 Believe me, I understand. We are already concerned about food’s effects on our bodies as far as calorie intake and saturated fat and sugar content and all sorts of things. Why am I stressing you out more about food?! Well trust me when I say we have the best of intentions, and remember, a healthy mouth is a healthy body! And fortunately for us, it’s not too much to remember. Certain foods do really terrible things to our teeth, however, there are ways to treat it and prevent it. And there are also foods that are great for our teeth, which we want you to consider when you’re choosing your meals. The Best Foods Crunchy Fruits & Vegetables Raw fruits and vegetables that require a lot of chewing (celery, apples, carrots) and provide a good crunch are great for your teeth because chewing more creates more saliva. Saliva is necessary to fight bad bacteria in your mouth. The more saliva (without the drool) the better. These foods create more saliva. Not only that, the crunch of the food will also remove leftover food and bacteria left on your teeth and sort of scrub your teeth. Imagine that! A cleaning and a snack! High Fiber Eating high fiber foods also creates more saliva, which as we know fights bad bacteria that causes tooth decay and cavities. Fiber is good for your overall health, so eating plenty of it is only going to benefit you. Some yummy high fiber foods include raisins, bananas, oranges, and almonds. You can make a pretty great granola with just those ingredients! High Calcium Dairy Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products are great for your teeth because they have a high source of calcium. Cheese in particular is great because it also generates saliva. If you remember the Does a Body Good ads, then you know that milk and other high calcium foods are good for strong bones. While teeth are not bones, they still need calcium, similar to bones, to help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. Including a good amount of calcium in your diet is pertinent to maintaining healthy and strong teeth. Foods with Fluoride A good toothpaste has a good amount of fluoride, and this is because fluoride helps fight plaque and tartar. Therefore, consuming food and drinks with fluoride is good for your teeth. Fluoridated drinking water, powdered juices (that don’t contain a lot of sugar), and commercially prepared foods (poultry, seafood) have fluoride in them and are great for your teeth. The Worst Foods Sticky Candies If you’re going to eat something sweet, first of all, eat it with a meal. Give your other foods a chance to take out the leftover sugars and bacteria created from the processed sugar. Second of all, choose a sweet that doesn’t stay too long in your mouth. Lollipops and caramels are not too good for your teeth as they stick to your teeth and create the perfect environment for bad bacteria that causes cavities and tooth decay. If you do decide to eat these foods, be sure your rinse or floss or even do a quick brushing of the teeth as a precaution. We all will falter sometimes! Popcorn Any starchy foods that get stuck in your teeth should mostly be avoided, if we’re being honest. Popcorn just happens to be the biggest culprit. This however can easily be avoided by staying away from the foods or rinsing, flossing, or brushing after having said foods. Another thing you can do is follow it up with a crunchy fruit or vegetable to help take out the leftover food. The most important thing to consider however is to make sure that big chunks of food is not left behind for bacteria to fester in. Sodas and Other Carbonated Drinks Of course, we all know how much sugar is in soft drinks which is terrible for your teeth, but as a double whammy, most carbonated drinks contain phosphoric and citric acids. Sugar, acid, and bacteria is the perfect equation for tooth decay, and not only that acids erode tooth enamel. Overall, we want to do our best to stay away from these drinks. Rinsing and brushing after helps a bit, but overall, we mostly want to stay away. Your body will thank you later, trust me! Alcohol Too much alcohol dries out your mouth which prevents your mouth from naturally keeping away bad bacteria in your mouth. If you’re having a night out, then it’s important when you get home you brush your teeth and are drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep your mouth clean. As well as prevent a hangover!   