Your teeth may become sensitive after a filling or root canal.  This is normal and can be expected.  However, there are ways to reduce the amount of sensitivity or pain that you are feeling.  Usually these effects are temporary and will last for a few days.  However, some can be a little more long term.

Fillings and root canals are procedures that the dentist performs to repair a damaged tooth or teeth.  The tooth may have become weak and broken or tooth decay may have eroded the tooth which must now be repaired.  During these procedures, often the nerve ending can be exposed and this can cause some sensitivity to the area for a period of time usually lasting up to a couple of days, but can be much longer.

You can take some precautions to limit the amount of pain that you are feeling and to avoid aggravating the sore area.  The following five tips will be a good place to start as you plan for your recovery.

1.  Medication
If you are allowed to take medication, you may want to if you find that you have pain and or swelling.  If you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen; these are recommended for minor discomfort or pain.  These can help with the pain and additionally works as an anti inflammatory to reduce swelling.  However, this may not be an option if you are pregnant or are unable to take these medications.

2.  Avoid hot and cold drinks
Hot or cold drinks may also cause your teeth that have recently been repaired to feel sensitive.  This is normal, but can be very uncomfortable.  You will probably want to avoid both of these for a few days.  You may find that your teeth are not sensitive or are very sensitive so you will have to find out by trial and error what is acceptable and what to avoid.  The bottom line is that your teeth and your body can react differently than any one else so it is impossible to know what your teeth will do after they are repaired.

3.  Soft foods
You will want to avoid hard and sticky foods for the first few days.  These types of foods often require your teeth to exert more pressure which can cause you some pain.  Stick to foods that are soft or require little chewing.  Your dentist may be able to provide a list of foods for you to use and avoid.  If you have had work done on only one side of your mouth, you can avoid chewing on that side and it these foods on the other side.  You may find this to be an acceptable solution.

4.  Salt water rinses
Salt water rinses will help the healing process if you have soreness around the gum tissue.  You should rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling.  You should probably do this just after brushing to get the best effects.

5.  Dental hygiene
You will want to continue brushing and flossing your teeth as usual. Follow all our home care instructions exactly as directed. Always use fluoridated tartar control toothpaste. Success of treatment depends directly on the improvement and maintenance of your excellent oral hygiene.

In summary, your teeth may be sensitive after a root canal or filling.  However, you can minimize these effects with medication and proper care.  You may want to avoid hot, cold, hard and chewy foods for the first few days after you have your teeth repaired.  Additionally, you will want to maintain good oral hygiene.

First impressions are very important in today's society.  Your smile is one of the first things people will notice when they first see or meet you, so it is essential to take great care of your teeth.  Nothing can make you look as good as a bright smile, so one of the best things you can do is know what foods can discolor your teeth and try to avoid consuming them extremely often. 

    Tobacco (chewing and cigarettes), tea, coffee, red wine, soft drinks, juices

This first group of products that can discolor your teeth are the most commonly consumed, but perhaps the most damaging.  All of these different items contain dark compounds that are absorbed by the enamel and can quickly tarnish your teeth.  Teeth bleaching is relatively effective in removing these kinds of stains; however, if you continue to use and drink these products, it is more than likely that the stains will return.  The best way to alleviate the discoloration brought on by these drinks and products is to cut back significantly or quit all together.

    Dark Fruit, chocolate

This next group is the dark and acidic foods.  Dark fruits include blueberries, purple grapes, blackberries, etc.  Chocolate is also considered a food that can discolor teeth if not eaten in moderation.  The general rule is, if it could stain your carpet, it will stain your teeth.  These foods are superficial, so using a teeth bleaching system will generally be effective in removing these stains, but again, the best way to maintain a bright smile is to cut back on the intake of them. 

While these foods and products are the main culprits in dulling and staining your teeth, there are some foods that you can eat that can help you keep a brilliant smile.

