Get Rid of Cold Sore

Question:

“Hi I have a cold sore on the corner of my lip how can you get rid of it?”

Answer:

What is a Cold Sore?

Cold sores (also known as fever blisters) are red, fluid-filled blisters that most commonly occur around the mouth. They’re usually caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). HSV is contagious, and the blisters are usually painful. They usually last 10-14 days. The virus is usually caught from kissing, eating from the same plate as someone who has it, or from sharing towels for example. Cold sores usually clear up on their own, but you are encouraged to see your physician if any of the following is true:

• The sores don’t clear up on their own after 1 or 2 weeks.
• The re-appear often.
• You have severe symptoms.
• If your immune system is not at its peak due to a previous illness
• You eyes are aggravated when you have cold sores.

Getting Rid of Cold Sores

Unfortunately there is no “cure” for cold sores.  However, there are several treatments that can be used to decrease or temporarily alleviate the symptoms of herpes.  These treatments include:

• Anti-viral medications such as Acyclovir
• Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen, to alleviate the pain
• Over the counter topical anesthetic gels can also help to decrease pain and discomfort

We actually have an entire article with detailed information concering cold sores.

Please visit our article at cold sores for more info.

We hope that this was useful to you!

Sensitive and loose teeth

Question:

“Dear Dr, I’m 50 years old and my teeth are very sensitive with looseness, severe pain & falling out due to necrosis. I have big prob to chewing my diet pl advise me”

Answer:

What you are reporting are the sure signs of periodontal disease.  This involves losing the bone around teeth, as well as supporting structures, as a result of bad oral hygiene.

Your question actually sparked us to write a detailed article concerning periodontal disease.  For an in-depth explanation of periodontal disease, please follow the link here: http://www.savemysmile.com/dental-problems/periodontal-disease-dental-problems/periodontal-disease/

Good luck and we hope this helps!

Save My Smile Team

Extraction and Denture

Question:

“I had a molar tooth extracted yesterday and had a partial denture put in straight away. It is now starting the clot, but over the denture as well.
Will this form over my denture when it is healed? Should I do anything?”

Answer:

Tooth Extraction Healing

After tooth removal, the empty socket will usually heal over time by itself.  Tooth extraction healing times vary, and depend on individual patients. It is normal that you will have a blood clot after tooth extraction. A partial denture is sometimes inserted shortly after extractions if only a few teeth are removed for esthetic reasons.

Partial Dentures work as Bandages after Extractions

During this time, the partial denture acts as a band-aid.  Most dentists recommend for you to sleep with the denture in for the first night, and then return the next day for a 24-hour post insertion recall appointment.  At that time, the dentist will remove the denture from your mouth, lightly debride the extraction site, and the denture itself.  If everything appears normal, the dentist will make adjustments as needed to the partial and place it back in your mouth.

After this appointment, return to normal home care for a partial, which includes removing it every night to clean and soak.

Tips to Remember After Extractions and Denture Delivery

A few things to note during extraction healing:

• Very gentle rinsing after the first 24 hrs with warm salt water is advisable, as this helps to remove any food around the extraction site. Please note that only very gentle spitting is advisable!
• Remove dentures at night, store and clean as per instructions given.
• Very gentle brushing around the extraction site, to keep the area clean.

Your tissues need a ‘break’, so very gentle rinsing and very gentle brushing at night, along with taking the denture out overnight, will help with the healing process. The clot itself will not heal over the denture. The excess clotted blood around the site (and around your denture) can be removed carefully with a damp, clean gauze.

Save My Smile Team

What is referred pain?

Question:

“For about two months, been having terrible teeth pain, lower and upper left side.  Ringing and pressure in ears, along with awful headaches.  [I am] going to a second dentist tomorrow [for an opinion], with lots of dizziness.   My lips are inflamed as well as the inside of my mouth.  I have drainage in the back of my throat.  My sinuses are too clear and it hurts when I breathe through my nose.  Does anyone know what this could be?  I am suffering badly.  Thank you.”

Answer:

There are several common causes for tooth pain. Please refer to posted article. Another less well known cause is what is called referred pain. This basically means that the tooth pain may not actually come from the tooth in question, instead it is carried over (or referred) from another tooth or another area in the body (i.e. ear infection).

