Do over-the-counter bleaching products work?
There is some evidence that over-the-counter bleaching products do whiten teeth, however, many of the products are too abrasive and can damage the teeth with extended use or misuse. Supervision by your dentist is always the safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth.
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What are porcelain veneers and why are they used?
Porcelain veneers are ultra-thin shells of ceramic material which are bonded to the front of the teeth. This procedure can be an ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth by masking discolorations, whitening teeth and/or reshaping a smile.
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What can be done for ulcers or canker sores in the mouth?
Ulcers are very difficult to treat. There is no proven technique that will eliminate ulcers or speed the recovery time once they appear. There are a few medications that will give temporary relief from the pain, but they need to be started as soon as symptoms appear. Ulcers will generally diminish and disappear in two weeks.
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What causes bad breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene, but can also can be caused by retained food particles, gum disease, drainage from sinus dripping or systemic, respiratory or gastrointestinal problems. Proper brushing including brushing the tongue, cheeks, and the roof of the mouth will remove bacteria and food particles. Flossing removes accumulated bacteria, plaque and food that may be trapped between teeth. Mouth rinses are effective in temporary relief of bad breath. Consult your dentist and/or physician if the condition persists.
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What are cavities?
When you eat, food passes through your mouth. Here it meets germs or bacteria that live in your mouth. You may have heard the dentist talk about plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria. These bacteria love sugars and starches found in many foods, like soda pop, candy, ice cream, milk, and cakes. When you don't clean your teeth after eating, plaque bacteria use the sugar and starch to produce acids that can destroy the hard surface of the tooth, called enamel. Believe it or not, even some fruits, vegetables and juices can cause cavities if you don't brush your teeth regularly. Over time, these acids break down the white covering of your tooth (called 'enamel'), leaving it weaker and less able to fight off germs and more bacteria. After a while, tooth decay occurs. The more often you eat and the longer foods are in your mouth, the more damage occurs.
If you have a cavity, it first has to be removed from your mouth. After the dentist numbs your mouth using a special medicine called anesthetic, he or she uses different things to remove the cavity. One way is to use a tiny drill that blasts the tooth decay away. After the cavity is removed, the dentist fills the space it left with a filling, which can be silvery or the color of your teeth.
This filling seals the space where the cavity once was, and keeps germs and bacteria from doing damage.
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Will it hurt to go to the dentist?
Most of the time, it doesn't;t hurt at all to go to the dentist.
Visiting the dentist is not an unpleasant experience for most children. If you keep your teeth healthy by brushing and flossing every day, chances are better that you'll only to need to see the dentist to have them cleaned.
Dentists today have all kinds of tools to help you have a fun and pleasant experience while you are having a checkup, or teeth cleaning, or something like a cavity filled. If you need to have a cavity taken out, a filling, or if you have really sensitive teeth (when you drink really hot or cold drinks, it hurts your teeth), the dentist will give you medicine that numbs your mouth and gums. That way, when he puts instruments in your mouth to operate, it won't hurt!
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What happens during a checkup?
When you visit the dentist to have your teeth checked, the dentist will ask you to lie back in a big, comfortable chair with a strong light overhead. She'll ask you to open your mouth while she uses a small instrument that feels like a metal toothpick. The dentist will go from one tooth to another, making sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. This procedure doesn't hurt at all.
Sometimes, the dentist will tell you that he needs to take "X-rays" of your mouth. This involves putting little pieces of cardboard in your mouth, which you bite down on. The dentist's assistant usually does this while you're waiting for the dentist to come back. While you're biting down on the paper, the assistant goes to another room to push the button for the big camera next to your mouth. The camera takes a picture using very powerful light called "X-rays." This light allows the camera to see inside your mouth as if your cheek wasn't even there.
X-rays allow the dentist to see inside your teeth, where cavities or other problems may occur that you can't normally see.
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Getting a tooth pulled.
When you have a bad tooth that is pushing other teeth to the side, or a tooth that has such a bad cavity that it can't be fixed, you may to have the tooth taken out. This is called an extraction.
When you have a tooth pulled, the dentist gives you a special medicine called anesthetic. Once your mouth is numb, the tooth is taken out. This really doesn't hurt, since your mouth is numb. The most you will feel is probably some gentle tugging and wiggling.
When we get older, sometimes teenagers and young adults have to have their "wisdom teeth" pulled out. The wisdom teeth are the large teeth in the very back of your mouth, on both the top and bottom rows. Lots of people have problems with their wisdom teeth growing in the right way; often, wisdom teeth get stuck, or "impacted," and start pushing other teeth. To keep the other teeth from growing in crooked, or causing other problems, the wisdom teeth may need to be pulled.
