Reasons Your Teeth Could Be Aching

Toothaches are typically caused by tooth decay that has been neglected to the point that it causes considerable physical pain. But there are other reasons for tooth pain. Anything from excessive teeth grinding or clenching to gum disease, infection, trauma or an erupting tooth can cause a toothache. Here is a closer look at the different reasons why teeth ache. Damage to the tooth A tooth that has suffered physical trauma is likely to hurt. If the trauma is from a powerful force like a hockey puck, racquetball racket, baseball, football or something similar, the pain will be substantial. But even something as simple as a damaged or broken filling, dental implant or crown can also cause tooth pain. Gum disease Teeth might ache as a result of gum disease. Swollen and red gums are symptoms of gum disease and will amplify tooth pain. It is also possible that teeth can hurt from gingivitis, which allows plaque to accumulate to the point that it impacts the gums. If gingivitis is neglected, it will lead to periodontitis, which causes the inner portion of the gums to recede from the teeth, creating pockets that allow for food particles and bacteria to gather. Sinus pain infection Even sinus infections can spur pain in the teeth and other portions of the mouth. If pressure from sinuses filled with fluid causes pain along the upper rear portions of your mouth, there will also be significant pain in your teeth. A dental visit is required for advice regarding the use of decongestants and/or additional medications to minimize pain. Tooth decay Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of oral pain. There are different levels of severity. Cavities will form holes within teeth, through the enamel and into the sensitive dentin beneath. Cavities that reach this level of decay will cause noticeable pain. If the tooth's nerve and pulp are infected, an abscess can form and spur even more serious tooth aching. Additional causes of toothaches Anything from tension along the facial muscles to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), an ear infection or a sinus infection can cause tooth pain. In many instances, such health issues occur in unison with a headache. If there is an indication that your toothache is due to a medical illness, your dentist might refer you to a doctor. Yet, there still could be myriad additional reasons for your toothache. Do not hesitate to visit with your dentist to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out what is really causing your tooth pain. Request an appointment in our Redmond dentist office here: https://www.dentistryinredmond.com.

See a Dentist if You Have Any of These Signs or Questions

Avoiding treatment for a sharp pain in your tooth or ignoring bleeding gums can lead to more serious problems. Visit a Redmond dentist before that happens. There is no reason to allow a busy life to get in the way of one's health. Oral hygiene is much more important than people realize. Visiting a dentist bi-annually can help one live a healthy life without any of the inconveniences that come with needing oral surgery or serious procedures. Here are a few common symptoms that it is time to schedule a dentist appointment. Why are my gums swollen? Inflammation and discomfort in the gums may mean that one has gingivitis or worse, periodontal disease. If one has any other symptoms, we recommend having a dentist check them out. More likely, if someone recently started flossing more regularly, the gums could just be irritated. Try giving them a few days to become more accustomed to it instead of diving right in with flossing daily, or ask us how to floss correctly. Why does my breath always stink? Stinky breath can be a sign of poor oral hygiene. An individual needs to make sure to brush at least twice a day, while also flossing and using mouthwash once a day. If the patient is certain the bad breath is not due to ineffective oral hygiene, then the patient may have gingivitis. Call our dentist office in Redmond so that we can check the gums and teeth before risking a worse infection. My neck and face have had painful swelling in them lately. Why? Pain and swelling in the mouth, on the neck, or around the face can be a sign of a serious infection. Swollen lymph nodes notifying one of infection in one's teeth or gums can cause discomfort. Why do I get a sharp pain in my tooth when I chew gum? Tooth sensitivity and discomfort, especially when chewing on a sticky substance, can mean having a loose filling. It can also mean that the patient has a cavity. In either case, the patient needs to see a dentist to replace the filling of fill the cavity. Do not let a problem like this linger since one should always do one's best to save his or her natural teeth. Why does my jaw pop when I open my mouth?  If one experiences a 'popping' sound or feeling in the jaw, then he or she may have an infection. If it has been going on for years, one may also have an uneven bite. We can treat an infection before it spreads. However, if it is an uneven bite, orthodontics can be used to improve it. Either way, visit our Redmond dentist office to resolve this uncomfortable problem. Many of these signs and other symptoms can lead to serious conditions. You want to avoid any unnecessary stress or discomfort in your teeth. Taking care of your natural teeth is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health so if you have any of these signs or other concerns, call our Redmond dentist office at (425) 249-7789 and schedule an appointment.

Tips For Choosing an Emergency Dentist

When selecting an emergency dentist there are several things to consider. It is important to select the right dentist in order to make the process of recovering from a dental accident or infection much easier. Tips for choosing an emergency dentist By the time a dental emergency happens, it can be too late to spend time looking for a dentist online or asking a friend for referrals. At this point, people need to address the emergency and avoid the situation getting to a worse stage. Many people wind up at an emergency room, which is not the best choice. While the emergency room can treat other wounds and injuries, it does not have the tools, equipment or the staff ready to handle dental emergencies. With that in mind, we recommend choosing an emergency dentist before it is necessary. Here are some tips to make it easier to find one: #1. Look in your city or general area In a dental emergency, no one wants to drive an hour to find a dentist. It is important to visit an emergency dentist within 20 or 30 minutes from the places that a family visits most often. For example, a dentist can be within 20 minutes of the kids' school and even closer to the house. If a patient has to drive far in an emergency situation, it can only increase stress and anxiety levels, making this an important consideration. #2. Find one who accepts your dental insurance plan Ask a dentist if they accept the family dental insurance. If they do not, it is good to know this prior to visiting them in an emergency. The insurance provider can also give a list of dentists who accept the plan and are open to treating patients on an emergency basis. #3. Inquire about their hours Find out what hours an emergency dentist is open. If there is a concern that a dental emergency may happen on the evening or weekends due to an event like regularly scheduled baseball games, it is wise to find a dentist who is open during those times. Otherwise, finding a dentist who accepts patients on an emergency basis is likely to do the trick. #4. Find out what services they provide Ask a dentist what services they offer. Finding one who treats patients on an emergency basis and also handles dental restorations will make life far easier. For example, if a tooth becomes chipped, it will be necessary to visit an emergency dentist. If that same dentist practices cosmetic dentistry and can restore the tooth using multiple solutions, there will be no need to have the rest of the dental work completed somewhere else. #5. Ask what ages they treat Find out what ages a dentist treats before a dental emergency strikes. If they only treat adult patients, visiting the dentist when a five-year-old chips his or her tooth is going to be of no use. Make a point to inquire about the age ranges a dentist cares for so that when an emergency strikes, your family heads in the right direction. Choose a dentist today Prepare for a dental emergency by choosing an emergency dentist now and keeping their information within easy reach.

How to Fix A Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth can happen due to many reasons including eating incredibly hard foods or using your teeth to open bottle crowns or packages (which you should avoid by the way). Whatever the cause is, one thing is sure about having a chipped tooth: It affects our smile, causes pain, and self-consciousness. Having your chipped tooth restored as soon as possible can prevent further complications. If you experience pain, placing ice on the affected area can help alleviate the pain and swelling caused by the incident. Understand that there is no universal solution to a chipped tooth. You need to book an appointment with the dentist to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine what restoration option would be good for your chipped tooth. What Options are Available? Bonding For small and simpler chips, your dentist will possibly recommend bonding. The procedure is easy and involves molding a composite material over the unaffected part of the tooth to correct the chip. Initially, the dentist will abrade the remaining enamel and form the composite into a closely similar extension. Using a blue light, the dentist will proceed to put the composite in place, which will immediately solidify the material. If properly maintained, bonding has a durability of about ten years and is suitable for small, superficial chips. Veneers If the crack is not small and liable to cause a more serious cosmetic condition, you may choose veneers instead. Veneers are made of porcelain and are placed on the frontal side of your teeth to give your teeth a natural appearance. You can choose to have a single veneer or multiple, but they can be costly in high numbers. Veneers are durable and typically last up 10 to 20 year if properly maintained. They are the perfect solution if you have broken a bonding multiple times or you want to correct the shape and discoloration of a chipped tooth at the same time. Crowns Crowns, similar to veneers, are made of porcelain and cover the tooth. The main difference between the two is that while veneers only cover the front of the tooth, crowns protect the entire the tooth. Crowns are the perfect choices when the crack resulted in the loss of a big chunk of the original tooth. They can fix the shape of the tooth and restore your smile instantly. They also help stop further complications such as nerve pain and tooth decay. Dental Implants If the crack occurred close to the surface of your gum, the American Dental Association recommends that you have the tooth extracted and substituted with a dental implant. By removing the tooth and giving the gap time to heal, the doctor will be able to install a metal post on the gum surface before placing the implant that has the same appearance as a real tooth. This aspect will help prevent infection or possible root canal in the future. This process takes time to heal, compared to other procedures. Final Note With proper care and dental procedure, you should have your normal healthy smile back in no time. Contact us so we can help guide you in making the best decisions!  Request a dental appointment here: https://www.dentistryinredmond.com or call Essence of Dentistry at (425) 249-7789 for an appointment in our Redmond dental office.

Learn About Our Cavity Treatment for Kids in Redmond

If you are looking for a great pediatric dentist who will provide exceptional cavity treatment for kids in Redmond, look no further. Not only have we been treating children's dental problems for many years, but our gentle and friendly attitude helps make the entire experience comfortable, non-threatening, and pain-free. This ensures that children, regardless of age, will build a more positive relationship with dentists and with the idea of seeking dental care in the future. A lifetime of healthy teeth and gums and a beautiful smile depends on professional cavity treatment for kids. Why Children’s Cavities Need to Be Treated All too often, parents are under the impression that because baby teeth are going to fall out anyway, cavities do not need treatment. However, even infants need dental care. Baby teeth exist for several reasons other than the obvious ones of being necessary to chew with or enable your child to speak clearly. Another very important function is that the baby teeth save space in the mouth for the proper development of adult or permanent teeth that will begin to come in as young children grow into adolescence, around the age of seven or eight. However, note that molars do not fall out until children are around 12-years-old. If a primary tooth is lost too early, other teeth can move into the open space, which will not only make it very difficult for the permanent teeth to come in straight but is very likely to lead to complex orthodontic treatment in the future. It is far simpler and much easier to try and save the baby tooth in the first place. However, if we cannot save the baby tooth, additional work in the form of a space maintainer may be necessary to save room for the permanent tooth. How Cavities Are Caused Without proper cleaning, food debris, particularly sugar and carbohydrates, form a visible, pale yellow, sticky film of bacteria both on the surface and between the teeth. This plaque is the primary cause of tooth decay because it produces acids that eat into the enamel of the tooth. The enamel is the hard, protective outer shell of the tooth. As the enamel erodes, the bacteria reach and infect the softer inner layer of the tooth, which begins to rot. As the infection progresses, the pain can become quite severe. The Importance of Treating Cavities Early Once decay starts, it very rarely stops, but only gets larger and deeper in a fairly short space of time. In fact, it is not unknown for a small cavity to deteriorate to the point that the bacteria has infected the pulp in the very center of the tooth. Either all or a portion of the pulp will need to be removed because if left untreated, the infected pulp can damage the permanent tooth lying below. In other cases, a crown may be necessary or we will have to extract the entire tooth while possibly using a space maintainer. It is, again, much easier, simpler, and less traumatic to fill in a small cavity. The problem is that children's teeth often look good on the surface, but X-rays can reveal the presence of one or more cavities, usually on or between the molars.Thus, this is why regular dental check-ups are a crucial part of your child's oral health. We understand that having several cavities filled can be stressful for both the child and the parents. The success of our cavity treatment for kids is based on the fact that we have the training, experience, and facility to treat your child successfully. At the same time, we can keep them as comfortable as possible. Our goal is to establish an exceptional oral care routine that will last a lifetime to lead to strong, healthy teeth and beautiful smiles.