Tag Archives: dental emergencies

How’s Your Dental Hygiene?

Introduction

teethfalse

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away.

You may not think that bad dental hygiene can land you in the emergency room, but it does! One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is how oblivious some people are to their smiles—especially their teeth. We see it all: loose teeth, missing teeth, broken teeth, infected teeth, sensitive teeth, erupted wisdom teeth, gingivitis, bad breath, dental infections (especially abscesses), things stuck in the teeth, mouth cancer, yeast infections, rashes inside the mouth and other conditions. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Through it, you introduce many substances that can infect or otherwise damage you. Clinically, the appearance of your mouth, gums and teeth are often a direct statement about how well you care for the rest of your body.

You would think dental hygiene is an especially difficult proposition, but it’s actually quite simple. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), all you really need to commit to good dental hygiene is less than five minutes at a time, at least twice a day. Surely that’s not too much to ask of yourself for yourself, is it?
Let’s identify three sets of conditions you should be prepared to address with your activities. Each measure contains simple tips and habits you should employ to keep your smile making the right kind of introduction.

Prevention and self-maintenance

dental hygiene oral health
Brushing and flossing keep your gums and teeth healthy by removing plaque and food particles that can serve as a source for infection and tooth decay. Here are your essentials.

  • Brush for two minutes at a time.
  • Brush at least twice a day and preferably after each meal.
  • Flossing is important. There are particles that collect under the gums and between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Avoid the stainers. Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars), excessive red wine and coffee contain a high quantity of very strong chemicals that stain and damage your teeth. Cranberry and grape juices also may stain teeth if consumed in excess. Besides cosmetic considerations, the staining isn’t the problem as much as fact that the chemicals causing the staining are also damaging your teeth and gums.

Prevention and professional maintenance

dentist

Do you have a dentist?

  • Regular dental checkups are very important for the ongoing maintenance of your teeth and the early identification of dental problems—before excessively expensive and painful options are needed.
  • Dental exams provide an opportunity for identification of several medical conditions and diseases whose symptoms can appear in the oral cavity (mouth).

Recognizing possible dental emergencies

dentalers
It is simultaneously understandable and befuddling that patients go without dental care as long as they do. By the time they come to the ER, invariably, some of these symptoms have been present and were ignored. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you’d do well to see the dentist early, before you end up in the ER.

  • Teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold stimuli
  • Gums are swollen and/or they bleed with brushing, flossing or eating
  • Continually bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck
  • Spots or a sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away
  • Jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up
  • An uneven bite
  • Mouth is becoming unexplainably drier than normal
  • You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder or are HIV positive with new dental problems.
  • You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy with new dental problems.

Upcoming Straight, No Chaser posts will evaluate individual dental emergencies.

Follow us!

Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic. Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you, we’re offering you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!

Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.jeffreysterlingbooks.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress! Like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com! Follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Copyright © 2018 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: What To Do If Your Tooth Comes Out

toothout

There’s nothing pleasant about having a tooth fall out of your mouth (aka avulsed tooth, dislocated tooth). Whether from trauma (e.g. a punch or other facial injury, a fall) or dental disease (e.g. gum or tooth disease), there are cosmetic and practical concerns with not having teeth in your mouth. Additionally, there’s no tooth fairy for adults.

MissingTooth_jpg

The question in real time is “My tooth just fell out. What should I do?” The answer depends on your age and health; the tooth might be able to be placed back into your socket. Today’s Straight, No Chaser gives you tips on how to increase the chances that replantation will be successful.
Which teeth are eligible? Baby teeth (those in children age eight and younger) are usually not replaced. Usually adult teeth can be replanted if appropriately handled.

avulsedtooth

What can I do?
Follow these steps:

  • Act promptly. You’re losing 1% probability that replantation will be successful with each passing minute.
  • If possible, get to a dentist. If you can’t reach a dentist, get to the closest emergency room.

avulsed-tooth

  • Only hold the tooth by its chewing edge (the crown) as shown in the picture, not by the other end (the root). Holding it by the root will damage the ligaments needed to make connections between the tooth and the mouth. Do not brush, clean or scrape the tooth off in an effort to remove dirt, especially at the root. Do not apply alcohol or any other abrasive solution (e.g. peroxide).
  • If it can be done safely, placing the tooth back in the socket from which it came is the right thing to do. If you do this, it needs to be level with other teeth, and you must be positive that you aren’t in a situation that might lead to you swallowing it. This can be facilitated by place a piece of gauze or a tea bag on top of the tooth, biting down and keeping your mouth closed during the trip.

avulsedtooth_milktransport_steps

  • If you have a small container, you can place the tooth in it. Then cover the tooth with a small amount of saliva or whole milk, and put this container in another container that has ice in it. Do not place an avulsed tooth directly on ice.
  • Alternatively you can just place the tooth directly into a small cup of milk or saliva.
  • As still another option, there are actually commercially available tooth-saving storage devices set up for this purpose.
  • If you don’t have a container, your best bet is to carry the tooth in your mouth, keeping it under your tongue or between your lower lips and gum. The same precautions about swallowing the tooth still apply here.

