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Dental care

Do braces weaken teeth?

Seeing your teeth overcrowded or crooked in the mirror may make you wonder if getting braces is worth it. It will enhance your overall health and well-being. Several ways will improve your overall health and well-being. If you have your teeth fixed with braces, aligners, headgear, or retainers, here are a few of the many benefits.

An improper bite can damage your teeth
Rather than worrying about the potential effects of braces, it would help if you focused more on the impact of an incorrect bite on your teeth and jaw. In addition to causing strain on your jaw, a misaligned bite can also cause teeth grinding and clenching at night, which wear down your teeth.

Some people with severe overbites or underbites will notice that sometimes their teeth hit together incorrectly. This will result in your teeth chipping or developing cracks along with the outside enamel.

The cracks in your teeth create a place for bacteria to breed and cause a cavity to form. An improper bite also causes your biting surfaces to bite too hard together during a meal.

With braces, you can expect these side effects
When you wear braces, some movement occurs, so people wonder if they will make teeth unstable. Straightening your teeth with orthodontic treatment involves gentle pressure on your teeth that causes the soft tissues in your mouth to relax and move. However, this movement does not imply instability.

As a result of forces present in our mouths, our teeth are constantly shifting. As a whole, braces do nothing more than hold them in place and push them into their proper positions. Once orthodontic treatment improves your bite and closes tooth gaps, you are less likely to suffer from severe root infections or gum disease, contributing to weakened teeth.

If you are receiving aftercare, you may be provided with a retainer, giving you further reassurance that they will not cause tooth instability. If you wear your retainer following the directions, your teeth will remain in the correct position.

Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy During Treatment
Most people’s teeth remain healthy and strong after having braces, so you should ask your orthodontist if braces have harmful effects. You should, however, minimize any damage that may occur during your orthodontic treatment.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

Can braces cut your tongue?

Patients throughout the country have benefitted from braces by having straighter teeth and healthier smiles. Orthodontic treatment often leaves patients feeling more confident and happier with their appearance. As a result, they are not likely to experience tooth decay, TMJ, and other severe complications. However, braces do have some drawbacks as well. Most patients get worried that braces will cut their tongue or lips before getting treatment.

Additionally, braces can cause discomfort and pain in the tongue. A metal bracket, wire, or another component can cut or irritate your tongue or mouth, regardless of its material. It takes a few weeks for the area around braces to toughen and adjust, but you can do a few things to ease the pain until that happens.

There are several ways to relieve pain caused by braces:

  • A dentist or orthodontic specialist can provide you with dental wax.
  • Use saltwater to rinse the mouth.
  • Prescribed pain relievers like Advil, Tylenol, etc.
  • Applying a numbing cream to areas of soreness.
  • Gently chewing or biting on sugar-free gum or food.
  • Consuming soft foods and avoiding hard, sticky or chewy foods.
  • To brush your tongue, use a toothbrush or soft dental brush.

Typically, braces cause cuts due to broken wires or loose bands. In addition, numerous approved ointments can help patients who have braces-related cuts or discomfort. Patients usually visit their dentist several times following their initial braces fitting in case they experience any long-term tongue pain, chewing, or eating issues.

However, you must know that braces do not cause cuts or discomfort to patients when they are applied correctly by a highly experienced and skilled orthodontist. If any part of your braces becomes loose, damaged, or broken, patients should immediately contact a qualified orthodontist or other dental professionals.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

Possible causes of jaw pain or facial pain

Regardless of whether you’re experiencing a dull ache, soreness, or sharp pain, pain around your jaw and ear can stress.

There are a few common causes of facial or jaw pain. In this blog, you can learn more about these common causes of jaw pain 

1) Teeth grinding
Most people grind their teeth and don’t understand it. This condition is called bruxism and this can deeply affect people of all ages. Teeth grinding can harm your teeth and cause jaw pain because teeth grinders often apply too much pressure to the teeth. 

Some people grind their teeth when they experience anxiety. Practicing stress-relieving exercises or wearing a mouthguard around evening time are just a portion of the ways to stop grinding. Make sure to talk to your dentist if you’re concerned you are grinding your teeth day or night.

2) Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the joints that permit your mouth to open and close. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) happens when your joints work inappropriately, creating symptoms like pain in the sides of your face and jaw. This disorder can likewise make the jaw make a clicking sound when opening the mouth or chewing.

There are several approaches your dentist may take to relieve pain from TMJ such as simple changes in eating habits, exercises, medication, or orthodontic treatments.

3) Abscessed tooth 
At the point when the dental pulp or nerve inside your tooth gets infected, an abscess may develop. The bacteria from the infection can widely spread from the tooth’s root to surrounding bone and tissues, causing jaw or facial pain. Keeping regular dental exams and promptly treating any dental cavities is the most ideal way to rapidly avoid or treat an abscess.

