Part I
What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
What is Tooth Decay?
What is Endodontic (Root Canal) Treatment?
What are Crowns (Caps)?
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
How to Replace Missing Teeth?
Part II
What are Restorations (Fillings)?
What is bonding?
What are Third Molars (Wisdom Teeth)?
What is Orthodontics (Straightening of Teeth)?
Part III
Guide to Dental Nutrition
Care for Mouth After an Extraction
First Aid for Dental Problems
Sterilization Process
Dental Nutrition
- A diet with nutritional well-balanced meals that is good
for your general health is also good for your teeth and gums.
- All foods that contain sugar can contribute to tooth decay.
- The amount of time foods containing sugar stay in the mouth
is more damaging than the amount of sugar consumed at one specific time.
For example; it is better to eat 5 pieces of candy in 10 minutes instead
of sucking on them for 2 hours.
- If you chew gum, suck on breath mints, or drink soda pop
a lot, at least select the sugarless brands. · If you or your children like
to snack between meals, try more nutritional foods such as popcorn, nuts,
cheese, raw vegetables, etc.
- This is the sequence by which sugar causes tooth decay:
Plaque + Sugar = Acid
Acid + Tooth Enamel = Tooth Decay
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Care for Mouth
After an Extraction
- Immediately following a tooth extraction, keep pressure
on gauze until the bleeding stops, 30-45 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If
heavy bleeding continues, call your dentist.
- Do not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously, or drink through
a straw for 24 hours. These activities will disturb the healing blood clot.
- Do not suck on extraction site.
- Immediately after a tooth is extracted, you may experience
some discomfort and notice some swelling.
- To reduce swelling, place ice packs on the side of your
face off and on for 24 to 48 hours. · Reduce strenuous activity for 24 hours.
- Drink plenty of fluids and maintain as normal a diet as
possible which may be limited to soft foods for the first few days.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages and hot liquids.
- Brush and floss as normal being extra careful around extraction
area.
- On the following day gently rinse your mouth with warm
salt water (1/2 tsp. in one glass of water).
- Depending on your situation, medication may be prescribed
to help control pain and infection.
- If you have prolonged or severe pain, swelling, bleeding
or fever, call your dentist.
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First Aid for Dental
Problems
- Toothache - can be a forewarning
to a possible abscessed tooth. Take pain medication and call your dentist.
Do not place aspirin directly on teeth or gums.
- Cracked Filling or Tooth -
If painful, take medication. Call your dentist as soon as possible to have
the tooth repaired; if not, it will only get worse.
- Bleeding Gums - can be an
early warning to gum disease. Brush and floss thoroughly and rinse with
warm salt water. Consult your dentist.
- Wisdom Tooth Pain - Take pain
medication. Rinse with warm salt water. Consult your dentist about this
often recurring problem.
- Canker Sore - This condition
usually heals on its own within 7-10 days. Consult your dentist for proper
diagnosis and symptomatic relief.
- Loose Crown - Do not use any
type of glue to recement the crown back on the tooth. This could cause pain
and damage to the tooth and gums. See your dentist immediately.
- Gum Boil - If painful, take
medication. Rinse 4 times a day with warm salt water. This is a sign of
an abscess (infection); this problem will not solve itself. Call your dentist.
- Teething Pain - Cold objects
such a teething rings usually help. Also, over the counter teething ointments
will give relief.
- Chipped Baby Tooth - If painful,
give child the pain medication of your choice. If you notice swelling, place
cold packs over that area. Call your dentist.
- Broken Denture or Partial
- Do not attempt to repair the plate yourself; this will almost always make
things worse. Save all broken pieces and see your dentist.
- Knocked Out Tooth - If you
have the tooth, there is a good chance it can be reimplanted. Rinse tooth
gently and if not too painful, try to insert it back into the tooth socket
and see your dentist immediately. Or rinse tooth gently and place it in
your mouth or in a glass of milk and immediately go to your dentist.
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