Author: lAuRelH_AdmEeN

An oral surgeon is a very important link in your referral network of primary care providers. General dentists, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, and medical physicians may, at times, due to various reasons, refer you to an oral surgeon. An orthodontist always works with an oral surgeon to make orthotics and prosthetic appliances that treat many dental issues. An oral surgeon can handle most dental concerns involving treating trauma-related damage, controlling severe oral disease, and overcoming congenital growth issues.

An oral surgeon will help you improve the aesthetic of your smile and boost your confidence in your place of work or with your relationship with your peers.

What is Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is a type of dentistry service that involves the diagnosis and surgical treatment of injuries, diseases, and defects that are related to the functions of your mouth, face, teeth, and jaws.

Oral surgeons can handle oral health problems such as impacted teeth, oral cancer, jaw issues, and tooth extraction.

Why Do You Need an Oral Surgeon Rather Than a General Dentist?

Patients often mistake the roles of an oral surgeon for that of a dentist, and they think that they are one and the same. The difference narrows down to the type of training specialty your general dentist or surgeon has undergone and the types of services they are able to offer you.

General dentists in Portland can perform minor oral surgeries; however, the scope of their work includes oral exams, fillings, crowns, sealants, gum care, and professional teeth cleanings. Your dentist will look at the state of your emergency dental problem to determine if they can treat it. This also applies to gum surgery or surgical dental extraction.

An oral surgeon is needed when your oral problem requires a tooth extraction or restructuring of your gum tissue and jaw bone. A general dentist will refer you to a surgeon who can help you with issues of impacted teeth, wisdom teeth removal to bone loss repair, and jaw misalignment. They are also able to treat chronic conditions or diseases that affect your oral cavity.

When to See an Oral Surgeon

There are a variety of reasons that can necessitate a trip to an oral surgeon near you. If you have any of the dental problems mentioned below, visit a dentist near you to seek immediate dental treatment before the symptoms worsen. Some of the reasons to see an oral surgeon include:

• Tooth extraction

Tooth extraction may be necessary if a tooth is causing crowding in your mouth, if it is deceased beyond repair, or has experienced trauma. If you have an abscessed tooth, that means the infection has reached a point where it has impacted the root of your tooth. This problem can be a painful reaction and should be treated as soon as possible, and removal may also be necessary if it is in advanced stages, and an oral surgeon can do this.

• Impacted teeth

Wisdom teeth are typically associated with impaction, and when this happens, the only treatment needed is an extraction procedure. As you grow from childhood to adulthood, teeth also grow, and sometimes the space in your oral cavity may not support all your teeth. Extraction of the impacted teeth is needed to create space for your teeth and improve the aesthetic of your smile.

• Dental implants

Dental implants can be of great preference if a patient undergoes a tooth extraction in inconvenient places like the front part of your mouth. This will help you restore your smile, and you can discuss with your oral care provider any preference or options for a lustrous and natural-looking smile.

• Jaw issues

An oral surgeon can take care of problems of the jaw, such as chronic jaw pain. Oral surgeons have specialized training and are able to assess if the patient needs to undergo any jaw surgery to help them alleviate their issues with mastication or tension in the jaw.

• Oral cancer

Oral surgeons have specialized treatment that helps handle tumors and treats oral cancers. They can extend to the neck and head depending on how the tumor is associated with your oral health. If you have experienced recurrent or advanced cancer, then tooth removal is coupled with cancer therapy.

To get dentistry services in Portland, OR, visit Laurelhurst Dentistry.

Periodontal disease, also called periodontitis or gum disease, is a gum infection that affects the gum soft tissues. If it is left untreated, periodontal disease can destroy the bone supporting a tooth, leading to tooth loss in the end.

Typically, gum disease is treatable, but it is often hard to identify during its early stages without a diagnosis from the doctor. In this blog, we will discuss periodontitis in detail to help you make an informed decision. We are here for you if you are looking for a dentist near you in Portland, OR.