    Summer fruits, cheese, milk

Any fruits that are in season during the summer, such as melons, can help you maintain brighter teeth.  These fruits can help prevent stains and are less likely to cause cavities than the darker fruits.  Cheese, milk, or any foods that are low in acidity are foods that can help reduce cavities and are less likely to cause stains.

If you have been a regular consumer of any of the foods, drinks or products that can cause stains, it's not too late to reverse the damage.  Depending on how bad the stains are, there are different things you can do to whiten your teeth.

    Yellow Stains

If you have yellow stains, these will be the easiest to get rid of.  Yellow stains are the most common simply because it is natural for teeth to yellow as you get older.  The good news is any type of at-home teeth whiteners or even whitening toothpaste should eliminate these stains. 

    Brownish Stains

If the stains on your teeth are a brownish color, they may be a little harder to remove.  However, it is very possible.  Talk to your dentist about in-office procedures or even just getting a higher concentration of bleach.  Those procedures should remove or significantly reduce the appearance of stains.

    Gray or Purplish Stains

These stains are the most difficult to remove or reduce, if it is even possible.  If you have these kinds of stains, it may be your genetics that are causing this discoloration.  While you can try bleaching products, you will probably find the most effective procedures will be laser treatments or veneers.

The best thing you can do is know what foods and products you should stay away from and steer clear of them to avoid staining and discoloring your teeth.  However, it is never too late to brighten your smile by using teeth bleaching procedures and then reducing or eliminating your intake of those products. 

If you've ever shopped for toothpaste you know that there are many brands available.  Not only that, but every brand boasts different flavors like mint, cinnamon, spearmint, fruity flavors, etc.  In addition, they often have gels and pastes and claim to target cavity protection, whitening and tartar control to name a few.   The options are endless!  The option you choose depends largely on your preferences for taste and texture.  There is always a debate going on about which is better, but the truth is that they are all effective at cleaning teeth.
However, you hear all the time from dentists that you should brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.   We all know that it is important to brush our teeth to keep them clean and healthy, but why with fluoride?  What is the big deal?
The American Dental Association (ADA) is responsible for approving toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, etc. for consumer use.  When a product has been approved, they receive an American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.  If a toothpaste bears the "ADA" seal, you can expect fluoride to be one of the major ingredients because it is an essential combatant against cavities and tooth decay.  They claim that it is more important that a toothpaste contain fluoride than to concern yourself over the consistency and taste of any particular toothpaste.
Weak spots on the teeth are where cavities form and fluoride strengthens these weak areas by encouraging "remineralization".   Fluoride is documented to be safe and very effective.  In fact, only small amounts of fluoride have been shown to achieve maximum benefits.  When used in small amounts on a regular basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. 
Fluoride is found naturally in water which has been shown to be the best source of fluoride.  Drinking fluoride water has shown to decrease the decay rate of teeth by over 50 percent.  Fluoride is also found in many different foods as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements.  Fluoride can be very effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Amounts of fluoride vary in water sources, so some people receive more or less than others.   Depending on this, a person's age and their risk of developing tooth decay, a dentist may recommend a patient take a fluoride supplement.  However, something to be aware of is that it is possible to overdose on fluoride.  Young children should not swallow toothpaste, especially if it contains fluoride because doing so can lead to them consuming up to four times the recommended amount of fluoride.  This can lead to the development of spots on their developing permanent teeth.  Proper toothpaste amount must be supervised and other forms of fluoride supplementations must be carefully monitored in order to prevent a potential overdose.
Topical fluoride is another way to get fluoride to strengthen your teeth.  It comes in the form of a gel or a foam and is applied to your teeth in the dentist's office after a cleaning.  Fluoride varnish is one of the newer forms of topical fluoride and has been documented to be safe and effective in fighting dental decay. 
In summary, fluoride has been proven to be an effective element in the prevention of cavities by strengthening weak spots on the teeth.  The people who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.  However, regular use of fluoride can be a benefit for everyone.

If you have recently signed up for a new dentist, you may be surprised at the amount of medical history questions they require to be filled out before they will provide treatment.  You may even think some of this information is unnecessary.  However, the more information your doctor has on all of medical history, the better he can treat you and you may even be surprised how much your over all health can be interrelated with your dental health.