Don't worry, we really get along just fine without our wisdom teeth.
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Numbing your mouth.
The dentist uses special medicine called anesthetics to numb your mouth if you have a cavity taken out or a tooth pulled.
The first thing the dentist does is place a small cotton swab dipped in medicine in your mouth, and rubs in the area he needs to operate on. This medicine is called a "local anesthetic," and it numbs the surface of your mouth, or your gums. Sometimes, the dentist may need to give you a shot of more powerful medicine to really put your mouth to sleep. But the shot only stings a little bit because of the other medicine he used on the cotton swab!
This more powerful medicine is usually called Novocain or Lidocaine. The medicine is injected into the inside of your mouth using a very small needle. After a few minutes, a part of your mouth gets tingly, and then numb. Some people feel like they have a fat lip when their mouth has been numbed. Don't worry. Your lip doesn't get fat or swell. This goes away after a while.
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Why should I brush my teeth?
Brushing is the best way to get rid of the germs and bacteria, and an invisible sticky material called plaque from your teeth and gums. Getting the bad stuff off your teeth and gums in a timely manner prevents bacteria in the food you eat from turning into harmful, cavity-causing acids.
Here are some tips for brushing your teeth, but make sure and first ask your parents or person taking care of you:
- Use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste on your brush and remember to spit it out when you're finished brushing
- Use a circular motion to brush only two or three teeth at a time, gradually covering your entire mouth
- Place your toothbrush next to your teeth and tilt slightly up or down, gently brushing in a circular motion. Don't brush your teeth by moving your toothbrush up and down. Brush everything inside your mouth your teeth (front, back, sides and tops), gums, the inside of your teeth and the roof of your moth, and, most importantly, your tongue. Your tongue actually hides a lot of germs and bacteria on it that creep into your gums and teeth when you're not looking
- Brush your teeth for about three minutes. Try putting your favorite song on the CD player or radio, or ask a big person in your house for a timer
- Remember to replace your brush when the bristles begin to spread because a worn toothbrush will not properly clean your teeth
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What are sealants
Sealants are special materials your dentist puts on your teeth to keep out harmful germs and bacteria. They are a great way to help you avoid getting cavities down the road.
Sealants fill in the little ridges on the chewing part of your teeth to protect and seal the tooth from food and plaque. The application is easy to apply and typically last for several years.
You can have sealants put on your teeth as early as the age of 6.
First, the dentist cleans the surface of your tooth and rinses it to remove all traces of the cleaning material. Then, a special solution or jelly-like material is painted on to your tooth, including the pits and grooves. After 15 seconds, the solution is thoroughly rinsed away with water. After the site is dried, the special sealant material is applied and allowed to harden by using a special powerful light.
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What if a tooth gets knocked out?
If the tooth is a permanent tooth, time is extremely crucial. Immediately stick the tooth back in the socket. Don't worry about getting it in straight or having it turned backwards, just get it in the socket and immediately call your dentist. If you are uncomfortable placing the tooth in the socket, put it in a glass of milk and get your child to the dentist as quickly as possible. If the tooth is a baby tooth, do not put it in the socket because damage to the permanent tooth can occur. When in doubt, put the tooth in milk and see your dentist immediately.
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What should I eat for healthy
When you eat, food passes through your mouth. Here it meets the germs, or bacteria, that live in your mouth. You may have heard your dentist talk about plaque (pronounced ("PLAK"). Plaque is a sticky invisible layer bacteria that loves to eat the sugars and starches found in many foods. When you don't clean your teeth after eating, plaque bacteria use the sugar and starch to produce acids that can destroy the hard surface of your tooth, called enamel. After a while, tooth decay occurs. The more often you eat and the longer foods are in your mouth, the greater the potential for decay to occur.
To keep your teeth healthy for a long time, brush and floss daily, and eat these kinds of foods: fruits and vegetables; breads and cereals; milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and meat, fish and eggs.
Starchy foods like breads, crackers, pasta and such snacks as pretzels and potato chips are bad for your teeth. Here are some other foods, some of which may be healthy, but can lead to cavities as you get older:
- Raisins
- Pudding
- Dried fruits
- Chocolate milk
- Ice cream
- Fruit leather
- Milk shakes
- Granola bars
- Cake
- Gummy bears
- Cookies
- Sherbet
- Candy
- Popsicles
- Jam
- Chocolate bars
Some dentists believe that kids who consume too much soda and not enough juice and milk get more cavities and other serious tooth problems as they get older. Drinking fizzy soda pop actually breaks down the white covering of your teeth called "enamel."
Always remember to rinse your mouths with water after meals, especially during school, in order to leave your teeth free of sugar and acid .
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