How do I prevent losing a tooth?

  • Avoid fights. It’s not worth losing a tooth.
  • When playing any contact sport, wear a mouth guard. They work.
  • Avoid chewing on bones, stale bread tough bagels and other hard foods, especially if you’re older or have either gum or dental disease.
  • Wear a seatbelt.

There is a fair to pretty good chance your avulsed tooth is accompanied by damaged nerves or a fractured jaw. The force required to traumatically dislodge a tooth is significant. Get seen ASAP if this happens, especially if you’re bleeding, can’t close your jaw or if you became unconscious.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 
 
 
 

Straight, No Chaser: How’s Your Dental Hygiene?

teethfalse

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away.

Working in an emergency department is interesting for many different reasons. One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is how oblivious some people are to their smiles—especially their teeth. We see it all: loose teeth, missing teeth, broken teeth, infected teeth, sensitive teeth, erupted wisdom teeth, gingivitis, bad breath, dental infections (especially abscesses), things stuck in the teeth, mouth cancer, yeast infections, rashes inside the mouth and other conditions. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Through it, you introduce many substances that can infect or otherwise damage you. Clinically, the appearance of your mouth, gums and teeth are often a direct statement about how well you care for the rest of your body.
You would think dental hygiene is an especially difficult proposition, but it’s actually quite simple. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), all you really need to commit to good dental hygiene is less than five minutes at a time, at least twice a day. Surely that’s not too much to ask of yourself for yourself, is it?
Let’s identify three sets of conditions you should be prepared to address with your activities. Each measure contains simple tips and habits you should employ to keep your smile making the right kind of introduction.
1. Prevention and self-maintenance
toothbrush
Brushing and flossing keep your gums and teeth healthy by removing plaque and food particles that can serve as a source for infection and tooth decay. Here are your essentials.

  • Brush for two minutes at a time.
  • Brush at least twice a day and preferably after each meal.
  • Flossing is important. There are particles that collect under the gums and between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Avoid the stainers. Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars), excessive red wine and coffee contain a high quantity of very strong chemicals that stain and damage your teeth. Cranberry and grape juices also may stain teeth if consumed in excess. Besides cosmetic considerations, the staining isn’t the problem as much as fact that the chemicals causing the staining are also damaging your teeth and gums.
2. Prevention and professional maintenance

dentist

Do you have a dentist?

  • Regular dental checkups are very important for the ongoing maintenance of your teeth and the early identification of dental problems—before excessively expensive and painful options are needed.
  • Dental exams provide an opportunity for identification of several medical conditions and diseases whose symptoms can appear in the oral cavity (mouth).

3. Recognizing possible dental emergencies
dentalers
It is simultaneously understandable and befuddling that patients go without dental care as long as they do. By the time they come to the ER, invariably, some of these symptoms have been present and were ignored. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you’d do well to see the dentist early, before you end up in the ER.

  • Your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold stimuli.
  • Your gums are swollen and/or they bleed with brushing, flossing or eating.
  • You have continually bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.
  • You have difficulty chewing or swallowing.
  • You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck.
  • You have spots or a sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away.
  • Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up.
  • You have an uneven bite.
  • Your mouth is becoming unexplainably drier than normal.
  • You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder or are HIV positive with new dental problems.
  • You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy with new dental problems.

Upcoming Straight, No Chaser posts will evaluate individual dental emergencies.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Take the #72HoursChallenge, and join the community. As a thank you for being a valued subscriber to Straight, No Chaser, we’d like to offer you a complimentary 30-day membership at www.72hourslife.com. Just use the code #NoChaser, and yes, it’s ok if you share!
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new books There are 72 Hours in a Day: Using Efficiency to Better Enjoy Every Part of Your Life and The 72 Hours in a Day Workbook: The Journey to The 72 Hours Life in 72 Days at Amazon or at www.72hourslife.com. Receive introductory pricing with orders!
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2017 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress
 

Straight, No Chaser: What To Do If Your Tooth Comes Out

toothout

There’s nothing pleasant about having a tooth fall out of your mouth (aka avulsed tooth, dislocated tooth). Whether from trauma (e.g. a punch or other facial injury, a fall) or dental disease (e.g. gum or tooth disease), there are cosmetic and practical concerns with not having teeth in your mouth. Additionally, there’s no tooth fairy for adults.

