Avoid Dental Pain
The best way to avoid dental pain is to treat your teeth to regular cleaning and sticking to it. Simply put, cavities cause pain, which usually results in failing to brush and floss after meals. As a part of a regular dental exam, your dentist will be able to tell without you telling her how often you brush. If you are like the majority of people, you think that brushing your teeth once or twice a day is enough. To really give you the best chance in avoiding dental pain caused by cavities, you should brush after each meal especially if you consume sticky candy and sugary treats.
Cavities
Cavities come from increased bacteria that feeds on sugars and starches which, in turn, creates an acid that acts to eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Brushing your teeth acts to stop the process of too much acid build up along your gum lines and disrupts the tooth decay process. When the tooth enamel is destroyed the acid could continue to eat away at the pulp and work to irritate the tooth’s nerve.
Brush your teeth 2xs per day
The key to preventing toothaches is establishing a regular oral hygiene routine and sticking to it. For example, failure to brush and floss regularly after meals can significantly increase your risk of developing cavities. After you eat, bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and starch and produce acid that can “eat” a hole (or cavity) in your tooth’s enamel. If the cavity is not filled, it can cause considerable pain and potentially destroy the dentin, pulp and the tooth’s nerve.
You don’t have to brush your teeth this hard, but I think you get the idea. I had to put these photos up because I wanted to share my favorite toothpaste ad from an Aquafresh campaign just as a gentle reminder that to avoid dental pain, brush your teeth.
Dental Check List
1. Brush your teeth after meals, but at least twice a day.
2. Floss once a day.
3. Visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and dental exam.
What happens during a Dental Pain Priority Visit?
Patients with dental pain are a priority in most dental offices and getting a same day appointment is standard operating procedure. What will happen upon arrival will be the the following:
1. Conduct a complete oral exam.
2. Determine the location and cause of the dental pain.
3. Take the necessary x-rays of the area.
4. Advise the patient on the source of the pain and needed treatment.
5. Treat the dental pain, which could require tooth extraction or root canal.
6. Prescribe the necessary medications and/or antibiotics.
7. Schedule a follow up visit.
8. Follow up with the patient by telephone to ensure his/her comfort and that all is on the mend.
