It’s finally the summer, and the last thing anyone wants while on vacation or on a beach at Tahoe is to deal with painful dental issues. With some preventative maintenance, you can keep your teeth in peak health for the season and beyond.
One possible reason for dental problems in the summer is dehydration. It’s easy to enjoy the warm weather and endless fun at the beach a little too much, and forgetting to listen to your body and its needs for water. If you’re chronically dehydrated, the reduced moistness in your mouth causes low saliva. This all contributes to drying out your teeth and gums, making them places for bacteria to grow rapidly.
In the summer, people enjoy foods that are high acidity like soda, fruits and sparkling water. High sugar is also present in ice cream too as a major contributor to dental decay and the need to extract teeth. So if you’re indulging in something delicious, yet sugary, make sure to brush, rinse and floss as soon as you have a chance afterward. Staying ahead of dental problems allows you to enjoy some of the best foods this season has to offer in moderation!
Keep Up Your Hygiene RoutineSometimes in the summer, we can slack off on our oral hygiene regimen. Keep on track and remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss often and use an ADA-approved mouthwash. It will not only remove plenty of plaque but also reduce the risk of gum disease.
A cold glass of ice water is refreshing on a hot day, but chewing on ice cubes can be enough to ruin that feeling. Ice cubes are tough enough to damage enamel or cause chips and cracks. So while they might be satisfying to chew on, it’s not worth a chipped tooth.
A lot of people don’t realize that hot weather can activate any untreated oral infections and toothaches. Even the smallest of temperature changes can affect dental restorations like bridges, crowns and fillings that are cracked, worn out, or loose. It is possible that extreme heat in the summertime can irritate any inflammation that already exists, so staying cool is a good idea overall and getting regular check ups with your dentist to prevent any issues in the first place.
Wearing a mouth guard when playing a sport is important because it’s a simple way to add an additional layer of protection when in contact with others. If professional athletes wear mouth pieces to avoid any missing or cracked teeth, then you can too!
Our additional tips for after tooth extraction care include:
-Don’t rinse your mouth out vigorously
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least the first 48 hours
-Avoid using straws when drinking for at least three days to prevent the essential blood clot from getting dislodged or disrupted
-Take all prescribed medications from your dentist, like antibiotics or pain relievers
As for pain and swelling, you can use an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies to deal with the swelling and can place it along the side of your face. It should dissipate after about 48 hours of your procedure, but if it doesn’t make sure to reach back out to our team for an urgent follow up. The best care after a tooth extraction is to rest and make sure to pay attention to any other aches and pains that may pop up. For most people, it takes up to two weeks to recover from the procedure. Make sure to keep gauze handy throughout the entire healing process as well, as it stops continuous bleeding after the appointment.
If you’ve been putting off getting your teeth extracted, now is the time to do so. Prevent dental irregularities and issues like summer-related seasonal toothaches and sensitivity. Make an appointment today.
Click Here to Schedule Your Tooth Extraction
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, affects roughly 47% of Americans, the equivalent of 67 million people. With gum disease being the leading cause of tooth loss, it’s crucial that during National Gum Health Month we do our part to improve those numbers. On average, a person between the ages of 20-39 is missing at least 1 tooth and a total of 8 by their 60s. Fortunately, proper dental care and the help of dental implants can significantly reduce your risk of developing harmful periodontal disease.
You may be wondering “how do dental implants improve my gum health?” and you’re not alone.
Getting dental implants can be a great way of protecting your jaw. When you lose a tooth, you can also lose the integrity of your jaw bone due to deterioration. Getting dental implants helps to stop that process.
The problem is, not everyone takes care of their dental implants as they should. This can cause many of the same issues that your original teeth had, including gum disease.
You need to make sure you are properly caring for your implants so that your teeth stay where they are supposed to.
Gum disease presents itself in varying degrees of severity. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease and periodontitis is a more advanced form. Some of the most common signs of gum disease include:
One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is that they function just like regular teeth. You can speak with them in, chew your favorite foods, and smile without the world being any wiser about what is in your mouth. Thankfully, this also means that you can brush them just like your original teeth. In fact, you need to.
While implants cannot decay, they can break down and become brittle. Plus, they sit on your gums, so if you don't care for them properly, you can suffer from gum disease. This can cause you to lose your implants if you aren't careful.
You should brush your implants at least two times per day, just like you should your original teeth. If you have individual teeth put into your mouth, then you need to floss between them, just as you do your other teeth. If you have full arches, then you need to make sure you are cleaning up around your gums really well. You don't want bacteria growing around your implants, as that can be painful and cause lots of trouble such as gum disease.
Contact our oral surgery office this National Gum Health Month about what other things you can do to improve your dental implant health to ensure they last the rest of your life.
Please call us today at (775) 853-9696 or click on the button below to schedule an appointment.
We look forward to seeing you smile!