Other potential causes of jaw pain 
In any event, when ailments like gum disease or cavities don’t directly affect the jaw, pain from these infections can spread or be felt around your face or jaw. Practicing proper oral hygiene at your home and keeping regular dental appointments can help significantly reduce your risk of developing any of these severe conditions.

  • Arthritis 
  • Infection 
  • Sinus problems
  • Jaw injury 
  • Toothache 
  • Periodontal disease 

As may be obvious, pain in your cheekbones, jaw, or chin can have many causes. All of these issues can be dealt with effectively by a healthcare professional but need to be diagnosed quickly. To determine your pain’s exact source, schedule an appointment with a dentist for a thorough examination.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

Ways to Stop Fearing the Dentist

If you get anxious simply thinking about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re terrified the visit could hurt or you haven’t been in some time and are not certain what the dentist will find. 

Anything that is your reason, the right dental team will ensure your dental and your emotional health are taken care of.

The more you delay or simply don’t go to the dentist, the higher your gamble of developing dental problems that will make gearing up for future dental visits more troublesome. Indeed,  seeing your dentist regularly can make the entire process from making an appointment to sailing through it much easier on many levels. 

You can use these strategies at your next appointment to help ease your anxiety and strengthen your smile. 

  1. Speak up 

Anyone with anxiety realizes talking about your feelings makes a world of difference. If you’re tense or restless, help yourself out and move your interests out into the open. Your dentist and dental team are better ready to treat you on the off chance that they know your needs. 

  • Make sure you inform your dentist about your anxiety. At the point when you book your appointment, make sure you inform the receptionist you’re anxious with regards to dental visits. Remind the dentist and dental staff about your nervousness when you show up. You can share any bad experiences you may have had in the past, and ask for suggestions on coping strategies. 
  • Never shy away from asking questions. Once in a while realizing what will happen alleviates any fears of the unknown. 
  • Make sure you agree on a signal. Tell your dentist to know by lifting your hand on the off chance that you really want to enjoy some time off during an exam. 
  • If you experience pain even with a local anesthetic, inform your dentist. Some patients get embarrassed about their pain tolerance or don’t want to interrupt a dentist during a procedure, so it is better to talk with your dentist about pain before it begins so your dentist knows how to speak with you and make it more comfortable. 
  1. Distract yourself 

Taking your mind off the exam may seem impossible when you’re anxious, but some things can help distract your thoughts. 

  • Make sure to wear headphones. In the event that the drill irritates you, bring earphones so you can pay attention to your beloved music.
  • Possess your hands by squeezing a stress ball or playing with a small handheld object, like a fidget spinner. This will keep your anxiety in check.
  • Envision your blissful place and picture yourself relaxing up there.
  1. Use mindfulness techniques 

Relaxation begins in the mind. Try deep breathing exercises to assist with loosening up pressure in your muscles.

  • Count your breaths. Breathe in and out for a similar number of counts. Do this multiple times while you’re hanging tight for your appointment, or during breaks while you’re sitting in the dental chair. 
  • Do a body scan. Focus on loosening up your muscles, each body part at a time. Begin with your head and work your way down to your toes. For instance, you can focus on releasing tension starting in your forehead, then your cheeks, your neck, and down the rest of your body.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

Categories
Dental care

How does the habit of thumb sucking affect my child’s teeth?

Infants have a sucking reflex that usually persists beyond the first years of life. Thumb sucking is a natural prolongation of this reflex, often used by babies and toddlers. While thumb sucking can help children deal with stressful situations, continued thumb sucking can affect a child’s oral health once teeth have come in.

Thumb sucking is an ordinary part of childhood 
Unpaced infants use thumb or thumb sucking before bedtime or as a form of comfort when stressed or uncomfortable. This is usually allowed until teething begins. At this point, most babies have learned to use other self-soothing methods. However, it is not uncommon for infants and preschoolers to suck their thumbs instead of a nipple or bottle until they are at least 4 years old. After that, thumb sucking can start to cause problems.

Long term effects of thumb sucking on the mouth
Excessive thumb sucking can have many effects on teeth and mouth. This can cause one of the following effects: 

  1. Front teeth may protrude from the jaw and mouth 
  2. Other bite problems, such as back teeth in the mouth or an open bite 
  3. Changes in the shape of the jaw can also affect the arrangement of the teeth and speech patterns
  4.  Mouth itching 

Children who suck their thumbs for a long time and continue to suck their thumb hard may be at increased risk of these side effects.

Here are a few tips to help your child stop sucking their thumb before doing any irreversible harm:

  1. Give your child rewards such as buying them toys or bringing them something they like. However, this should only be done occasionally.  
  2. Be honest with your children. Young children may not understand the negative effects of thumb sucking, but older children need to be aware of the harm the habit can cause over time. 
  3. Help him find another way to deal with stress. Keep a positive attitude while you’re missing out. 
  4. Always praise your child’s progress while they’re leaving the habit of thumb sucking. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!