Also, if a person consumes too much fluoride, they develop chalky white and cream coloured patches on their teeth. If this excessive consumption is allowed to continue, the staining may become permanent and get much darker. It is very important that you do not ingest too much fluoride, because it can be toxic in large amounts.
There are a number of over the counter and ‘in office’ whitening treatments designed to remove mild to moderate stains on enamel. If you are concerned about the colour of your teeth, ask your dentist if any of these treatments could be worthwhile. They are usually very cheap, very fast, and guaranteed to lighten the enamel by at least a couple of shades.
In the case of ‘in office’ treatments, this number can be as many as right shades lighter. The whitening treatments are particularly good at removing stains left by coffee and red wine. So, if you are a big fan of either, whitening could help you to protect the quality of your smile. The treatment is pretty much a sure bet unless your teeth are marked by intrinsic stains.
* Finding a Viable Solution to Dental Complications
As already described, treating these conditions can be tricky, because it is usually not possible to just recommend that the patient stop taking meds. This can do a lot more harm than good and end up making the person a lot sicker. So, dentists have to think very carefully about the best way to approach oral complications.
Ordinarily, they take a three pronged perspective. The first step involves assessing the overall oral health of the patient, primarily as a way to judge the quality of dental care routines. A good brushing and flossing routine is usually enough to keep symptoms in check until the patient can be taken off the medication. The dentist may recommend the use of an interdental brush for more comprehensive cleaning.
The second step involves providing any non-invasive treatments that might help to control the symptoms. For example, a dentist can perform an affordable dental cleaning to make sure that the gum tissue and teeth are functioning smoothly. For people with dry mouth, professional cleans are highly advised, because they remove stubborn plaque and reach areas that may otherwise not be exposed to any saliva.
It is quite rare for swelling of the gum tissue to require invasive treatment, but if the accelerated growth is placing great pressure on teeth, minor surgery may be required. This is routine procedure and will be performed under anesthetic.
You will not feel any pain. There will be a degree of tenderness and soreness after the surgery, but this should subside after a week or two. If you do need surgery, your dentist will talk you through the process first.
And finally, if the dentist believes that it could help, they may liaise with your GP to try and find a way to reduce the medication that is causing all of the problems. In some circumstances, a substitute drug can be found which does not lead to such damaging side effects. You should never change your dose, swap medications, or stop taking prescription drugs unless the move has been approved by your doctor.
* Advice for Patients with Diabetes
For diabetes sufferers, even mild medical conditions can quickly turn into serious problems. This is why, if you have diabetes, you need to stay in regular contact with your dentist. You will be more at risk of developing things like cavities, decay, root infections, and abscesses, so you must keep an eye on your oral health.
Alongside diabetes comes more danger of contracting periodontal disease too. This progresses very rapidly if left untreated and degenerates into pockets of infection below the gum line. In time, and without treatment, periodontitis causes tooth loss and irreparable damage to the jawbone itself. But, if it is identified early and the right solution is provided, a large amount of the destruction can be reversed.
If you keep your dentist informed about changes to your medical routine, they will have a much better chance of responding appropriately. You cannot expect to be forewarned about a situation that the specialist was not aware would occur. On the other hand, if you are prescribed medications and you attend dental check-ups regularly, the specialist will be able to spot signs of trouble before they progress.
-carefreedental.com
* Always rinse very gently
For the first day following a treatment, rinsing is discouraged. The mouth is too tender and sore to handle it. On the second day, you can start to gently treat and wash the area with a mild salt solution. The mixture will promote healing and get rid of any nasty bacteria which has taken up residence in your mouth. On average, you should rinse 3-4 times per day. It is especially important after meals, because food morsels need to be removed.
* Brush around the extraction site
You should never brush directly over a fresh extraction site. It will cause a lot of pain and interrupt the healing process. As aforementioned, the socket forms a blood clot for protection. It needs this barrier to stay clean. When brushing your teeth, be very careful not to touch or knock the treated area.
* Eat soft foods for 1-2 days
This is the bit which people tend to find the most annoying. For a day or two, they cannot enjoy any of their favourite foods and have to stick to soft meals. While it can be frustrating, it is only a temporary measure. And besides, two days of soup, mashed potatoes, and milkshake isn’t all that bad. The only major ‘no go’ foods are spicy meals (like curries), fizzy drinks, and hot beverages (like cocoa). If you cannot face life without coffee, why not swap it for an iced version for a few days?
Things to avoid at all costs
There are a few things that you do need to take steps to avoid, particularly if you want the wound to heal quickly. The good news is that most of these forbidden actions are pretty self-explanatory. For example, not playing with, picking at, or touching the wound. This is a very bad idea. It can lead to infection and a very bad case of toothache. And remember, the same rules apply to using your tongue for interior probing – just don’t do it.
* Coughing and sneezing
Now, this can be a tough one. You do not have to have a cold or a flu to be confronted with a sudden sneezing attack, after all. If you do end up coughing or sneezing, it is not the end of the world. However, you must limit the damage as far as possible. You can do this by stifling, retaining, or holding back the motion. The alternative is to let it all out and sneeze as aggressively as you usually would, but it is not recommended. The movement could dislodge the protective barrier over the socket and set the healing process back.
* Cigarettes and booze
It cannot be stressed enough, cigarettes and alcohol will reduce your ability to heal. They will slow down the repair process and increase the risk of infection. Do whatever you can to put off the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol for as long as possible after a tooth pulling. It is for the good of your mouth.
Important questions about the recovery period
1. How long does it take an extraction to heal?
All mouths are unique, so there is no single consensus on how long tooth extractions take to heal. For most patients, the socket makes a full recovery in around 3-4 weeks. However, it may happen a little faster for you or a little slower. The jaw bone will take much longer to heal, but this should become a mostly painless process after the socket has recovered.
2. Why does my extraction site feel sharp?
There is a possibility that you might feel sharp edges in and around the extraction socket following recovery. This is usually nothing to worry about. It is quite normal for tiny fragments of the socket to become dislodged and make their way to the surface. They should come loose on their own and you will either safely swallow them or spit them out.
3. What do I do if the pain is fairly strong?
Unfortunately, for the first few weeks, you are going to have to be patient. While the pain should not be intense, it may present itself as a dull ache in or around the socket. There is not much that can be done about this apart from taking painkillers. If you are struggling with the level of pain, ask your dentist for advice.
4. How to recognise dry socket
There is one exception to this last rule on pain management. For some patients, though it is fairly uncommon, a condition called dry socket can develop. It occurs when the protective barrier over the empty socket fails to form or is knocked out of place. If this happens, the wound will be exposed to the air and anything else that you put in your mouth. Unsurprisingly, the condition is pretty painful.
It is characterised by an extreme sensitivity, as opposed to the dull ache that is customary for extractions. You are likely to have trouble eating, drinking, and speaking. The movement of air in and around the socket will stimulate this pain and intensify it. The dentist can treat dry socket and make sure that the wound if kept free from bacteria, so if you think that you may be suffering with it, head to the clinic or surgery.
Once there, the dental specialist will apply a medical bandage to the socket. It will provide instant relief and reduce the level of pain. A brief examination will then be conducted to rule out the possibility of infection.
For infected sockets, a course of antibiotics is needed. You will be sent home with strict aftercare instructions and expected to replace the dressing every day.
While listening carefully and following aftercare advice will greatly reduce the risk of dry mouth, sometimes, a patient just runs into bad luck. You may not have done anything to provoke the condition, so do not beat yourself up about it. Follow the recommendations from your specialist, keep the wound clean, and make a promise to yourself never to need any more teeth pulling.
– carefreedental.com
