Root canal therapy can help restore a weakened or damaged tooth. During your procedure,
your tooth will be numbed and your dentist will clean out the affected tissue and seal your
tooth, therefore helping to prevent any further problems. But what can you expect after the
procedure? Here’s how to care for a tooth after a root canal.

Use Caution When Eating

It’s important not to attempt to eat until the numbness has worn off from your mouth after
your root canal procedure. When you do eat, do your best to resist chewing on the side of your
mouth that contains the tooth that just had the root canal. Until you receive your permanent
restoration—a porcelain dental crown—you’ll want to put as little stress as possible on your
tooth.

You’ll also want to stick to softer foods during this time. It’s likely your mouth will be tender in
the hours and days after your root canal procedure, so be sure to have softer foods on hand.
It’s essential to avoid crunchy, hard, or sticky foods that could quickly damage your newly
restored tooth.

Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene

While your tooth is healing, you’ll still need to brush and floss your teeth as normal. In fact,
keeping up with your oral hygiene will help to prevent an infection in your tooth, which is a
complication you’ll want to avoid following your root canal.

Although cleanliness is important, you should also be gentle when brushing your teeth. If your
dentist hasn’t yet advised you to, take this opportunity to get a soft-bristled toothbrush. You
can still brush gently while being thorough during this time of healing for your tooth.

Be Prepared for Some Discomfort

You can and should expect some soreness in the mouth following your root canal. For many
people, over-the-counter pain medication can help manage this discomfort. Your dentist will
prescribe something stronger if necessary.

Eating soft foods and keeping your mouth clean can also help to manage your pain or soreness,
but always follow up with your dentist if you’re concerned about your level of pain.

Always Ask Your Dentist

Keeping in touch with your dentist following your root canal if you have any questions or
concerns can help you have a speedy recovery. Calling your dentist is especially important if you
have increasing pain, swelling, or bleeding following the procedure, all of which should be
addressed by your dentist.

Getting root canal therapy can help save your tooth and alleviate pain from an infected or
damaged tooth. Taking proper care of your tooth following a root canal procedure can help you
recover quickly to enjoy a pain-free smile for life!

The post How to Care for a Tooth After a Root Canal appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Wisdom tooth removal is usually done by an oral surgeon and will take a few days for you to
begin feeling better. In those first hours and days after your wisdom tooth removal, how can
you reduce swelling?

Keep Your Head Elevated

Keeping your head elevated can help reduce swelling to your mouth by promoting proper blood
flow and drainage away from the affected area. Even when resting, be sure your head is
appropriately and comfortably propped up on pillows to help minimize the swelling you’ll
experience after your wisdom tooth removal.

Ice and Heat Therapy

Some patients find relief with hot and cold therapy to reduce swelling. If you choose to try this
method, it’s best not to keep the therapy on constantly. Rather, most oral healthcare
professionals recommend keeping a cold compress on for 20 minutes and then leaving it off for
20 minutes.

The same is true for heat therapy. You can use a hot compress on the area for 20 minutes and
then remove for 20 minutes. The removal is important as it will help improve circulation and
keep the swelling to a minimum.

Saltwater Rinse

A saltwater rinse provides many benefits after getting your wisdom teeth removed. Not only
can it help dislodge any food particles stuck in your surgical sites, but it can also work to soothe
your wounds and help your mouth feel better.

A good guide is to use one quarter to one half teaspoon of salt in one cup of water; it’s always
best to use filtered or distilled water for this purpose. You may do a salt rinse up to three times
per day for best results.

Chamomile Teabags

Another remedy you may decide to try for reducing swelling after your wisdom tooth removal
is chamomile teabags. Chamomile is a very soothing herb that’s free of caffeine and tends to
have a calming effect on tissues.

You can utilize chamomile by brewing chamomile tea with hot water to activate and soften the
tea bag, then after cooling somewhat, put them in your mouth and bite down gently. You may
leave them in for approximately 15 minutes before discarding.

When getting your wisdom teeth removed, it’s essential to follow your oral surgeon’s
instructions both before and after the procedure. Swelling is normal after such a procedure, but if you ever feel extreme pain or believe something you’re experiencing is not normal, never hesitate to call your dentist or oral surgeon to follow up.

For many patients, the swelling will begin to decrease after the first few days—in the meantime, try these remedies to decrease swelling and feel better faster!

The post How to Decrease Swelling After Wisdom Tooth Removal appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What exactly causes gum swelling? The following causes may be responsible for the
inflammation in your gum tissue and should always be followed up with an oral healthcare
professional to protect your smile!

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the most common causes of gum swelling. When gum disease is present,
bacteria from plaque can get beneath your gumline and begin to irritate the gum tissue. When
this happens, the gum tissue will react and can become inflamed. Without treatment, gum
disease can progress to cause infections underneath the gums, which in turn can cause bad
breath, bleeding gum tissue, and even cause tooth loss.

Certain Medications

Many medications can actually cause the gum tissue to become inflamed. These medications
include some seizure medications, immunosuppressant drugs (such as chemotherapy), and
some blood pressure medications. In some people, these medications can actually cause the
gum tissue to grow over your teeth and create an ideal place for bacteria to form. If you’re
concerned that one of your medications is causing gum swelling, don’t hesitate to schedule an
appointment with your dentist or physician.

