral cavity is full of different types of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are helpful while others are harmful. Bacteria in your mouth that have negative effects have been linked to problems such as:

• Heart disease
• Endocarditis
• Damage to blood vessels
• Blood clots

Oral bacteria could also lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke [1]. While more research is needed to fully understand the link between oral health and heart health, having good oral hygiene is still important!

Gum Inflammation Can Affect Bodily Inflammation

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, causes inflammation in the oral cavity that can influence inflammation throughout the rest of the body. The bacteria involved in gum disease create an inflammatory response in your mouth that may influence your risk for vascular damage that affects the heart and the brain [2].

Again, while a direct connection hasn’t been established, there is substantial research to support the link between poor oral health and systemic conditions such as heart disease and chronic inflammatory conditions.

The Link Between Oral Health and Mental Health

Did you know your dental health can affect your state of mind as well? Some psychiatric disorders have been associated with tooth decay and gum disease [3]. While the link isn’t clear, experts suggest reviewing the oral health of patients experiencing severe mental illness, as poor oral health can significantly impact the quality of life of patients and could potentially play a role in the outcome of treatment.

Tooth Infections Can Be Life-Threatening

If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to a painful infection that has the potential to be life threatening [4]. Although rare, tooth abscesses can cause harmful oral bacteria to get into the bloodstream, which can then affect the brain and the heart. Early tooth decay is often asymptomatic, which makes getting regular exams with your dentist all the more important!

Take Care of Your Smile!

Taking care of your smile affects more than your appearance. Your oral health can affect your entire body and may even play a role in your mental health. As more research comes to light, medical professionals become ever more aware of the effect that the health of your teeth and gums has on your body!

Sources:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/heart-disease-oral-health
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4841282/
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/hidden-dental-dangers-that-may-threaten-your-whole-body

The post How Does Your Dental Health Affect You? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether or not you require urgent care for your smile all depends on the symptoms you’re having as well as whether or not you feel you can wait. Let’s review some common dental problems and whether or not they require professional care as soon as possible.

Severe Pain, Bleeding, or Swelling Shouldn’t Wait

If you’re experiencing excruciating pain or have significant bleeding or swelling in your oral cavity, you shouldn’t wait to seek emergency dental care. Any of these symptoms could be detrimental to your health, and could even be indicative of a potentially life threatening infection.

When you need attention as soon as possible for your smile, it’s best to go to a dental practice if you’re able to. Many dental emergencies can be promptly and accurately handled by a dental office rather than going to the emergency room at a hospital [1].

Fallen Out Restorations, Chipped Teeth May Be Able to Wait

There are some instances where a dental problem requiring professional care can wait. Some people who have fallen-out dental restorations such as fillings or dental bridges can wait until the next available appointment or the next day to get care.

Depending on the level of discomfort and the severity of the problem, some dental injuries such as chipped teeth may also be able to wait. However, if you have a knocked-out tooth or a severely chipped or cracked tooth, it’s best to get in to see your dentist as soon as possible [2].

Jaw fractures and tooth infections should also never wait to be seen!

When in Doubt, Always Call Your Dentist

If you’re having any pain, discomfort, swelling, or bleeding in your oral cavity and aren’t sure if the problem can wait, call your dentist. They can review your symptoms and let you know if they think you should be seen immediately or if you can wait.

For many people, only they know whether or not they need emergency attention. Some people feel their discomfort can wait a day or two, while others feel that they need to be seen as soon as possible. Your dentist can make a recommendation based on your symptoms—and most dentists offer emergency hours or services so they can get you in to be seen immediately!

Don’t Wait to Seek Treatment for a Dental Emergency!

Whether or not you feel you have a dental emergency that can wait, don’t hold off too long to get your smile seen. Even if you need to go to the emergency room, never wait to get severe pain, bleeding, or swelling addressed. Call your dentist if you have any questions about a dental emergency!

Sources:
1.https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/HPI/Files/HPIBrief_08
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/dental-emergencies

The post How to Know If Your Dental Emergency Can Wait appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Tooth damage has both intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) causes. Damage to the tooth may be the result of decay or an infection inside, while exterior discoloration can occur from tooth staining [1].

How can you prevent a damaged tooth from turning black?

See Your Dentist to Identify the Problem

No matter what’s affected your tooth, your dentist can help you. For teeth that have sustained an impact or deep decay, the interior of the tooth, also known as the pulp, may be affected.

When the inside tissue of the tooth is affected by bacteria, it can cause the tooth to turn a darker color. Decay may also appear as black spots on your teeth [2]!

If your tooth is already turning a darker color, the tooth may be dead. However, if you see your dentist as soon as you’re able, you may be able to save the tooth and avoid an extraction with root canal therapy.