Many dental offices have you fill out a medical questionnaire before you are given treatment.  Some of these questionnaires can be very specific and include things that you may think does not relate to your dental health.  This form may include questions about lifestyle (such as smoking or involvement in high-risk sports) and family medical history.  This history, combined with the results of your initial clinical examination, will be the basis for your dentist's approach to your dental health.

You should mention everything about your health, even if you don't think it relates to your mouth.  If you have had surgery or a major illness, be sure to include this information in the medical history of your patient information section.  Many diseases can have significant effects on your mouth and teeth, and researchers continue to discover ways in which oral health is related to overall health.  Diabetes, for instance, can increase the risk of periodontal disease.

You should have your current medication information on the forms that you fill out.  This information can be vital for you health.  These medications can have a small impact or even a very large impact in the decisions that you dentist makes for your.  For instance, some medications cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities.  Other health conditions may require us to change the type of anesthesia given.  If you are in an accident and need emergency dental care this information could be vital so you will want to keep the information up to date.

You will want to keep these records up to date.  If you have a change in your medical condition it is important to update these records even if the dentist doesn't ask.  You may become pregnant or develop allergies.  This could easily cause your dentist to need to change some of his decisions.  For instance, pregnant ladies should avoid unnecessary x-rays.  This and other procedures should be avoided while pregnant and may cause your dentist to want to delay or change some of the work he was to perform.

Your dentist cannot release this medical information without your consent.  By law this information is private.

You may also wonder why the questionnaire has grown so large.  You don't remember having such a large form last time you signed up for a dentist 15 years ago.  The reason the list has grown so large is because medicine continues to advance and many new procedures are created almost daily.  Some of the effects on your dental health may not even be known yet.  Hence, it is best to have all of the information possible as your dentist makes decisions for your oral health.

Suggested items to include on your patient registration form:
    Any recent heart surgery (within the last six months)
    Artificial heart valve(s)
    Asthma
    Congenital Heart defect
    Epilepsy/seizures
    History of rheumatic fever
    History of heart murmer/mitral valve prolapse
    Knee, joint or hip replacement surgery
    Latex allergy
    Medications: Prescribed or over-the-counter
    Pacemaker
    Previous bacterial endocarditis
    Systemic pulmonary shunt
    If you smoke (smoking can lead to serious problems like oral cancer)
    About any allergies you have (including latex allergy
    If you are pregnant
    Any health problem or medical condition you are being treated for

In summary, your dentist needs all of the information possible when making a decision about your oral health.  Some information may not seem pertinent to you, but many health situations can affect your dental health.  Thus, you should be honest and disclose the necessary information so that you dentist can make the best decision for you.

Preventive dental cleanings and annual exams during pregnancy are not only safe, but are recommended. However, not all types of dental work are approved and some should wait for after the birth.  You may find that you are in pain or have your health threatened by some dental problems.  All issues should be consulted with your dentist and obstetrician to make sure that the baby is not harmed or put at risk.

The rise in hormone levels during pregnancy causes the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food causing increased irritation to your gums.  Preventive dental work is essential to avoid oral infections such as gum disease, which has been linked to preterm birth.

Cavity fillings and crowns are considered dental work that should be treated to reduce the chance of infection.  The second trimester is considered ideal for this work to be done if done during a pregnancy.  Once you reach the third trimester, it may be very difficult to lie on your back for an extended period of time.

If possible, your safest course of action is to postpone all unnecessary dental work until after the birth.  However, emergency dental work such as a root canal or tooth extraction is may be necessary.  In these cases you should make sure your dentist knows that you are pregnant before you schedule the appointment.

Optional or elective treatments, such as teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures, should be postponed until after the birth.  It is best to avoid exposing the developing baby to any risks, even if they are minimal.  Some of the newer procedures have not been around long enough for all of the implications to be understood.  It is best to not take chances and wait until after the birth of your baby.

