What causes toothache

There isn't probably anyone who wouldn't know the feeling of an aching tooth. The reason for this pain in most cases applies to untreated caries or inflammation. However, there are a number of other factors that may cause toothache. These include, among others, tooth sensitivity, pain after surgery, root canal treatment or after filling treatment.

Toothache can be caused by tooth decay, infection, nerve irritation. Inside the tooth, there is pulp, commonly called nerve. If there is inflammation, the pulp hurts, which is usually caused by decay. Cavities reveal the tooth nerve, which has constant contact with foods and drinks - it causes pain. A patient who does not go to the dental surgery to cure the problem, exposes himself/herself to the development of inflammation. The pulp dies - very often an abscess appears and causes radiating pain which hard to bear.

Toothache is characterized by varying intensity. The tooth may hurt moderately, but also inflammation can lead to pain throughout the jaw, head and ear. In extreme cases it may cause periostitis, the accompanying pain that makes you almost "die" of pain, and painkillers do not help. Only a dentist can help, as well as implementation of antibiotics, which eliminate the acute inflammation.

Causes of toothache

- Untreated tooth decay - as a consequence of inflammation of the pulp

- Root canal treatment (inaccurate purification of the canal, which leads to the bacteria development under the filling)

- Falling out of a filling

- Fracture of a tooth

- Gingival abscess

- Development of the wisdom teeth

- Ulceration of the gums

- Fillings

- Changes in the periapical tissues, etc.

Dental fillings, may also contribute to a toothache. This is most commonly caused by irritation of the pulp (nerve).

Prevention 

In order to prevent tooth pain, you should take care of your teeth and mouth. In addition to brushing (teeth and tongue), mouthwash  and use of dental floss you need to limit sugar to a minimum. Of course you can not forget about visiting your dentists in Poland.

Enamel: How to protect it against erosion and abrasion

Proper nutrition and careful oral hygiene can protect enamel against erosion and abrasion. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. It is almost entirely composed of minerals and only its parts: of organic matter. Although it is very hard substance that can be cut only by diamond milling at a dental clinic in Poland, tooth enamel has two main enemies. One of them is the result of brushing abrasion and the other is the erosion due to the acidity contained in food. Destroyed enamel, as a result of excessively strong brushing, becomes thinner, especially around the neck of the tooth. This place is usually demarcated by the gum covering the bone located nearby, which, in addition to the protective function, maintains the aesthetics of a smile.

Main reasons for enamel damage is:

- the use of too hard brush 

- brushing your teeth only in the horizontal direction

- worn out toothbrushes

Another enemy is the erosion of enamel, which is formed by contact with acidic substances (that is, with a pH of between 1 and 6). Erosive action of acids is based on the penetration of the tooth mineral, which can easily be shredded by a toothbrush. Due to the acidity we are dealing with unaesthetic teeth and sensitivity to thermal changes. The teeth lose their luster and become dull, as the enamel becomes thinner.

Products with high acidity are:

- citrus fruit juice

- drinks with added sugar or sugar-free

- fruits and fruit juices

- wine

This, of course, does not mean that you should not eat these products, but always remember to wash your teeth and use mouthwash with the addition of fluoride. Abrasion and erosion of tooth enamel can be avoided by ensuring proper oral hygiene and healthy nutrition, which, paradoxically, may be the cause.

All you need to know about snoring and apnea

Normal breathing involves a smooth flow of air through the throat and lungs. When you are awake, the muscles help to maintain the surrounding structures so that the air reaches the lungs and does not encounter any obstacles along the way. During sleep, the muscles are at rest but the airways in the throat should remain open to allow air supply to the lungs.

Snoring is a serious problem affecting 60% of men and 40% of women between 40 and 60 years of age. Medicine and dentistry abroad usually treat snoring as an inconvenience. Many relatives of such patients believe snoring is a serious social problem as it deteriorates the sleep of the relatives as well. In response, they have to prod their partners or sleep in separate bedrooms. Snoring can lead to a more serious condition called apnea. Snoring occurs when patient's tongue falls back and partially clogs the airways. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tongue completely blocks the airways.

Apnea is the cessation of nasal breathing for ten seconds. Thirty or more episodes of apnea during 7-hours sleep at night is considered to be sleep apnea. People affected by the disease have hundreds of episodes of apnea during one night, each lasting from 10 to 200 seconds. This limits the amount of oxygen delivered to the body and brain and disrupts the normal sleep cycle. Daytime symptoms of sleep apnea range from a mild inability to concentrate for extreme sleepiness at the time of quiet sitting. These patients may fall asleep while watching TV, at work or even while driving! Severe cases of sleep apnea can be life threatening. It can cause hypertension, which can provoke a stroke or heart attack. Because sleep apnea is a medical disorder with serious health implications, all patients are advised to consult a doctor or specialist in sleep disorders before starting oral treatment apparatus.

