Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can help your tooth return to its original color, but you shouldn’t start whitening your teeth without first getting the tooth evaluated by your dentist. This is because the inner pulp of your tooth may actually be dead and need to be removed. What this means is that you’ll need a root canal. During your visit, your dentist can perform some tests on your tooth to determine if the root is still alive. If it is, your dentist might suggest waiting another few weeks or months to see if the color comes back on its own. If your tooth continues to be dark or become darker, you can then talk with your dentist about getting a professional whitening done to help restore your appearance.

Root Canal

If the root of your tooth is dead, removing the affected pulp that’s been stained may help reverse the darkening of your tooth. This is because removing the stained area inside your tooth will help the tooth naturally become whiter. However, you’ll only need a root canal if your tooth is actually dead. Any inner pulp that’s dead or infected should be removed by an experienced dentist or in some cases, an endodontist (a dentist who specializes in root canals). Your tooth may die after the injury and require a root canal before any whitening can be done. Fortunately, whitening may not even be necessary once the affected tooth is successfully treated with a root canal!

Crown or Veneer

If your tooth is still alive but it doesn’t return to its normal color in six months, a crown or veneer may be needed to help restore your tooth’s color. Porcelain or ceramic crowns and veneers can help cover your tooth and normalize its appearance. After you receive either a crown or veneer, your tooth will be indistinguishable from the other teeth in your mouth. You may not need any cosmetic dentistry done if a root canal or whitening can be done in its place.

Talk with your dentist about what your treatment options are for an injured tooth that’s suddenly turned gray. A simple whitening could help your darkened tooth, or maybe a root canal is needed to relieve any infection and restore your tooth’s color. Regardless of how your tooth got injured, trust a professional dentist to help you get your smile back!

The post Treatment Options for Tooth Discoloration after Trauma appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Having your child pick out a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically for him or her will help to motivate proper brushing skills! These days, toothbrushes come in a variety of fun colors, and some even incorporate popular cartoon characters to get your child excited about brushing. Let them know that this is their toothbrush and it’s a very important tool that will help take care of their very important teeth!

Ready, Set… Games!

Nothing makes brushing more fun than turning it into game time! There are many games you can incorporate into your child’s brushing routine, including:

Taking turns. Let your child brush your teeth, then you brush theirs. You can alternate and have a timer to regulate the brushing!

Songs. Singing a song that’s the designated time for brushing teeth is perfect! Check out such songs like “This Is the Way We Brush Our Teeth”, “Are Your Teeth Clean and White?”, and “Brush Brush Brush Your Teeth”.

Buy a timer. Having a timer turns your child’s brushing time into a game. By completing their task in the recommended two minutes, they can win a prize!

Ever Heard of the Tooth Fairy?

The Tooth Fairy can help motivate your child to take great care of their teeth! Kids start losing their baby teeth around age six, so this is a great time to introduce the tooth fairy and he or she can offer brushing advice and motivate your child to keep their teeth clean every time he or she collects a tooth.

Enlist Technology

With apps that offer games, points, songs, and even brushing feedback, you can enlist the help of technology to make your child’s brushing time a positive experience twice a day. You can even get such toothbrushes as Kolibree which transmit information from your child’s brushing to an app or toothbrushes that play music for the recommended two minutes for you! Check out such apps as Chomper Chums and Momo, and encourage your child to keep those little teeth sparkling!

Offer Incentives

If it’s particularly difficult to get your child to take tooth brushing seriously, you may want to consider offering incentives. They don’t have to be large prizes, but you could offer a sticker, a book selection, or even a healthy treat when kids brush their teeth. Even a fun new toothbrush or toothpaste could be a prize!

Your child’s baby teeth will fall out, but the adult teeth that replace them need to last your kids for life. Taking proper care of their teeth is something you can help your toddler with and encourage your older kids with as they grow up. Use these simple tips to make brushing time fun!

The post Make Brushing Fun with These Simple Steps appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.