Beautiful Smiles Dental Care monthly updates

DENTAL BLOG AND NEWS



emergency-dental-care-in-Gurnee--1200x675.jpg

 

Urgent: Emergency Dental Care – Gurnee IL

We never think that it is going to happen to us, but if you are ever faced with a dental emergency, do you know what to do? Problems involving your smile can have a serious impact on your overall health and comfortability, and when faced with an emergency, you need to know who to call and where to go!

Whether you have just had a tooth knocked out or are in desperate need to remove one as soon as possible, dental emergencies, no matter how severe, are stressful and traumatic. That is why Beautiful Smiles Dental Center provides emergency dental services in Gurnee; IL provides emergency dental services for all ages of patients. We want to ensure that everyone is as comfortable as possible, so if you experience an unexpected problem with your teeth, then call Beautiful Smiles Dental Center right away. What exactly is considered a dental emergency? What can you do to prepare for one if something ever happens to you?

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

 

When you experience severe trauma to your face and are worried about needing urgent attention, the first thing to do is remember not to panic. Luckily you have a full-service dental clinic just a phone call away, and we are here to help when you need us the most. Your dental situation may be an emergency if you:

  • Are in relentless pain
  • Are bleeding from the mouth
  • Have lost a tooth due to trauma 
  • Have a wobbly tooth and cant eat 
  • Have an infection 

 

Should you need dental treatment to stop bleeding, relieve unbearable pain, or prevent yourself from losing a tooth, these are considered dental emergencies. When in doubt, contact our clinic in Gurnee, Illinois NOW! One of our dental professionals will be more than happy to answer any of your questions. 

Common Urgent Dental Emergencies

 

Some of the leading dental emergencies that we treat at Beautiful Smiles Dental Center include:

Tooth or Gum Abscess

An abscess in the mouth can develop from untreated trauma. A pocket that is filled with pus that develops at the bottom of the tooth is a tooth or gum abscess. When left untreated, the pus can drain into the mouth, creating a foul taste. This bacterial infection needs urgent attention because, if left untreated, it can spread to other areas of the mouth, head, and neck. Signs of a tooth or gum abscess are…

  • A throbbing toothache
  • Fever
  • Bad breath
  • Swelling in the gums

Broken, Chipped, or Cracked Teeth

Emergency Dentist in Gurnee & Park City IL

 

 

 

Your tooth can crack at any time throughout the day. Something as simple as biting into a hard piece of food can severely damage the tooth. Usually, a chipped tooth can be fixed with a dental filling or a dental crown if the chip is larger.

When it is treated shortly after it happens, it can be restored to look as it once did before the incident. Not generally considered tooth emergencies, a broken or chipped tooth can cause severe pain, which is often unbearable and needs to be treated right away.

Toothache Pain

Have you ever experienced pain in the tooth or gums? Then you know how miserable it can be. Toothaches generally occur because of trauma to the mouth or when consuming cold foods and drinks. Toothaches often are due to underlying issues such as: 

  • Exposed tooth dentin
  • Worn tooth enamel caused by grinding teeth
  • A crack in a tooth
  • Tooth decay

Things Not to Do During a Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies are painful & stressful. When Dental Emergencies happen, it can be easy to make mistakes that can be drastic when, seeking emergency dental care & attention. Here are a few things to avoid when experiencing a dental emergency. Do not:

  • Wait to see if it gets better; get help quickly.
  • Add heat; it can cause the gums to become even more inflamed.
  • Get rid of small pieces of a broken tooth. There may be a chance the dentist can restore the tooth, so all pieces are needed

 

Our primary goal at our dental center is to help save your smile. Don’t live in pain and put the health of your teeth at risk. Allow us to keep you comfortable when you need it the most. Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center the moment an emergency occurs, and we will get you back living your life pain-free.

What to do in a Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies are irritating and can come out of nowhere, especially when you are least expecting it. If one of your teeth has been knocked out or broken, we strongly recommend that you do not move it or touch it at all. Should one of your teeth be knocked out:

  1. Rinse the tooth off with water (only if the tooth hit the ground and is dirty)
  2. Put it in a bag or container with some of your own saliva or milk
  3. Apply a wet gauze to the socket to control any bleeding
  4. Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center immediately

Emergency family Dental Care in Gurnee

 

 

Even if it is outside opening hours, you can contact our team of dental professionals. When you need emergency dental services, entrust in the good hands at Beautiful Smiles Dental Center. We are open seven days a week and keep a flexible schedule to ensure that we are always there for you and your dental emergency. You can learn more about our Emergency Dental Services in Gurnee, Illinois here.

Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center for Dental Emergencies in Gurnee, Waukegan, & Park City IL

As the common saying goes, “It is better to be safe than sorry.” We want your mind to be at ease. Some situations are unavoidable and need immediate attention. So, if you are experiencing:

  • Swelling around the mouth or facial area
  • The mouth was affected, and you are experiencing pain in the mouth
  • Swelling in your gums
  • A loose tooth
  • You are in a severe amount of pain that doesn’t dissipate

Don’t worry, our highly trained dentists at Beautiful Smiles Dental Center have experience treating dental emergencies with care and compassion. Contact our dental center for immediate help with dental emergencies in Gurnee, IL.

 


quinten-de-graaf-434266-1200x800.jpg

January 4, 2018 Chris RDental Care

Could Some Chewing Gums Actually Prevent Cavities?

