8 Common Dental Complaints (& What to Do About Them)

Posted by nmcclees

Dental ailments can come in many forms, some being more complicated than others. If you prepare yourself with the knowledge of how you should handle them should they happen to you, you can help to ensure the best outcome.

We’ll discuss some of the most common dental issues and complaints that we see and hear in our office, and what you can do to relieve them.

Stained Teeth
Teeth are like laundry. Strange analogy, right? But it’s true. The right treatments can remove stains. Food, medication, tobacco, and trauma are just some of the many things that have the potential to discolor your teeth. But there’s hope. There are plenty of whitening toothpaste and rinse products, in addition to at-home bleaching kits, on the market and readily available. We can also help you remove stains from your teeth and would be happy to discuss the best option with you.

Bad Breath
There are many causes for bad breath. Some of the culprits include food, tobacco products, poor dental hygiene, medications, and infections to name a few. We recommend brushing and flossing after you eat (or at a minimum of two times per day for 2 minutes each time), brushing your tongue, avoiding dry mouth, adjusting your diet, and changing your toothbrush regularly. If you have tried all these tips and the problem persists, please discuss it with us. We can help you fight bad breath by getting to the bottom of the problem and providing the appropriate treatment.

Sensitivity to Cold
Tooth sensitivity can be caused by cavities, worn tooth enamel or fillings, gum disease, exposed roots,
and more. You’ll want to discuss the specifics of your tooth sensitivity and describe what you feel and when you notice it with us to help determine the cause. From there, we’ll discuss treatment plan options with you to get you feeling relief soon.

Toothache or Oral Pain
Oral pain is one of the most common complaints we hear in our office. If you are experiencing oral pain,
there are some things you can do at home to provide a bit of relief. Give your mouth a good rinse with
warm water. Next, apply a compress (both cold and warm are helpful, so use whichever you prefer).
Additionally, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen. The severity of your pain should dictate how
soon you call us. If your pain is mild, you can be more casual. If your pain is very severe, you should call us right away as a more serious problem could be causing the pain.

Cracked or Chipped Tooth
If you’ve chipped your tooth, you will want to find and save any pieces you can. Next, whether your tooth is chipped or cracked, use warm water to rinse out your mouth. If there is any bleeding, apply slight pressure with gauze (if you don’t have gauze on hand, a paper towel or tissue will also work). A cold
compress on the outside of the mouth can be helpful in preventing and reducing any swelling. The
sooner we treat this problem, the better, so don’t wait to call.

Lost Filling
If you can find the filling piece that fell out, rinse it off and save it in a plastic bag to show us. You will
want to cover the empty cavity until you are seen. Over-the-counter dental cements work well and are
available at most pharmacies. Sugarless chewing gum can also do the trick. We’ll clean out any remaining portions of the filling and work to refill or repair the tooth as needed.

Cavities
Cavities, or those little holes in your teeth, are bad news. Cavities are caused by plaque building up on
your teeth and slowly destroying the outer shell or enamel. To prevent cavities, brush and floss your
teeth at least twice a day and keep up with your regular dental appointments. If you do get a cavity, we will need to treat it with a filling. If you have good oral hygiene and continue to suffer from cavities, we may recommend dental sealants.

Broken Braces
Check to see if the wire is still attached to the bracket. If you can, leave it in place. If any part of the wire
is sticking out, you can gently press it back into position using a pencil eraser. If the bracket is loose, you can remove it and bring it with you to see us. If wires are long or sticking out, you can trim them down with a pair of nail clippers to be sure that they do not cut the inside of your mouth. If there is still
anything sharp that you cannot trim or press into place, try using an orthodontic wax or pieces of gauze to protect your mouth until you can get in for repair.

Dental Check-Ups
Preventative care is much easier and less costly than treatment once damage has been done. Do yourself a favor and keep up with your preventative care check-ups. We recommend, and most insurance companies will cover, a cleaning and exam every 6 months. If you or your children are due and need to
make an appointment, please contact us here.