MissingTooth_jpg

The question in real time is “My tooth just fell out. What should I do?” The answer depends on your age and health; the tooth might be able to be placed back into your socket. Today’s Straight, No Chaser gives you tips on how to increase the chances that replantation will be successful.
Which teeth are eligible? Baby teeth (those in children age eight and younger) are usually not replaced. Usually adult teeth can be replanted if appropriately handled.

avulsedtooth

What can I do?
Follow these steps:

  • Act promptly. You’re losing 1% probability that replantation will be successful with each passing minute.
  • If possible, get to a dentist. If you can’t reach a dentist, get to the closest emergency room.

avulsed-tooth

  • Only hold the tooth by its chewing edge (the crown) as shown in the picture, not by the other end (the root). Holding it by the root will damage the ligaments needed to make connections between the tooth and the mouth. Do not brush, clean or scrape the tooth off in an effort to remove dirt, especially at the root. Do not apply alcohol or any other abrasive solution (e.g. peroxide).
  • If it can be done safely, placing the tooth back in the socket from which it came is the right thing to do. If you do this, it needs to be level with other teeth, and you must be positive that you aren’t in a situation that might lead to you swallowing it. This can be facilitated by place a piece of gauze or a tea bag on top of the tooth, biting down and keeping your mouth closed during the trip.

avulsedtooth_milktransport_steps

  • If you have a small container, you can place the tooth in it. Then cover the tooth with a small amount of saliva or whole milk, and put this container in another container that has ice in it. Do not place an avulsed tooth directly on ice.
  • Alternatively you can just place the tooth directly into a small cup of milk or saliva.
  • As still another option, there are actually commercially available tooth-saving storage devices set up for this purpose.
  • If you don’t have a container, your best bet is to carry the tooth in your mouth, keeping it under your tongue or between your lower lips and gum. The same precautions about swallowing the tooth still apply here.

How do I prevent losing a tooth?

  • Avoid fights. It’s not worth losing a tooth.
  • When playing any contact sport, wear a mouth guard. They work.
  • Avoid chewing on bones, stale bread tough bagels and other hard foods, especially if you’re older or have either gum or dental disease.
  • Wear a seatbelt.

There is a fair to pretty good chance your avulsed tooth is accompanied by damaged nerves or a fractured jaw. The force required to traumatically dislodge a tooth is significant. Get seen ASAP if this happens, especially if you’re bleeding, can’t close your jaw or if you became unconscious.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: How’s Your Dental Hygiene?

teethfalse

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away.

Working in an emergency department is interesting for many different reasons. One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is how oblivious some people are to their smiles—especially their teeth. We see it all: loose teeth, missing teeth, broken teeth, infected teeth, sensitive teeth, erupted wisdom teeth, gingivitis, bad breath, dental infections (especially abscesses), things stuck in the teeth, mouth cancer, yeast infections, rashes inside the mouth and other conditions. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Through it, you introduce many substances that can infect or otherwise damage you. Clinically, the appearance of your mouth, gums and teeth are often a direct statement about how well you care for the rest of your body.
You would think dental hygiene is an especially difficult proposition, but it’s actually quite simple. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), all you really need to commit to good dental hygiene is less than five minutes at a time, at least twice a day. Surely that’s not too much to ask of yourself for yourself, is it?
Let’s identify three sets of conditions you should be prepared to address with your activities. Each measure contains simple tips and habits you should employ to keep your smile making the right kind of introduction.
1. Prevention and self-maintenance
toothbrush
Brushing and flossing keep your gums and teeth healthy by removing plaque and food particles that can serve as a source for infection and tooth decay. Here are your essentials.

  • Brush for two minutes at a time.
  • Brush at least twice a day and preferably after each meal.
  • Flossing is important. There are particles that collect under the gums and between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Avoid the stainers. Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars), excessive red wine and coffee contain a high quantity of very strong chemicals that stain and damage your teeth. Cranberry and grape juices also may stain teeth if consumed in excess. Besides cosmetic considerations, the staining isn’t the problem as much as fact that the chemicals causing the staining are also damaging your teeth and gums.
2. Prevention and professional maintenance

dentist

Do you have a dentist?

  • Regular dental checkups are very important for the ongoing maintenance of your teeth and the early identification of dental problems—before excessively expensive and painful options are needed.
  • Dental exams provide an opportunity for identification of several medical conditions and diseases whose symptoms can appear in the oral cavity (mouth).