You will find that medications are one of the higher risks of dental work during a pregnancy.  Currently, there are conflicting studies about possible adverse effects on the developing baby from medications used during dental work.  Lidocaine is the most commonly used drug for dental work.  Lidocaine does cross the placenta after administration.

If you find that dental work is necessary, the amount of anesthesia administered should be kept to a minimum, but still you need to make sure that you are comfortable.  If you experience pain, then you need to request additional numbing.  The amount of stress on you and the baby needs to be kept at a minimum and this is accomplished by keeping you comfortable.  You don't want to try and do the procedure without anesthesia because it could cause the baby a lot of stress.

Dental work often requires antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin, which are labeled category B for safety in pregnancy, may be prescribed after your procedure.

You will want to avoid taking routine x-rays that can be postponed until after the birth. However, X-rays are necessary to perform many dental procedures, especially emergencies.  According to the American College of Radiology, no single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus.

Additionally, fetal organ development occurs during the first trimester.  You will want to avoid all potential risks at this time if possible.  Also, if you can postpone any non-emergency dental work during the third trimester, it is usually recommended.  This is to avoid the risk of premature labor and prolonged time lying on your back.

In summary, during a pregnancy you will need to continue to work on your oral hygiene and perform most routine maintenance of your teeth.  However, you will want to avoid any cosmetic or unnecessary dental work to avoid risks to the baby.  However, if emergency work is required, then it should be done while keeping stress to a minimum and in consultation with your obstetrician.

Diet not only affects your health, but it directly affects your dental health.  You have learned as a child to brush twice a day and especially after you eat sugar.  However, you diet even affects how well your mouth can fight off other diseases and tooth decay.  Hence, you should brush your teeth and maintain a healthy diet for the best dental health possible.

Your body is a very complicated organism that can be compared to a complex machine.  When you eat, you are fueling your body and this affects your general health and specifically the health of your gum and teeth.  Dentists are concerned about the amount of sugar-filled items that Americans consume on a regular basis.  These items include sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, and a number of non-nutritious snacks that affect the teeth.  These snacks not only add no nutritional value to the body or mouth but they can also take a toll on your teeth.

Diet and the eating patterns among children and early teens are important factors that directly affect the speed of how quickly youth develop tooth decay.  When bacteria, known as plaque, come into contact with sugar, they produce acid.  The acid is potent for 20 minutes or more and this can eventually result in tooth decay.

Most food contains some sugar to include milk and vegetables.  All foods that contain sugar can contribute to tooth decay.  You can't avoid eating all sugar and some level of sugar is needed for your body to function properly.  You should not even try to remove them because many of them contain important nutrients.  

Additionally, you probably enjoy eating these foods.  However, the amount of these sugared foods should be controlled and moderated.  You can read the labels on most foods to get a better understanding of the amount of sugar you are consuming.  This will help you choose foods and beverages that are lower in added sugars.  You will also be able to recognize and limit the food that are low in nutrient value and high in sugar like soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries.

In addition to tooth decay, your diet directly affects the ability of the tissues in your mouth to fight and resist infection.  These infections can contribute to periodontal disease which is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.  Poor nutrition does not cause periodontal disease directly, but many dental experts believes the disease progresses faster and can even be more severe in people that do not eat and receive healthy nutrients in their diets.

So, what can you do to increase your dental health?  First, you will want to maintain a healthy diet.  Drink more water and limit the amount of sugared drinks.  You may want to keep and food journal for a week.  Record everything that you consume for a week to include all snacks and drinks.  This will show you exactly what you consume and may be an eye opener for you.

Limit the number of snacks between meals.  When you do need a snack, try nutritious foods low in sugar like vegetables.  Make sure you brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste.  If you have sugared snacks you may want to brush right after consuming these in order to limit the amount of acid in your mouth.

In summary, your diet directly affects your dental health.  When you eat healthy and low sugared foods your body and mouth have the right nutrients to fight infections and tooth decay.  You must give your body the right nutrients to stay healthy and to reduce the amount of tooth decay.

