Archive for March, 2009

Pulling Your Own Teeth Out!

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Even though it may sound very odd and downright compelling, a lot of people actually try to extract their own teeth. Toothache pain can be very painful and very frustrating, making you try anything to get relief. Depending on how bad the pain is, you?ll be more than willing to do just about anything you can to get the pain to stop. Abscesses or really bad cavities are among the worst, as the pain never seems to let up - no matter what you do.

In the old days, teeth were extracted by pliers, as there were no dentists around. During these times, people would get drunk on alcohol and then the teeth would be extracted. There was no such thing as anaesthesia back then, so it was impossible to locally numb the pain. These days though, local anaesthesia is the best way to numb a toothache before pulling the tooth. If you attempt to pull a tooth yourself, you?ll feel the pain no matter what you do.

There are situations however, in which you can pull your own teeth. Baby teeth for example, are acceptable to pull. Before you yank it out though, you should check on the age of when the tooth in question should be removed. If you wiggle the tooth around and it appears to be loose, then chances are it will come out without a problem. On the other hand, if you pull the tooth and it turns out to be an abscess, you?ll end up with a real problem and your hands and you?ll need to visit a dentist as soon as you can.

Another situation in which it is acceptable to pull your own teeth is when you have a severe case of gum disease. Gum disease can cause the socket and the bone to become extremely decayed, which will result in the destruction of the tooth. If the gum disease is severe enough, the tooth will be extremely loose and will come out without a problem. In some cases, the tooth can be almost unbearable to the touch. If you have gum disease and notice a loose tooth, you should be careful when pulling it. If you don?t do it properly or if you do it too soon, you could end up breaking the top of the tooth. If this happens, you?ll need to go to the dentist to have the remaining portion of the tooth cut out.

Even though a tooth may feel loose when you touch it, doesn?t always mean that you can grab a pair of pliers and rip it out. Teeth are very delicate. If you try to rip a tooth out with pair of pliers and make a mistake, you should end up doing more harm than good. Putting pliers in your mouth can also lead to an infection, which would send you to the dentist. Abscesses on the other hand, should never be dealt with on your own - you?ll need to go to a dentist to have him properly extract the tooth and give you some antibiotics to stop the infection.

To be on the safe side and avoid any potential problems that could easily arise, you should always go to the dentist if you have a toothache. No matter how bad the pain may be, you should never attempt to pull the tooth yourself. Your dentist can numb the area before he pulls the tooth, so you?ll feel no pain at all. He will also prescribe you some pain medicine and antibiotics as well, to help treat any infection you may have. If you attempt to pull the tooth yourself, you?ll only cause more problems in the end - and end up going to a dentist anyway.



All You need to know About Cavities

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Tooth Cavities can best be described as tooth decay. As we all know, tooth decay is influenced by what we eat, how we take care of our teeth, and the amount of fluoride in our toothpastes. If your family has a history of tooth disease or teeth problems, then you may inherit it that way. This is very common, as many people inherit tooth problems that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Adults who suffer from a dry mouth are more at risk for cavities, as they have a lack of saliva in their mouth. Dry mouth is very common, and is normally the result of medications, illness, and radiation treatment. Tobacco users will also suffer from dry mouth, as the tobacco will use up the saliva in the mouth and leave the user with nothing to keep his or her mouth moist.

Cavities are a very serious situation, and if left untreated, can result in the destruction of the tooth. This can also destroy the nerves as well, resulting in an abscess. An abscess is very serious, as it infects the root tip. If left untreated, an abscess can result in death. Although you may not realize it, cavities are a very serious matter that can quickly spread to something even more serious.

If you visit your dentist on a regular basis, he will check for cavities. Without visiting the dentist, it is impossible to tell whether or not you have a cavity. Most cavities develop below the gums, and you won?t be able to see them. If the cavity exists in the tooth, you will be able to see it, as it will change the color of the affected area. If you notice a color change or a blackened area in your tooth, you should make an appointment with your dentist immediately.

What you eat is a big contributor to cavities. If you eat a lot of sweets or drink a lot of soda, you will be at a higher risk for cavities. Foods that are rich in sugar or starch are eaten by bacteria found in plaque, which will produce acids that eat through teeth. This acid is very harmful to teeth, as it can eat through the dentin and enamel in no time at all. If you don?t do something about it, the acid will continue to eat at the tooth until there is nothing left to say - leaving you no choice but to get the tooth extracted.

Over time, the tooth enamel will start to break down beneath the surface of your tooth, even though the surface will appear to be fine. Once the acid has managed to eat away enough of the enamel below the surface, the surface will collapse, which results in a cavity. After this has happened, if you don?t get it treated, the tooth will continue to be eaten and the cavity will continue to spread until all of the tooth has been eaten, after which the enamel will be gone and your root will be exposed - which can be very painful.

Cavities will more than likely develop in the pits of chewing areas around the back teeth, between your teeth, or near the gum line. No matter where they occur, the easiest way to spot them is to visit your dentist. Your dentist will be able to do x-rays and find out just how bad they are and tell you what options you have. If you visit him in time, he will be able to save the tooth and stop the cavity before it spreads throughout your tooth.



Pros and Cons of Teeth Whitening Products.

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Choosing the right teeth whitening product amidst the different teeth whitening products available in the market today can be very confusing. And some of the teeth whitening products are not giving your desired result.

If you ask the experts, they will tell you that the best method of teeth whitening is still through your dentist. Not only is it the best, it is also the most effective and the quickest to have whiter teeth.

But then, not all people can afford the fees that come with each treatment. Another thing that hinders them from going to dentists is fear. It seems that as early as childhood, dentists are one of the most feared personalities that people do not want to encounter. This fear continues on in the adult years.

Although dentists do not advise people to choose teeth whitening products, they all agree in saying that these products are effective in some degree. According to studies, teeth whitening products, if used regularly and consistently can result in whiter teeth that can outlast any dentist-assisted procedure.

Another additional plus that teeth whitening products have is that they contain the same ingredients that are being used in professional whitening. Two of the active ingredients needed for whitening teeth are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide. These two are also the ingredients that are present in some of the products that are sold in groceries and drug stores.

The only advantage that teeth whitening products have over professional whitening is that they tend to be very cheap. Everyone who will tumble upon them can simply afford to add them to the list of their basic things.

Most of these products can be bought for $30 or less. Compare this to the $100 or more that you need to pay to the dentist. It will not surprise you why people prefer them over the high fees.

Still, teeth whitening products are found out to have some disadvantages. Some of these are:

1. Suitability.

Teeth whitening products cater to all. But then different people have different needs. What others found effective may not work for others. This is one of the problems that people will encounter with these products.

There are those that have sensitive teeth and gums. The reaction to the products will depend upon the suitability of the products to the persons using them. An option would be to try different products until you find the one that is suitable to you.

2. Strong chemicals used.

You will not know what your reaction to the product until you have tried it out. Since you do not know how sensitive your teeth are, you will also not know what might happen when you start using the product.

Better consult with your dentist first before choosing a certain product.

3. Tray may not fit.

The tray put in your teeth is not exactly fitted after you. So there is a tendency that it may either be too large or too small.

When it is too large, the formula may not work well. On the other hand, if it is too small, it may cause gum bleeding and side effects that will cause bigger problems.

Be sure that the teeth whitening precuts you choose is suited for you. If none of them works, then maybe professional teeth whitening will.