During root canal therapy, your dentist will clean out the dead tissue and seal your tooth, which will help restore its color and prevent it from turning black—and also help you avoid getting an extraction!

Never Wait to Seek Attention

Your tooth may not turn dark as the result of decay, but it could be due to a crack that’s extended down to the pulp of the tooth. Addressed in a timely manner, cracks can typically be repaired and don’t always affect the inner tissue of your tooth, which will help prevent it from turning black.

Waiting to seek dental treatment increases the chances that your damaged tooth will turn black. Even if the damage isn’t the result an interior problem, it could be the result of enamel damage, which still needs to be addressed by your oral healthcare professional to prevent your tooth from turning a darker color [3].

Do You Have a Damaged Tooth?

If your tooth has been damaged for any reason, seeking professional attention can help you prevent it from turning black. Once a tooth has begun to turn a darker color, it can take some time for its white shade to return, even after treatment. But with the right care as soon as possible, you can prevent this darker color entirely so your smile stays bright and healthy for years to come!

Sources:
1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321777.php#causes
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tooth-decay/
3. https://now.tufts.edu/articles/what-causes-discolored-teeth-and-there-any-way-cure-

The post How to Prevent a Damaged Tooth From Turning Black appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Extensive Tooth Decay

The most common cause of a painful toothache is extensive tooth decay [1]. What this means is that you may have a cavity that’s gotten deep enough to cause discomfort or even an infection. You may or may not be able to see the cavity simply by examining your teeth in the mirror.

For many patients, tooth decay won’t cause symptoms until the cavity has progressed to the point that the nerve tissue becomes involved and potentially infected. Once this happens, you’ll likely need root canal therapy to save your tooth.

Damage to Dental Restorations

Another potential cause of your uncomfortable toothache could be damage to a dental restoration you’ve had done. Think a filling, crown, or dental bridge. You may have caused damage to your filling by eating a hard or sticky food, or your filling could have naturally deteriorated over time (remember, no restoration lasts forever!).

If your dental restoration is causing your tooth pain, your dentist will simply need to repair the affected tooth with a new restoration for you to begin feeling better!

A Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth aren’t always obvious when they happen. For some, the pain and sensation of injuring a tooth to the point that it fractures will be obvious. For others, the crack won’t become apparent until pain or discomfort appears down the road.

One common symptom of a cracked tooth is pain that comes and goes when eating hot or cold foods [2]. If a cracked tooth is left untreated for long enough, it could affect the nerves of the teeth and require root canal therapy to fix.

Other Potential Causes of Tooth Pain

There are other causes of tooth pain, including a bruised tooth, which can happen when biting down on hard foods or another injury. A bruised tooth happens when the connective tissue that helps hold your tooth in place is essentially bruised and becomes inflamed due to injury.

Some people could also experience aching teeth from a sinus infection, teeth grinding, or an impacted wisdom tooth [3]. The only way to identify the root cause of your toothache is by visiting your dentist for a professional exam.

Don’t Ignore a Toothache!

Toothaches rarely go away on their own. Typically, whatever is causing the toothache will continue to get worse until it’s treated. By visiting your local dentist, you can help uncover the cause and receive treatment before it’s too late to save your tooth!

Sources:
1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003067.htm
2. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/
3. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/tooth

The post Top Causes for a Painful Toothache appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Although picking up a mouthguard next time you’re at the store might seem tempting, going with a custom mouthguard will offer your child the full amount of protection they need to prevent dental emergencies with their smile. Here’s why you should never neglect to get a custom mouthguard for your student athlete!

Why Custom Mouthguards Are Better

Custom mouthguards are made to fit your child’s unique smile. Store-bought mouthguards offer a very minimal level of protection, as they’re not made to fully protect each and every one of your child’s teeth or their gum tissue.

Store-bought mouthguards tend to be too large and bulky, which can inhibit your child’s breathing during sports and may even discourage them from wearing the mouthguard. With customized mouthguards, you give your child their best chance to minimize an accident or damaged teeth or gums.

In fact, some tentative research even shows that custom mouthguards may help reduce the rate and severity of concussions in sports, as they help absorb the impact from a hit or fall [1]. Personalize Your Protection

Your student athlete should be required to wear a mouthguard, but may not want to wear one, especially if you have an over-the-counter mouthguard that’s uncomfortable and doesn’t quite fit.

When you opt for a custom mouthguard, your dentist will take impressions of your child’s teeth to create an exact fit with their new mouthguard. Some dentists offer even more
personalization for your child’s mouthguard, allowing them to choose colors, designs, and logos to print onto the mouthguard.

These fun and unique design features can increase the chances that your child will wear the mouthguard during their favorite sport!

Where to Find a Custom Mouthguard

Most dental practices offer services to make a custom mouthguard for your child’s smile. You can ask your local dentist about their custom mouthguard solutions to fully protect your student’s smile from accidents or injuries during sports.

