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Dental emergencies can affect you in various forms, but some are more common than the rest. Tooth decay, a chipped tooth and gum disease are some of the most common dental emergencies needing emergency dental services from dentists providing them. However, Warm Family Dentistry treats many patients arriving at their facility with different dental emergencies arising for various reasons.

Your teeth and gums are not the only areas of your mouth that are prone to emergencies. For example, any issue in your oral cavity causing pain or bleeding is a dental emergency. Therefore you must realize what dental emergencies are and why you must seek prompt treatment for any condition affecting you.

This article provides information on various dental emergencies to make you aware of why you must seek immediate attention from a dental professional and none other to safeguard your dental and overall health.

Types of Dental Emergencies

Toothaches

A toothache is never a good sign because it can indicate various conditions, including tooth decay. Some toothaches are manageable without requiring emergency dental treatment, while others causing swelling in your mouth need urgent dental care. If you are affected by an excruciating toothache, do not consider taking over-the-counter painkillers or aspirin but contact an emergency dental clinic in your vicinity for immediate attention. After providing you with the treatment necessary, the dentist will stress the importance of maintaining acceptable oral hygiene practices to prevent cavities, tooth decay, and other severe dental problems.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

If you bite down on something hard, you might have a chipped or broken tooth ruining your smile and causing pain. If you experience bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm water and use some gauze to prevent bleeding. Apply a cold compress to your cheeks near the broken tooth to reduce swelling. When you visit the emergency dentist, expect to receive advice from the professional about being conscious when biting down on hard and crunchy foods or using your teeth for purposes other than chewing food. Prepare yourself to receive advice on wearing mouth guards if involved in sporting activities also responsible for chipped and broken teeth.

Knocked-out Tooth

Suppose you encounter an accident leaving you with a knocked-out tooth; pick the tooth upholding it by the crown, and rinse it in water without scrubbing the roots. If you can, try to place the tooth into its socket without pushing it in. However, if you can’t use a tiny milk container to store the tooth, head to the emergency dentist as soon as possible if you want the tooth reinserted into its socket. Time is of the essence when managing with a knocked-out tooth. You must reach the dentist’s office within 30 minutes, failing which you might have to consider tooth replacement solutions.

Lost Crowns or Fillings

Crowns and fillings restore damaged teeth, providing them optimal functionality and appearance. Unfortunately, they are prone to damages and often require emergency dental services if you want to prevent any infections from spreading in your mouth. You must visit an emergency dentist to have the feeling or crown restored without trying to fix your tooth for fear of damaging it.

Dental Abscess

Infections near the root of the tooth or the space between the teeth and gums are severe. If left untreated, the infection spreads to the surrounding teeth and gum tissue. Unfortunately, the condition can also spread throughout your body to require help from various medical professionals. If you’re unsure whether you have a dental abscess check your gums for painful swollen spots. Call the emergency dentist right away for treatment to prevent the worsening of the problem. Expect the dentist to drain the abscess, provide antibiotics to control the infection, painkillers to alleviate the discomfort, and recommend you undergo root canal therapy to eradicate the infection from inside your tooth.

Broken Orthodontics

If you are dealing with a problem of broken orthodontics, the wires stick out and poke your cheeks and gums, causing discomfort and slowing down or reversing the aligning process for straightening teeth. You can try pushing the broken wire into a comfortable position. However, if you fail, do not use other DIY methods but contact an emergency dentist to have the problem corrected as soon as possible.

Contact an emergency dentist to safeguard your oral and overall health when dealing with any dental emergency, whether standard or complicated.

If you are in the least interested in whitening your smile, then you know at least more than three approaches that can help you do it. It does not mean that all the approaches are effective for realizing your dental expectations, but you have many options to choose from, should you decide to whiten your smile. The question, therefore, becomes, why would you need a dentist for teeth whitening?

What Is Teeth Whitening?

It is any procedure done to change the color of teeth, making them brighter and whiter than they initially are. Teeth whitening services can either be offered in a dental facility or at home, based on individual preferences.

Various approaches to whitening teeth have been used today, including the following:

1. Baking soda and peroxide rinses – creating a solution of diluted baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, either together or separately, to create a mix that can bleach teeth.
2. Oil pulling – rinsing teeth with essential oils like coconut oil.
3. Over-the-counter whitening strips and gels – are easily accessible from local vendors, providing different brands of whitening products that can improve the color of your teeth.
4. Professional teeth whitening – comprises both external and internal bleaching of teeth done by a dentist, usually in a dental clinic.

