Pain with Braces

The doctors of Riverwalk Dental have seen many smiles transformed with braces.  But we all know braces are a long process, and there is some pain and discomfort along the way.  Patients with braces often feel a little discomfort after their wires have been tightened, and patients with new braces usually experience some uncomfortable chafing as their mouth gets used to braces.  These are both normal occurrences and you can ease the pain while getting to your perfect smile!   

With a new set of braces, the insides of cheeks and lips will rub against the brackets and wires.  The soft tissue will toughen as your mouth gets accustomed to the braces, but at first it can create sore spots.  Dental wax is a great defense against this.  Just a small piece can cover the edge of a bracket and relieve any chafing.  After a set of braces is tightened a patient will also feel some pain and soreness.  The patient should eat soft foods right after a tightening if they are experiencing discomfort.  If the pain continues, over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil and Motrin are helpful.  Please still contact the office if you experience any extreme or long-lasting discomfort.

To learn more about braces and all the services we provide, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, call 403-456-4994.

Caring for Invisalign

Riverwalk Dental provides Invisalign’s clear aligner system, which straightens teeth without the metallic look of braces. Another perk of Invisalign clear aligners is that they require less maintenance and won’t prevent you from eating certain foods.  Although you won’t have to make too many changes, there are still guidelines you should follow to wear and care for your aligners!

You should remove Invisalign each time you eat, but if you do eat anything while wearing the aligners make sure to clean them thoroughly afterwards. It is also best to brush and floss your teeth before putting the aligners back in.  Ideally when wearing clear aligners, you would only drink water. Colorful drinks can stain the aligners and too many hot drinks can eventually warp the plastic.  If you do drink anything other than water while wearing the aligners you should rinse them with warm water afterwards. 

Cleaning the clear aligners regularly is important for your teeth and straightening treatment.  Clear aligners can become discolored over time without losing their effectiveness, but the color can show on your own teeth and continue to darken.  Invisalign offers its own brand of cleaning solution, and there are several soaking solutions available over the counter, but brushing the aligners is also a sufficient cleaning option.  Do not use toothpaste to brush the aligners because subtle abrasive properties of toothpaste could harm the aligner.  It is best to use a mild dish soap and a soft bristle brush to clean the aligners each time you brush your teeth.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, call 403-456-4994.

Dental Abscess

Most of us know how painful a mouth sore can be, which is why our doctors at Riverwalk Dental hope you never come in contact with a dental abscess. A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around the root of a tooth and can result from an untreated cavity, a dental injury, or old dental work. Unfortunately if one develops, it won’t go away on its own, and our doctors will have to suggest a procedure to save the tooth.

If a tooth is infected and you don’t seek treatment, you risk developing a dental abscess. The tooth is hard on the outside, but inside, where the nerves, connective tissue, and pulp lie, once the pulp becomes dead, it can lead to an abscess. Sometimes an abscess will cause a pimple-like bump on the gum that may be accompanied by pain, swelling, and pain when you chew, and/or gum tenderness. To treat the problem, our doctors may suggest antibiotics or tooth extraction.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care or dental health, please give us a call. Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit rverwalkdental.ca.

Toothbrush Abrasion

Too much of anything can be bad for you and the same goes for brushing your teeth.  If you notice that your gums are sensitive to touch, but your oral care routine is up to par, you may be brushing your teeth too hard. Vigorous brushing can wear down tooth enamel and cause damage to the gums, exposing the sensitive root area. Our doctors at Riverwalk Dental are here to encourage you to take your time while brushing and do the job at a slower pace.

Those at risk for toothbrush abrasion are the ones who diligently brush their teeth. We understand that you may be wondering why you are getting punished for good behavior, but there is a solution to the problem. Changing your brushing habits will benefit your teeth and gums. It helps to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to prevent damage and reduce sensitivity. You should apply just enough pressure to feel the bristles against the gums, but do not squish the bristles into your gums, as this means you’re brushing too hard.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care or dental health, please give us a call. Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit rverwalkdental.ca.

Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth are a highly variable problem, which is why at Riverwalk Dental, we want our patients to have an understanding of what will happen if one is found. Depending on the crack’s location and severity, the problem could range from merely cosmetic to necessitating extraction.

The smallest cracks, called craze lines, do not threaten the tooth’s structure and can simply be covered up. More serious cracks will often be present long before they cause pain and may only be discovered through a dental examination or when an old filling is removed. Because cracks are usually too small to be examined through x-rays, dentists often test them through other means such as probing and asking patients to report what they feel when they bite down on cotton. In cases where a cracked root is suspected, a dentist may need to cut a flap in the gum tissue in order to do a visual examination. If the root is not cracked, the problem may be fixable with a new crown. If it is, there are ways of replacing the tip of a root, but a crack the entire length of the tooth will require the tooth to be replaced. It is also necessary to determine whether the tooth has been infected, which is something x-rays are more useful for.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.