Extractions

Is Your Tooth Infected?

Infections are serious business, whether you’re referring to a common cold or an infected tooth. In the worst-case scenarios, unchecked infections can turn into serious complications and even death. While tooth pain has been known to appear and disappear without warning, the much more likely scenario is that the symptoms represent a more long-lasting problem. Below, we’ll look at what to keep an eye on if your tooth acts up.

What Is a Tooth Infection?

A tooth infection (sometimes called an abscess) doesn’t occur when bacteria makes contact with the tooth, but rather when the tooth pulp comes in contact with bacteria. While your enamel and tooth tissue protects you from most common bacteria, a cavity or crack in the tooth can allow that bacteria to enter and make its way down to the root.

How Do I Know If My Tooth Is Infected?

dentist in Lyndhurst, OH can tell you that the most common symptom of an infection is pain. We’ll look at a few additional facts about the symptoms of an infection:

  • Pain is typically constant and a throbbing sensation. You may feel it in your mouth, but it can just as easily spread as far as your neck or ears.
  • Some infections cause pain only when chewing, biting, or exposure to extremely hot or cold foods or liquids.
  • Infections can cause the tooth to rot from the inside out, which can cause a foul odor or salty fluid if the infection ruptures.
  • Additional symptoms are likely familiar to anyone who’s ever had an infection of any kind, including swelling in the lymph nodes, fever, and general tenderness.

Where to Find Relief in Lyndhurst, OH

Not all infections move at the same pace, so it’s important not to make assumptions about your condition. If you’ve been experiencing tooth pain in Lyndhurst, OH, it’s worth having it checked out by a qualified dentist. While it can be scary to think about the consequences of a tooth infection, especially if you’re worried about extraction, it’s worse to assume that the infection will resolve on its own. If you’re looking for a reputable team, contact the staff at Lyndhurst Family Dental to schedule an immediate appointment today.

veneers

How to Maintain Your Dental Crowns

Dental crowns protect and strengthen teeth that have been damaged. Dental crowns also cover cosmetic damage, making your smile beautiful after an injury. When you get a dental crown, your dentist in Lyndhurst, OH can tell you about how you can maintain the crown to ensure it will last a long time. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Brush Your Teeth

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the first steps to maintaining your dental crowns. Brushing your teeth twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush is key to keeping your teeth clean and gums healthy.

Use non-abrasive toothpaste when brushing your dental crown. Abrasive toothpaste can scratch the crown and cause damage over time. If you’re not sure which type of toothpaste is best for your teeth, ask your dentist. The dental professionals at Lyndhurst Family Dental would be happy to recommend an appropriate toothpaste.

2. See the Dentist Regularly

See your dentist at Lyndhurst Family Dental twice per year. During these regular visits, your dentist will clean your teeth and check for problems like periodontal disease and gum recession.

Gum recession exposes the tooth root and can put your tooth at risk of decay. Decay can put your dental crown at risk. Seeing the dentist can catch these problems in the early stages, which in turn can help protect your dental crown.

3. Don’t Whiten Your Teeth

If you have a porcelain crown, your dentist will match the crown to the color of your other teeth. Dental crowns aren’t affected by teeth whitening. If you choose to whiten your teeth, your dental crown will stay the same color, and your other teeth will be slightly lighter. If you have dental crowns, it’s best not to whiten your teeth, to maintain a consistent color.

4. Don’t Chew Non-Food Items

Dental crowns can be chipped by non-food items like pen caps and ice. If you have a dental crown, don’t chew on anything that isn’t food.

Do you have questions about how to maintain your dental crowns in Lyndhurst, OH? If so, ask your dentist at Lyndhurst Family Dental. We’re happy to help!

4 Reasons to Consider Dental Veneers

If you’re less than satisfied with the appearance of your teeth, there are cosmetic dentistry options available at your dentist in Lyndhurst, OH. Due to the advancement of various dental technologies, there are more options than ever to improve the look of your smile. Note that cosmetic dentistry isn’t for treating dental problems such as gum disease. But it can go a long way toward masking cosmetic issues. One of the most popular cosmetic treatments available today is dental veneers. If you think that dental veneers are only for “celebrities,” think again!

Here are four reasons to consider dental veneers.

1. You have Permanent Tooth Discoloration

Professional teeth whitening can get rid of a lot of stains, but not all. If you have permanent tooth discoloration, this can take away from the appearance of your teeth, no matter how straight they may be. Permanent tooth discoloration is often caused by prescription medication or the use of tobacco products. No matter the underlying reason, dental veneers are an effective solution.

2. Your Teeth Are Misshapen

Dental veneers are custom-made to meet the needs of your dental goals. If one of your goals is to correct the misshapen appearance of your teeth, dental veneers can do that. Because these thin shells cover the actual surface of the teeth, your dentist can have them custom-made to correct any misshapen appearance.

3. You’re in the Public Eye

Whether you’re an influencer, a television personality, or a salesperson, special attention needs to be paid to your appearance. One of the simplest ways to look your best is with dental veneers, which “instantly” make your teeth look healthy, bright, and beautiful.

4. You Just Want to Have a Better Smile

Sometimes, you just want to have a better smile when you look in the mirror. You don’t have to have any special status to get dental veneers. Everyone deserves to look and feel good about themselves, and dental veneers offer a straightforward way to achieve it.

Are you ready to learn more about getting dental veneers in Lyndhurst, OH? Contact Lyndhurst Family Dental today to book your appointment for a dental exam and assessment to ascertain your options for dental veneers and other cosmetic dentistry treatments. You’ll be glad you did!

How Can You Tell If You’ve Cracked a Tooth?

A cracked tooth can be a serious problem if the crack leads to an infection. Identifying the symptoms of a cracked tooth and getting it examined by your dentist in Lyndhurst, OH, can help you avoid painful problems like dental infection. Knowing what to look for and taking action as soon as you’ve noticed a problem. Here’s what to know.

How Does a Cracked Tooth Happen?

A cracked tooth can happen for many reasons. Biting into hard candy, using your teeth to cut through packaging, or even taking a bite of a tough piece of bread can cause your tooth to crack.

It’s important to be conscious of the way you use your teeth. Don’t use your teeth to bite into anything that shouldn’t be bitten into. If you start eating a sucker, then you should be prepared to consume it without chewing it the whole way.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cracked Tooth?

If you have a cracked tooth, you may not notice any symptoms at all, or you may notice:

  • Sudden onset of sensitivity to heat, cold, or sweets in the tooth
  • Pain you experience when you bite down or at random times
  • Swelling around the tooth

These symptoms are similar to other symptoms of other dental problems, such as a cavity or even infection. If you look at the tooth, you may be able to see the crack. However, if you can’t see a crack, that doesn’t mean no crack is there. The only way to find out for sure what’s happening to your tooth is to visit your dentist.

What Should You Do If You Have a Cracked Tooth?

If you think you might have a cracked tooth, it’s important to get diagnosed by a dental professional. Visit your dentist at Lyndhurst Family Dental. You may need to have your tooth repaired or even extracted.

A cracked tooth can seem like a small thing, but bacteria can enter your tooth through the crack, leading to dental infection. It’s important to get this addressed before it becomes a problem. Call today to make your appointment for a dental examination in Lyndhurst, OH.