​An Overview of the Professional Approach to Teeth Whitening

A dentist will employ a different technique for whitening your teeth than you do with alternative whitening remedies. For one, you need a dental exam before any whitening process begins. The dental exam will allow the dentist to evaluate your oral health, finding any dental issues, if any. The presence of tooth cavities, for instance, will require treatment first before you can whiten your teeth. The examination stage will also help determine whether you need to be numbed before the treatment or not. Typically, teeth whitening procedures do not require local anesthesia.

Afterward, dental cleaning is necessary. Some patients need a complete teeth cleaning experience to rid their mouth of plaque and tartar, which are primarily the cause of their dental discoloration. Other patients, however, will only need a few minutes of teeth brushing and rinsing to remove surface residues that may prevent effective teeth whitening.

The bleaching process starts when the dentist protects your gums. Usually, a special gel is applied to the gums, protecting them from the harshness of the bleaching agents. Afterward, the dentist applies the whitening product. It is usually in the form of a gel or paste. Once applied, it begins to break drown stains. The dentist will use a small hand-held laser tool to activate and speed up the bleaching process.

After a couple of seconds, the dentist wipes off the bleaching material from your teeth and observes the progress. He/she will then repeat the bleaching steps about three or four times over until the stains on your teeth are faded enough. The entire process may take a little over 45 minutes to achieve bright white teeth.

Why Must You Involve a Dentist for Teeth Whitening?

1. To prioritize safety – dentists know best when it comes to your dental health. Although whitening your teeth is a personal journey, you need to be conscious of the safety of your oral cavity. A dentist will ensure that both your gums and teeth are safe before and after a bleaching session.
2. To benefit from other dental services – although you are going in to whiten your teeth, you will benefit from a dental exam and cleaning for your teeth. Better yet, you may even get fluoride treatment after whitening your teeth, which boosts their strength.
3. For effective results – the promise of professional teeth whitening is immediate results. You do not have to keep attempting to bleach your teeth continuously for a week before you realize an improvement in their color. Your dentist ensures that by the time you are leaving the dental clinic, you have noticed the tremendous upgrade in the whiteness and brightness of your teeth.
4. To remove stubborn stains – professional teeth whitening has a better understanding of how to target intrinsic stains, making it a better approach for removing stubborn stains than other teeth whitening alternatives.
5. Incredible results – after visiting your dentist for teeth whitening, you won’t just have immediate results, but incredible ones too. Patients have had their smiles whitened up to four times brighter and whiter than the initial color of their teeth.

Mere constant use of the teeth subjects them to wear and tear. Improper care for the teeth makes them vulnerable to all kinds of dental diseases and defects. These dental diseases have adverse effects on dental, and sometimes, the medical health of an individual. The power of healthy oral hygiene habits such as regular brushing and flossing cannot be overestimated because of the numerous dental diseases and defects they fortify the teeth against.

Regular brushing and flossing can protect the teeth from decay, gum diseases, tooth discoloration, etc. To some extent, a set of white teeth can tell a lot about the state of an individual’s dental health. This is because the natural color of the teeth at growth is white. The teeth start to develop in a baby around six to twelve months of age, and the teeth at this stage are called baby teeth or milk teeth. Babies possess whiter teeth at growth due to their thinner enamel. The white teeth can be maintained with proper care until the milk teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth.

The permanent teeth upon eruption are not as white as the milk teeth because of the presence of more dentin. In the absence of genetic conditions that cause severe discoloration, the permanent teeth are relatively white. However, with the constant use of permanent teeth and advancement in age, the teeth take on another color different from their natural color. This is known as tooth discoloration. Discolored teeth are not pleasing aesthetically. They stain your smile and can even cause some dental and medical health issues.

Therefore, the teeth have to be restored to their natural color to prevent dental and medical complications. This can be done through a teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth whitening is a procedure through which the teeth are whitened or lightened from their existing color using a bleaching agent. A teeth whitening dentist performs the procedure. The teeth, due to frequent use and some conditions, are likely to lose their natural color, and this can prove to be harmful to dental health. Therefore, tooth whitening serves as a cosmetic dentistry procedure that helps restore the teeth to their natural color or the color they ought to be.

How Do The Teeth Get Discolored?

Tooth discoloration can occur in people of all ages and is usually a result of things put in the mouth, existing conditions in the body, and advancement in age.

