How to handle dental emergencies?

It is believed that most dental issues are not generated immediately, they take months or years to come to surface and create problem. However, at times, tooth sensitivity or pain may happen unexpectedly, and may ask for immediate care.

Here are a few situations that emergency dental clinic categorizes as dental emergencies:

1. Bleeding that won’t stop. If you bite your tongue, lip, or other soft tissue accidentally in your mouth, make sure you clean the area and apply a cold compress. In case the bleeding does not stop, it is best to drive to the emergency room.
   
2. A tooth that has been severely cracked or broken. In case of a cracked or broken tooth, call up your dental clinic immediately. Also, apply cold compress at the affected area after rinsing your mouth with warm water.
   
3. Damaged braces. In case your braces damage, call up the orthodontist straight away. Some cases of damaged braces should be fixed immediately, while the others can wait till the next appointment.
   
4. Injury to the jaw. If you feel you’ve broken your jaw, make sure to apply cold compress and call your dentist immediately.
   
5. Loose tooth. Go to your dentist immediately if your tooth has been partially dislodged. Timely treatment can help to save the tooth. Till the time you can’t get to your dentist's office, apply cold compress and take an over-the-counter painkiller.
   
6. Lodged object between the teeth. Food particles may sometimes get stuck between your teeth, remove them gently using floss. However, if the object does not come out, call up your dentist immediately. Depending on the situation, the dental expert may ask you to come by immediately.
   
7. Extremely severe toothache. If your tooth starts to ache, rinse your mouth using warm water and floss around the tooth gently to ensure there is nothing stuck in-between the teeth. Call up your emergency dentist if the ache does subside.

There are certain dental emergencies that may cause permanent or life-threatening infections if not treated at the right time, so if you are in doubt, it is best to call up your dentist. The quicker you are in seeking treatment for your dental problem, the better your chances of full recovery.

Do you bleach your teeth excessively?

Experts believe that a big percentage of people who bleach their teeth are so obsessed with the procedure that they are willing to whiten their projections to an extent that it affects their dental health. This disorder is known a bleachorexia and it is an addiction.

When done right, teeth bleaching can help you get the smile you have always dreamed of. However, it can also cause a lot of harm if you overdo it. Although most whitening systems are safe till the time you follow instructions, excessively bleaching your teeth can actually make them translucent.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, below are a few risks that are involved in obsessive teeth whitening:

1. Hypersensitivity. Bleaching can make the teeth sensitive to hot and cold.
   
2. Oral irritation. Your palate, gums, and throat can become irritated due to the bleach, and you may even feel nauseous by swallowing some of the agent. Such side effects may subside once you stop using the solution.
   
3. Enamel erosion. In case you use the bleaching solution for too long or bleach frequently, it is possible to wear off the outer tooth coating. This will further play havoc with the aesthetics of the teeth, apart from making them sensitive to hot and cold and other oral issues.

It is important to handle your teeth the same way you would handle your clothes: If you’d like them to remain white, make sure you stay away from foods that cause staining. Also brush your teeth well after every meal. In case your teeth were stained or discolored due to fluoride or antibiotics, or if teeth whiteners have not worked on your projections, research about porcelain veneers and talk to your best dentist Baltimore about them. These shell-like casings are a permanent solution that can be bonded to your teeth. Also, most importantly, be realistic about your expectations from teeth whitening. There is no point having teeth that are so white that they look abnormal.