7 Things that Can Be Harmful to your Teeth

1. USING YOUR TEETH AS CUTTERS TO TEAR PLASTIC WRAPS, OR PACKAGING TAPES; NAIL-HOLDERS, OR EVEN HABITS OF NAIL-BITING.

Self-reliance is a good virtue, but not when it comes to our teeth. We might feel untouchable and cool, tearing packaging tapes without using scissors. Teeth are like glass; like our windshield, micro cracks will definitely happen. But unlike our windshields, we cannot see the little signs. The first symptom you will have, if you get unlucky, is pain. Some cases may only lead to wear and chips, but worst cases are split teeth that may lead eventually to tooth loss.

2. ACIDIC WATER (lemon infused or flavoured water) AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR PLAIN CLEAN WATER.

It is true that lemon-water is good for our gut; however, like any other health advises there are pros and cons. And, it is better to be in the middle.

If we do drink this, it is better that it is only once a day and we finish the glass of flavoured water all at once, instead of sip by sip throughout the day. You see, things other than water, can release acids. Sugars have acid by-products too. The environment in the mouth cannot be acidic for the whole day, or else it will make our teeth brittle, and hello cavities, white spots and worn teeth!

This is the same with chew-able acidic vitamins, if we can take it with water; the better it is for our teeth. We are only talking about the acidic vitamins. Please follow the instructions provided by your doctor when placing emergency medicine under the tongue or around the inside of the mouth.

3. BRUSHING WITH HARD BRISTLES, NOT CHANGING YOUR BRUSH WHEN WORN, AND NOT ALLOWING YOUR TOOTH BRISTLES TO DRY EACH AFTER USE.

Just imagine your teeth as a high-gloss kitchen tiles/counter. You don’t want to brush it with a steel-brush nor harmful gritty cleaners right? It’s the same thing with our teeth; we need to exercise our tender-loving-care, with gentle, longer strokes. When it is already sharp at the tips, or splayed, or it has been 3 months, time to change!

Letting your toothbrush dry is not allowing the bacteria to grow. Anything that is moist all the time, invites germs. You do not want to reintroduce these.

For bamboo toothbrushes, we do recommend wiping the handles with towels after every use to allow it to dry quicker and not letting it develop mold.

4. BRUSHING SOON AFTER EATING OR DRINKING SOMETHING ACIDIC

Remember, when I told you sugars turn to acid somehow when breaking, it is our saliva in the rescue. Let the ambulance of saliva save you, allow 30 minutes at least. However, if you had eaten something sticky at it rests from the chewing tables of your back teeth, oh, that is the gray side, brush now but gently, just take off those sticky ones.

5. FAILING TO PROTECT YOUR TEETH WITH MOUTH GUARD WHEN ENGAGING TO CONTACT SPORTS, OR ACTIVITIES THAT MAY CAUSE YOU TO CLENCH.

Sports are way to be energetic and be healthy but to protect ourselves too with a mouth guard. There are two types, the custom-made and the over-the-counter ones. The custom-made fits better and are more protective. However, for growing individuals or patients undergoing braces or aligners, the over-the-counter ones are advisable as your teeth keep changing positions.

6. THINKING THAT THE FRONT TEETH ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BACK TEETH AS NO ONE SEES THE BACK WHEN SMILING.

Oh, no, this is like saying that the front wheels of a car are the only ones we need to drive and forget about the back.  Everything is created for a reason. The front is to show our nice smile, and the back to chew our food. If we chew using our front teeth, we may not have anything to show off when we smile after a period of time.

7. FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE SIX MONTHLY PROFESSIONAL EXAM AND CLEAN

Visiting a dentist regularly is part of self-care believe it or not. It is not only about professional cleaning, but the examination is equally important. Checking the whole mouth for any signs of abnormalities is very essential as is screening for oral cancer, growths and others. A sleep apnea risk assessment is done too.

Blog by: Dr Beverly San Pablo

My dentist has advised an emergency tooth extraction. How could I avoid it?

Do you have an achy tooth?  Your tooth, as well as gum, can cause severe pain, which must not be avoided or taken for granted. Rather, immediate treatment or medical assistance is required. You should not falter in communicating with your dentist.  

The best way to avoid any extractions is to prevent the tooth from reaching the condition where it needs emergency tooth extraction. If the tooth has gone beyond scope of restoration, you can discuss with your dentist an alternative option like root canal treatment , periodontal treatment or you can seek a second opinion.

If the tooth can not be saved with any treatment and is advised extraction, it could have some possible complications of keeping the tooth.

 Before things move out of your hand and vision, take proper care of your dental issues and do frequent check-ups. 

Are you wondering why it is necessary to do emergency tooth extraction? Here are some reasons for you. Let’s have a look at them!

Keeping the tooth can lead to emergencies like facial swelling, abscess, severe pain. This can happen at any time like during office hours, late at night at home or during holidays. etc. 

Thus, it is necessary to have an emergency tooth extraction to avoid extra cost, pain, swelling, and much more. Isn’t it true?  Moreover, having broader idea on the situation with intense knowledge is necessarty before taking a decision. 

Leaving an infected tooth in the mouth can affect the health of other teeth and also it is not healthy to have infected teeth in your mouth for your general well-being. Evidence suggests that poor oral health is a risk factor for heart conditions, stroke, low birth weight babies etc.

Whenever you are observing any signs of a toothache or infection, you immediately need to head over to a relevant dentist or surgeon right away. Sometimes emergency tooth extraction can be painful and tedious work, but it is necessary to perform such activities to eliminate or reduce the infection quickly. After this, you will have a peaceful sleep at night without any tension and stress. 

Reason for Tooth Extraction

Accident 

In this technology-prone era, accidents are happening abruptly, which further leads to severe consequences like dental problems, and much more. Thus, the victim needs to seek medical assistance to fix the issues. And if the problem is serious,and the tooth can not be saved, then the dentist will perform emergency tooth extraction.

Risk of Infection

Due to your negligence and careless attitude, you confront such situations to eliminate infection from the mouth, as well as to prevent it from spreading. The dentist aims to reduce the chances of additional problems, which can further cause serious issues in the future. There are various possibilities of having an infection in the tooth, which often requires emergency tooth extraction.

Excessive Decay 

Trauma or excessive decay could lead to serious consequences like tooth extraction. In most of the cases, damage and decay in the centre portion of your tooth can be troublesome and leads to pain and agony. Bacteria can move deep into the pulp and can cause you an infection. If the response of medicine is not impressive, then tooth extraction is a must.