Causes of Referred Pain

Reasons a tooth may ache due to referred pain include:

• A tooth infection (such as a tooth abscess) that travels to another tooth/teeth
• Referred tooth pain from an ear infection
• Referred tooth pain from heart attack
• Referred tooth pain from trigeminal neuralgia, a condition where there is pain in trigeminal (facial) nerves that supply sensation to teeth.
• Referred tooth pain from a sinus inflammation or infection.

Maxillary Sinus Infection (Sinutitis)

The maxillary sinuses are located in the upper jaw and behind the cheekbones. A sinus infection can be the cause of severe headaches, discomfort or pressure in or below the (eyes), pain in the ears, and upper facial pain. This type of infection affects teeth because of how close teeth in the upper jaw are to the sinuses. Causes of maxillary sinus infection include:

• An allergen (a substance or particles that you are allergic to)
• A ‘bug’ (some kind of virus, bacteria or fungus)
• An oral infection that has travelled to the maxillary sinus

Even small oral infections (for example a tooth cavity or a small tooth abscess) can lead to a maxillary sinus infection.

Symptoms of sinus infection

Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

• Sinus headache
• Facial pain
• Toothache- this is the most common cause of referred pain in a tooth or teeth
• Cough

It is very important to have a full evaluation and proper diagnosis by a dentist to determine if any oral condition is the cause, or if they can be ruled out, and what treatment is necessary. Good luck with your search for dentists.  We are sure this information can help guide you and your health care provider along the right course towards a proper diagnosis.

We hope that this information was useful to you!

If you are interested in submitting a question with us, send it here!

Internal Resorption

Question:

“I have a terrible toothache triggered by cold food and drinks and only lasts for a few seconds. My dentists says he can’t find any[thing] wrong clinically and my xray comes out fine. It’s been 2 weeks now and now one tooth is discoloring, turning slightly purple. Pain is not going away when I [eat] cold foods and drinks. What could it be and how can I treat it?? Plz help…”

Answer:

A tooth that is sensitive to cold is a very common dental complaint. A toothache triggered by cold drinks or food usually indicates that there is some kind of inflammation occurring.  Tooth inflammation occurs as the body’s way of trying to fight a stimulus or anything that can cause injury (such as untreated tooth decay). In so doing, inflammation is an attempt by the body to initiate a repair. Inflammation can occur at the beginning of tooth decay, or later on as a reaction to untreated tooth decay.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

If the process of tooth decay is not suspected, a number of factors may be identified as reasons for tooth discoloration. These include:

• Tooth discoloration after trauma (after a fall for example)
• Discolored teeth due to medication (some antibiotics may cause this)
• Tooth discoloration caused by treatment of diseases (head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can be a cause)
• Discolored teeth due to internal resorption.

What is Internal Resorption

A discolored tooth that has pink spots or is generally pink/purplish is usually an indication of internal resorption. The process of internal resorption essentially involves a disappearance of the normal pulpal tissues from the center outwards.

Causes of Internal Resorption

Although it is unclear what causes internal resorption, it can be the result of many factors, including:

• Trauma
• Decay
• Removing part of the pulp
• A cracked tooth

Internal resorption generally has no symptoms. If there are symptoms, there is most likely a connection of the internal resorption to the periodontal ligament. The periodontal ligament is the structure that surrounds the tooth and holds it in the socket. This channel results in a combined internal-external resorption.

Treatment of Internal Resorption

Internal resorption by itself is usually asymptomatic and successfully managed by root canal therapy, and the likely outcome is usually good. Recall visits are usually necessary because the resorption can recur.  Where there is a channel that connects the periodontal ligament and the internal resorption, it must be closed off. Tooth resorption symptoms of this nature include sensitivity to cold.  The likely outcome is more questionable when there is a channel/communication.  Internal resorption or a combined internal-external resorption is not uncommon to dental professionals. Patient history is very important in order to establish a proper diagnosis and treatment management.

Please refer to your dental professional immediately for comprehensive evaluation and treatment.

Hopefully this was helpful to you!