Custom mouthguards are considered to be superior forms of protection when it comes to protecting oral health and jaw injuries [2]. To help your teen or child prevent dental emergencies that could include a knocked-out tooth, loose teeth, cut gums, or chipped or fractured teeth, go custom!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/Files/patient_69.ashx
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987604/

The post Don’t Forget a Custom Mouthguard for Your Student Athlete appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If left untreated, cracked teeth can lead to decay or an infection that can compromise the health of your entire tooth. If your dentist finds that your tooth has indeed been cracked, what are your best options to repair it and get your smile back to normal?

Dental Bonding

For cracks that are minor, dental bonding can help restore teeth. Dental bonding involves using a tooth-colored composite resin—the same material used for many modern fillings—to fill in small cracks and protect teeth from further damage.

Dental bonding is a simple and minimally-invasive treatment option; however, your dentist may not recommend dental bonding if the crack in your tooth is more severe.

Fillings

In some cases, cracked teeth can also be repaired with fillings, similarly to cavities. Cusps, or points, on the teeth—of which canine teeth only have one while molars will have several—can be fractured or completely broken off. In cases such as these, dental fillings can be ideal for repairing fractured cusps and restoring your tooth [1].

Root Canal Therapy

If you have a tooth that’s been deeply cracked—such as a tooth with a crack that extends below the gumline—your dentist may recommend root canal therapy. Teeth with cracks such as these—commonly the lower molars—can benefit from root canal therapy [2]. A cracked tooth may be at risk for infection or already be infected, in which case, root canal therapy will offer you your best chance to save your tooth and avoid an extraction.

Dental Crowns

For patients that have a severely fractured tooth cusp or for those that have received root canal therapy, your dentist may utilize a dental crown to protect your tooth’s structure. Dental crowns have been shown to reduce symptoms of cracked teeth and help protect them from future cracks and other damage [3].

Dental crowns are either made from porcelain ceramic or acrylic resin and will act as a type of cap that covers your natural tooth and provides additional protection. Dental crowns are durable and match your natural teeth, making them useful for a variety of cracked tooth cases.

Do You Have a Cracked Tooth?

Symptoms of a cracked tooth could include pain, tooth sensitivity, or swelling around the affected area. If you suspect your tooth has sustained an injury, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your local dentist to evaluate your smile and get a potential repair!

Sources:
1. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26944835
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1918671

The post Your Best Options for Repairing a Cracked Tooth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Sustaining a tooth injury has the potential to create different types of cracks in your tooth.
Since fractured teeth can lead to tooth loss, you shouldn’t delay getting treatment from your dentist. How do you know if you have a cracked tooth and how can you treat it?

How to Tell If Your Tooth Is Cracked

A cracked tooth may not be obvious even if you do have an accident that affects your smile.

However, the pain may manifest itself through tooth sensitivity or pain when chewing or biting your food. For others, a cracked tooth may be asymptomatic depending on the location and severity of the crack.

There are numerous diagnostic methods your dentist may use to tell if you have a cracked
tooth, including an oral exam or a radiograph [1]. Even if you’re not aware of a tooth injury, your dentist may be able to tell if you have a cracked tooth during your regular dental exam as well.

How to Treat a Fractured Tooth

Treatment for your cracked tooth will depend on the location of the crack and how severe it is.

For instance, you may have fractured the biting surface of your tooth, which typically doesn’t cause damage to the inside of the tooth where nerve tissue lies. However, your dentist may still need to place a filling or a crown over the tooth to keep it safe from bacteria and decay and prevent future damage [2].

If the crack extends below the gumline and all the way to the tooth’s root, it’s likely that you’ll need root canal therapy to save your tooth and stop the crack from spreading even more. If you have a split tooth that completely separates the tooth into two or more pieces, an extraction may be your only treatment option.

If you’ve just recently cracked a tooth and have a piece that may have separated from the
intact tooth, be sure to save the tooth fragment in a container with saliva or milk and see your dentist as soon as possible [3].

Preventing Damage to Your Smile

Preventing cracked teeth is as easy as not misusing your smile for things like cracking nuts, chewing on ice, or opening packages. Cracked teeth can also be caused by teeth grinding, so if you wake up with headaches, an aching jaw, or sore teeth, it’s time to see your dentist.

Of course, accidents do happen and can cause tooth fractures that negatively impact your smile. Regardless of what’s caused your cracked tooth, getting prompt treatment from your dentist can help restore your tooth and prevent the need for additional treatment.

While having a cracked tooth isn’t the end of the world, it will require professional treatment from your dentist. If you’ve experienced a recent tooth injury or have an old injury that’s causing you discomfort, contact your dentist for an evaluation as soon as possible!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3467890/
2. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590084/

The post Detecting and Treating a Cracked Tooth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Fortunately, there are many brilliant dentists out there who offer services for the entire family
to receive their dental care in just one location. Here’s how you can begin the process of
choosing the right dentist for you and your family.