5 Early Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gum disease is often characterized by the following symptoms:

Swollen Gums

Typically, gum disease is caused by plaque buildup. The buildup plus the bacteria can irritate the gums, making them tender. With time, the gums can become swollen, which can be a huge indicator you might be suffering from periodontal disease. Furthermore, bacteria can discolor your gums, making them look darker than they look normally.

Receding Gums

When the gum tissues are attacked by bacteria, they start pulling away from the teeth, causing a condition we refer to as receding gums. One way you can identify receding gums is if your teeth look larger than normal.

Bleeding

If your gums are attacked by bacteria, they become so tender that they easily get hurt. That’s why people suffering from gum disease often bleed when they brush or floss their teeth. Therefore, it might mean you have periodontitis if you bleed after flossing or brushing your teeth.

Bad Breath

When the harmful bacteria attack the gum tissues, it kills some cells, and they start smelling bad with time. If you continuously have bad breath even after brushing your teeth, it might be a major sign that you are suffering from periodontitis.

Talk to a dentist in 97214 for a diagnosis to be on the safe side. The earlier the gum disease is diagnosed, the higher the chances of successfully treating it.

Loose Teeth

Eventually, bacteria attack the bone supporting your teeth, making them feel loose. If you notice that your teeth are loose, that’s a sure sign you are suffering from gum disease. Visit the dentist as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment before the affected tooth falls out on its own.

Cause of Periodontal Disease

Plaque buildup is the primary cause of gum disease. That said; there are other factors that contribute to gum disease, which include:

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes during menstrual periods, pregnancy, puberty, or menopause can make your gums more sensitive, increasing the risk of developing gingivitis.

Illness

Some infections such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes can affect your immune system. When your immune system is affected, the risk of developing other infections, including periodontitis, increases.

Some Medications

Some medications can affect the production and flow of saliva in your mouth. Your saliva plays a vital role in digestion and neutralizing acids that can cause decay and gum disease.

Smoking

Bad habits such as smoking and chewing tobacco products make it hard for gum tissues to repair themselves when attacked by bacteria. It also masks the signs of periodontal disease, and it can increase the risk of losing a natural tooth to the infection.

Family History of Gum Disease

If you have a history of gum disease or members of your family, have, you are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease.

Poor Oral Hygiene

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, avoid sugary foods, and visit the dentist every six months for cleaning and exams. Failure to that might increase the risk of plaque buildup, leading to gum disease.

Advice from Your Gum Specialist Near You

The good thing is that periodontal disease is preventable. Our dentist near you gives you these tips to help you prevent periodontitis:

• Practice proper oral hygiene
• Visit the dentist every six months for cleaning, exams, and personalized advice.
• Quit bad habits such as smoking tobacco and marijuana.
• Visit the dentist more often if you have risk factors for gum disease.

Laurelhurst Dentistry

Talk to us if you are looking for dentistry in Portland, OR, and let us help you. We can diagnose and treat gum disease. We can also help you prevent yourself from getting it in the first place. Book an appointment now.

Dental emergencies can creep up on you and occur at the least expected time. For instance, you can, unfortunately, experience a dental emergency late in the night and may need to wait until morning to get to our nearest dental clinic to have the issue treated.

One of the most common dental emergency issues that may arise at night is your good old fashioned emergency dental aches. Anyone who has ever experienced toothaches at night will tell you how almost impossible it is to catch any sleep whatsoever.

A persistent night toothache will cost you some much-needed sleep and even interfere with your productivity the next day. This is why it is prudent to know some home remedies and treatments that you can employ to relieve a toothache, get some rest and come to our dental clinic the next day for some urgent dental care.

Let’s take a detailed look at some of these home treatments:

• Applying a Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress can help alleviate toothache at night. It does not have to be anything complicated; you can simply wrap up some ice in a towel and place it on your face or jaw on the affected side of your face.

The cold compress acts by constricting the blood vessels, disrupting the flow of blood within the affected area, thus reducing the intensity of the pain. You should use the cold compress in intervals of between 15- 20 minutes to avoid causing nerve damage.