Save My Smile Team

Dental pain after filling

Question:

About six months ago I went to the dentist and he did some kind of drilling.  After getting the drilling done, I couldn’t eat or drink anything! It hurt so bad. A month later the pain was basically gone.  It’s starting to come back again. But even worse. I don’t want to go threw anything painful, (filling, etc,.) I really hope this isn’t anything bad because the tooth mostly hurts on the top and whenever I drink cold milk or hot coffee. Or eat something hot or cold. I am totally scared of the dentist. I have got a filling before, they numbed me and stuff, but it still hurt! I DON’T WANT TO GET ANOTHER ONE  HELP ME!

Answer:

Reasons for a Filling or Crown

There are several reasons why dental drilling may be necessary. These include:

• Dental drilling to remove decay and then place a filling in that area
• Dental drilling to prepare a tooth or teeth for a cap (crown)
• Dental drilling to clean and fill the pulp if a tooth or teeth need root canal therapy

The description you gave sounds like a front tooth cavity. Sensitivity to cold sometimes indicates the beginning of tooth decay. There are two areas of a tooth that a dentist may have to go through when doing dental drilling in order to treat your front tooth cavity.

These are:

• Enamel -  which is the outside area, what you see when you look at your teeth
• Dentin – located directly below the enamel.  Dentin has holes in it with fluid located inside.  When this fluid is disturbed, it carries pain sensations to the pulp (the center of the tooth that has nerves and blood vessels).  This is what happens when teeth ache (or a single pain in tooth).

Tooth Sensitivity

Reasons that you may have a tooth sensitive to cold include:

• A tooth with a cavity/decay. The decay may go deep into the dentin and be the cause of your tooth sensitivity (caries/decay is usually the main culprit when teeth ache).

• A filling that has been placed in an area of deep decay.  If the amount of caries is extensive, the drilling necessary may be more than if there were less caries. This sometimes results in a tooth that is sensitive to cold, and may be prevented by having your dentist place a dental liner over the dentin before filling the tooth.

From the details of your question, your tooth pain that occurred after your filling may have been due to the fact that your front tooth cavity was deep and close to the pulp. Tooth pain after a filling is not at all uncommon, however prolonged tooth pain may be an indication that a liner may have helped. It would be a good idea to get a new radiograph (x-ray) of the tooth to see if there are other issues, and have it addressed from that point.

Also, do not hesitate to let your dentist know if the filling hurts during the procedure.  You should be completely anesthetized and should not feel anything.  You run the show, and you can stop if necessary.

Remember, don’t allow your dental fear to stop you from taking care of your oral health.

We hope this helps you!

Why are my gums black?

Question:

I have black gums.  It’s been like this my entire life.  They do not hurt or anything, but is this normal?

Answer:

Yes this is very normal, especially if it’s been like this your entire life.

For several ethnicities, skin color is derived from a pigment called melanin in the skin cells.  Melanin is also present in your gum tissue and this is what gives it the brown or blackish color.  It all ties in to your skin color and ethnicity.

However, if your gums used to be pink or red and have now turned black or brown, then that can be a sign for something more involved.  If it’s been like this your entire life, then there is definitely nothing to worry about.

Hope this helps!

How to Fix a Gap in Front Teeth

Question:

I have a gap between my two front teeth and its awkward.  Can you suggest possible treatment options from the dentist?

Answer:

There are several options for closing a gap, also known as a diastema, between teeth, especially your two front teeth.  And, as expected, the price range for each procedure varies greatly, depending upon the involvement of each procedure.

Some options for closing a gap between teeth include the following:

• Tooth bonding/buildup
• Veneers
• Crowns
• Orthodontics/Braces

Tooth Bonding / Tooth Buildup

Tooth bonding involves adding tooth-colored material (usually composite) to the tooth to close the gap.  The dentist shapes the material according to your natural tooth shape so the material looks very natural.

Advantages

• Inexpensive
• No anesthesia needed for procedure
• Only one appointment required
• Natural tooth structure kept intact (does not have to be reduced)

Disadvantages

• Not as sturdy and secure as the other options
• Possibility of staining
• May have to get redone every 5-10 years

Veneers

Veneers are porcelain facings that fit over your natural tooth.  These facings can be used to close the gap and can even brighten your smile.  In fact, most celebrities wear veneers as a quick, easy way to close gaps and create the perfect smile.