3. Recognizing possible dental emergencies
dentalers
It is simultaneously understandable and befuddling that patients go without dental care as long as they do. By the time they come to the ER, invariably, some of these symptoms have been present and were ignored. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you’d do well to see the dentist early, before you end up in the ER.

  • Your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold stimuli.
  • Your gums are swollen and/or they bleed with brushing, flossing or eating.
  • You have continually bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.
  • You have difficulty chewing or swallowing.
  • You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck.
  • You have spots or a sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away.
  • Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up.
  • You have an uneven bite.
  • Your mouth is becoming unexplainably drier than normal.
  • You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder or are HIV positive with new dental problems.
  • You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy with new dental problems.

Upcoming Straight, No Chaser posts will evaluate individual dental emergencies.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: What To Do If Your Tooth Comes Out

toothout

There’s nothing pleasant about having a tooth fall out of your mouth (aka avulsed tooth, dislocated tooth). Whether from trauma (e.g. a punch or other facial injury, a fall) or dental disease (e.g. gum or tooth disease), there are cosmetic and practical concerns with not having teeth in your mouth. Additionally, there’s no tooth fairy for adults.

MissingTooth_jpg

The question in real time is “My tooth just fell out. What should I do?” The answer depends on your age and health; the tooth might be able to be placed back into your socket. Today’s Straight, No Chaser gives you tips on how to increase the chances that replantation will be successful.
Which teeth are eligible? Baby teeth (those in children age eight and younger) are usually not replaced. Usually adult teeth can be replanted if appropriately handled.

avulsedtooth

What can I do?
Follow these steps:

  • Act promptly. You’re losing 1% probability that replantation will be successful with each passing minute.
  • If possible, get to a dentist. If you can’t reach a dentist, get to the closest emergency room.

avulsed-tooth

  • Only hold the tooth by its chewing edge (the crown) as shown in the picture, not by the other end (the root). Holding it by the root will damage the ligaments needed to make connections between the tooth and the mouth. Do not brush, clean or scrape the tooth off in an effort to remove dirt, especially at the root. Do not apply alcohol or any other abrasive solution (e.g. peroxide).
  • If it can be done safely, placing the tooth back in the socket from which it came is the right thing to do. If you do this, it needs to be level with other teeth, and you must be positive that you aren’t in a situation that might lead to you swallowing it. This can be facilitated by place a piece of gauze or a tea bag on top of the tooth, biting down and keeping your mouth closed during the trip.

avulsedtooth_milktransport_steps

  • If you have a small container, you can place the tooth in it. Then cover the tooth with a small amount of saliva or whole milk, and put this container in another container that has ice in it. Do not place an avulsed tooth directly on ice.
  • Alternatively you can just place the tooth directly into a small cup of milk or saliva.
  • As still another option, there are actually commercially available tooth-saving storage devices set up for this purpose.
  • If you don’t have a container, your best bet is to carry the tooth in your mouth, keeping it under your tongue or between your lower lips and gum. The same precautions about swallowing the tooth still apply here.

How do I prevent losing a tooth?

  • Avoid fights. It’s not worth losing a tooth.
  • When playing any contact sport, wear a mouth guard. They work.
  • Avoid chewing on bones, stale bread tough bagels and other hard foods, especially if you’re older or have either gum or dental disease.
  • Wear a seatbelt.

There is a fair to pretty good chance your avulsed tooth is accompanied by damaged nerves or a fractured jaw. The force required to traumatically dislodge a tooth is significant. Get seen ASAP if this happens, especially if you’re bleeding, can’t close your jaw or if you became unconscious.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, AmazonBarnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Straight, No Chaser: How's Your Dental Hygiene?

teethfalse

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away.

Working in an emergency department is interesting for many different reasons. One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is how oblivious some people are to their smiles—especially their teeth. We see it all: loose teeth, missing teeth, broken teeth, infected teeth, sensitive teeth, erupted wisdom teeth, gingivitis,bad breath, dental infections (especially abscesses), things stuck in the teeth, mouth cancer, yeast infections, rashes inside the mouth and other conditions. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Through it, you introduce many substances that can infect or otherwise damage you. Clinically, the appearance of your mouth, gums and teeth are often a direct statement about how well you care for the rest of your body.
You would think dental hygiene is an especially difficult proposition, but it’s actually quite simple. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), all you really need to commit to good dental hygiene is less than five minutes at a time, at least twice a day. Surely that’s not too much to ask of yourself for yourself, is it?
Let’s identify three sets of conditions you should be prepared to address with your activities. Each measure contains simple tips and habits you should employ to keep your smile making the right kind of introduction.
1. Prevention and self-maintenance
toothbrush
Brushing and flossing keep your gums and teeth healthy by removing plaque and food particles that can serve as a source for infection and tooth decay. Here are your essentials.