The leading cause of tooth discoloration are improper oral hygiene habits and the foods and drinks we take in. The teeth, unknown to many, have pores (tiny holes) like the skin. These pores absorb the color of the food and drinks put in the mouth. Proper brushing and flossing of the teeth can help to rid the teeth of these absorbed colors from time to time. However, the absence of these healthy oral hygiene habits leads to a buildup of these colors and causes discoloration. Smoking, chewing, and other forms of ingesting tobacco can also lead to teeth discoloration.

The other causes of tooth discoloration include medications, diseases, trauma, genetics, and environmental factors. Some drugs and medical procedures are known to cause tooth discoloration. In addition, trauma or accident during teeth development can hurt the enamel and cause discoloration. Also, some diseases prevent the normal development of the enamel and dentin, thereby leading to teeth discoloration. Finally, environmental factors like a heavy concentration of fluoride in drinking water lead to fluorosis, which causes white spots to appear on the teeth, causing discoloration.

Teeth Whitening Procedure

Professional bleaching is the most common and effective way of whitening teeth. It would help if you got a teeth whitening procedure only from certified dental clinics offering teeth whitening services to prevent complications after the procedure.

After putting safety checks like protecting the gums and tongue, a whitening agent containing 15% to 35% hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth. This process can be repeated multiple times as the dental professional deems fit till the teeth are lightened to the desired shade. This process is painless and might not even need anesthesia.

Why Do Your Teeth Hurt After A Whitening Procedure?

After whitening, your teeth might feel sensitive to hot or cold temperatures. This is known as tooth sensitivity and should wear off a few days or weeks after the procedure. If it persists, consult your dentist immediately.

Everyone dislikes looking at yellow and discolored teeth when they view themselves in the mirror. However most people don’t realize yellowing of the teeth results from their daily diet. Eating anything pigmented foods like berries, spaghetti sauce, red wine, coffee, and green tea causes your teeth to appear yellow over time.

You may display the yellow shade of your teeth even if you maintain excellent dental hygiene after having the foods and beverages you prefer. However this blog has some positive news for you that whitening yellow teeth is not as challenging as believed earlier.

Please do not assume over-the-counter whitening toothpaste or strips and gels will help you get the whiter teeth you desire. You must look for and find providers offering teeth whitening services in clinics instead of shopping for at-home whitening treatments. When you think about teeth whitening services do not consider any professional suitable for your needs. The optimal professional for whitening your teeth is a professional with knowledge about dental anatomy. It means you have to find dental professionals offering these services to whiten your teeth.

Are Teeth Naturally Yellow?

Your teeth have a strong outer layer called enamel which is prone to develop surface stains over time. The stains caused by the foods and beverages you have in most cases. However some people have teeth appearing naturally yellow irrespective of the kind of foods they have. It is because the dentin layer beneath the enamel is naturally yellow. The color of the dentin is barely visible for some while in others who have thinner enamel the yellow shade appears more visible.

Can You Whiten Naturally Yellow Teeth?

Whitening naturally yellow teeth is also possible. However as mentioned earlier you cannot rely on any product or provider promise you whiter teeth. Your best bet to get the whiter teeth you desire is to search for a dental teeth whitening professional understanding your situation and providing treatments suitable for your specific situation.

Over the past few years teeth whitening is a treatment demanded by many people. The increasing demand for teeth whitening has encouraged many producers and non-dental professionals to offer treatment for yellow teeth not authenticated by dental professionals. Most products available over-the-counter are best suited for everyday use and not for desire instant results. Non-dental professionals offering teeth working services will likely cause more harm than do any good when you try to whiten your yellow teeth from them. Therefore you must choose wisely and carefully to ensure you deal with a qualified dentist providing teeth whitening treatments for yellow teeth using tested and proven procedures to deliver results within the hour.

How to Get Your Teeth Whitened within the Hour?

If you visit a qualified professional providing a dental teeth whitening procedure it confirms you are talking to a dentist and not anyone who has set shop in the market to cash in on the demand for teeth whitening.

Before starting the procedure for whitening your yellow teeth the dentist you approach for the treatment will examine your teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy before proceeding with the treatment. Firstly you receive a dental cleaning for plaque and tartar removal because the also contribute to teeth discoloration.