Lack of Vitamin C

Although less common in developed countries, a lack of vitamin C in your diet can be damaging
to your gum tissue and can lead to gum disease and gum swelling. Vitamin C is an essential
nutrient for your gums and can help facilitate healthy connective tissue and support a strong
immune system to fight off gum infection.

Changing Your Oral Care Products

If you’ve recently started using a new toothpaste, mouthwash, or floss, your gum tissue may be
reacting to an ingredient in these products that you haven’t used before. If you’re experiencing
gum swelling after using a new product, you may consider discontinuing your use of the
product to see if this alleviates the issue. If it doesn’t, be sure to follow up with your dentist!

Flossing After a Long Time

Flossing is hugely beneficial for your smile and shouldn’t be painful or harmful to your teeth or gums. However, if you haven’t flossed in a long time and have recently started again, your gums might not be used to the movement of the floss and may react by swelling. This swelling should be temporary and shouldn’t last more than a couple of days after you’ve begun flossing again, but if it does, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist to see what the problem could be.

Are you experiencing gum swelling but aren’t sure what the problem is? It’s always best to
follow up with your dentist to see what could be causing your gum inflammation and to
effectively treat the problem. Your gums protect and anchor your teeth, so don’t neglect to
take care of them!

The post What Causes Gum Swelling? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

It’s More Comfortable

Laser dentistry is often more comfortable for patients who are used to receiving conventional dental treatment that involves stitches, needles, and cuts. There’s usually no need for anesthesia, so you won’t need any needles or have any numbing feelings after your procedure. There’s also no drilling or heat. The drill is often what causes pain in patients, as the pressure can damage the nearby areas and cause future problems for your smile.

With laser dentistry, there’s no cutting, less pain, and less need for future dental work. Since high-powered drills can actually cause fractures in your teeth, laser dentistry is ideal for patients who want a safer, more comfortable alternative without the need for more dental work.

Faster Healing Time

Laser dentistry eliminates the need for stitches since there’s no cutting. This means you’ll experience less discomfort and a faster healing time. When you get a dental procedure done with a laser, you’ll also typically experience less bleeding and less pain. There’s also minimal swelling, which increases the chances that your body will heal the affected area faster.

People are accustomed to taking great care of their mouths after a dental procedure. With laser dentistry, your healing time is minimal because there’s no need for cutting or stitches. Swelling and bleeding are kept to a minimum. Laser dentistry also allows for everything to be done in one dental visit, which saves you time and hassle from having to return to the dentist for a multi-step procedure!

It’s Versatile

Did you know that laser dentistry can be used for everything from cavity removal to teeth whitening? In fact, laser dentistry can even be used to treat gum disease and perform root canal therapy. One of the best benefits about using a laser is its preciseness. It does not affect surrounding tissues in the same way a drill would. Since the laser is extremely accurate, your dentist can avoid harming any additional tissue than is necessary.

From removing decay to treating infection and even gum shaping, laser dentistry is tremendously versatile and brings its wide range of benefits to a variety of dental procedures. If you’ve been putting off dental work because of dental anxiety, consider laser dentistry for your next procedure. It’s imperative to find a dentist who’s trained in experienced in using laser dentistry for his or her patients. Ask your dentist about laser dentistry next time you visit—using a laser could change the way you think about going to the dentist!

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Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a serious dental problem because it inhibits your saliva from protecting your teeth. When teeth become dry through mouth breathing, smoking, or even certain medications, bacteria can damage your tooth’s enamel. Our saliva allows for bacteria balance that keeps our breath fresh and keeps tooth-damaging bacteria at a minimum.

If you have dry mouth, see your dentist or primary care doctor. Having a properly hydrated mouth can help stop bad breath! You may need to simply drink more water to help protect your smile, or you may need to switch medications. If you smoke, talk with your dentist about quitting!

Gum Disease

Gum disease causes inflammation in the gums and can progress to the point of tooth loss. If you have gum disease, this means bacteria have built up around your gumline and are attacking your tooth enamel as well as your gums. This can lead to bleeding, red, or irritated gums.

The bacteria responsible for gum disease can also cause bad breath. If you brush, floss, and use mouthwash regularly but are still experiencing halitosis, visit your dentist—gum disease could be the culprit. Gum disease can be treated, and this is best done before it progresses.

Tooth Decay

The bacteria that can cause tooth decay can cause bad breath. When was the last time you had a checkup with your dentist? Cavities can exist in all kinds of places and aren’t always easy to see. Tooth decay could be the reason you’re experiencing halitosis even after brushing and flossing.

Schedule a visit with your dentist to check for tooth decay. Your dentist can not only fill the cavity, but talk with you about your oral care habits to stop tooth decay and circumvent bad breath. Something as simple as better brushing techniques or incorporating mouthwash into your routine can help.

Sinus Infection

A sinus infection could be the cause of your halitosis! If you have a chronic sinus infection that’s not going away, see your primary care doctor. The sinus drainage could be filled with bacteria that’s giving your mouth an unpleasant taste and smell. Sinus infections are generally easily treated and can resolve your bad breath woes.

Although leftover food in your mouth can cause an unpleasant smell, this usually isn’t the culprit of chronic halitosis, especially if you’re brushing and flossing regularly. The bottom line is that seeing your dentist can help properly identify the problem. You may also need to follow up with your primary care doctor if you need to change medications or have a sinus infection. Don’t live with bad breath—schedule a checkup to see what the problem is!

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