FREQUENTLY ASKED DENTAL QUESTIONS

Often, flossing between the teeth in that area may provide immediate relief as you are removing particles of food.

Both habits will often have an effect on the position of the front teeth. Pacifiers can actually have a greater effect than the thumb because they are tougher. Both habits should be ended before the permanent teeth appear.

Yes. Often, when a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the teeth behind the empty space will move and tip. A space maintainer will prevent crowding and tipping until the permanent teeth come in.

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears (between five and eight months), so that the dentist can discuss with you the need to begin cleaning teeth as soon as they appear and inform you of how to prevent infant tooth decay.

Be careful of hidden sugars in bread, potatoes, or even milk that can cause the same sort of decay produced by white sugar. Drinks in a baby bottle — even milk — can cause tooth decay if a baby is allowed to keep the bottle in her mouth for too long a period. You can avoid this decay in infants by carefully cleaning their teeth with a Q-Tip or as they get older with a soft infant toothbrush.

The best way is to establish a routine: It should become their lifelong habit to brush their teeth before going to sleep at night and in the morning. Start by setting a good example for them yourself!

Not necessarily, but as the remaining tooth structure is brittle and easily fractured, you will probably need a crown to protect the underlying tooth.

It is important to keep baby teeth as long as possible! The primary reason is that baby teeth guide permanent teeth into their correct positions; they also help a child in learning how to speak.

It is possible that your gums will feel sore and your teeth will feel more sensitive to changes in pressure and temperature. Usually, this feeling disappears after a few days.

Since you are numb when a root canal is performed, you probably won’t feel anything during the procedure. After the procedure, you may have some pain due to the infection that made the root canal necessary in the first place.

Posts are thin metal rods that secure the core of your tooth prior to having a crown placed. The core is the part of your tooth which was built up to support the crown.

Having it re-cemented as soon as possible will help keep the teeth next to the missing crown from shifting.

You can eat 30 minutes after the anesthesia wears off.

In order to increase the chances of saving the tooth, it is very important to get to a dentist within one hour. Do not wipe or scrub the tooth, just rinse it and place it in a glass of water or between your cheek and gum. There are also special tooth-saver boxes.

This sensitivity is normal after having a tooth filled. Normally, the sensitivity will decrease in a few weeks. If your tooth was extensively decayed, the sensitivity could last a few months.

You can eat 30 minutes after the anesthesia wears off.

A complete dental checkup includes an X-ray examination to make sure that every hidden disease process is discovered. Assuming you have two checkups each year, your total radiation exposure will be equal to about thirty minutes of sunbathing!

A toothbrush should have soft, rounded bristles. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every three months.

If you have healthy teeth and gums, every six months. If you have gum problems, have your teeth cleaned every three to four months.

In addition to brushing, flossing regularly helps to remove bacteria that stick to your teeth and cause tooth decay and gum disease. As these bacteria will reattach to your teeth after 24 hours, daily flossing is a must.