Ask About Insurance and Payment Plans

An important first step is determining if practice accepts your dental insurance. If they do
accept your insurance, this is great. If not, you’ll need to evaluate whether or not you want to
pursue this dentist or find one who does accept your insurance.

In the event that you don’t have dental insurance, ask your potential family dentist if they’ll
accept payment plans or whether or not they accept a dental discount plan or credit from a
third party such as CareCredit. Having flexibility in the event that your insurance carrier changes
is helpful even if they initially accept your insurance.

Consider Their Location and Hours

Before you consider the dentist and the practice, you’ll want to consider location and hours
first. This is because both the location and their hours of operation will tell you how likely you
are to be able to make appointments.

For example, do they offer weekend hours and time after traditional business hours to
accommodate your busy schedule? Are they located nearby, and not in an area where traffic
would be an issue?

When you take into account the practice’s convenience based on your schedule, you’re better
able to evaluate the likelihood that you’ll be able to keep appointments.

Talk to the Dentist and the Staff

Once you’re able to verify that a location and hours of operation will work for you as well as
whether or not they take your insurance, it’s time to actually visit the practice. You can even
bring along the kids to see how comfortable everyone is there when talking to the dentists as
well as the staff members.

You want to choose a dentist that you feel comfortable talking to, asking questions, and calling
when you need advice. Your family should feel good about communicating with them too, so
don’t hesitate to make an appointment to simply visit and see what everyone thinks!

Don’t Forget Emergencies

Emergencies are unfortunately a part of life. Ask the dentist about their emergency policy—will
they come in after hours to treat you or your child, will they have the flexibility to get you in for
an emergency, or if they can’t, do they provide a referral to another dentist or just advise you
to go to the emergency room?

You may also consider their memberships to professional organizations, what type of
continuing education they do and how often, and their experience with up-and-coming dental
tools such as laser dentistry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your visit!

When it comes to finding the right dentist, don’t underestimate the importance of having a
great fit for the entire family, even if you need to visit a few dentists before you find the one
that feels right. You can have the best dental care and convenience with your dentist of choice!

The post How to Choose the Right Dentist for You and Your Family appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

In fact, it’s easier than you think to chip or crack a tooth. While injuries such as these can
happen for a variety of reasons to teeth, some of the most common reasons people chip their
teeth is because of food!

If you’re not careful, some of these top foods can easily chip or fracture your tooth. Which
foods are most likely to hurt your smile?

Uncooked Popcorn

Although popcorn in and of itself isn’t an issue, uncooked popcorn kernels can quickly chip or
fracture a tooth. Often, uncooked kernels get mixed in with cooked popcorn and are therefore
likely to get eaten along with popped popcorn.

It’s imperative to never chew on uncooked or partially cooked popcorn kernels, whether by
accident or because the popcorn bowl is empty and you want to continue to munch!

Ice Cubes

Many people find chewing on ice to be a practice they enjoy, but unfortunately, it’s also one
that can crack or chip your teeth.

When it comes to ice, it’s best to leave this hard cold substance in your glass and let it cool your
drink, not damage your smile!

Candy

Hard candy is a favorite for many people to suck on. However, this hard food doesn’t just
contribute to tooth decay, it also can crack or chip your pearly whites!

Lollipops, caramel corn, jawbreakers, and even mints all have the potential to chip your teeth. If
you do choose to eat candy, always be mindful when it’s in your mouth and do your best not to
bite down on it!

Nut Shells

While nuts themselves have the potential to injure teeth, nut shells are also culprits. These nuts
include pistachios, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and walnuts. You should never bite down
on the shells of these nuts as they can crack or chip teeth.

Instead, always use care when eating nuts and never attempt to crack open a nut shell with
your teeth!

Stone Fruit Pits (Drupes)

A drupe is a fruit that contains a very hard pit, also known as stone fruits. These fruits include:
 Peaches
 Apricots
 Olives
 Plums
 Cherries
 Mangoes

All of these fruits have the potential to hurt your teeth. If you choose to enjoy these fruits, be
aware that their stone pits can crack or chip your smile. Many olives come pitted while most of
the other fruits can be sliced before enjoying. If you do choose to bite into them, always be
aware of where the pit is so that you don’t accidentally damage your teeth.

A tooth that’s been chipped or cracked still needs to be evaluated by your professional dentist.
Any injury to your teeth can allow bacteria to enter and possibly reach the nerves of your tooth
which could cause pain and infection. Never wait to seek help for an injured tooth, and never
eat these foods without being cautious!

The post Careful! Top Foods That May Chip or Fracture Your Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.