What To Do if You’ve Broken or Lost a Tooth

Accidents occur all the time. Even if you are a very cautious person, you never know when something may happen. Accidents involving teeth are more common than you realize. People can crack or lose teeth in a variety of situations such as a car crash, in a fall, due to a sports injury, or even just biting down on something hard. If teeth are damaged, it is important not to panic and do the following:

If a Tooth is Knocked Out

First, find and gather the tooth or any fragments. Teeth need to be handled carefully in order to be re-implanted. You should only touch the crown of the tooth, not the root and, if necessary, rinse the tooth with water.

Next, reinsert the tooth. First rinse your mouth with warm water and, if the tooth is still intact, reinsert it into the socket and bite down on gauze to make sure it stays in place. If the tooth is unable to be reinserted, store it in whole milk or between your cheek and gums to keep it from getting dry.

It’s also important to treat any symptoms. If your mouth is bleeding, hold gauze or a cloth to the source. For any swelling or pain, apply a cold compress. If the pain lingers, try taking aspirin or another pain reliever.

Finally, see your local dentist. Losing a tooth is a serious matter, and only a dentist will be able to help. Even if you were able to reinsert your tooth, you should still see your dentist to make sure everything is okay.

If a Tooth is Broken or Cracked

A tooth that is badly broken could have exposed nerve endings. To avoid possible infection and to alleviate the pain, you need to see a dentist as quickly as you can. If your tooth is chipped, and if there is a jagged or sharp edge that could cut your lips or tongue, it's important to have it fixed.

If your teeth are damaged in an accident, the best thing you can do is stay calm, follow the tips above, and give your Grand Rapids, MI dentist a call. If you would like more information about emergency dental care, contact Dr. SamuelBander today!

All In a Day’s Cleaning

You keep up with your teeth, that’s good!  Brushing and flossing twice a day is a great routine for the upkeep of good oral health. It also helps to visit the dentist for a routine cleaning at least once a year. Dental hygienists are professionally trained and have advanced tools to get all those hard to reach areas. It takes team and daily effort to keep your smile bright!

There are some conditions that occur no matter how well your dental hygiene is cared for.  Let’s talk about what your hygienists cleans that normal brushing can miss.

Plaque is a clear film of bacteria that is on the tooth and interacts with the sugar in foods to thrive.  

Tartar is what plaque becomes if left unbrushed for too long.  Also called calculus, this white coating is hard and will often form at the gum line, especially in the backs or in between teeth. Once the tartar has formed, it cannot be removed by normal brushing.

When you go in for a routine cleaning you can rest assured you are in good hands. Let the professionals do all the work!  Here’s a brief overview of the cleaning process so you know what is going to happen when you’re in the chair:

The spray is the first step in the process.  A high powered, concentrated water stream is moved along the teeth to break up any stubborn food particles and loosen plaque and tartar.

An ultrasonic cleaner is then used to clean off tartar.  This process uses tiny ultrasonic vibrations to clean off what your toothbrush failed to, but don’t worry - the sound waves are higher than human ears can pick up!  This tool, also called a scaler, shoots a stream of water to clean away the particles once they are free from the tooth.

The hand scaler is the last tool used, and perhaps the most recognizable of the dentist’s toolkit.  This thin metallic hook may be uncomfortable when used to get the remnants of tartar that was left by its ultrasonic cousin, but it is absolutely necessary.  If left unchecked tartar can affect the gums and lead to gingivitis or periodontitis.

Polish it off for good measure. After all the tartar is removed, a polisher is used to get your smile bright.  A small rubber cup holding a specialized gritty paste is spun at high speeds to scour your teeth and deal the final blow to any lingering plaque that may have thought it had escaped the cleaning!

So now that you’re in-the-know a teeth cleaning is nothing to be afraid of.  Let Dr. SamuelT. Bander help you on your road to the brighter smile of tomorrow! Call the office today and schedule your next routine cleaning.