Nothing ruins a date, a doctor’s visit, or even a simple conversation like bad breath. There’s nothing more awkward than to be on either the receiving or giving end of bad breath. I once had a teacher in college who had awful breath. I was only a freshmen, so faculty intimidated me like none other, so most of us endured his breath. Long story short, I taught myself calculus that semester! The scientific term for bad breath is halitosis. Most everybody will experience bad breath in their life, particularly of the morning variety. Some bad breath causes are more severe than others, and most causes of bad breath can be treated. Bad breath happens naturally when an influx of bacteria is not being broken down in our mouths. The cause of bad breath can be a number of things, but here are the six most common cause of bad breath. Dry Mouth Most everybody experiences morning breath. The reason being is because the lack of saliva production when we sleep. We produce more saliva during the day and when we eat. The enzymes found in saliva “are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices” (source). So when our mouths are not producing saliva, our mouths get dry, making it a perfect environment for bacteria to make way, which then causes bad breath. Hence, morning breath. You might be a little more of a mouth breather, which tends to dry out your mouth. If you do breath with your mouth, you might have more issues with bad breath. You Haven’t Eaten When we don’t eat, we don’t produce saliva. This goes hand in hand with dry mouth. This specifically is sometimes referred to as “Hunger Breath.” It’s not that hunger is making your breath smell. It’s the fact that you’re not producing regular saliva. When you’re not producing saliva, bacteria gathers more easily, and thusly it produces that sulfuric bad breath smell we all hate so much. Smoking We’ve got morning breath, hunger breath, and now let me introduce you to “Smoker’s Breath.” Smoker’s breath is a little more specific and has more factors than just dry mouth. Although dry mouth still plays a part, considering inhaling that smoke tends to dry out your mouth, which as we know is a big factor for halitosis. But more specifically, “the most immediate way that cigarettes cause bad breath is by leaving smoke particles in the throat and lungs. This effect is typical of nearly any tobacco product that involves inhaling smoke or rolling it around in the mouth. The smell of a freshly smoked cigarette can linger in the lungs for hours” (source). You’re Sick Being sick can cause bad breath for a variety of reasons. First of all, when we’re sick (allergies or a cold), our bodies have produced too much mucus. When we’re sleeping and our mucus is draining, some of us might experience something called “post-nasal drip” which is mucus collecting in the back of your throat. A very uncomfortable feeling, but in regards to your breath, the mucus collection in the back of your throat is a great food source for bacteria that causes bad breath. I know how much we want to stay in bed when we’re sick, but it’s important to brush your teeth, floss, and rinse with mouthwash when we’re sick to rid ourselves of unnecessary bacteria (source). Strep throat can also cause some serious bad breath. Strep is a bacterial infection, and as you know bacteria is the culprit of bad breath. Not only that, some medications, especially antihistamines, diuretics, antipsychotics, and muscle relaxants, cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is, as we know, bad breath. Cavities Bad breath might be caused by a cavity or two in your mouth. If you have a cavity that has not been treated, chances are you’re collecting more bacteria. Getting a cavity is caused by plaque buildup. If you build up too much plaque it starts to eat away at your tooth, which causes it to decay, or give you a cavity. That cavity is already caused by bacteria which causes bad breath, but on top of that, your daily oral hygiene routine is not getting the bacteria rid of the bacteria that is in the cavity. Thusly, that cavity and the bacteria collecting in it might be the cause to your bad breath. It’s important to get your cavities treated, and even more important, prevent them from happening (source)! Drinking Too Much Alcohol Alcohol is a little different when it comes to bad breath. When we consume a copious amount of alcohol, our bodies treat it as a toxin. We start to break it down to a less harmful substance. Most of it will be converted into acetic acid, but some of it is released through our sweat and our respiratory system. If you’ve ever had a hangover, that’s the reason you’re sweating so much. But, when it comes to bad breath, some of the toxins are leaving through our breath. Literal toxic breath! Also, the smell can come from our stomach processing the alcohol and making us burp a very unpleasant smell (source). All of us will experience bad breath at some point, but at least now you know the cause, which will allow you to treat it a little more effectively. Get some water in you. Eat a regular diet. Quit your smoking. Cut back on the drinking. And have a happy health mouth!   