In this two-part article series we will be discussing wisdom teeth: What are they? Why do they frequently need to be removed? What can I expect during the extraction procedure?

Welcome back to the final installment of this two-part article series on wisdom teeth. In part one, we described what wisdom teeth are, the various problems they may cause and how they are removed. In this section, we will be discussing with more detail what you may expect from the removal procedure as well as the healing process.

So, Just What Happens During Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Most of us are wary of visiting our local dentist, especially when it comes to the terrifying prospect of having teeth pulled! Thankfully, as a friendly dentist in the Colorado Springs CO explains, before your wisdom teeth are pulled, your teeth and the surrounding tissue will be numbed with a local (in straightforward cases) or general anaesthetic (in more complex cases). In other words, you shouldn’t feel a thing!

In addition to preventing your physical pain, you and your dentist or oral surgeon may opt for the use of a sedative in order to prevent any anxiety you may experience. Herein are included various options, such as nitrous oxide (‘laughing gas’), an oral sedative, such as Valium or an intravenous sedative, administered through injection. The Pueblo dental community suggests that you arrange for a lift to and from your procedure should you undergo sedation as it impedes your ability to drive safely.

Now that you are anesthetised, your dentist/oral surgeon will begin the extraction procedure and remove your wisdom teeth according to the surgical plan discussed with you during your consultation exam. After your wisdom teeth have been removed, the speed of your recovery will depend on the level of complexity of the extraction procedure.

What you can expect During the First 24 Hours of Recovery?

Bleeding: It is normal to experience a little bleeding after a tooth/teeth extraction procedure; however if bleeding is excessive, it is a good idea to contact your dentist or oral surgeon. Try to avoid rinsing, spitting or ‘sucking’ actions for 24 hours after the procedure.

Swelling: You may experience some facial swelling in and around the area where the tooth was extracted. You can ease your swelling by administering cold pressure (ice wrapped in cloth) on the cheek.

Pain: After your anaesthesia has worn off, it is normal to experience a little post-operative discomfort and sensitivity. You will be sent home with prescription painkillers, which will help to keep you comfortable. You can ask your dentist or oral surgeon to prescribe you a more potent pain reliever if this is necessary.

Food: Colorado Springs dentists recommend that you stick to a very soft diet until the bleeding has completely stopped and your mouth is on its way to recovery. It is also never a good idea to mix alcohol and narcotic pain medication.

Brush: Continue brushing your teeth as normal, however within the first 24 hours try to avoid the area directly next to the extracted teeth. By day two you can resume gentle brushing of your teeth. It is also suggested to avoid commercial mouth rinses as they can cause irritability. Instead, use salt water to rinse your mouth.

A Few More Things to Know…

Complete healing will take a few weeks following the removal of your wisdom teeth. Your Pueblo dental healthcare professional will explain to you in detail what you can expect in your unique case. Having said this, it is typically within the first week that sufficient healing takes place for the use of your mouth to be reasonably comfortable. Once you are completely healed, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a much healthier, happier mouth!

This three-part article series discusses eight interesting and little-known facts about oral health and healthcare. Advice is also provided on how to achieve better dental health.

Welcome back to our three-part article series on interesting dental healthcare facts. In our previous installment, we discussed the shocking statistics of gum disease in the United States (80% of the population) and we exposed the truth about toothbrush caps and storage. In this article, the second installment of our Pueblo dental series, we shall take a look at the dangers of having a sweet tooth and how fluoride, which is lauded as essential to good oral health, can actually be quite dangerous!

Amazing Fact # 4: Three Glasses of Soda per Day = 62% Higher Incidence of Tooth Decay

Soda, pop, sports energy drinks and fruit juice all have two things in common: They’re packed with sugar and they’re very acidic. Bacteria loves sugar just a much as you do. To them, sugar is pure energy, which they use to multiply and proliferate. The more you eat, the faster the production of plaque in your mouth (plaque is bacteria).

To make matters worse, bacteria produce acidic wastes, which mingle with the acid in those fizzy beverages you love. The consequences for your teeth are a daily acid bath that corrodes away dental enamel, encourages cavity formation and tooth decay. This is why people who drink three or more glasses of sweet soda, juice or energy drinks per day suffer from 62% more decay and tooth loss.

What should I do instead?

The answer is simple: you’ll need to train yourself to enjoy water. Sweet beverages are okay if enjoyed as an occasional treat, but not as a daily thirst-quencher. Opt for mineral, spring or tap water. Water that is filtered not only has all the micro-organisms taken out of it, but also the essential elements and metals your teeth need to remain strong and health (fluoride, calcium and magnesium).

Amazing Fact # 5: The First Bristled Toothbrush Came from China!

We here in the West like to think that we pioneered the field of medicine and that it was our culture that was responsible for cultivating an appreciation of hygiene… but when our forefathers were dying of burst oral abscesses, the East were preventing infection by brushing their teeth!

The first bristled toothbrushes on record were manufactured in 1498 in China. The bristles themselves were made from the hairs of badgers, horses and hogs. While these early toothbrushes were not as technologically savvy as the ones we have today, they went a long way to prevent decay and infection simply by removing dental plaque. It was only in 1938 that the first commercial toothbrushes were manufactured and nowadays, they are an indispensible component of oral healthcare.

Amazing Fact # 6: New Born Babies Don’t Have Dangerous Oral Bacteria

Little babies are born without the kind of oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Of course, they eventually will contract these bacteria and the sources of transmission are mommy and daddy! Kissing and blowing on food to cool it are the primary ways oral bacteria are passed from parent to child.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more interesting facts and Pueblo dentists’ advice on oral health and healthcare, stay tuned for the third and final installment of this three-part articles series.

