4 Quick Treatments For Common Dental Concerns

Dentist Articles

Whether you have a dental concern that does not require visiting a professional or you need a temporary fix until your appointment, there are many products that can help. Many times, the products can be found in your kitchen or at retail stores.

Dry Socket

If you have recently had an extraction, the pain should decrease over the next one or two days. Sometimes you may notice an increase in pain for no apparent reason. This is usually caused by dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot that protects the socket and keeps it moist was lost, or never formed.

A simple trick used to alleviate dry socket pain is clover oil. You can find clover oil preparations in the dental care aisle of your local store. Place a few drops of the clover oil on sterile gauze and place the gauze on the affected area. You can repeat the process several times a day to soothe the socket as it heals.

Infections

Painful white spots on your gum are often a sign of infection and need treatment by a dentist. If you cannot see a dentist immediately or cannot receive antibiotics from a doctor, try rinsing with peroxide in the meantime. Make a small rinse with half peroxide and half water and use the solution to rinse out your mouth. Repeat rinsing your mouth a few times each day.

Although peroxide can be useful to temporarily alleviate infections, the mixture should not be used as a substitute for medical and dental care. With repeated use, the infection is likely to become resistant to peroxide and peroxide can contribute to dry mouth, which can make dental problems worse.

Teeth Stains

The easiest way to enhance your enamel is by eating a diet rich in enamel-boosting foods. When your teeth have sufficient protection from staining, any stains that develop are typically surface stains, which are easily dissolved by brushing. Once staining reaches the dentin in your teeth, no amount of natural products or at-home whitening kits will remove the stains.

Another way to keep stains at bay is to use healthy snacks as a mini-toothbrush throughout the day. Crunchy fruits and vegetables are common food items that can help remove small surface stains, and prevent the stains from embedding in the enamel. If you want other options for snacks, consider whole-wheat pretzels and crackers, which can provide you with the combination of salty and crunchy, without many calories.

Baking soda, peroxide and lemon juice are common teeth whitening products that are found inside your home. If you have dental problems, such as cavities or gum irritation, these products will only cause more harm. A small pinch of baking soda can be applied to your toothpaste once a week for a quick polishing of your teeth. The abrasiveness of baking soda can remove surface stains, and smoother teeth can help prevent plaque and stains from sticking to your teeth. Mixing baking soda with peroxide or lemon juice into a paste is a way to make whitening toothpaste.

Bad Breath

A dentist or family doctor should evaluate any chronic problems with bad breath. Underlying problems, such as decay, dry mouth or acid reflux, can contribute to bad breath and are not alleviated by retail dental care products. For the occasional concern of bad breath, particularly after meals, parsley can be a quick fix.

Parsley is convenient, especially if you are dining out, because it is often used as a garnish. After you finish your meal, chew your parsley thoroughly, making sure to cover as much surface area of your teeth as possible. If parsley is not an option, consider using lemon, whether you choose to eat a lemon wedge or drink lemon water.

When you are in a pinch, you can minimize or treat some common dental concerns with household or retail products. However, quick fixes are no substitute for routine and emergency dental care.

29 December 2014