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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

Simple Home Therapies For Root Canal Pain

13 February 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Root canal infections are getting more common, with thousands needing root canal therapy each year to remove infected or dead pulp inside their teeth. Endodontic procedures are popular today because they eliminate the need for extraction and prevent further inflammation of an infected root canal.

Root canal infections are usually caused by exposure of the delicate blood vessels inside the tooth to oral bacteria via a tooth fracture or shrunk filling and cavities resulting from tooth decay. Once the diseased part of the tooth is removed, the tooth is filled, preventing further infection. Anyone who has had root canal treatment knows that there are better ways to spend their hard-earned money, so it is important to know simple home therapies you can use to manage the infection.

Home remedies for a root canal

Patients with a diseased root canal will often experience pain and sensitivity while chewing or drinking, swelling of the infected tooth and a reddish appearance of the jaw. Preventing a root canal is therefore very essential, and it can be done through regular dental visits and excellent oral hygiene. However, if you are already experiencing the symptoms of a diseased root canal, you can use the following remedies to manage the pain until you can get to a dentist for treatment.

  • Tea tree oil - Better known for curing acne and removing skin blemishes, tea tree oil is also excellent at relieving tooth pain, and it can be applied to an infected root canal to numb the pain. Putting a few drops of oil into a glass of warm water and gurgling for a few minutes will effectively sooth the infected root canal and bring down the swelling. Clover oil can also be used for this purpose due to its gentle and soothing effect. Try soaking a cotton ball with the oil and then gently applying it to the aching tooth for pain relief.
  • Ice packs- These have been used for ages to relieve pain and swelling. Applying an ice pack topically to the affected area of the tooth will help calm down the pain. If the relief is not enough, try getting numbing gel from your local pharmacy or purchase over-the-counter pain medications to help with the pain.
  • Liquid diet- Chewing solid food can aggravate root canal pain and even cause bleeding. If you experience severe root canal pain, it would be best to stick to a diet of liquids such as mango or carrot juice for a few days until the pain subsides. Also try gargling salt water at least twice a day for temporary relief and be sure to avoid liquids that are either too hot or too cold.

For more information, contact a business such as Washington Township Dental Associates.