• A Saltwater Rinse

A saltwater rinse can also be used to alleviate a toothache. Salt has antibacterial properties and can be efficient in reducing inflammation and preventing the onset of an infection. Also, the warm salt water rinse can draw up the pus from an abscessed tooth and numb the persistent toothache accompanying this dental issue.

• Cloves

Cloves contain Eugenol, a compound that has analgesic and antiseptic properties. This means that cloves can be used to reduce inflammation effectively and to numb the pain.

You can opt to grind the cloves into a fine powder and mixing it with some water to form a paste that you can apply around the affected tooth or gently suck or chew on a clove to release the Eugenol.

• Peppermint

Peppermint has menthol, which has a cooling and numbing effect that can help reduce pain and inflammation. You can opt to place a warm and wet peppermint tea bag on the affected tooth and hold it in place till the toothache subsides. You can also opt to use peppermint oil instead if you have some handy with you in the house.

• Garlic

Garlic contains an antibacterial substance known as allicin, which is released when it is crushed. This means that it can numb the pain, reduce inflammation and even disinfect the affected area. You can choose to gently chew on a piece of garlic or apply some freshly crushed garlic to the affected region.

• Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is very effective in remedying toothaches that are linked to infections. A hydrogen peroxide rinse can help kill any bacteria at the site of infection and reduce pain and inflammation. Mix the hydrogen peroxide solution with an equal part of water and rinse out your mouth for 30 seconds with the solution before spitting it out.

What Are Some Underlying Causes of Toothaches?

Here are some of the leading causes of emergency dental aches:

• A dental abscess
• Periodontal disease
• Food particles lodged in-between teeth or on the gums
• Worn out teeth due to bruxism
• Cavities
• Dental trauma
• A loose or cracked filling or dental crown
• A broken, fractured or cracked tooth that exposes your nerves
• An emerging wisdom tooth

A toothache can feel almost unbearable at night because lying down increases blood supply to the head region, intensifying the pain.

When Should You See Our Dentist Concerning a Toothache?

Whatever the cause of your night toothache may be, it is important to seek dental care and treatment at our dental clinic near you. A toothache signifies an underlying dental issue, and if left unchecked, this issue could give way to more severe complications.

You should visit our dentist for treatment if your toothache:

• Persists for more than 24 hours
• Any facial inflammation accompanies it
• It is accompanied by a fever, foul breath, swollen gums or a discharge

Contact us today at Laurelhurst Dentistry for emergency dental care.

You may want to display a healthier smile than you already have and may wonder how you can succeed in your goal. While you may find many suggestions to enhance the appearance of your smile from your friends or colleagues, most would either direct you to a cosmetic dentist or recommend expensive treatments you find beyond your means.

Genuinely the fastest way to display a healthier smile is to visit a cosmetic dentist requesting superficial treatments that make your teeth look brighter and whiter. However, the cost involved for the dental visit and the treatments they provide is exorbitant, leaving you with a grimace on your face instead of a smile. We can counter this problem successfully by providing five tips you can use to display a healthier smile. Remember, please don’t expect overnight results because the methods suggested are not a quick fix for any problem. Please continue reading to learn more about our five suggestions to have the healthier smile you desire.

1. Sticking to a Routine Is Essential

If you want significant contributions to the health of your smile, you must create a specific dental care routine. The optimal way we feel you can succeed is to incorporate two particular tasks into your dental health routine. First, brush your teeth two times a day, once in the morning and once before getting into bed at night. Second, floss your teeth at least once to remove plaque deposits from your teeth.

The dental care tips we provide help prevent cavities from developing besides reducing plaque and tartar deposits on your teeth. When you allow plaque to remain on your teeth for 48 hours without brushing and flossing, you require professional help to get a deep cleaning, making you susceptible to cavities developing. Brushing is an excellent method of strengthening your teeth and keeping your gums healthy by preventing gum disease.

