If you’re suffering from a toothache, contact Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, as soon as possible – your tooth may be abscessed and require emergency dental care. Come in to our Yaletown dental clinic to avoid complications such as surgery or a tooth extraction if you experience any type of toothache.
The good news is, there are some tried and true toothache pain relief methods and here they are, brought to you by the caring team of oral health care experts at Yaletown dentist Max Dental.
Cold Compress
Applying a cold compress to your jaw should alleviate a toothache. The cold reduces blood flow to the site and therefore reduces swelling and pain. Apply a cold compress as often as necessary until the pain subsides.
Pain Medication
Pain medication can help relieve a toothache but be sure not to exceed the recommended dose. Pain relievers such as aspirin and Advil typically contain anti-inflammatory medicine which can reduce the pain and swelling associated with a toothache.
Warm Salt Water and Baking Soda
Salt and Baking Soda combine to make an excellent anti-bacterial mouth-rise that can help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth and potentially reduce the swelling and pain that stems from a toothache.
Clove Oil and Garlic
Pure clove oil, available in most drugstores, can act as a numbing agent if applied directly to the tooth. Don’t apply to the gums or apply too much as clove oil can be poisonous in too-high quantities. If you don’t want to use clove oil, a clove of garlic is an excellent substitute – simply hold it against the tooth for a few minutes and rinse with warm water afterward.
Teabag Therapy
Teas such as black and green teas are high in tannins, which are known to reduce swelling and help your blood to clot and therefore improve healing. Microwave the teabag in a small dish filled with water for about 30 seconds or until warm, squeeze the excess water and bite down on the teabag, holding it against your tooth/gum.
Your oral health is important and at your Yaletown dentist, Max Dental, our team of oral health care experts want to share with you the most important oral health secrets that will give you a healthy smile you’ll be proud to show off everywhere.
If your gums are bleeding, there’s a very high chance you have periodontal (gum) disease. Come for an appointment as soon as possible!
An oral health care checkup at our Yaletown dental clinic every 6 months applies only to healthy gums. If you don’t have healthy gums, you’ll want to schedule a checkup at least every 3 months.
Pay attention to your back teeth when brushing/flossing. We’ve found that patients at Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, focus too much on their visible front teeth.
Proper oral health care includes 10 minutes of careful brushing and flossing.
Mouthwash that contains alcohol can dry out your mouth and actually worsen your bad breath.
Preventing cavities is sometimes not an easy task. Do you find yourself prone to getting a lot of dental cavities even though you brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily and visit Max Dental @ Yaletown every six months for a regular checkup? The problem may actually be linked to your diet. Here are a few super snacks that can help keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest in the constant struggle of preventing cavities:
Fruits & Veggies:
Apples, celery and cucumbers are all excellent super snacks for your dental health. These super snacks are nutritious and will help keep clean the surfaces of your teeth and massage your gums, improving circulation.
Dairy products:
Milk, cheese and calcium help with preventing cavities. These super snacks are rich in calcium and help neutralize acids in the mouth, reducing the incidence of cavities and tooth decay.
Other Great Snacks:
Nuts are excellent super snacks for oral health because they provide calcium and phosphate – elements that help keep dental enamel strong.
Dental professionals recommend avoiding any sugary snacks because sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth and causes cavities. If you have any questions about which snacks are appropriate and which aren’t, or if you would like to book an appointment at Max Dental @ Yaletown to learn more about preventing cavities, please click here.
After a tooth extraction (removal) has been completed by one of our dental health professionals at Max Dental @ Yaletown, it’s important to take proper care of the site to prevent infection, control bleeding and allow the gum tissue to heal well enough that it can accept a denture or dental implant.
What to do after a tooth or wisdom tooth extraction
1. You may experience soreness after a tooth extraction – over-the-counter painkillers can help with the pain or you may request prescription painkillers from your dentist at Max Dental @ Yaletown if you find the pain to be too much.
2. Cold compresses will also help keep the pain and swelling down after a tooth extraction.
3. It’s very important that you don’t touch the extraction site, chew heavily around the area or smoke at all. It is recommended that you drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Simply follow these simple steps to ensure proper healing and a happy, healthy smile.