After ensuring your teeth and gums are healthy and cleaning them your dentist finally begins the whitening procedure protecting the soft tissues in your mouth with cheek retractors and a rubber dam over your gums. After you are adequately protected the dentist applies a bleaching ingredient of hydrogen peroxide to begin whitening your teeth. The peroxide application happens four times during the hour and is suctioned off every 15 minutes for a new application. To accelerate the bleaching ingredient heat and light are used by the dentist. At the end of the hour you are asked to rinse your mouth and given fluoride treatment to reduce any sensitivity in your teeth.

The dentist evaluates the color of your teeth after the bleaching process which would have left with whiter teeth by three to eight shades. If you wish to maintain the results of the dentist provided teeth whitening trays and gels and continue using them at home to keep your teeth looking brighter and whiter longer. However you must ensure you stay away from the staining foods and beverages you were having at least limit them if you do not want to receive regular expensive teeth whitening treatments from dentists.

One technique you can use to maintain the appearance of your smile in whiter condition is to safeguard the thickness of your enamel to ensure the dentin beneath doesn’t show itself. It means you must avoid toothpaste or related products containing activated Charcoal and other ingredients harmful to the enamel. Make every effort to ensure your tooth enamel remains in optimal condition if you want to have a brighter smile like everyone without displaying yellow teeth. Unfortunately if you develop yellow teeth for any reason the best option for you to have the situation corrected is to seek help from a professional dentist and none other.

Are you affected by tooth loss and think a strange problem is affecting your mouth? In reality, tooth loss affects 59 percent of adults between 35 to 44, and 25 percent of Americans lose all their adult teeth by 74. Having explained the statistics about tooth loss, we must also provide information on why you must get a proper replacement for the missing teeth to keep your remaining teeth aligned. Replacing your teeth is also essential to maintain and avoid challenges when eating and speaking.

The two most common options for replacing missing teeth are dental bridges and dental implants. Dental bridges are fake teeth held in place by the natural teeth around the missing tooth. Plastic or porcelain helps make dental bridges to match the color of your natural teeth. Dental bridges help replace one or several missing teeth.

Titanium helps make dental implants to function as artificial tooth roots. Dental implants are mounted into your jawbone with screws to hold a dental crown or bridge in place. This article compares the benefits and downsides of dental bridges and implants and looks at the factors to help you determine which option is suitable for you.

Dental Bridges Vs. Dental Implants

Dental implants and bridges both deliver natural-looking results. However, the replacements come with a set of benefits and downsides. Let us look at how these tooth replacement solutions differ:

Dental Bridge Benefits

Dental insurance companies cover dental bridges. Bone grafting or invasive surgery is not required for dental bridge replacements, and the upfront costs for replacing missing teeth with dental bridges are lower than dental implants. You may find this option suitable if you are uncomfortable with dental visits because you only require two appointments with your dentist spanning over a couple of weeks to have your artificial teeth.

Dental Bridge Problems

Dental bridge problems include requiring replacements every 5 to 7 years, although they can last for over a decade. With age, dental bridges lose their natural-looking appearance. In addition, dental bridges damage the healthy teeth around the missing tooth and make you eligible to tooth decay and cavities in the surrounding teeth compared to implants.

Dental Implant Benefits

Dental implants can last for 15 years or more and are the most durable option available on the market. Dental implants retain their natural-looking appearance for a lifetime and are standalone options that don’t damage the healthy teeth around the missing tooth. Dental implants are highly successful, with a success rate of about 97 percent.

Dental Implant Downsides

Insurance coverage is not usually available for dental implants, and the process for getting them requires around six months or more. Dental implants can lead to surgical complications and are available at a higher upfront cost.

Choosing between Dental Bridges or Implants

The best tooth replacement solution for your situation depends on your budget, how many teeth you have lost, and your overall health. Your dentist can provide appropriate advice on the replacement you can have for your missing teeth.

If you are covered by dental insurance, you will likely receive reimbursement for a dental bridge than an implant. However, if you don’t have dental insurance and both solutions are beyond your price range, you can also discuss other options or partial dentures with your dentist.

Your overall health plays an essential role if you decide in favor of the dental implant procedure. Dental implants are not an option for you if you are affected by medical conditions like diabetes or leukemia, slowing down the healing. However, dental implants are excellent if you are in good overall health and have healthy jawbone free-form decay to support the implant.

The Best Option for Replacing Your Missing Teeth

If you don’t want to undergo an intensive procedure waiting months before you can have an artificial tooth, you may find a dental bridge a better option for replacing your missing teeth. Dental bridges require merely two visits to your dentist, leaving you free from worrying about dental bridge pain management.

