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Dental care

Things Nursing Moms Should Know About Dental Health

Baby feeding with breast milk is considered to be one of the oldest practices. The process of breastfeeding is a major necessity during infancy and childhood, not only for the baby’s nutritional needs, but it also forms a bond between mother and child.

It promotes a proper bite when a child is breastfed
Breastfed children demonstrate more facial muscle activity than bottle-fed children. Sucking helps develop the skeleton and muscles of the face.

Bacteria in the mouth can be inhibited by breast milk
Antibodies and proteins found in breast milk inhibit bacterial growth. Unlike infant formula, it contains lactose instead of sucrose. Compared to sucrose, lactose has a lower carcinogenic potential.

Breast milk can cause cavities in your infant
Breast milk also contains sugars, just like infant formula. This can cause the child’s teeth to become decayed. It is therefore important that you begin caring for your baby’s teeth as soon as possible after his or her birth.

Clean his gums every day with a soft, damp cloth. Start brushing with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth erupts.

Once your baby’s teeth appear, you can continue to breastfeed

Breastfeeding shouldn’t be stopped at any given time. You can continue breastfeeding your baby even after his or her teeth have grown in.

You are more likely to develop cavities if you breastfeed
During pregnancy and nursing, women are more likely to develop cavities. There are several reasons for this:

  • An increase in cavities due to changes in oral hygiene practices: New babies can disrupt your daily routine, including your oral hygiene routine. Thus, maintaining a proper oral hygiene regimen is crucial.
  • Lactation cookies: You may need to use lactation cookies if you have trouble producing enough milk for your baby. Milk-producing ingredients are contained in these cookies. Sugar is also high in them, which increases the risk of cavities.

To ensure that your child is only exposed to safe practices when introducing new foods, you should seek advice from a dental professional.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

What are symptoms of infection after root canal?

Most patients wonder if they can get an infection after a root canal. The possibility of developing a mild to serious infection following a root canal procedure does exist, although it is rare. You should be aware of and recognize early signs of infection to prevent the infection from spreading or causing complications.

Following a root canal treatment, here are four things you should look out for:

Having chronic bad breath
Patients with chronic bad breath usually have root canal infections. A persistent bad breath is likely due to an infection even if you brush, floss, and use dental rinse.

Root canal infections are caused by bacteria that emit an unpleasant odor.  Bad breath and a bitter taste result from this. Developing an abscess can exacerbate the problem.

Darkening of the teeth
An infected tooth may appear brown or yellow if it is infected at the inner enamel level. Infected pulp tissues turn dark brown, and that affects the tooth’s color.

Inflammation/Pain
People who suffer from root canal infection seek dental care primarily because of the pain they experience. The infection causes severe pain. Biting down or applying pressure to the affected tooth intensifies the pain.  Besides, eating warm or cold foods and drinks can also cause tooth sensitivity.

An abscessed tooth
Abscesses occur when bacteria and dying pulp create pus-filled pockets around the tooth roots. An enlarged or persistent pimple or bump on the gum causes severe unease and bad breath. An unpleasant odor may also start to come out of the abscess

You should contact your dentist or endodontist if you notice any of these symptoms. A faster diagnosis and treatment of infection will reduce the risk of complications.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

How long does root canal treatment last?

Cases in which a tooth’s pulp becomes infected or inflamed, root canal treatment can prevent necessary tooth removal. An endodontist can clean, shape, and disinfect your root canals to preserve your natural tooth for years, decades, or even a lifetime. After the pulp has been removed from the tooth, the periodontal ligament keeps the tooth in place to function like any other tooth. Root canals may last a lifetime, but certain circumstances may require re-treatment.

Root canals will last longer if a few factors are followed:

  • You must allow your doctor to restore the tooth permanently. A filling and crown should be placed after all bacteria and debris have been removed from the canals.
  • Be sure to brush and floss at least three times a day, preferably after a meal and right before bedtime.
  • Make sure you get regular dental checkups and cleanings.

Root Canal Lifespan: Factors That Affect It
What makes a root canal last a lifetime instead of one that requires re-treatment after a few years?

  • Timeline of treatment: When treatment is started on time, better results are achieved than when treatment is delayed.
  • The tooth’s location: A front tooth requires fewer endodontic treatments since it only requires one root canal. In addition to having multiple roots, the back teeth must take more bite force during eating, making treatment more difficult.
  • Age of the patient: Getting older makes our teeth more brittle and more vulnerable to breaking. Having a root canal can also be affected by this phenomenon. In these circumstances, dental crowns are often preferred over dental fillings for restoring molars because they help protect the tooth from stress.

We cannot predict how long a root canal treatment will last because many variables are involved. It is known that a root canal is a very effective procedure for salvaging a compromised tooth and that it can last a long period of time when performed by a board-certified endodontist.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

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Dental care

Can You Brush Your Teeth After a Root Canal?

A root canal is an endodontic therapy that entails removing the inner pulp, and it is done when dental decay reaches the pulp and then the tooth’s root. A root canal therapy acts as an alternative for tooth extraction and is undertaken to relieve patients from pain while preserving the overall structure of their teeth.

Should You Brush After a Root Canal Therapy?
All patients should brush and floss regularly after a root canal. Still, it is essential to allow the local anesthesia to wear off before going back to the usual oral hygiene regimen. After the local anesthetic is marred, brushing and flossing become entirely safe. Moreover, if you are awaiting the dentist to place the permanent crown, gently brushing and flossing are recommended.

Post-operative Care for Success of Root Canal Treatment

  • Wait for Numbness to Subside: After root canal therapy, it is imperative to eat soft foods until the numbness driven by the local anesthetic abates.
  • Some Tenderness is Normal: It is entirely normal to feel some tenderness while closing and opening the mouth after a root canal therapy. The tenderness can be efficiently dealt with through medications.
  • Visible Swelling Is A Warning Sign: If you can see visible swelling in your mouth, visit your dentist at the earliest. Swelling could be the result of a post-root canal infection or maybe an allergic reaction to an anesthetic or medication.

Things to Eat After a Root Canal Therapy
Some things that you can eat or drink immediately after a root canal procedure include soft fruits such as mangoes, peaches, fruit juices, soft cereals, pudding, tofu, soup, and tuna salad. You should avoid gum, candy, peanut brittle, and very hot or cold beverages.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!