Dental extractions (removing teeth) may be a necessary procedure to prevent tooth misalignment in the case of wisdom teeth or to maintain the health of your other teeth and gums. Extractions nowadays are relatively quick and painless, so if you suspect you have a tooth that might require removal, contact Max Dental @ Yaletown today to book an appointment.
If it isn’t practical or possible to repair a tooth, our team of dental experts at Max Dental @ Yaletown may be required to do a dental extraction. Teeth that are extremely damaged by cavities or extensively chipped/broken will generally be extracted if root canal therapy isn’t a viable option.
Dental extractions are a must for a tooth that’s suffering from advanced periodontitis or gum disease because the chances of the tooth infecting surrounding tissues are high.
Wisdom teeth that are impacted (i.e. won’t be able to develop normally) or that simply don’t have room to grow are generally extracted.
If you are nervous or anxious about dental extractions, our dental clinic offers sedation dentistry for a stress-free dental appointment. To learn more about sedation dentistry, contact our dental clinic for more information.
One of the most common questions asked to dental professionals is: “what are receding gums?”. In simple terms, receding gums are a result of gum disease — causing your gums to have a “receding” appearance.
What causes receding gums?
Typically, gum disease plays the largest role in causing receding gums. In simple terms, bacteria that enters the oral cavity as a result of gum disease starts to form plaque. Plaque accumulation can cause inflammation of the gums and this inflammation results in erosion of gum tissue – giving your gums a recessed appearance.
How to prevent receding gums?
Luckily, gum disease is very easy to diagnose. If you have noticed a receding of the gum line, then you should make an appointment at Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, to confirm the diagnosis and start proper treatment. Sensitive teeth, especially increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods, are another symptom of gum recession – the sensitive roots of the teeth become exposed and that’s why you might feel pain.
Gum recession can be a slow progression, but the end result can be quite serious and drastic. In the initial stage, the gums are pink and appear scalloped around the teeth. Afterwards, the gums turn a bright pink or red, soften and begin to bleed. You can actually see the gums receding away from the teeth as days go by. The teeth also loosen and liquid begins to collect in the space between gums and teeth. The final stage of receding gums is when the roots become visible along with increased pus formation. This is extremely painful and causes severe bleeding along with tooth sensitivity.
Is there treatment for receding gums?
Don’t delay and book an appointment with a health care professional at Max Dental @ Yaletown for proper diagnosis and treatment. There is no one product or medication that offers a cure for receding gums. The treatment usually focuses on gum disease – treating gum disease will usually also treat receding gums. However, you might require gingival flap surgery, tissue graft, bone graft and cosmetic dentistry to save your teeth as well as to restore the appearance of your gums and teeth.
The best treatment for receding gums is to understand the importance of a good and healthy oral routine to prevent and curb gum recession. Most often, there is no special treatment undertaken if the gums have begun to recede. Practice a good oral regimen to control the condition followed by periodic visits to the clinic to ensure that the recession has not progressed and that your gum disease is under control.
Receding gums can turn out to be a major problem if not treated immediately, so contact Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, for an appointment today and we will help you keep your smile beautiful and healthy.
Dental phobia is something various people experience, but it shouldn’t keep you from getting the oral care you need. The sedation dentistry experts at Max Dental @ Yaletown can help you conquer your fears by making a visit to the dentist a relaxing place to be.
Why Conquer Dental Phobia
Before negative thoughts take you over, you need to know that dental treatment is a significant component in your overall health. Avoiding dental issues will result in a more serious problem and easier and less expensive treatment options will become available at that point. If cavities are left alone, the decay can get worse and lead to root canals, infections, and you might even lose your teeth. Gum disease is harmful and can cause tooth or bone loss if it is not treated, so it is imperative that you get your regular checkups.
For people who have fears of the dentist, specific sights, sounds, and smells can be traumatizing and increase anxiety. If a patient feels out of control, they may leave the appointment to never return. To avoid this outcome, be sure to talk to the sedation dentistry experts at Max Dental @ Yaletown about your needs so you can be in control of your dental appointment. If you don’t tell your Yaletown dentist about your issues, they’ll think that you’re comfortable and at ease and not know anything is wrong.
How to Eliminate Dental Phobia
At any time during your procedure you need to take a break, you can invent a code with your dentist so you won’t feel helpless once the procedure begins. If you want to use non-verbal communication during your appointment, your dentist can give you a pen and paper at the start of your appointment.