You must endure some pain when getting dental bridges as the dentist prepares the surrounding teeth for bridge placement. However, you receive anesthesia to manage the discomfort leaving you relatively unaware of the grinding and filing of the adjacent teeth.

Dental bridges and implants are two options for replacing missing teeth. Dental bridges will likely receive coverage from a dental insurer and require a more negligible upfront cost. However, if costs aren’t an issue and you are in good overall health, dental implants are the better option because they last longer and don’t damage the neighboring teeth. Discuss the problem with your dentist for help to determine which option is best for your situation.

Dentures are removable false teeth. They are made to replace your natural teeth that you have lost due to tooth decay or injury.

Dentures can improve your facial aesthetics and smile, help you chew food with zero pain, and protect the rest of your teeth from getting cracked or damaged. Dentures are known to last long. However, they still need to be maintained and inspected at regular intervals. If you have a denture, it means you would occasionally need to repair it and undergo a denture reline procedure from time to time. There are certain things that you can do to make dentures more durable and they are;

• Use Denture Adhesive: Before getting used to them, dentures can slip into your mouth. For this reason, it is advisable to use denture adhesive to help you put them in place.
• Take Care of Your Dentures: Although modern dentures last longer, it is important to note that dentures do not last forever and should be handled with care. When you want to remove them from your mouth, do so with care because if they fall they can break or bend.
• Give Your Mouth a Break: Dentures can cause irritation and soreness. Before you sleep, remove your dentures so that the tissues in your mouth can have time to heal.
• Clean Your Dentures Daily: The fact that you use dentures does not mean that you shouldn’t care about keeping them clean. Treat your dentures like you would treat your teeth. Clean them with denture cleaner or toothpaste.
• Watch For Fitting Changes: The gums and bones in your mouth can change form with time and this can make your denture loosen. A loose denture can mean you have gum disease. It can also lead to inflammation, sores, burning, and pain. Visit your denturist once you notice that your dentures are loose so that they can have them fixed.
• Never Use Hot Water: Soaking or rinsing your dentures in hot water can change their fits. Once this happens, you would need to repair your dentures or get new ones.
• Be Patient With Your Dentures: When you first start using your dentures, you might find it a little bit difficult to eat or speak. However, the difficulty reduces as you get used to them.

WHAT IS A DENTURE REPAIR AND A DENTURE RELINE?

It is used to help you fix any damage in your dentures. If there is a crack or teeth detached in your denture, denture repair will help you sort that out. Even if you take care of your dentures regularly, you would still need to repair them eventually. This is because micro-fractures and normal wear and tear can occur and put extra pressure on your dentures. This will lead to the micro-fractures becoming more visible.

A denture reline is done using a denture reline kit to make your denture fit better in your mouth by reshaping the surface that rests against your gums. This process must be done at an annual or biannual interval because the soft tissue in your mouth is constantly changing shape. Denture reline helps make your denture perform properly and fit well.

If you notice that your speech, denture performance, or comfort is no longer what it used to be, contact your denture care provider to know whether you need a denture reline or repair. The following symptoms indicate that you need a denture reline or repair;

• Foul-smelling dentures, even when you have a very hygienic habit.
• Discomfort when you wear your dentures.
• Sore spots on your mouth.
• Visible damage or cracks.
• Eating foods you normally eat becomes difficult.
• Whistling or slurred speech.
• Slipping dentures.

What Happens During a Denture Reline and Repair?

The first thing that your provider does before you get a denture repair or a denture reline is to inspect your dentures and your mouth. Any visible denture damage will firstly be repaired to prevent more damage from occurring again. If your provider notices any oral health conditions, recommendations will be given to you on how to address them.

There are two times of denture relines, soft reline and hard reline. The denture reline material that your provider uses in a soft reline is softer than that of a hard reline.

The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects your jaw to the skull. It allows you to do some things such as laugh, chew, talk, and enable your jaw to move side to side or up and down.

The hinge undergoes many sliding motions making it one of the most complex joints and can cause many symptoms, including headaches if anything goes amiss. These are commonly known as temporomandibular disorders.