Having a good oral hygiene doesn’t have to be difficult. The most difficult thing to do, in fact, is getting started on a routine. But that goes with anything. It’s hard to get up in the morning, but the more we do it the more it becomes habit. It’s difficult for us to get to the gym or get some sort of daily exercise. But as we continue to do it everyday, it just becomes routine. In fact, it almost becomes a necessity to include our daily habits in our routines, otherwise we feel unsteady. There are certain things we want to include in our daily routine so that it just becomes habit. An oral hygiene routine needs to become a habit. Research shows that you have to do something consistently for at least 66 days for something to become natural to you. Just a little over two months. And those two months are usually the hardest when starting something new, especially something rigorous (source). But oral hygiene doesn’t necessarily have to be rigorous. It’s most definitely something you want to start doing in order to build a habit, because you want to have a good, healthy smile. And let’s not forget that one of the most powerful and influential pharaohs of ancient Egypt most likely died due to dental problems. If that’s not motivation enough for you to take care of your teeth, I don’t know what is! Maybe google some gruesome pictures. But I’m here to help you get started on a regular dental routine so that you can keep a healthy smile. Keep it up for a couple of months and it will just come natural to you. 1. Brush 2-3 times a day Brushing once you get up in the morning and before you go to bed are ideal. When you get up in the morning, your mouth has not been producing enough saliva, which is a good time for bacteria to start attaching to your teeth. Giving you bad breath and making you prone to cavities. At the end of the day, before you go to bed, that is, you want to brush your teeth again so to get rid of the bits of food your mouth has not completely digested. Food that may have been left between your teeth where bacteria loves to camp out over night. The magic number is two, meaning you want to brush your teeth at least twice a day. You can maybe brush after lunch if you really want to up your routine, but it’s not absolutely necessary all the time. And brushing your teeth any more than that may start causing damage to your enamel. 2. Don’t forget to clean your tongue The tongue is home to alot of bacteria considering the texture of our tongues is a little more abrasive than our teeth. Think about that next time you see your significant other! It can be the cause to some serious bad breath issues. It’s important you brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper every time you brush your teeth, otherwise your missing a major part of cleaning your mouth. 3. Floss once a day Flossing once a day is so easy to miss and to so many, it’s even tedious. And it’s understandable. It can be a hassle and some teeth are harder to reach. We try to get out of it by making excuses, but let me assure you that you cannot skip out on flossing once a day. Your toothbrush does not reach all the crevices between your teeth and even below your gumline. Understand, food left in our mouth, even food we cannot see, is food for bacteria. Surely you know that food is being left behind between your teeth. Plaque and tartar tend to build up here because we ignore flossing. This can lead to some serious gum disease. Make it a habit to floss once a day, and it doesn’t matter whether you do it in the morning or at night, as long as you do it. 4. Carry flosser picks This does not count as your one time a day for flossing. Flosser picks are good for after you’ve eaten something and maybe you have something caught in your teeth. It’s good to carry them around for this purpose. But I also want to point out that after eating certain foods, you may want to use a flosser pick you have handy on you. Such as eating something with a high sugar content or something very acidic. Flossing after eating or drinking such foods will help tremendously. Speaking of which… 5. Limit sugary & acidic foods We’re not saying this is the cause to your cavities. But we are saying you may want to watch what you eat and the effects these foods will have on your teeth. Sugar, acid, and bacteria in your mouth is the perfect equation for cavities and tooth decay. Limit these types of foods, or at the very least consider brushing your teeth after you consume these foods. For example, if you’re a morning coffee drinker, drink your coffee first and then brush your teeth in the morning. If you’re an afternoon coffee drinker, consider adding a third brushing to your daily routine. Or even more convenient… 6. Consider mouthwash Using a proper mouthwash after you brush and floss helps quite a bit in keeping a good clean mouth. It can reach some of the spots you may have missed and kills the bacteria. But consider carrying a travel sized bottle on you if you are a coffee or tea drinker. This will definitely help in controlling the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities and tooth decay. 