Besides the above, schedule regular visits to your dentist as part of your oral hygiene routine. Six monthly visits enable dentists to check for cavities, clean plaque, and tartar, perform x-rays and any other checks for potential oral health issues like cancer. During your dental exam, the dentist provides suggestions on improving your daily regimen and recommends any dental procedures you may need going ahead to ensure your oral health remains in prime condition.

2. Incorporate Tooth Healthy Foods into Your Diet

Incorporating tooth-healthy foods into your diet because you to veer off from foods primary contributors of plaque buildup. For example, you may have to give up the candy you love in favor of snacks like fruits and vegetables, cheese, and sugar-free gum. You are also required to give up all the sugary drinks you preferred, drinking water as a method to keep yourself hydrated. Your teeth will thank you for avoiding sugary beverages, which also benefits your overall health.

3. Invest in Preventive Dental Care

Regular visits to your dentist are essential even before you encounter any pain. Dentists can offer many tips during preventive care assessments regarding brushing and flossing your teeth and other oral care instructions. Preventive dental care visits ensure you have excellent oral health and are unlikely to confront problems unexpectedly needing expensive treatments from emergency dentists. When you neglect preventive care visits, you allow minor oral health issues to magnify and become significant, requiring expensive treatments to resolve.

4. Mouthwash Helps

Don’t consider mouthwash as merely a cosmetic requirement because your teeth, gums, and smile all benefit from using mouthwash. It is an excellent way of eliminating bacteria, strengthening enamel, preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Mouthwash also helps to get rid of bad breath, leaving you feeling fresh.

5. Consider Dental Sealants

Do you assume that dental sealants are merely for children and have no role to play among adults? If you don’t have any issues in your mouth like tooth decay, gum disease, or restorations, you too can inquire about dental sealants with your dentist. Dental sealants provide a barrier on your teeth, acting as a deterrent for food particles and bacteria trapped in your molars to create cavities. The application procedure of dental sealants is painless and completed in a few minutes, and the prices for the treatment of affordable too. Dental sealants protect your teeth and smile by preventing cavities from developing in your mouth, giving you the benefit of displaying a healthier smile.

We assume you will use the tips provided in this blog and benefit from them to smile before everyone.

Do you long to have your smile transformed by an orthodontic near you? Perhaps the best treatment option is one that involves Invisalign®. However, how you care for them will impact how effective your treatment will be.

What Is Invisalign?

It is a type of teeth aligner used in orthodontics to straighten misaligned teeth. These types of aligners are different from other types of braces, right from how they are made.

They feature a plastic-like material that is molded after the impressions of your mouth. Your dentist in 97214 first examines your mouth to one up with a treatment plan that would work in straightening your teeth.

How Does the Treatment Work?

Once you get the clear teeth aligners, your treatment is monitored over several months to come. The first set of aligners exerts controlled pressure on your teeth. This means that, even though the aligners are removable, it is important to keep them on for several hours each day, so that the needed pressure can be available to move your teeth. Dentistry in Portland, OR advocates for up to 22 hours of wearing the aligners every day.

After a few weeks, the aligners will have moved and rotated your teeth as determined by your dentist. This means that the aligners will feel a little loose, and you need an adjustment session with your dentist. This session will Entail replacing your current aligners with new ones that will continue the shifting process. The step will be repeated multiple times in the course of your treatment, to achieve the alignment you need for a smile makeover.

Tips for Caring for Your Aligners

Part of the success of your orthodontic treatment lies in how well you care for your teeth aligners when you get them. The task of replacing them and adjusting them is fully on your attending orthodontist. However, how you use and care for the invisible aligners at home affects how well your treatment goes. Some of the care instructions that should help you along are:

1. Clean your aligners regularly – oral hygiene is paramount if you want to sustain your teeth as healthy while undergoing treatment. The last thing you want is you need an emergency dentist near you to treat a severe dental decay while going through orthodontic treatment. When you brush your teeth in the morning and evening, ensure you clean your aligners as well.
2. Remove them when you eat – the reasons why Invisalign aligners are removable is so that you have freedom when you eat. Eating with them will not only stand to stain them but also, may damage them. Whether taking soft or hard foods, ensure you remove the aligners every time you eat.
3. Clean your mouth before wearing them – after eating, do not wear your aligners without cleaning your mouth. The loose food debris in your mouth may stain and dirty your Invisalign aligners. Instead, brush your teeth before wearing them. If not, ensure you swish water in your mouth to rid it of any kind of bacteria and food residues that could damage the aligners.
4. Soak your Invisalign aligners daily – it is perhaps one of the most crucial factors to maintaining your aligners as hygienic and transparent as you first got them. The orthodontist should give you Invisalign cleaning crystals to help maintain the aligners. Drop the crystals in lukewarm water, then soak your braces for between 10 and 15 minutes.
5. Store them in their case – Invisalign aligners come in a case. The case helps protect them from damage every time you remove them. In that case, whether you remove them for a few seconds or several minutes make a habit of storing them in their case. This will protect them from any possible damage and spare you the risk of losing them.

Can You Use Mouthwash After Invisalign?

Even though mouthwash works great for cleaning your teeth and leaving your mouth fresh, it is not the best for Invisalign cleaning. Mouthwash can be very abrasive for the plastic material used to make the clear aligners, therefore, damaging them. The abrasiveness of mouthwash may leave your aligners looking dull, and less transparent than should be. If you are unsure about how to clean them properly, be sure to talk to your orthodontist about how to care for your clear aligners at home.

A smile is the most beautiful gesture when it comes to humans. A properly aligned healthy set of teeth adds attraction to the smile and makes your face look charming. There could be many dental emergencies that prevent you from smiling. Some of the most prominent examples are gum bleeding, sudden accidents, and bacterial infections.

Sometimes, these infections could be life-threatening and can lead to permanent tooth loss. Once you lost your natural teeth, you will miss your natural smile forever. So, don’t let this come true.

List of Emergencies You May Encounter

Here we are with some of the common dental emergencies and first aid remedies to resolve them with efficacy.

You Injured Your Mouth After Falling

After the age of 10 most probably everyone has their permanent teeth and there are chances for accidents that may result in their loss in accidents. Accidents may happen to you as well as to your kid in both situations. Consult a dentist skilled in emergency dentistry Portland, OR so that you can get immediate treatment for your issues no matter if it is minor or major.

Tooth Knocked Out

There could be incidents in which your tooth may knock out from the socket. If anyone encounters such a situation, just try to put the tooth back to the socket but remember to position it accurately. In case you failed to do that, take a glass of milk and put the tooth into it.

If there is no milk available, put the tooth between the gum and teeth so that it can stay moist. A knocked-out tooth can be placed back to its socket within 30 minutes.

Infection and Pain

Infections are not normal conditions. If you experience something infectious, try to resolve it immediately because it could be the sign of something really serious. Teeth are an important part of eating and digestion. So, keeping them healthy means keeping your whole body in good shape.

Tooth infection indulging with pain could be a sign of severe oral diseases. It’s advised to Google search for an emergency dentist near me if you notice something infectious inside your mouth.

Sores

They could be painful and can make your life uncomfortable. Although they can happen because of germs, a good quality mouthwash can make it heal in few days. But in case it doesn’t get healed, it can indicate a severe gum problem. In case you are experiencing a painful sore, the best thing for you would be to see your dentist immediately.

Swelling on Face

It could be very common in case of having a serious dental problem or disease. So, don’t think of ignoring it. Drinking lots of food in this situation is the best solution to keep your body hydrated.

A dental emergency never comes with a fixed date and time. Therefore, you should always be cautious and careful about your dental care. At the time of emergency, don’t delay in contacting dentistry Portland.