Advantages

• Does not stain
• Can choose any tooth color you desire i.e. whiten your smile
• Look very natural
• Only 1-2 appointments needed

Disadvantages

• Natural tooth has to be slightly reduced
• Possibility of popping off (very slim possibility)
• More expensive than tooth bonding
• Anesthesia needed

Crowns

Crowns are a dental cap that is placed over your tooth.  They can reshape and enhance your smile.

Advantages

• Do not stain
• Can choose any color
• Secure and very stable
• Only 1-2 appointments needed

Disadvantages

• A lot of natural tooth structure has to be reduced (more so than any other option)
• Anesthesia needed

Orthodontic Braces

Orthodontics includes brackets, wires, or trays that can easily shift around your teeth to easily obtain a nice, even smile with no spaces.

Advantages

• No need to reduce natural tooth structure
• Permanent shifting of teeth, no need to worry about follow-up

Disadvantage

• Time consuming, can take a couple of months or years (in severe cases)
• Non-esthetics – depending on which method you decide, brackets and wires will be very visible and noticeable
• Most costly of all options
• Have to wear a retainer after braces to ensure teeth do not shift back into original place

Good news is that you have plenty of options and several factors to weigh out when making your decision.

Good luck!

Save My Smile Team

Sore Tongue

Question:

Hi,

I always had white patchy tounge. I read on the internet and found out that it might be due to lack of vitamins. I took some multi vitamins for a while and they seem to have reduced considerably. They always come back. But recently the tip of my tounge has turned red. I am not able to taste any food with the tip of my tounge and I noticed in the mirror that the number of taste buds seem to have gone down and i also have a very different sensation..like numbess at the tip of the tounge. It also burns when I take spiced food.  I hope you can help me.
Thank you

Answer:

A sore tongue can be caused by several factors.  First, we will examine different symptoms, causes, and treatment of sore tongue.  Next, based off of your specific symptoms, we will take a closer look at your particular area of concern.

NEXT PAGE: Symptoms of sore tongue ==>

Symptoms and Causes of Sore Tongue

Symptoms of Sore Tongue

Symptoms can include any of the following:

• A sore or burning sensation on the tongue
• Loss or lack of taste on the tongue
• Aching, throbbing, or pounding feeling on the tongue
• Weird, different, or strange taste in the mouth

Causes of Sore Tongue

Sore tongue can be caused by a vast array of different ailments or deficiencies.  It can be a part of a disease process or it can present by itself.  Some common causes of sore tongue include:

• Burning or biting the tongue

This is the most common cause of a sore tongue and happens when you bite down or accidentally consume hot liquid.  The tongue has many nerve endings and usually quickly heals after minor traumatic injuries

• Fungal infection

If you wear dentures, retainers, or constantly place objects in your mouth, then there is a chance of fungal infection.  The tongue usually appears inflamed, smooth, and/or red.

• Burning Mouth Syndrome

This syndrome has an unknown cause.  However, it can cause a severe burning sensation in the mouth that increases throughout the day.  It can also cause a metallic taste in the mouth or loss of taste altogether.  On a larger scale, it also causes changes in mood and dry mouth.  Several studies are currently being conducted in order to lead to a more definitive path of diagnosis and treatment for burning mouth syndrome.

• Vitamin deficiency

Usually, a deficiency of vitamin b12 can cause sore tongue.  The tongue can appear red and swollen and can cause changes in taste.

• Oral Cancer

This is a very severe risk associated with a sore tongue.  Oftentimes oral cancer can easily be overlooked or mistaken for something else.  It’s best to visit your dentist or physician to completely rule this out as an option.

• Hormonal changes (commonly associated with menopause)

Hormonal changes or imbalances in our body/endocrine system can sometimes reflect in the mouth.  A sore tongue is sometimes a sign of these changes.

• Irritation by dentures or retainers

Dentures, retainers, or other devices in the mouth can be harbors for bacteria, fungus, or just plain cause irritation of the tongue, teeth, or checks.  Have your denture or other device checked out to ensure that it’s not harboring bacteria.  Also, be sure to thoroughly clean your prosthetic device EVERYDAY!

• Bacterial infection

Bacterial infection is also a possibility.  If you have a tongue piercing, other mouth jewelry, or an infection occurring elsewhere in the body, an infection in the tongue is a possibility.

NEXT PAGE: Treatment for Sore Tongue ==>

BACK: What is Sore Tongue <==

« Previous Page — Next Page »