Causes of TMJ Headaches

Although the causes have not been identified, it is believed that teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause these headaches. TMJ pain has been reported to affect one in ten people. The TMJ combines the sliding movements with hinge actions.  The bones that link these jaws are covered with cartilage separated by a shock absorber that keeps its movement smooth. The pain and headache can be caused if:

• the disk moves out of its alignment, or if it erodes
• the cartilage in the joint is damaged by arthritis
• The jaw or joint is damaged by a blow or any impact on it

Some risk factors may increase the risk of you getting TMJ disorders or headaches, and they include:

• Jaw injury
• Long term clenching or grinding of the teeth
• Some connective tissue diseases may cause problems affecting the functioning of the temporomandibular joint.
• Some types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, may affect the movement of the jaw.
• Poor posture
• Stress or anxiety
• Orthodontic braces

The following are the symptoms of TMJ that come with the headache. They include

• Tenderness or pain in the jaw
• Pain in both or one of your temporomandibular joints
• Aching pain in your face
• Your joint may lock, making it difficult to open or close it
• Pain while chewing or difficulty in chewing
• Pain in and around your eye.
• Tight, sore, or stiff jaw muscles
• Blurred vision
• Pain that feels like a toothache
• Vertigo or dizziness
• Shoulder pain

Treatment of TMJ Headaches

Though no treatment has been proven safe and reliable, something can be done to prevent and treat the TMJ disorder and headache. It includes:

• Lifestyle Changes

Changing some behaviors involving your jaw can be helpful. This includes:

• Avoiding chewy or hard foods
• Reducing or minimizing the stress that causes problems like clenching or grinding
• Avoiding movement of jaws that can happen because of gum chewing or wide yawning
• Some sedative essential oils can help you relieve pain. They include chamomile, lavender, clary sage, and sweet marjoram

You can also use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication that can help you reduce the pain and treat the headaches. An ice pack on your jaw can also help you reduce the pain. Exercising your jaw can also help you relax your muscles and relieve the temporomandibular disorder symptoms

• Doctor Prescribed Treatments

If the lifestyle changes or the over-the-counter medications do not help alleviate your headache, you should visit your doctor. They will prescribe you with a stronger medication. Your dentist may provide you with a stabilization splint or bite guard if you are experiencing bruxism. The splints have a setback, and they will only take care of the grinding problem, it will not take care of the pain.

These treatments are only temporary; they have not been proven as permanent solutions to TMJ disorder.  You can also speak to a doctor in a pain clinic to figure out your pain’s cause and treatment.

A medical doctor may also use Botox to relieve the muscles though it is not an FDA-approved treatment for treating TMJ. A physical therapist can also help you relieve stress. They can also include jaw exercises and temporomandibular massage services to help you improve flexibility, strengthen muscles and your range of motion.

• Surgical Treatment

The other option though not approved by the board, is surgery. You can undergo a permanent treatment like orthodontic work to change your bite or dental work to treat bruxism permanently.

However, none of the treatments has been proven, so you have to be cautious when considering a permanent treatment for TMJ disorder or headache.

Sleep is the natural recurring phenomenon of the mind and body, characterized by consciousness or a state of inhibited sensory activity. Sleep is essential to restore the energy of the body. With regular activities, the body muscles and the mind get fatigued. Sleep restores the body’s energy and reduces interaction with the surrounding momentarily, thus calming the mind.

Overview of Sleep Apnea

Breathing is closely associated with sleep. Breathing is the involuntary function of the body during which air is inhaled in the lungs through the nostrils, and the deoxygenated air is breathed out. Breathing is closely associated with respiration, and breathing continues even while sleeping.

Sleep apnea is a severe breathing disorder in which a person’s normal breathing is disrupted while sleeping. You tend to stop repeatedly breathing while sleeping if you suffer from sleep apnea. Once breathing is stopped, the brain and rest of the body cease to receive oxygen causing serious complications.

Sleep apnea is of different types, but the most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea which is caused due to obstruction in the airway while sleeping. The soft tissues in the throat muscle collapse during sleep, obstructing breathing. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring.

Central sleep apnea is the other type o sleep apnea but is less common. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, the air passage is not blocked in central sleep apnea, but the brain fails to communicate the muscles to breathe. This is caused due to inability of the respiratory control center to breathe.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are common with other diseases, and visiting a dental clinic can help in proper diagnosis. Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Loud snoring.
• Period of stopped breathing during sleep.
• Excessive sleepiness during daytime.
• Morning headaches.
• Abrupt awakening during sleep accompanied by choking and grasping.
• Loss in concentrating during the day.
• High blood pressure.
• Sweating during the night.
• Decreased libido.
• Rapid change of moods
• Depression or irritability.
• Awakening with dry mouth and sore throat.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

The primary cause of sleep apnea is an obstruction in the respiratory tract, causing an inability to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the soft muscles located at the back of the throat relax too much while facilitating normal breathing. The throat muscles support the tonsils, the palate, and the uvula.

