How are Oral Health and General Health closely connected? It is not farfetched to say oral and general health have a symbiotic relationship. The mouth is the passage for food therefore a healthy one is vital to our well-being. It also promotes confidence in a social set up. One is able to interact freely when the mouth is clean and healthy. Keeping your teeth healthy works to your advantage. For instance, a toothache may pose problems with eating, leading to lack of vital nutrients in the body. Additionally, difficulty in sleeping is a result of the discomfort people face when their teeth ache all night. Effects of poor oral health It may come as a surprise to find out that the condition of your mouth can tell a great deal about what’s going on in your body. A swab of saliva can reveal other conditions that affect the whole body. Diseases such as AIDS and diabetes can easily be revealed by the aura of the mouth. It is important to drink plenty of water to aid in the production of saliva. Hundreds of bacteria live in the mouth but with the help of saliva, the harmful ones are kept at bay. Brushing your teeth keeps your gums healthy. An unchecked gum infection can cause the loss of your teeth. The consequences go beyond that; a cardiovascular disease may be the result. An oral infection may lead to clogged arteries and blood clots. Research indicates that a gum infection puts you at a risk of heart attack and stroke. Negligence of oral health has bitter outcome for pregnant women. Premature labour and birth is linked back to oral health. It is believed that bad teeth release bacteria, which travel to the placenta through the bloodstream and interfere with the growth and development of foetuses. Taking care of your teeth Now that we have established the importance of taking care of your teeth and gums, here are ways to keep the dentist away: Brush your teeth first thing in the morning and before bed. Floss once a day. It’s a convenient way to keep the teeth clean when you do not have immediate access to a toothbrush and paste. Eat healthy- Sugary foods can cause dental problems. Go for regular dental check-ups. Two visits a year will do the trick. There is an intricate link between your dental and general body health. Always be sure to keep an impeccable sense of dental hygiene and the rest of your body will fall in line. For your routine dental check-up visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic.
No one plans for an emergency, and that’s why it’s an emergency. In the event that you have a dental emergency do you know who to run to immediately? Does your dentist offer dental emergency services? If not, what is your next cause of action when you are under a medical emergency? Not knowing exactly what to do and who to run to is the worst thing during an emergency. That’s why it is crucial to know what to do and who to turn to for help under such a situation. As soon as you undergo a dental emergency, call a qualified dentist immediately who will take care of your issue right away. There is a number of dentists who provides emergency dental care and can see you immediately you have an issue. Before you rush into a dentist office, make sure you first speak with the clinic staff to verify if they offer such services. If you aren’t in a position to speak, let a friend or relative help you. Also, try and include additional information about the emergency such as where the issue is located, what exactly happened and any necessary accommodation you may require. The additional information will help the staff prepare for your evaluation and treatment, and to help reduce any pain or discomfort you are going through. Once you are at the dental clinic, the staff will do their best to give you comfortable accommodations and provide you with an immediate relief they can. They will conduct the initial examination of the emergency and provide a diagnosis once the dentist is available. If any treatment is possible at the time of the emergency, that treatment will be provided to you. However, it is not all dental emergency issues can be treated at the very day of the emergency occurrence. Some treatment requires scheduling and additional preparation, so you may be required to schedule a follow-up visit to the dentist so that the issue can be handled. Everything the dentist can do to mitigate the problem will be done just from the moment you step in the dental clinic. The dentist will provide you with all the necessary information about your situation and how you can go back to your normal and healthy life. Once a dental emergency occurs, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible so that you can maximise the chances of saving your tooth. It’s vital to note that for some dental emergencies, seeing the dentist within the first thirty minutes means saving the tooth. Definition of Dental Emergency A Dental Emergency is an extensive term used to describe an issue that involves the teeth and its surrounding tissues that are of great importance to be treated by a relevant dental professional. Dental emergencies are not a must that pain must be involved. However, this is a common signal that something requires attention. Pain can originate from the affected tooth or the surrounding tissue. It can also have the sensation of originating from the teeth but be caused by an independent source (a toothache and orofacial pain). Depending on the type of pain a patient is feeling, an experienced dentist can be able to determine the cause of the pain and treat the affected tissue as each tissue type gives a different message when it comes to a dental emergency. There are various emergencies that can exist and can range from fungal/bacterial/viral infections to dental restoration or fractured tooth, each requiring an individual response and treatment as every situation is unique in its own way. Fractures or dental trauma can transpire anywhere on the tooth or the surrounding bone. The treatment option will vary depending on the extent of the fracture and the size. Dental restoration fracturing or falling out can also be treated as a dental emergency as this can affect the way an individual eat, pronounce words and aesthetics. Such should be attended with the same haste as any other dental emergency. In order to preserve the teeth for as long as possible, all dental emergencies should be done under the supervision of a qualified dental professional. Dental Pain What is Pain? The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as an unpleasant and emotional experience that comes along with potential or actual tissue damage. It’s one of most common reasons why patients visit the dentist to seek dental treatment. Dental pain may result from a myriad of conditions or diseases. Odontogenic Pain Odontogenic pain is pain that is associated with the teeth. It originates in the peri-radicular tissues or the dental pulp. Non-odontogenic Pain This is pain that is not associated with the teeth, but it involves other orofacial tissues. This type of pain can be quite difficult to diagnose and may vary in severity. The following condition may mimic pain from a toothache and may contribute to the reason a patient seeks medical, dental attention. Non-odontogenic pain can originate from the maxillary sinus since there is only a thin plate of bone that separated sinus from maxillary teeth. Pain from infections of sinus lining can lead to facial pains, and this can be felt as if it is originating from the teeth. Types of Dental Emergency Knocked Out Tooth A tooth that has been knocked clean out is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. If you follow the appropriate steps immediately after the tooth has been knocked out, the chances are high that you will be in a position to save the tooth. It can be reinserted and saved by a dental professional. In the event of a knocked out tooth, follow this simple steps: – Pick up the tooth by only touching the top part (crown) of the tooth. Make sure that you don’t touch the route. – Gently rinse the teeth using clean water and make sure that it is clean. Do not scrub it to remove any tissue that it’s attached to it. Make sure that you