7. See your dentist I understand if you haven’t kept up with a good oral hygiene routine, going to the dentist can be the most dreaded time of the year. But if you keep up with a good routine, it doesn’t have to be. Going to the dentist and getting a cleaning twice a year is one of the best things you can do, because the dentist can see things you cannot. Don’t consider going to the dentist to make up for all the flossing you didn’t do. Go to the dentist as a precaution for future issues you cannot necessarily prevent on your own. Keep up with this routine and I promise you’ll have one of the best smiles around!   With today’s easy access to information and all sorts of “alternative facts” floating around out there, it’s easy to get confused about what’s believable and what should be ignored. In particular, there are plenty of warped “alternative facts” about keeping a good healthy mouth. Let us help you by letting you know which myths need to be ignored immediately! Myth: White Teeth are Healthy Teeth A glamorous white smile doesn’t necessarily mean you have healthy teeth. Most people focus on the surface area of the teeth to determine whether they have a healthy smile. But it’s important to know that our teeth is more than just the visible surface area. Some people with the whitest smile have severe issues past the gums or even behind the teeth. They may never floss! It’s not to say that white teeth DOESN’T equal a healthy smile, it’s just to say this is not a determining factor. Not to mention the fact that our teeth will naturally discolor as we age. So, even though you may have shiny pearly whites, you want to make sure you visit the dentist regularly to check between and behind the teeth for any issues as well as keep up with a daily oral hygiene routine that doesn’t just involve brushing (source, source). Myth: Brushing Bleeding Gums is Bad For You Admittedly, it can be off putting to see your spitting up some blood when you brush your teeth. You may even notice it as you floss. Too many people assume it’s from brushing too hard and so they choose to take it easy on the brushing or even skip a few brushes and opt for rinsing with mouthwash instead. This is the WRONG thing to do. You want to consider brushing your teeth, because this is the first step to dealing with bleeding gums. If your gums are bleeding, you may have a case of gingivitis or plaque buildup beyond your gumline. It’s important to continue with your brushing routine as well as make an appointment with your dentist, as soon as possible. Another tip when dealing with bleeding gums is instead of rinsing with water, rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash (source, source). Myth: Tooth Decay & Cavities is Mainly Caused by Sugar This is not to say sugar DOESN’T cause cavities and tooth decay, but it is not the MAIN cause. It’s not an issue of staying away from sugar all together, but knowing what to do when consuming more sugar than normal (a party, Thanksgiving, etc.) and keeping up with a daily oral hygiene routine. Bacteria in the mouth needs sugar to survive, so when you consume more sugar, you’re basically feeding the bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria, sugar, and acid all leave to an unhealthy mouth. Instead of completely staying away from sugar, watch your sugar intake and brush your teeth or rinse after consuming sugar. It’s important you understand that it’s not the sugar that is causing your cavities, it’s the lack of oral hygiene (source, source). Myth: Brushing More Makes Your Teeth Healthier This doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t be brushing your teeth more, and it also depends on other factors and who you are. Brushing your teeth 2-3 times a day is a pretty good routine to keep up with. Once you start brushing above that, it can maybe start causing damage to your enamel. Plus, if you’re using a more abrasive toothpaste and using a harder toothbrush, you may be doing more damage to your teeth. Keep the brushing to 2-3 times a day with a soft to medium toothbrush. And doing anything out of the ordinary, such as eating something with a lot of processed sugar, can call for a quick brush (source). Myth: It’s Not Necessary to Visit the Dentist I’m not just saying this because we’re a Dentist office, I’m saying this because it is the absolute truth! Visiting the dentist is often seen as more of a luxury than a necessity, but that’s a common misconception. Part of keeping up with a good oral hygiene routine is visiting the dentist at twice a year. Your dentist can address a lot of issues you cannot check, such as things happening below the surface, gum disease, and even detecting for oral cancer. Make sure you’re making your appointments and not skipping out on seeing us on a regular basis (source).   