As you breathe in, the muscles relax, narrowing the airways that last for about 10 seconds or more. This phenomenon lowers the oxygen level in the blood and builds up carbon dioxide. The brain impulsively senses impaired breathing, and sleep is discontinued to rouse you to reopen the airway.

Awakening with shortness of breath is corrected instantly with a couple of long breaths accompanied by snorting, gasping, or choking sounds. If untreated, this pattern might repeat itself 5 to 30 times an hour and leave you with disturbed sleep. In mild cases of sleep apnea, the person might not be aware of obstructive breathing and believe that they have slept well.

Risk Factors

Sleep apnea is a common phenomenon and can be treated. Some factors can put you in a higher risk group of sleep apnea. Most people who are obese run a higher risk of suffering from sleep apnea. Deposition of fat around the air tract can cause obstructed breathing.

Inherited narrow airways or enlarged tonsils also obstruct the airway and prevent normal breathing. People with chronic nasal congestion are twice more prone of being suffering from sleep apnea. People who smoke or suffering from diabetes and hypertension are relatively more inclined to get obstructive sleep apnea. A family with a history of sleep apnea and those who have asthma also have a high risk of sleep apnea. Men are twice more prone than menopausal women in suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea procedure involves removing and repositioning the throat’s excess soft tissues that obstruct the breathing tract. Warm Family Dentistry in Salt Lake ensures that you do not need to worry about sleep apnea. Warm family Dentistry is a one-stop solution for cosmetic and general dentistry. We provide a wide range of dental services, including treatment for sleep apnea. You may book an appointment and avail of our discount plans.

The last decade or two has seen a development in modern dentistry. Apart from tasting the food, the tongue helps to speak distinctly. The tongue is a muscular organ in the oral cavity covered by mucosa covered with moist pink tissues. The papillae are tiny bumps that give a rough texture to the tongue. The papillae also house thousands of tastebuds.

What are Lip and Tongue Ties?

The lip and tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is prevalent mainly among children since their birth. The tongue and lips develop when the baby is in its mother’s womb due to gene mutation. Lip and tongue tie arises due to a congenital condition in which the shorter than usual frenulum restricts the tongue’s ability to function correctly.

The frenulum is a small band of tough tissues that connect the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In general, the frenulum recedes and thins before a baby is born. But genital issues might restrict the receding of the frenulum and restrict the tongue’s normal movement and functionality. Tip and tongue ties are more common in boys than in girls, and lip and tongue ties treatment can restore the tongue’s standard functionality.

Identifying Lip and Tongue Ties

Lip and tongue ties issues are visible and might be identified by the mother while breastfeeding the child. The child would experience difficulty lifting or moving the tongue with the frenum, clearly restricting the movement. A firm film of tissue might also be visible at the junction of the tongue and the mouth’s floor.

The degree of lip and tongue ties varies, and short, tight tongue ties can be difficult to spot. The pediatrician or primary care doctor of your child can help in such a diagnosis. Several lip and tongue ties services are available to treat such issues with expertise. The mother or anyone taking care of the child might notice the shortness of a heart-shaped tongue while trying to move it.

Symptoms of Lip and Tongue Ties

Mostly prevalent among the children, the prominent symptoms of lip and tongue ties include:

• Difficulties in swallowing.
• Impaired speech.
• Restricted movement of the tongue.
• Difficulties in breastfeeding.
• Difficulties in sticking the tongue out of the mouth.
• Problems in licking food.
• Difficulties in breathing while eating.
• Making a clicking sound while nursing.

The Complications of Lip and Tongue Ties

Lip and tongue ties procedure is necessary to reduce the complications that arise due to this syndrome. Babies with severe tongue and lip ties find it difficult to gain weight. Such children would need supplements for weight gain. If the lip and tongue ties are not treated, babies will experience eating from a spoon even after growing older.

Lip and tongue ties can lead to major dental ailments in the future. Pediatric dentists believe that untreated lip and tongue ties would offer hindrance in proper cleaning of the oral cavity. Dental decay can be a common dental ailment with poor oral hygiene.

The Treatment

Often the severity of difficulties with lip and tongue ties leads to the decision of treatment. Some dentists might adopt the wait-and-watch approach, but in most cases, it is not recommended. In most cases, the pediatric dentist would opt for surgical treatment.