Tips to Deal with Dental Urgencies

Important tips that you should follow to escape situations of dental emergencies:

• You can break your teeth while playing sports and doing any physical activity. If in your daily life routine you have such activities, don’t forget to place a mouth-guard inside your mouth so that you can avoid injuries.
• Routine check-ups are highly recommended if you want to keep your teeth in good shape or healthy. Develop a habit of seeing your dentist at regular intervals so that you can keep a check on your dental health. You can take all the necessary measures in case you encounter something unpleasant. Keep your dentist’s number with you to call him/her if there is an emergency.
• The food you eat has its impact on your overall health including your teeth and gums. Thus, be careful and mindful when choosing food. Stay away from sticky and sugary food apart from this stop smoking and drinking because these habits cause immense harm to your dental health.
• Following a hygienic dental cleaning routine can spare you from getting involved in dental issues. Regular brushing and flossing can stretch the life of your teeth incredibly.

All in all, your teeth are highly important. So, taking care of them should be your priority.

What is an Emergency Dentistry?

Various cases reported in the emergency room are not attended to and sent back to the dentist’s care, as they usually don’t require immediate assistance. Understanding when to classify an accident as a dental emergency reduces the long queues at the ER. The necessity of urgent medication is crucial as it saves a person from pain or permanent dental damage.

In case the victim does not visit the emergency room, fixing the issue may require expensive surgeries. If you live in Portland and are looking for an immediate dentist, all you need to do is search the keywords “Dentistry Portland OR.” And get connected to a professional from the comfort of your home.

Basic Emergency dentistry Scenarios

• • Mild Toothache

Even though most people sort to take pain killers to relieve the pain, it’s essential to seek medical help anytime tooth pain becomes unbearable. The condition could arise from a tooth infection and areas surrounding it or a decay that needs extraction. A simple problem could result from difficulty in chewing or drinking liquids and later on cause ear pain.

Therefore, any irresistible toothache must require immediate treatment. As you book an appointment with an emergency dentist near me”, you could carry out a quick first aid to relieve the pain. One should place a cold material on the painful region’s outer cheek, swallow pain relievers, and salty goggle water to curb the spread of infection.

• • A knocked-out tooth

When playing baseball and a friend of you accidentally knocks you out with a bat, and your tooth falls off, don’t panic. Just goggle some salty water to spit out the blood and prevent any infection on the freshly exposed gum. Ask your friend to help you find the tooth and rinse it on running water, do not wipe it on any surface.

Gently place the tooth crown side on the gum for a few seconds often. Then get yourself an appointment with any dentist near you! A simple online search like “dentist near me” can hook you up with a certified medic near you to reconnected your tooth back to the gum.

A chipped or broken tooth: When chewing and a piece of your tooth falls off, and you’re in pain, don’t be worried. Re-attachment is an easy process as long as you call for help immediately. The broken tooth suggests internal damage to the tooth, such as decay or an infection. The dentist could conduct some tests and advise whether it’s necessary to extract the tooth or only sharpening is essential.

A root canal may be performed instead of extraction after completing an X-ray and understanding if the tooth’s soft tissue is affected. One should rinse their mouth with warm water, and if there is any pain, taking a pain reliever and applying pressure to the cheek could be of assistance.

• • Oral Bleeding

When experiencing internal bleeding on the gums or tongue and lips, it may not necessarily need you to seek immediate help. Still, it’s vital to get stitched up earlier to avoid infection. Bleeding gums could mean that dental cleaning is crucial, or the victim is suffering from gingivitis.

• • Objects on the tooth

Many people, including children, use their teeth to bite all sorts of things, like opening a bottle orbiting a nail or even a broken tooth floss in between the teeth. Immediate action for this problem would be trying to get the object out with a string of floss.

If it doesn’t work, don’t try other methods. Avoid using needles or ball pens to try to get the thing out. Call up any emergency dentist near you and book an appointment soon. The earlier the object is extracted, the safer you are from the spread of infection.

Dental emergencies are inevitable. We, therefore, need to be prepared for them by ensuring we have a first aid kit for dental emergencies and a contact of an immediate dentist. You could obtain contacts of a dentist by searching for ‘Dentistry Portland OR’. Like any other body organ, we should be cautious with our teeth as they brighten our smiles. Prepare yourself to fight dentistry emergencies and contact one of the well-trained officers in phoenix!