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about silver amalgam fillings.  There are pros and cons to these fillings.  You should educate yourself on these advantages and disadvantages because the difference is not just a matter of appearance.  Once you have the education you can make an informed decision and rest assured that you have the best fillings.

Dental schools, as a rule, do not fully train dentists for placing the newer composite types of fillings. Unfortunately, dentists have to pursue additional post-graduate continuing education to become proficient in composite bonding technology.  Hence, you may not have a dentist that is capable of doing both the silver and white composite fillings.  Decide which type of filling makes you and your expense account comfortable and go with your decision and not just with what your dentist is able to do.

The advantages of the Silver Amalgam fillings are:
1.  The silver fillings are generally less expensive.  Composite fillings can take about 60% longer to install.  Additionally, they require special expertise and expensive materials, and are more difficult to place, and so they cost considerably more than silver.  Additionally, dental insurance companies will generally not pick up this extra added cost.  The insurance companies generally will only pay for the lowest cost to fix the tooth which is the silver amalgam filling. 

2.  General dentists can place amalgam without extra training because this is taught in dental school.  Composite fillings require the use of special bonding technology that many dentists may not be trained on.  Dental schools often don't teach this technique because it is not on the exams and dental schools teach to the exams.

3.  Placing a silver filling is faster and can be a lot easier and comfortable than a composite filling.  The proper placement of a white composite filling requires that the site for the filling be kept totally isolated from saliva while it is being placed.  In the very back of the mouth, on some patients, it is difficult to keep the tooth isolated for the duration of the procedure. This can also be uncomfortable for some patients. A silver amalgam filling does not require this strict isolation of the tooth.

4.  The filling by itself is a stronger material, although it weakens the tooth.  Additionally, silver fillings have a longer history of use than mercury-free fillings, thus you may feel that they are more tried and tested.

The disadvantages of silver amalgam fillings:
1.  The silver amalgam filling is stronger but does not bond to the tooth like a composite filling.  Hence, silver weakens the teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, composites can save a lot of expense over the long run. 

2.  Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth where the silver filling can easily be seen.

3.  Teeth restored with white composite fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with amalgam, if correct techniques are used.

4.  Mercury in the fillings is viewed by some as being toxic.

5.  Silver amalgam fillings require more of the tooth structure removal than composites. Especially with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be dramatically smaller with composites. 

In summary, the largest advantage of a silver amalgam filling is that it is less expensive than the newer composite fillings.  However, there is an ongoing debate about the possible health issues of the mercury in the filling.  No one at this point has proven these health concerns, but many countries are banning the use of the mercury filling.  You must decide for yourself which filling will fit your situation best.

Dental implants are a good option for some people when they are missing a tooth or even several teeth.  The surgery though can be taxing so care must be taken during the recovery process to ensure that you minimize the pain and to take care of the area that has been operated on.

A dental implant is one method of many that a dentist can use to replace teeth when they are missing.  For instance, a bridge is used to replace teeth by anchoring the false teeth to good teeth surrounding the missing teeth.  A root canal replaces a tooth by attaching a false or cap on top of the root that is still good.  Dentures can replace all teeth or even just a portion of the teeth.

The dental implant is done by an oral surgeon or a trained dentist.   The dentist will surgically place a screw in the jaw to hold a false tooth in place.  The tooth becomes very secure by being anchored to the jaw and a very realistic tooth can be placed on the tooth.  However, the procedure is surgery and so care must be taken during the recovery process.

Here are five tips that you may find useful during the recovery process after having the implant procedure.

1.  Rest
Your body knows how to heal, but it will need the rest in order to facilitate the process.  You could go back to work and your regular schedule almost immediately after the surgery.  However, you will probably want to take some rest and relax for at least a day or longer depending on your health.