Frenotomy, also known as a frenectomy, is the surgical procedure recommended to treat lip and tongue ties. Frenectomy is a simple procedure that involves some simple aftercare. After the insertion is made, the parent or caregiver has to stretch the tissue physically that has been cut or lasered to prevent the tissue from regrowing.

Frenectomy is performed to remove one or both the frenal from the mouth to facilitate free movement of the tongue. Frenectomy is the surgery of soft tissues, and some degree of pain is average, but the recovery is quick.

The Dentist

Although the child’s mother or immediate caregivers can identify the lip and tongue ties, you need to visit the dentist for comprehensive treatment of lip and tongue ties. Warm Family Dentist provide cashless treatment and accepts insurances from most firms. We offer a $39 new patient package that offers comprehensive dental examination and x-ray. You may book an appointment to know more.

Root canal treatments have a fearsome reputation, although they help preserve your teeth. Root canals are a dental procedure to remove the soft center of the tooth; the pulp made up of the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels helpful for the teeth to grow during the developmental stages.

 

Dentists or endodontists perform root canal surgery after you receive adequate anesthesia. Learn more about why this procedure isn’t as fearful as imagined but, in reality, a therapy that helps save your tooth.

 

Why May You Need Root Canal Treatment?

 

Root canals become necessary when the soft inner core of your tooth, the pulp becomes inflamed or infected due to deep tooth decay from an untreated cavity, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, chips or cracks in the tooth, or injuries to the tooth without any chips or cracks being visible.

 

When your dental pulp is damaged, you experience familiar symptoms like pain in your tooth with swelling and sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. The dentist from family dentistry examines your tooth and takes x-rays to confirm the diagnosis before recommending root canal surgery if they determine you need the procedure.

 

Performing Root Canal Surgery

 

Root canals are performed in a dental office, and when you arrive for your appointment, you are seated in a chair with a bib around your neck to prevent staining of your clothes.

 

The dentist from the clinic will apply some numbing medication to your gums near the affected tooth. Once the area is numb, you receive local anesthesia, which is injected into the gums. You remain awake during the procedure, but the anesthesia will prevent you from feeling any pain.

 

The dentist or endodontist makes a tiny access hole on top of the tooth to expose the dental pulp. After exposing the infected or inflamed dental pulp, the specialist carefully removes it with special instruments called files. The specialist is careful to clean out all the pathways in your tooth.

 

After the infected and inflamed pulp removal, the dentist coats the area with a topical antibiotic to ensure the infection is eliminated and prevent reinfection. After cleaning and disinfecting the canals, the dentist will fill and seal the tooth with a rubber-like material gutta-percha. Oral antibiotics are prescribed for you to combat any infections.

 

The procedure ends with the dentist filling the tiny access hole in the top of the tooth with a temporary material. The sealant helps the canals from being damaged by saliva.

 

Follow-up Appointments after Root Canal

 

You will experience soreness in your tooth and gums after the numbing medication begins to wear off. Swelling is also familiar after root canal treatment. The dentist is aware of these issues and prescribes or recommends over-the-counter pain medication to manage the discomfort. However, you can contact the dentist if you experience extreme pain lasting for over a few days.

 

You must visit the regular dentist within a few days after undergoing root canal therapy. The dentist takes x-rays to ensure the infection within is gone. They will also replace the temporary filling with a permanent one.

 

You can resume your everyday routine the day after the procedure. However, you must avoid chewing with the treated tooth until it is permanently restored with a filling or dental crown.

 

If you don’t prefer a permanent filling, you can request a dental crown over the tooth. Crowns are artificial teeth customized from gold or porcelain. Dental crowns have a realistic appearance.

 

You require several weeks to get accustomed to how the tooth feels after root canal treatment. The feeling is familiar and is not a cause for concern.

 

As it is clear, root canal treatments are painless and help to save your natural tooth. If you refuse to undergo the treatment, you must have the infected tooth extracted and look around for replacements at exorbitant costs besides multiple appointments at the dentist’s office. The price of undergoing root canal treatments is affordable compared to indulging in extractions and tooth replacement solutions.

 

Any pain about root canals only affects you after you undergo a surgical procedure familiar with every surgery. The benefits of having endodontic treatment outweigh the risks of pain or discomfort. Therefore you mustn’t fear root canals because they can save you from considerable expenditure besides leaving you with your natural tooth.