Dental Emergencies at Christmas
Beechwood Dental Grinch!
Christmas is just around the corner. Mince pies, champagne, selection boxes, to name but a few things, will no doubt make their way into our festive diets, but spare a thought for your teeth! Constant snacking, drinking and eating sugary foods and drinks over Christmas can make this a miserable time for teeth. Here is some advice to avoid Dental Emergencies.
1.Beware of the mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding Mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas puddings are full of dried fruit, which is high in sugar. These sticks to teeth and can cause the most damage, particularly if we’re gorging on them throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
2.Don’t ditch the routine The worst thing you can do is wrap up your oral hygiene routine on Christmas Eve for a few days. Teeth take a bit of a hammering, what with all the chocolates, sugary foods, drinks and the alcohol consumed over the festive period.
3.Say cheese! Cheese is great for teeth. It helps to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and help reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. So cheeseboards after the main meal are always a great idea.
4.Use the bottle opener We can all confess to attempting to open a bottle of beer with our teeth at some point in our lives. If your party trick is to open a bottle of beer with your teeth, or if you’re always biting open the crisp packet, you’re doing your teeth more harm than good. Please remember your teeth aren’t tools!
5.Moderation Moderation is the most important thing to remember. To ensure you fully enjoy this time of year without having to compromise on what you eat and drink. Bear in mind it is not how much sugary food and drink you have, it is how often you have them that causes a perilous situation for oral health. It’s ok to say no to that extra sweet as the tin comes around, or have a glass of milk instead of one last glass of fizz.
What should you do if you can’t get an appointment with a dentist?
Dental emergencies can be worrying, especially if you are unable to see your dentist immediately. We have a few tips in the event of Dental Emergencies which will help until you can visit your dentist.
BROKEN TEETH
In the event of a broken tooth or teeth, it is important to keep the area clean. It is wise to gently clean the area and remove any debris. The use of a mouthwash such as Corsodyl can also help to keep the area clean and free from bacteria. There are some temporary filling material products available at large chemists such as Boots which can also be helpful. If the teeth are very sensitive, rubbing in sensitive tooth paste such as Colgate Pro Relief or Sensodyne Rapid Response is recommended.
GUM SWELLING
Swollen gums are a sign of infection. It is very important to keep the mouth as clean as possible with gentle tooth brushing and using mouthwashes such as Corsodyl or warm salt water. Antibiotics are usually required in the case of an infection which can only be prescribed by your dentist.
TOOTH ACHE
Tooth pain such as throbbing, tenderness on biting, a dull ache and sensitivity are common descriptions for tooth ache. There may be different reasons for the pain. If medically allowed, the use of anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen can help. Paracetamol is good if you are unable to use ibuprofen. These medications should only be used in the short term. Always read the label.
WISDOM TOOTH PAIN
Pain from wisdom teeth is usually due to inflammation or infection of the surrounding gum. This is called ‘pericoronitis’. It is very important to keep the area as clean as possible using gentle tooth brushing and mouthwashes. Corsodyl, Colgate Peroxyl or simply warm salt water are ideal. Due to the difficult access of wisdom teeth, a small headed tooth brush will be required.
LOST FILLING
If a dental filling falls out such as an amalgam (metal) filling or a white (composite) filling, clean the area gently. The use of a temporary filling material can help. Avoid biting anything too hard or crunchy on the area and avoid the extremes of hot and cold as they are may be sensitive.
The main advice is to see your dentist as soon as possible. At Beechwood Dental we have a policy of seeing emergency patients on the day, so feel free to call us on 01202 397074 in the event of Dental Emergencies or contact www.beechwooddental.co.uk.
Beechwood Dental 2016 Xmas opening hours
23rd December 08.30 – 12.30
28th December 9-12.45
29th December 9-12.45
Re-open 3rd January 2017 9- 5.15