For years it has long been believed and drilled (no pun intended) into our heads that gum chewing was bad for our teeth. Gum had been blamed for causing cavities, tooth decay and a myriad of other dental issues. Gum chewing can be, in fact, quite detrimental to dental care. Recent studies, however, have shed new light unto the effects of gum chewing. While it is true that gum usage can cause dental issues, not all types of gum are harmful. In fact, studies have shown that some types of gum can actually work to prevent cavities and tooth decay. What type of gum is that? Sugar-free.

It is no secret that gum with added sugar can be one of the worse things for your teeth. The sugar contained in the gum dramatically increases your chances of developing cavities. This is not the case of sugar-free gum however, which actually helps in preventing tooth decay and cavities. If you are someone who balks at the idea of sugar-free gum, there is good news. Xylitol is a plant-based sweetener added to sugar-free gum that has not only makes the gum taste better, but it has many added benefits as well.

 

gum, cavities, oral health, Palos park dentist, Chicagoland dental

 

Chew Away Tooth Decay

Sugar-free gum is sweetened with xylitol, and will effectively prevent the growth of Streptococcus mutant, a bacterium responsible for causing cavities. Xylitol prevents the bacteria from clinging to the tooth, thus preventing the development of cavities. Chewing frequently reduces the bacteria present in the mouth, thus resulting in fewer harmful bacteria resulting in damaging the tooth surface. It is also responsible for repairing teeth through a process called remineralization. When this occurs, specific cells in the center of the tooth produce dentin, the part of tooth beneath the enamel. The enamel can then remineralize from the outer layer. Remineralization is a vital part of maintaining proper dental hygiene.

Additionally, chewing sugarless helps produce saliva, which helps in washing away and cleaning out food particles and bacteria. The saliva which occurs due to gum chewing will help in neutralizing the acids and act as a barrier against cavities and tooth decay. Saliva also keeps plaque, a known cause of tooth decay, from sticking to the teeth. Although the inclination may be to brush your teeth after a meal, doing so is not recommended, as acids in food will break down the protective enamel. Instead, experts recommend chewing gum for about after each meal.

Chewing sugarless gum is also effective in removing food particles embedded in teeth, which can cause plaque buildup. Keeping plaque away is a sure-fire way to keep your teeth from protected against tooth decay. Chewing gum can also help in reducing tooth sensitivity, a common issue affecting many Americans. Studies have shown that those who chew sugarless gum post teeth whitening procedures had significantly less tooth sensitivity than those had not.

Chewing sugarless gums also useful in other ways as well. For example, it aids in digestion, which can help keep acid reflux under control. Studies have also shown that chewing sugarless gum actually can save you a great deal of money. A healthy mouth keeps the dentist at bay, which is good news for your checkbook. Additionally, chewing sugarless gum can help boost memory function. Many studies, in fact, have noted that chewing sugar free gum with xylitol is a just as effective as using fluoride- toothpaste and mouthwash. Now that something to smile about!

Not All Gums Are Created Equal

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the only approved gums that can help prevent tooth decay are those which are sugar-free. You will also want to be sure they have the ADA approved seal on the packaging. Not all sugar-free gums approved by the ADA. For example, there is gum which is also sugar-free, but contains a different sugar substitute, known as sorbitol. Sorbitol does not have the same protective effect that xylitol has. What is a good way to see if your sugar-free gum has xylitol? By reading the label, of course. If listed as a first ingredient, then chew away! Additionally, to reap the benefits of this sweetener, most experts recommended chewing a minimum two or three pieces after each meal.

It should also be noted that in no way should gum chewing be a used a replacement for tooth brushing, which is a necessity for excellent hygiene. Chewing gum after meals or in tandem with brushing and flossing is what many experts recommend. The best time to chew gum? Studies from the ADA concluded twenty minutes after every meal is sufficient.

Before You Grab That Gum

There are a few things to consider before you begin running to the nearest drugstore and stocking up on your favorite sugar-free gum. For example, the constant chewing motion can cause strain and tiredness in your jaw muscles. No different than other muscles, when they are overused it can cause soreness. Additionally, chewing gum for an extended length of time has been known to cause headaches as well as neck pain. There is no concrete evidence that gum chewing is a culprit of TMJ disorders, however, it is understood that it will not ease the discomfort of TMJ symptoms.

Although the stickiness of sugar-free gum can prove to be useful, such as its ability to remove food particles and bacteria present in teeth, it also has its disadvantages. If you have dental hardware such as crowns or fillings, chewing gum may loosen them and cause them to even fall out. Although highly unlikely, it is still important to take into consideration.

Additionally, recommendations vary on how old one should be when choosing sugar-free gum. The consensus is that children should not chew gum until they have learned not to swallow it. There are positives and negatives to children chewing gum as well. On the one hand, we have seen how effective gum chewing can be in helpful in maintaining healthy hygiene. Preventive measures are usually the most effective, so there is a strong argument for starting patients young.

The earlier children practice proper tooth care, the fewer problems in the future there will be. However, it is important that the sugarless gum has the ADA seal, as chewing gum with added sugar is especially detrimental to children’s teeth. Chewing gum with xylitol is most effective when it is chewed right before a child’s adult teeth come in, which is roughly between the ages of 5 and 6.

Knowing how effective chewing sugarless gum can be cause for celebration. However, nothing can take the place of consistent brushing and flossing.







Copyright Beautiful Smiles Dental Center 2022 | Sitemap | All Rights Reserved. | Stock photos provided by our partners adobe photos, unsplash.com, pexels.com and pixabay.com