2.  Swelling and pain relief medication
You should get a prescription from your dentist and have it filled on the way home if necessary.  Often this can be one and the same medication.  You may want to take the medication on schedule even if you feel that the pain is bearable because the medication also helps the swelling.  Additionally, remember that you are taking medication for the pain relief so be careful not to over use the sensitive area even if you do not feel pain.

3.  Salt water rinses
Salt water rinses will help the healing process.  You should rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling.

4.  Brushing
You must be careful when brushing.  You should always be gentle when brushing, but you must take extra care not to scrub the area too hard and pull the stitching out.  You should continue to make sure the area is clean though because bacteria will get in the area and you must gently brush to remove the bacteria.  The salt water rinses and brushing should take place at the same time in order to get the best results and it will help you remember to do both of them.

5.  Soft food diet
You will want to keep your diet to softer items such as yogurt and mush.  Be careful not to eat lots of sugared items like ice cream.  This will require more cleansing and it is difficult to get all of the sensitive areas with brushing.  You may want to ask your dentist for a list of items that is recommended for you to eat after surgery.  A good healthy diet will also help you recover faster because your body will have the nutrients necessary to facilitate the healing process.

In summary, the dental implant procedure is surgery and you will need to take care of your mouth during the healing process.  Make sure that you get the proper rest and food to help give your body the time to heal.  Also, you will want to make sure that you keep your mouth clean and continue to brush during the healing process.

You may want to get white composite fillings the next time you require a tooth filling.  These fillings are newer and can be more expensive, but you will also find several advantages to going with the newer technology.  Once you have the education you can make an informed decision and rest assured that you have the best fillings.

Silver amalgam fillings have been around for several decades and once were the only method used to fill teeth.  However, more and more people are turning from this method to the newer white composite fillings.  You may find that your insurance will only pay for the cheapest option which will most likely be the silver amalgam. 

However, recent discussions have shown that mercury leaks from these fillings and can be harmful to your health.  No one has proved that these fillings are harmful, but some countries have banned them and others will soon follow suit.

Here are five reasons you will want to choose white composite fillings the next time you need a tooth filled:

1.  A white composite filling will bond to the tooth better than the silver amalgam.  When the composite is installed by a professional the composite, even though it is not as strong as the silver amalgam, will bind the tooth together and will restore the integrity of the tooth.  The composite will stand up to the rigors of chewing even in the back molars that endure a lot of pressure. 

The silver amalgam filling is stronger but does not bond to the tooth like a composite filling.  Hence, silver weakens the teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking. Since broken teeth are very expensive to restore, composites may save a lot of expense over the long run. 

2.  Composite fillings restore the natural appearance of the tooth where the silver filling can easily be seen.  When the composite is installed correctly you may find it difficult to tell exactly where the composite ends and the tooth begins.  Many people choose the composite filling for this advantage alone.

3.  Teeth restored with white composite fillings are less sensitive to hot and cold than teeth restored with amalgam, if correct techniques are used.  If you have had a silver amalgam filling, then you have most likely endured the new sensitivity of your tooth.  Sometimes this sensitivity can last for only days, but many endure a much longer period.  The composite filling should not have these same sensitivities.

4.  The white composite fillings do not have mercury content.  The silver amalgam fillings actually have more mercury than they do silver.  Studies have not proved that the mercury content is harmful to your health, but they haven't disproved it either.  However, these studies have proved that the mercury fillings give off odorless, tasteless, and toxic gas which may be harmful over time.

5.  The white composite fillings do not require as much of the tooth structure to be removed when installing.  This allows you to keep much more of your original tooth.  The composite filling bonds with the original tooth to add strength.

Silver amalgam fillings require more of the tooth structure removal than composites. Especially with new cavities, the size of the hole made for the filling can be dramatically smaller with composites. 

However the large disadvantage of composite fillings is that they often cost a lot more.  Additionally, insurance does not always pick up the additional expense for the white composite filling.

In summary, white composite fillings are becoming more popular as the alternative to silver amalgam fillings.  Many find the added cost of the fillings are more than compensated for by the advantages of the composite fillings.  You must decide for yourself which filling will fit your situation best.