  • Brush for two minutes at a time.
  • Brush at least twice a day and preferably after each meal.
  • Flossing is important. There are particles that collect under the gums and between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Avoid the stainers. Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars), excessive red wine and coffee contain a high quantity of very strong chemicals that stain and damage your teeth. Cranberry and grape juices also may stain teeth if consumed in excess. Besides cosmetic considerations, the staining isn’t the problem as much as fact that the chemicals causing the staining are also damaging your teeth and gums.
2. Prevention and professional maintenance

dentist

Do you have a dentist?

  • Regular dental checkups are very important for the ongoing maintenance of your teeth and the early identification of dental problems—before excessively expensive and painful options are needed.
  • Dental exams provide an opportunity for identification of several medical conditions and diseases whose symptoms can appear in the oral cavity (mouth).

3. Recognizing possible dental emergencies
dentalers
It is simultaneously understandable and befuddling that patients go without dental care as long as they do. By the time they come to the ER, invariably, some of these symptoms have been present and were ignored. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you’d do well to see the dentist early, before you end up in the ER.

  • Your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold stimuli.
  • Your gums are swollen and/or they bleed with brushing, flossing or eating.
  • You have continually bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.
  • You have difficulty chewing or swallowing.
  • You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck.
  • You have spots or a sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away.
  • Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up.
  • You have an uneven bite.
  • Your mouth is becoming unexplainably drier than normal.
  • You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder or are HIV positive with new dental problems.
  • You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy with new dental problems.

Upcoming Straight, No Chaser posts will evaluate individual dental emergencies.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, AmazonBarnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Straight, No Chaser: How's Your Dental Hygiene?

teethfalse

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away.
Working in an emergency department is interesting for many different reasons. One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is how oblivious some people are to their smiles—especially their teeth. We see it all: loose teeth, missing teeth, broken teeth, infected teeth, sensitive teeth, erupted wisdom teeth, gingivitis,bad breath, dental infections (especially abscesses), things stuck in the teeth, mouth cancer, yeast infections, rashes inside the mouth and other conditions. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Through it, you introduce many substances that can infect or otherwise damage you. Clinically, the appearance of your mouth, gums and teeth are often a direct statement about how well you care for the rest of your body.
You would think dental hygiene is an especially difficult proposition, but it’s actually quite simple. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), all you really need to commit to good dental hygiene is less than five minutes at a time, at least twice a day. Surely that’s not too much to ask of yourself for yourself, is it?
Let’s identify three sets of conditions you should be prepared to address with your activities. Each measure contains simple tips and habits you should employ to keep your smile making the right kind of introduction.
1. Prevention and self-maintenance
toothbrush
Brushing and flossing keep your gums and teeth healthy by removing plaque and food particles that can serve as a source for infection and tooth decay. Here are your essentials.

  • Brush for two minutes at a time.
  • Brush at least twice a day and preferably after each meal.
  • Flossing is important. There are particles that collect under the gums and between the teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Avoid the stainers. Tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars), excessive red wine and coffee contain a high quantity of very strong chemicals that stain and damage your teeth. Cranberry and grape juices also may stain teeth if consumed in excess. Besides cosmetic considerations, the staining isn’t the problem as much as fact that the chemicals causing the staining are also damaging your teeth and gums.
2. Prevention and professional maintenance

dentist

Do you have a dentist?

  • Regular dental checkups are very important for the ongoing maintenance of your teeth and the early identification of dental problems—before excessively expensive and painful options are needed.
  • Dental exams provide an opportunity for identification of several medical conditions and diseases whose symptoms can appear in the oral cavity (mouth).

3. Recognizing possible dental emergencies
dentalers
It is simultaneously understandable and befuddling that patients go without dental care as long as they do. By the time they come to the ER, invariably, some of these symptoms have been present and were ignored. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, you’d do well to see the dentist early, before you end up in the ER.

  • Your teeth have become sensitive to hot or cold stimuli.
  • Your gums are swollen and/or they bleed with brushing, flossing or eating.
  • You have continually bad breath or bad taste in your mouth.
  • You have difficulty chewing or swallowing.
  • You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck.
  • You have spots or a sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away.
  • Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up.
  • You have an uneven bite.
  • Your mouth is becoming unexplainably drier than normal.
  • You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorder or are HIV positive with new dental problems.
  • You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy with new dental problems.

Upcoming Straight, No Chaser posts will evaluate individual dental emergencies.
Feel free to contact your SMA expert consultant with any questions you have on this topic.
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