There are two kinds of people: those who know exactly what kind of toothpaste they use and NEVER change it and those who go down the oral hygiene aisle and become completely overwhelmed with the choices offered. Whichever group you fall into, however, you may want to pay attention, because as we get older and as our bodies change, our teeth may need something different. There’s a reason why there are so many choices of toothpaste, and no, it’s not to just drive us completely insane. Let me ease your stress by giving you this handy guide on choosing the best toothpaste for your teeth. Before we begin however, it’s important to make sure whatever toothpaste you use contains fluoride. “Fluoride is important as it is effective in preventing tooth decay, strengthening enamel, and lowering the risk of cavities” (source). If you have yellow teeth……chances are you’re trying to whiten them up. First off, you should know that your teeth have been turning yellow for reasons. The most common reasons are probably your eating, drinking, or smoking something that’s staining your teeth. Coffees and teas are pretty big culprits to turning your teeth yellow. We might suggest brushing your teeth after consumption. A general rule, if it’s staining your tongue, it’s probably staining your teeth. However, if your teeth are already yellows and you’re looking for your pearly whites to be, well, white, then we suggest looking for the toothpastes that have the word WHITE or WHITENING in it, such as Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Toothpaste or Rembrandt Deeply White + Peroxide Whitening Toothpaste. These aren’t really bleaching solutions as they are a solution to removing stains from your teeth. We don’t really want to just cover up the stains. We want a toothpaste that will tackle the problem by getting rid of them. Whitening toothpastes usually do the trick (source). If you have cavities……at this point, you definitely want to come in and see us. And the biggest question we get is if you can reverse a cavity without needing a filling. You can with a rigorous oral hygiene routine and upkeep. But, just so we’re clear, if you have a severe cavity that has not been treated, you need it filled! But none the less, if you have issues with cavities, choosing a toothpaste that has words such as “prevent & repair,” and you also want to make sure it has a high fluoride content. Fluoride is “a mineral that can fill in these spots and harden the surface of the enamel.” It’s also important you don’t use a tartar-control toothpaste. These toothpastes stops mineral from forming on your teeth. When using these toothpastes, you may not want to rinse. Definitely spit, but if you skip the rinsing, you leave the fluoride in and working overtime on your teeth. We want the good minerals to help with your cavities. Colgate Sensitive Prevent and Repair Toothpaste and Colgate PreviDent 5000 Plus are the types of toothpastes you need, and you may even need a prescription for a high fluoride toothpaste from your dentist (source). If you have sensitive teeth and/or gums……you might be brushing too hard! Go figure! Many people have the misconception that brushing hard is equivalent to brushing well. But in fact, you could be causing more damage to your teeth and gums,and you might have sensitive teeth now. However, that’s not always the case. There are many reasons you could have sensitive teeth, and there are toothpastes that can help with that. When shopping for a toothpaste that accommodates to your sensitive teeth, look for “strontium chloride” or “potassium nitrate” ingredients. These desensitize your teeth and gums. Sensodyne products are obviously toothpastes specifically for people with sensitive teeth, and this is a good way to go (source). If you’re trying to prevent/treat tartar build-up…As previously noted, if you’re trying to treat a cavity and treating tartar buildup as well, you’re not going to get very far. Tartar prevention toothpastes rids the teeth of minerals, which, as we said, includes the cavity fighting mineral, fluoride. Tartar is simply hardened plaque that hasn’t been removed. It’s incredibly difficult to take off, and on top of that, it can be painful when you visit your dentist. Obviously brush your teeth and floss regularly, but use a toothpaste that fights tartar. You still want a good fluoride toothpaste but also find a toothpaste that also contains sodium polymetaphosphate. These two ingredients together attack the tartar. Crest Pro-Health Advanced Active Strengthening toothpaste is a good tartar treating selection (source, source). If you’re a toddler……then I’m amazed you can read this! Joking aside, if you’re shopping for toothpaste for your toddler you want to look for something that’s not too harsh. You still want the important fluoride ingredient, however, other toothpastes that treat tartar and plaque build up might be too abrasive for your kid’s brand new teeth! Definitely stick to the kids toothpaste, look for fluoride, and maybe even consider the flavor. You want your kid to enjoy brushing their teeth. Make sure you encourage them to spit and only give them a small amount of toothpaste, as too much ingested fluoride is bad for you toddler. Fun Colgate Kids Minions toothpaste contains fluoride and has a fun flavor you kid should love (source). If you have dentures……your oral hygiene routine changes, but not too much. It’s still important to brush your teeth regularly, but there are some added steps you want to go over with your dentist. Some people with dentures opt for tablets and solutions to clean their dentures. Talk about that with your dentist. If you plan on brushing your dentures, look for a sensitive toothpaste, such as Colgate Sensitive Complete Protection and use a soft bristled toothbrush (source). Here are some tips on brushing your teeth properly:
  Believe us when we say that we understand how nervous you can get when it’s time to visit the dentist. There could be many factors that play a part to your anxiety. Maybe you had a bad experience at the dentist. Maybe it’s your first time. Maybe the idea of the instruments and tools we use put you on edge. Whatever it is, we understand, and we’re here to help you get through it. Because as much as we understand the anxiety you may be feeling, it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to skip out on your bi-annual visits with us.
Here are a few tips to overcome that dental anxiety and get you through your next visit. Go with someone you know It’s okay to bring someone with you. We might suggest calling ahead to make sure there’s enough room during your actual visit. However, most dental offices accommodate at least one person to be in the room with you. Taking someone you know and trust is totally acceptable and if it helps you with your anxiety, then most places are pretty understanding. Hold their hand during the procedure. Have them talk to you and calm you down. Whatever it is, make sure they’re there to actually help you and not make things worse! Distract yourself through music (or television!) Take a pair of earphones with you and ask your dentist if you can listen to some music. Might we suggest something calming and relaxing and save the metal or electronica dance for another time. However, who are we to say! Whatever will get your mind off you anxiety have at it. Some dentist offices even have televisions overhead to distract you! You even get to choose what you want to watch! Call ahead and ask! Like we said, dental offices are very sympathetic to your anxiety. Talk to your dentist In fact, talk to everyone in the office you are interacting with. Let the woman the front desk know you have some anxieties. Let the hygienist know. Let your dentist know. They’re all going to give you tips on how to stay calm. They’re going to talk in detail about the procedure to make sure there’s no surprises. The more you know about what’s going on, the easier your visit might feel. And sometimes, if your anxiety is severe, they may have some options to calm your nerves. The team may also come up with a signal for you so they know when they need to give you a minute to regain your composure. Again, their main goal is to make sure you are calm so they can do their jobs the best they can. And get you back in the office to keep up with your dental health! Relaxation techniques Breathing is always really great when dealing with anxiety and stress. Mediation helps as well. We understand finding your zen might be a little difficult with a dentist in your mouth, but go prepared. Have a little mantra to tell yourself while your with us and focus on it. A stress ball might help as well. One of those fidget finger things help as well, as they keep your mind distracted. Keep up with your oral hygiene This is not to just lecture you about keeping up with your daily dental care routine, but we’ll take it. Unfortunately, sometimes the cause of the pain and uncomfortableness at the dentist has to do with your poor oral hygiene habits. Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day will call for an easier dental checkup. Add some mouthwash once a day, and your gold. That’s not to say sometimes we may catch something, but for the most part, keeping up with a good dental healthcare routine daily calls for an easier visit. Consider seeing a therapist If your anxiety is very severe, you may want to see a therapist. Skipping out on the dentist is not good for your overall health. Your dental hygiene is just as important as your overall health, therefore it’s important to overcome these anxieties to get you through those doors and in that chair.  