Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

About Me

Become a Gum Expert for Better Health

When you think about gum, you might think of blowing bubbles, or freshening your breath. However, the gums you need to think of first are the pink ones in your mouth supporting your teeth. I didn't know how important healthy gums were until I came down with a case of gingivitis in my early 20's. I had neglected my brushing and flossing habits for nearly a decade, so my last few years of college were marred by pain in my mouth and bleeding gums. It took me over a year of hard work to reverse the damage I caused and restore my mouth to peak health. My recovery included an uncomfortable and lengthy procedure known as root planing, and that experience convinced me to help others avoid the entire issue of gum disease. This is why I've created my own website to help everyone protect their gums the easy way.

 

Cracking Nuts With Your Teeth This Holiday Season? Beware Of Cracked Or Broken Tooth Enamel!

23 November 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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This a time of year when many people find themselves at holiday parties, standing before a bowl of nuts, making harmless conversation while busily cracking open nut shells. This is a fine activity when done properly, but can lead to injury if you're not careful. Breaking open nuts with your teeth may break open more than just the nutshell. Cracking nuts can cause your tooth enamel to break. Injuries like this can lead to serious damage. Knowing the dangers of opening nuts with your teeth, and what to do if your tooth chips or cracks, can help you seek appropriate treatment.   

Cracked Tooth

If your tooth becomes cracked, you may not realize you have a problem at first, and you may not see a crack in your tooth. You will feel pain, but it will be intermittent. At first, the pain may only be noticeable when you bite in a certain way, or when you drink hot or cold foods. After a while, you may start noticing pain in your tooth at random times.

At first, the pain will occur when two sides of the tooth rub together while you eat and engage in activities with your mouth. When this happens, it prevents the pulp inside the tooth from healing, and that causes further injury. Over time, the pulp inside the tooth can become infected. This infection can spread to the gum, jaw and beyond.  

If the crack remains above the gum line, a root canal and crown may be enough to save the tooth. Once the crack has spread to an area below the tooth, the tooth itself will need to be extracted and an artificial tooth will be put in its place.

If you crack a tooth, you don't need to see a dentist on the same day. However, you should make an appointment to see a dentist right away. The longer you take to see a dentist about your problem, the worse the pain (and the infection) will become. In addition, if the crack is above the gum line at first, it may not stay that way. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the crack will spread to an area of the tooth below the gum line.

Chipped Tooth

If you chip a tooth, this counts as a dental emergency, much like if you lost a whole tooth. Sometimes chipped teeth can be put back together if you see an emergency care dentist quickly enough. If you chip a tooth, locate the chip and put it in a cup or a plastic bag with a few drops of saliva. Next, call an emergency dentist (such as one from Family Dentistry Of Brick, PA), announce your impending arrival, and leave with the chip.

If you arrive quickly enough and if the break was not across a nerve, the dentist may be able to re-attach the chip. If the piece can't be reattached, your dentist will likely fix the tooth by covering it with a tooth-colored resin. This procedure is known as bonding.

Of course, all this may all be avoided if you choose to use a nutcracker instead of your teeth at the holidays. So be careful, and just know what to do if you do happen to break a tooth this holiday season.