Identifying a dental emergency is a challenge you must overcome before you pick up your telephone seeking an emergency dentistry appointment with dentist 97214. Professionals in emergency dentistry will appreciate your call offering any or all help whether you are confronting a severe dental issue a knocked-out tooth. The professional will express even more pleasure if you call them for a simple procedure like teeth whitening beyond office hours because you seek a routine treatment at higher prices from the emergency dentist.

Emergency dentistry is not a specialty and doesn’t require any specializations. Professionals working in emergency dentistry are entirely capable of providing cosmetic dentistry treatments besides handling the frequent toothaches, dental abscesses, gum infections, or any other conditions affecting the oral cavity.

This article explains why emergency dentistry is different while being similar in all aspects of dentistry with other dental professionals.

How Is Emergency Dentistry Different from General Dentistry?

Dentists are working as general or in emergency dentistry graduate from dental school after completing four years of schooling. While some professionals specialize in orthodontics, endodontics, pedodontics, et cetera, professionals who decide to work in emergency dentistry begin practicing right away. The professionals go a step further and choose to help people in situations where most dental professionals either refuse services for lack of time or are unavailable because of delays in contacting them.

Emergency dentists are a different breed because besides providing the treatments needed by dental emergencies without warning, they can also treat other conditions like providing dental fillings or cleanings and exams. However, the professionals offer their services in the evenings, on holidays, and even in situations where the patient walks in without an appointment. Emergency dentistry professionals set aside a separate chair for patients who arrive at their facility even during the day with minor issues like loose dental crowns. Therefore if you are confronting any problem with your oral cavity, rest assured professionals from emergency dentistry are fully equipped to treat your condition.

How Do You Identify a Dental Emergency?

Like most people, suppose you tend to panic whenever a toothache or any issue bothers you beyond office hours. In that case, you are likely to rush to any medical professional or even emergency room searching for help against the problem. Seeking prompt treatment for any dental issue bothering you is undoubtedly the optimal method to stay ahead with your dental health. However, it doesn’t make sense for you to contact an emergency room for lost or damaged Invisalign aligners that you picked up from Invisalign Portland, Oregon, to straighten your teeth. An emergency room offers no help in most dental situations, least of all issues like orthodontics.

Instead of visiting an emergency room with the problem confronting you, wouldn’t it have been better if you merely contacted emergency dentistry? The dentists provide proper advice on dealing with the loss of damaged aligners and your mouth until you get replacements from the provider in Portland. Visiting the appropriate professional at the right time is a sensible option instead of wasting time and money merely because you don’t have adequate information of what is or is not a dental emergency.

Distinguishing Dental Emergencies from Others

When trying to distinguish actual emergencies, you must bear in mind that there is a fine line dividing an emergency from a general issue. A knocked-out tooth, dental abscesses, and severe bleeding from the oral cavities undoubtedly need prompt attention from emergency dentistry. A chipped or cracked tooth does not seem like an emergency and may prompt you to wait for your regular dentist to see you. However, if you have an intense crack in your tooth leading to the roots, you potentially have a severe issue on your hands treated by emergency dentistry.

Is it possible to identify the fine line dividing dental issues into emergencies and non-emergencies? Unfortunately, dentistry is yet to discover a method to distinguish the fine lines dividing unique dental emergencies. The responsibility for treating emergency issues undoubtedly is with dental professionals of any kind. However, identifying a dental emergency is the job of patients who must determine whether they can wait for their regular dentist to see them during business hours or the issue confronting them needs prompt treatment. The challenge of identifying dental emergencies isn’t going away anywhere soon. However, there is a way to overcome this issue by remaining proactive with your dental hygiene.