If you’ve been on social media the past couple of years, particularly, Pinterest, you may have noticed a few articles suggesting the practice of “Oil Pulling.” With the millennial generation having kids and starting their families comes tips and tricks to: 1. Save Money and 2. Be More Natural/Organic. Just head over to Pinterest and search “Natural Home…” and you’ll find plenty of lists for “Natural Home Remedies,” “Natural Home Cleansers,” “Natural Insect Repellent,” and the list can go on and on. And I applaud this effort! Reducing the amounts of chemicals in the home is probably the best option, especially when it comes to raising your family and doing our part for the environment. However, it’s just as important to make informed decisions regarding natural remedies. Which leads us back to our topic: Oil Pulling. It’s understandable when you want to treat your ailment with natural remedies you read about on Pinterest. Curing a cough by putting onions in your socks is not all that crazy. But it’s backed by science. Oil Pulling, not so much. Your oral healthcare is more important than we understand. Or to rephrase, than we want to understand. We skip brushing here and there. Some of us have never even picked up the floss. Some avoid the dentist all together. And worse, yet, they’re replacing these basic daily routines with something that only seems more natural. Oil Pulling is not backed by the American Dental Association, and that’s something that should be taken very seriously. It’s an old traditional folk remedy practiced primarily in India and southern Asia, in which you take a spoonful of edible oil (coconut, sunflower, etc), and swish it around your mouth for 5-20 minutes, “pulling” it through your teeth. Supposedly, this “pulls” the toxins from you gums which links to the toxins throughout your body. While your gums are in fact connected to your body, which is why a healthy daily oral hygiene routine is incredibly important, there’s no scientific evidence that shows oil pulling actually “pulls” the toxins from your mouth. And surprisingly enough, or maybe not, there have actually been side effects with this practice. It’s not up to us to tell you whether or not you should be oil pulling. While there’s no scientific evidence that shows the benefits, there’s also none that shows it doesn’t benefit. But it’s important you stick to the recommended daily routine: brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, maybe rinse once a day, visiting your dentist twice a year. It’s not a rigorous routine, and it’s certainly far easier than swishing around oil in your mouth for 20 minutes at a time.  Nothing ruins a great week more than a nuisance in your mouth. I’m talking about those toothaches we sometimes get in life. Whether it’s because of a cavity, wisdom teeth, or sensitivity, toothaches are never a good time. Sometimes we may feel vulnerable to it in that we can’t necessarily diagnose ourselves. But we’re here to give you some tips for relief. Here’s what to do if you have a toothache.
Call Your Dentist or Head to the ER Obviously the first thing you want to do is call your dentist. Regardless of how severe or light the pain is, you don’t want to take chances when it comes when it comes to your teeth. You only get one permanent set and they’re hard to replace! Depending on the severity and their availability, they may be able to schedule you right away. However, if it’s a holiday or they’re closed and the pain is pretty sever, you may just want to head over to the Emergency Room. Again, this isn’t something to be taken lightly. If the pain is severe, there’s no shame in going to the emergency. If you’re able to schedule an appointment but you want some relief until then, the following tips are definitely going to help! Take Some Pain Reliever Advil and Ibuprofen is always great when it comes to pain relief. If you’ve never taken any of these types of medication, please be sure to consult with your doctor. Pain relievers help with the swelling of the area and relief some of the pressure causing a toothache. You can also apply some Orajel or any type of oral numbing agent to the area. This helps with the swelling and obviously numbs the area. Keep in mind, this is all for temporary relief until you see your dentist. Apply Some Cold Packs If you prefer a more natural remedy as opposed to medication, cold packs work well to numb the area. Place a cold pack of vegetables to the side of your face that is in pain. Or suck on some ice (but don’t bite!) until your appointment. Use Clove Oil Clove Oil is an essential oil that can be found at most health food stores (Whole Foods or Sprouts). Place a little bit of oil on a cotton swab and dab the area effected. Clove oil provides the same pain relief as benzocaine, but it is a more natural alternative. Again, always check with your dentist or doctor before using and make sure your skin doesn’t react badly to it. Use a Salt Rinse Mix in some salt with some warm water and rinse for 30 seconds. Do this 4-5 times a day. Who knows, the root to your pain could just be a sesame seed stuck under gum line! Keep Your Head Elevated Keeping your head elevated can reduce the swelling in your teeth. If it’s going to be more than a day before you see your dentist, sleep with your head elevated to reduce the swelling. |
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