Facts about snoring:

- One in eight people snore

- About 18 million people suffer from periodic apnea

- 28% of men over age 65 suffer from periodic apnea

- Up to 50% of patients suffering from periodic apnea have high blood pressure 

- In the case of patients with periodic apnea, the risk of heart attack and stroke increases 

- Almost 60% of the population suffers from sleepiness during the day, a side effect of periodic apnea 

- Snoring stops or decreases significantly in the case of patients wearing special apparatus in the mouth

- In the U.S., diseases that result from complications of sleep, cost the state 15.9 billion.

What can I do to have a good night's sleep?

- Every day, go to bed at the same time

- Avoid alcohol

- Exercise regularly to be under the control of your weight and blood pressure

- Avoid caffeine after 18:00

- Avoid large meals before bedtime

- Before going to bed, do some relaxation exercises

- Invest in a good mattress and pillow

- Keep the temperature in the room in a comfortable range

- Create a relaxing environment in the bedroom

How to reduce the risk of snoring?

- Train sleeping on your side

- Lose weight if you are overweight

- Use a decongestant

- Before going to bed, avoid alcohol and sleeping pills

Facts and myths concerning chewing gum

There are many legends concerning chewing gum- some claim that they have salutary effects, other say the opposite. How is it in reality?

Well, dentists recommend chewing gum after meals, but it should be noted that this needs to be done when it is not possible to wash the teeth. Another important piece of information is that the gum should be sugar-free, as any fruit or sweetened gums have a devastating impact on tooth enamel and support the development of caries. Chewing gum should be controlled, ie it should be done in moderation. Chew gum for no more than 15 minutes, because this is the optimal time to restore a neutral pH in the mouth. Moreover, it is worth noting that chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which in turn has a neutralizing effect on acid in the mouth. Saliva also washes away food remains and, at the same time, cleans the teeth. Another aspect in favor of sugar-free chewing gum is that is reduces the risk of tooth decay - even though the composition of the gum does not contain sugar, there are some components of sweeteners, which show slight antibacterial activity.

We can also observe some psychological aspects of chewing gum, namely the facial muscles are relaxed, and the accompanying stress is minimized or completely resolved. People suffering from bad breath should also form a habit of chewing gum, but it is worth noting that this is not a cure, because the bad smell coming from the mouth always has its basis in a disease (including untreated caries, xerostomia - dry mouth, throat diseases, digestive system or stomach ulcers).

Other advantages of sugar-free gums:

• increase the concentrations

• reduce tension through stimulation of specific regions of the brain

• help weight loss

• an important factor in anti-smoking therapy

• to a moderate extent, prevent the occurrence of heartburn

• neutralize stomach acids

Disadvantages:

People with an unhealthy habit of chewing gum for a few hours are exposed to the overload of the temporal-mandibular joint. What is more, it may even lead to hypertrophy of the masseters and unesthetic look of the face- asymmetry of the jaws. Besides, the long and passionate chewing can also lead to the occurrence of another disease, which is bruxism.

Also, you should not also overdo the amount of the gums, because each leaf contains sweeteners, which in excess use, can cause disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gum should be chewed only after meals, because only then their action is justified and beneficial - chewing gum between meals can cause damage to mucous membranes of the stomach, and in extreme cases lead to ulcers. It is worth mentioning that the users of fixed braces should completely avoid chewing gum.

Facts and myths about chewing gum:

• Fact - gum freshens the breath

• Fact - gum can lead to falling of the dental fillings

• Myth - gum does not whiten the teeth, it can be complementary to other, effective ways of whitening or used prophylactically to prevent discoloration

• Myth - gum will not cure visible cavities 

• Fact - frequent and long-lasting chewing may be the cause of bruxism

• Fact - chewing gum calms down, reduces stress and tension

All you need to know about Dental Veneers

Dental Veneer- very thin, permanent prosthetic restoration, put on one tooth.

The difference between dental veneers in Poland and dental crowns abroad is that the teeth for veneers are preapred by grinding a thin front layer of the enamel, and not, as in the case of crowns, by grinding the tooth on the whole of its surface. 

In case of young patients, veneers should be preferably used instead of crowns.

Why do we use veneers?

- to improve the appearance of the tooth,

- to restore its functions.

When should I have veneers installed?

Veneers should be used when your teeth:

- are discolored,

- have their incisal edge damaged,

- have abnormal shape,

- are filled with poorly-looking material,

- were root canal treated.

Contraindications against dental veneers:

- some cases of wrong bite,

- patient's habit of biting nails or various writing tools,

- thin or damaged enamel,

- badly damaged or dead tooth,

- too short tooth,

- poor oral hygiene.

How are the veneers installed?

Veneers are placed on the outer surfaces of the teeth, which were gently grinded prior to the veneers installation. Two method can be applied:

- direct method - right in the dental office, the dentist covers the tooth with the same material which is used for fillings, matching its color to the natural color of the teeth of the patient;

- indirect method - on the first visit the dentist takes impressions of teeth prepared beforehand, on the basis of the impressions, perfectly matched veneers in the selected color are created. On the second visit, the veneers are attached to the teeth using a special glue.