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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.

Is Your Dentist's Office Closed For The Weekend? Here's How You Can Deal With Various Dental Problems

Dental problems don't always happen during the week when your dentist's office is open. Using the pointers below can help you experience some relief while you wait for the office to open again on Monday morning.

Use Salt Water for Pain and Swelling

The easiest thing to do whenever you have any discomfort in your gums or teeth is to fill your mouth will some warm saltwater and swish it around. Salt draws water out of swollen gums, so if your gums are red and painful, you may feel better after doing a saltwater rinse. In addition to calming swollen gums, salt is also great at neutralizing and washing away bacteria, which is often the culprit when you've got dental or gum pain.

Because salt is not toxic, you can rinse your mouth out with saltwater as many times as keeps you comfortable.

Try Clove Oil for Tooth Pain

If you've got essential oils handy, clove oil might be something to use if you've got tooth pain that just won't quit. The reason clove oil works so well is that it contains a particular compound called Eugenol. Eugenol is a natural anesthetic and also has antiseptic properties. As a result, it can alleviate pain for some time. With a cotton swab you can apply a bit of the oil onto the site of pain.

Use Erasers or Cotton for the Broken Wire

Having braces can be painful if one of the wires snaps or breaks for some reason. Having a wire scrape your gum over the weekend isn't fun, but before you pick up those scissors to attempt a fix, wait and think about the consequences. A snipped bit of wire could fly toward the back of your throat and you may swallow it. It's best to just stick a tiny portion of an eraser or a bit of a cotton ball at the end of the offending wire and let the dentist help you safely later.

Stick a Bit of Gum or Petroleum Jelly Beneath the Crown that Won't Stay Put

For a crown that has become loose and uncomfortable, sugarless gum can act as an adhesive to keep it still. If the gum doesn't seem to be working, you can also put a small glob of petroleum jelly in the crown to hold it in place for some time. Whatever you do, avoid using any kind of household glue; that could damage both the crown and your tooth.

Many dental problems can be eased over the weekend if you use the information here. Your dentist might also have an answering service, so you can attempt to contact them for more ideas before the weekend is over. For more information, contact a professional in your area or visit a website like http://www.silveradofamilydental.com.