If you care for your oral cavity and dental health, you must maintain excellent dental hygiene and schedule regular visits with your dentist to identify any or all issues in your mouth. Enabling your dentist to examine your mouth gives you a customized treatment plan to help you deal with any problems that may arise without warning. The information won’t prevent issues like accidents or altercations leading to tooth loss. However, it keeps you prepared for what actions you must take whenever you confront severe dental emergencies. Overcome the challenge of identifying dental emergencies, and you can get over dental issues at any time of the day and night without panicking or running helter-skelter searching for remedies from any professional but the most appropriate.

When it comes to oral health, it not about straight and white teeth, but also gum health. Gum disease not only affects your gums and teeth but also affect your overall health. For example, it increases your risk of heart disease. It is crucial to protect your gums just as you do your teeth.

Brushing is the chief preventive measure. But, your feeding habits also play a major role in the health of your gums and teeth.

Here are the five foods to eat and five to avoid to keep your gums healthy.

1. 1. Soda and caffeinated drinks

Soda and other sugary drinks are the biggest threat to the health of your teeth. Sugar is known to feed the bacteria that live in the oral cavity. The bacteria then break down the sugar and produces an acid solution. This solution affects the enamel causing it to be prone to decay. Bacteria are also responsible for gum inflammation and irritation.

Soda contains sugar and citric and phosphoric acid that contributes to damaging the enamel.

Caffeine, on the other hand, causes dry mouth. Saliva production is important to your oral health as it washes away the food particles. But more than that, saliva is rich in minerals that support the enamel and prevents decay.

1. 1. Ice creams

Ice creams harm your gums and teeth, especially if you are at risk of gum or have sensitive teeth. The cold temperatures irritate the teeth and exposed gums. The sugar in the ice creams also affects the enamel and gums.

Chewing Ice cubes can also damage the enamel and put you at risk of cracked and chipped teeth.

You don’t have to eliminate ice or ice creams, but do not chew them. And, when you eat the sweet treats, make sure you clean your teeth immediately.

1. 1. Potato chips

Potato chips are a satisfying treat, but they can spell doom for your teeth. Potato chips are loaded with starch that is broken down to sugar. Furthermore, chips become gummy and stick to the teeth. These foods cause acid-producing bacteria that increase your risk of decay. Starchy foods are also known to cause dry mouth.

1. 1. Bread

White bread is similar to potato chips as it contains starch, which is broken down to sugar. If you want some bread, opt for the whole wheat. It contains less sugar and is also a good source of fiber.

1. 1. Sports Drink

While they are mostly used by athletes to keep hydrated, sports drinks contain sugar and acid. These two make the teeth more vulnerable to decay and gum inflammation.

Five Foods to Eat

Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods will promote healthy teeth and gums. This means you need to maintain a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables. Here are five foods that can support your gums:

1. 1. Milk, yogurt, and cheese

These dairy products are low in sugar and high in calcium. It also contains casein, which fortifies the enamel and strengthens. These foods also contain phosphate, which helps in balancing ph levels in the mouth. Cheese increases saliva production. Yogurt is rich in probiotics, which helps to reduce the bad bacteria in the body.

1. 1. Fresh fruits and vegetables

Chewing fruits and crunchy vegetables helps to remove plaques and stuck food particles. These vegetables and fruits are also good sources of minerals and vitamins needed by your teeth and gums to stay healthy.

1. 1. Sugar-free gums

Chewing sugar-free gum helps in saliva production. Saliva is great for removing particles and keeping the enamel strong.

1. 1. Water

Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated but will prevent dry mouth. Also, drinking fluoridated water will strengthen your enamel and keep decay away.

1. 1. Ginger

Ginger is anti-inflammatory, which helps to counter inflammation and irritation of the gums. Add ginger in your food occasionally to keep the gums healthy.

Other Ways of Keeping Your Gums Healthy

You can also keep your gums healthy by:

• Stopping smoking
• Using fluoride toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash
• Get regular cleaning and exams. It is easy for our dentist in Portland to detect early signs of gum disease.

Visit our Downtown Portland Dentist at Laurelhurst dentistry for more information on gum health.