This article describes the oral healthcare regime people should be maintaining in order to keep their teeth and gums in excellent condition.

If you thought that giving those pearly whites a quick go-over with a toothbrush twice a day was enough to keep them in excellent condition for life, it’s time to re-evaluate your Pueblo dental healthcare regimen. People invest in expensive brand-name creams to keep their skin looking young and healthy; they spend hours in the gym punishing their bodies in an effort to stay in shape and they even go as far as spending tens of thousands of dollars on surgery in order to reverse the evidence of the years. But what are you doing to maintain the Pueblo dental health of your teeth and gums? The smile is one of your most important physical assets, not only socially, but in a professional environment too! Twice daily brushing is a must for any Pueblo dental healthcare regimen, but it simply isn’t enough if you want to keep your teeth and gums looking healthy and beautiful for life, says the dentist in Colorado Springs.

Your Pueblo Dental Health Under the Microscope

Have you ever watched one of those programs on biology, health or the human body that showed you your skin under the microscope? Do you remember how shocked you felt knowing that you are literally crawling with invisible microbes, creatures and bacteria? Well, these tiny organisms love warm, damp places, making your mouth the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, explains the dentist in Colorado Springs. So if you thought your skin was a problem, you can only imagine what your tongue would look like under the microscope. But before you go and gargle with ethanol, rest assured that the majority of the bacteria that lives in your mouth are harmless; some of them are even good! It’s the other 10% you need to be wary of. And the only defense you have against the nasty pathogens that can cause tooth decay, gum disease and even severe illness in the rest of your body is a solid Pueblo dental healthcare regimen.

For Your Pueblo Dental Health: Check-List

So, what should you be doing to protect your Pueblo dental health and the health of the rest of your body? Here’s your check-list:

1.Twice daily brushing is the general rule, but in fact, you should be brushing half an hour after every meal, says the dentist in Colorado Springs. This Pueblo dental healthcare habit will minimize bacterial activity in the mouth, which generally spikes after eating. Waiting 30 minutes gives your teeth the chance to remineralize, thus preventing vigorous brushing from eroding away your dental enamel over time. Remember, brush for two minutes at a time!

2.Floss every single day before you go to bed at night. This is one of the most neglected Pueblo dental healthcare habits and yet, it is one of the most important.

3.Optional: gargle with an anti-bacterial mouthwash during the day, when your toothbrush isn’t at hand, says the dentist in Colorado Springs.

4.Book an appointment with the dentist and oral hygienist once every six months; this is an essential part of your Pueblo dental healthcare regimen.

5.Avoid a diet high in sugar; bacteria are bigger sweet-tooth’s than you are!

6.Never, ever ignore an oral problem or complaint. Ignoring dental pain or signs of oral infection only lead to the development of problems that require more invasive and expensive Pueblo dental procedures to fix. You also leave yourself at a greater risk of sustaining permanent irreversible damage, warns the dentist in Colorado Springs.

This three-part article series discusses eight interesting and little-known facts about oral health and healthcare. Advice is also provided on how to achieve better dental health.

Welcome back to our three-part article series on interesting dentistry and dental healthcare facts. In our previous two installments, the dentist in Pueblo CO discussed the following…

Amazing Fact # 1: According to statistics released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as much as 80% of the American population presents with some form or stage of periodontal (gum) disease; a bacterial infection of the gums that, untreated, can cause tooth loss.

Amazing Fact # 2: The practice of putting a cap on your toothbrush to keep it sterile achieves quite the opposite! The cap creates a closed environment that prevents your brush from drying out. Bacteria are encouraged to flourish in this warm, humid space.

Amazing Fact # 3: You should never store your toothbrush within six feet of your toilet. Every time you flush, a cloud of fine toilet spray and bacteria are sent up into the air, which settles on every surface in the bathroom. The best practice would be to keep your toothbrush in a closed, but aerated cabinet.

Amazing Fact # 4: Sweet tooths beware! Three glasses of soda per day leads to a 62% higher incidence of tooth decay. If you value your teeth, you’ll swap that Mountain Dew for a mineral water.

Amazing Fact # 5: The first documented use of bristled toothbrushes comes from China.

In this article, the third and final installment of the series, we shall take a look at three final amazing facts!

Amazing Fact # 6: Your Dentist Knows All!

If you’re not too good about looking after your teeth, it can be a little embarrassing answering the Pueblo dental questions: “Do you floss every day?” “Are you a smoker?” “When last did you see a dentist?” Well, if you’re tempted to answer: “Yes!” “No!” “Um, last year some time…” and it’s not the truth, think again!

Many patients try to trick the dentist by giving their teeth a thorough pre-examination brush and floss. But your teeth and gums don’t lie! Their appearances and the presence of plaque and tartar deposits will tell the dentist everything he or she needs to know about your eating habits and oral hygiene routine. Better answer honestly, because your dentist knows all!

Amazing Fact # 7: Plaque IS Bacteria

We all know that plaque is dangerous and that allowing it to accumulate on your teeth can lead to cavities and tooth decay. But did you know that plaque essentially IS bacteria? That’s right… that white sticky substance you scrape off your teeth with your fingernail is composed of billions upon billions of living and dead bacteria, as well as their waste products. Gross! That’s why daily brushing and flossing are so important.

Amazing Fact # 8: Your Toothbrush Could be Making You Sick

When last did you replace your toothbrush? According to the dentist in Pueblo CO, dangerous microbes can exit your body via your mouth and inhabit the bristles of your toothbrush. So, if you’ve recently suffered from a cold, a bout of flu or any other kind of viral infection, you should throw your old toothbrush away and get a new one. Otherwise you run the risk of re-infecting yourself!