You may also want to take some time to sit down and analyze what bothers you about going to the dentist. Caffeine can add to people’s stress because it makes people jittery or on edge. Also, make sure you allot yourself enough time to get to the dentist or even arrive early, because arriving late may add to your stress. If you get there very early, take a book or iPod with you to distract you from your upcoming procedure.
Sedation Dentistry for Dental Phobia
If you think there is no solution for your dental phobia, it’s time to discover sedation dentistry. Simply sit down in the dental chair, relax and get all your dental work done in one easy session. At Max Dental @ Yaletown we offer sedation dentistry options for your ultimate comfort. With sedation dentistry, you will “wake up” refreshed, renewed and with a brand new smile!
If you want to forget your dental phobia, we here at Max Dental @ Yaletown can guarantee you will receive a relaxing and timely session with sedation dentistry. Contact us for an appointment today.
Below you’ll find a video that dispels common sedation dentistry myths:
If you’re looking for a way to improve your health, your social relationships and your overall well-being, smiling is your best bet!
The simple act of smiling comes with a lot of benefits. According to a recent TED Talk given by Health Tap founder and CEO Ron Gutman, several studies support the theory that smiling improves your health and longevity. One study found that the width of a smile can be used to predict longevity – in other words, the wider your smile, the more likely you are to live longer. If you’re not happy with your smile and don’t smile often or at all, contact Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, to book an appointment and improve your life, one smile at a time!
Studies also found that smiling is contagious – which is a good thing, because a single smile can make you feel as good as winning $2500 dollars or eating around 2000 bars of chocolate! Children tend to smile a lot more often that adults do, so if your goal is to live a longer, happier life, get in touch with your inner child and smile.
But if your current smile doesn’t really want to make you…well, smile, come in to your Yaletown dentist Max Dental for a custom smile makeover that’s sure to leave you grinning ear to ear. Smiling can lower stress levels and increase your attractiveness, so don’t miss out on the benefits of a smile and contact our Yaletown dental clinic today!
Enjoy the TED Talk below, entitled the Hidden Power of Smiling, for more fascinating smile research:
“Why should I floss?” is a frequent question asked by many patients at Max Dental, your Yaletown Dentist. In fact, flossing is one of the most important habits in any good oral health routine. Dental floss helps remove any food particles trapped between the teeth and lowers your chances of plaque build-up.
Despite the fact that most patients understand the answer to “Why Should I Floss”, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the proper techniques on how to floss.
It is important to carry out flossing as a part of your regular oral hygiene routine; brushing alone is not enough to remove all the food particles and regular flossing ensures that there is no buildup of plaque on the teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to gum disease, gingivitis or periodontitis. Dental floss can be flavoured or unflavoured, waxed or unwaxed. Talk to a hygienist at our Yaletown dental clinic if you’re not sure which dental floss is right for you.
If you are not sure of the right way to use dental floss or if you are still wondering “Why Should I Floss?”, then contact Max Dental @ Yaletown or come for a consultation to learn how to floss correctly. Here are a few starter tips:
1. Floss must be held taut and guided between each tooth and also under the gums to ensure that all food particles and plaque are removed. However, be sure the floss doesn’t scrape too much on the gums or it could cause gum bleeding. It is also important to change the strip of floss for each tooth to ensure that bacteria are not transmitted from one to the other.
2. It is important to buy dental floss that’s the right thickness. Floss that’s too thick or thin won’t give you the best cleaning.
3. Use dental floss every day after brushing, preferably before bedtime, as an effective precaution against gum disease, halitosis and dental cavities. Dental floss also helps to reduce the incidence of harmful bacteria in the mouth and hence lessens the risk of associated heart disease.
4. If you generally consume a lot of meat, you’ll want to floss at least once a day to remove the fibres that can get stuck between your teeth and cause cavities and gum disease.
You might notice bleeding the very first time after using dental floss, but this is normal and stops after the first few times. Regular bleeding, on the other hand, isn’t a good sign and you should consult an oral health professional at Max Dental, your Yaletown dentist, to ensure that you are using dental floss correctly.
The video below, courtesy of Colgate, explains how to floss properly:
