How To Manage a Toothache Caused By Tooth Decay

A toothache caused by tooth decay can cause a great deal of pain. Until you are able to see your dentist to have the tooth restored, here are some ways for you to ease your discomfort
                                             
                                                            :

                                                                        
                                                    

• Avoid foods and beverages that are very cold or very hot. Since the dentin layer of the tooth has been invaded by the tooth decay, extremes in temperature may cause pain.
• Avoid foods and beverages that are very high in sugar, or are very acidic.
• Use an over-the-counter pain relief medicine. Never exceed the recommended dose, and check to make sure you are able to take pain relief medications with any of the other medications you may currently be on. Generally speaking, a pain relief medication that is intended to reduced inflammation works best for dental pain, because most toothaches are caused by an inflammation of the tissues or the inflammation of the nerve. Never put pain relief medication on the tooth or gum tissue, as this could burn the tissue.
• Try flossing between the teeth that are painful. Removing the food particles and plaque may help reduce the pain from the toothache.
• Try using oil of clove. Clove oil, which can be found in most health food stores, is used in various dental materials because of its antiseptic and anesthetic properties. Using clove oil at home may help reduce pain from a toothache. Soak a small piece of cotton in the oil, then blot the cotton on a piece of tissue to remove the excess. Using a clean pair of tweezers, hold the cotton on the painful tooth for 10 seconds, making sure you do not swallow any of the oil.
• Don't delay. A toothache that is caused by tooth decay may come and go; but don't be fooled. The longer you wait to have the decay removed from the tooth, the deeper the cavity will progress. What may have been a need for a simple filling could turn into a necessary root canal or even extraction. As soon as you develop a toothache, see your dentist immediately.

How to Brush and Floss for Kids

Brushing and Flossing for Little Mouths

When it comes to brushing and flossing for kids, both tasks require good manual dexterity, or in other words, good control of the tooth brush and floss; something most kids do not develop until around age six. It is important for an adult to brush a child's teeth twice a day to ensure the removal of plaque to prevent tooth decay. Until the age of six children should be supervised while brushing. Brushing should last for at least two minutes. But in the case of children, it will generally require a bit more time and patience for the person helping the child.

• Start by using a soft bristled toothbrush with a pea sized amount of toothpaste. Choose a toothpaste that is appropriate for the age of the child. Avoid using toothpaste that contains fluoride until the child is able to consciously avoid swallowing it to prevent fluorosis.
• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle with the bristles pointed in the direction of the gumline.
• Gently brush the teeth with a circular motion. Brush the outside surface , inside surface , and biting surface of the teeth.

Flossing a child's teeth is often easy because they have fairly large spaces between them. Some children however, do have tight spaces, and require daily flossing to prevent tooth decay between the teeth. Consider using a flossing aide, they are easily used between the teeth, cleaning gently and effectively and allow the child to attempt to floss on their own.

Quick Tips That Help Make Brushing and Flossing Fun and Easy

• Brush your teeth together, taking turns brushing each others teeth
• Use one of the familiar cartoon character brushes
• Sing the theme song from your child's favorite cartoon or a nursery rhyme, while you brush their teeth
• Use toothpaste and mouth rinse that have pleasant flavors for sensitive taste buds
• Use syllables like “ahhhh” or “eeeeeee” to help your child open their mouth or move their lips away from their teeth while brushing.

A Life-Long Commitment

When you teach a child something new at a young age, he will learn the task and continue it well into adulthood. Brushing and flossing has never been more important. Bring your child in to see their dentist as early as the first signs of teeth. Children, depending on their oral hygiene, may have dental appointments once every six months to one year.

Top Herbal Treatments For Toothache

Many of us sometimes experience sudden toothache, and it is very important to know how to reduce it in a safe natural way at home. There is a great number of natural herbal painkillers, such as mustard, black pepper or garlic, which can be effectively used to relief toothache. Below, you can find the tips on what to do and how to treat toothache naturally.

·                  Clove oil is considered to be one of the most effective herbal remedies for toothache. Mix clove oil with a pinch of black pepper powder, place to the affected tooth area.

·                  Mustard oil is another natural option to alleviate toothache. Mixed with a pinch of salt,    mustard oil should be massaged into affected gum area.

·                  Several drops of lemon juice can alleviate toothache.

·                  To reduce sudden toothache and gum inflammation, it is recommended to use slight tea tree oil infusion as a mouthwash.  

·                  Using a piece of bay berry bark dipped for some time in vinegar can be another great herbal remedy for toothache.

·                  It is possible to effectively alleviate toothache by placing a slice of fresh onion on the affected gum or tooth area.  

·                  Other useful medicinal herbs include basil, valerian root, marjoram, asafoetida and others.

·                  To calm down toothache it is possible to use usual ice cubes, applied from the outside.

TIPS FOR PREVENTING BAD BREATH

What’s that smell?

I’d like to start this post with a little exercise. Begin by holding you hand(palm facing you) approximately 3 inches in front of your mouth. Now blow a full breath into your hand. While keeping your hand in place, take a whiff of the air in front of your hand. What do you smell? Hopefully nothing, or better yet, something pleasant. For those of you less than happy with what you’re smelling right now, this post may prove to be particularly prudent. I say that half-jokingly because we all know that anyone at any time can have bad breath. Heck, I’m quite diligent with my oral care routine and I still have bad breath from time to time. That being said, I believe we can all benefit from the advice in this post.

Bad Breath Causes

Before I get to the preventative tips, it’s important to understand where bad breath comes from. Bad breath, or Halitosis as it’s formally known, stems from a variety of common sources. The following are common sources of bad breath:

• Certain food such as garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
• Poor general oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Fasting
• Nasal and sinus infections
• Throat infections
• Faulty dental restorations
• Periodontal disease
• Xerostomia(dry mouth)
• Other underlying health conditions

7 Tips for Preventing Bad Breath

Knowing the causes of bad breath can help us to understand the measures we need to take to prevent it. In no particular order, here is a list of preventative measures you can take starting today to reduce the likelihood that you will have bad breath:
1) Brush & Rinse(with water) After Each Meal – Some of you may think I’m crazy for suggesting this. Sure, you may have to get creative if you don’t want to be seen brushing your teeth at work, but this is one of the best ways to ensure that food particles do not get stuck in the pockets surrounding your teeth.

2) Floss at Least Once Per Day – Flossing is equally important as brushing in my opinion. Just like recommendation number one above, flossing is intended to remove food particles from between the teeth. This will, in turn, create an unfavorable environment for bacteria growth. That’s exactly what we’re after.

3) Brush Your Tongue – The tongue carries approximately 50% of the total bacteria in your mouth. Where there’s bacteria, there’s odor. Whack this bacteria by brushing your tongue with toothpaste for at least 10 strokes. The middle 1/3 of your tongue is most prone to bacteria growth so pay special attention to that area.

4) Chew Sugarless Gum – Chewing sugarless gum can increase the flow of saliva and reduce the chances you’ll experience dry mouth-related bad breath. If gum isn’t your thing you can also try sugarless throat lozenges to create the same effect.

5) Drink Plenty of Water – This recommendation follows the same lines as the above suggestion. Drinking plenty of water reduces the occurrence of dry mouth by stimulating saliva production. Stick to water as alcohol and caffeinated drinks can lead to Xerostomia
.
6) Swap out Your Toothbrush Every 3-4 Months An old toothbrush is a bacteria-riddled toothbrush. Bad breath or not this is a good tip to remember
.
7) Quit Smoking – This is easier said than done, I’m sure. However, smoking caused nicotine and tar(among other nasty chemicals) to build up on the cheek walls, tongue, and teeth surfaces. It comes as no surprise that bad breath is nearly inevitable if you smoke. However, following the above tips can minimize your risk for developing bad breath.