How Much Toothpaste Should an Adult Use?

As little as we think about it, toothpaste is an essential item that we use every day. But, a good question is “How much toothpaste should we be using?”

Most adults tend to think that it is necessary to cover the entire brushing surface of a toothbrush because of the way toothpaste is advertised on television. Liberal use of toothpaste is far too much; it is only necessary for adults to use an estimated pea sized dab of toothpaste to properly clean their teeth.

Besides toothpaste, fluoride can be found in a variety of products, including mouth rinses, supplements in tablet form and drinking water, if community water is fluoridated. Other products, such as juice boxes and soda pop, may contain fluoride, depending on their water sources. For example, if the bottler for a soda pop company is located in a community where fluoridated water is present, fluoride will be present in the product. Some people also receive topical fluoride treatments during a routine dental visit.

So, in summary,

  • The right amount of toothpaste is the size of a pea.

  • We can get fluoride from the sources other than our toothpaste.

Regular visits to the dentist are important because dentists can help if you or your child is not receiving enough fluoride.

Remember, only a dentist can diagnose your dental problems and offer the right treatment plan for you. Get connected with a dentist in Calgary today.

 

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Permanent Tooth Knocked Out

A permanent tooth which has been knocked out can be saved if it is put back quickly. If you cannot put the tooth back, store it in milk. Always call your dentist straightaway after a tooth injury. Every minute the tooth is out of the gum, the less chance it has of surviving.
First aid for permanent tooth:

  • Handle the tooth by the crown (smooth white part), not the root (yellowish pointy parts).

  • Gently put the tooth back into the gum. Make sure the pointy root is the part that goes into the gum. Only do this if the person is conscious.

  • Hold the tooth in place by gently biting on something soft, like a handkerchief.

  • See a dentist

  • If the tooth is dirty, rinse gently with water and don’t rub or scrub.

What not to do with the tooth

  • Don’t clean the tooth by scrubbing or using cleaning products or water.

  • Don’t handle the tooth by the root.

  • Don’t let the tooth dry out.

If the knocked out tooth is placed in the socket, subsequent treatment may include antibiotics to prevent infection. If the tooth is knocked loose or pushed out of position (inward, outward, sideways or into the jawbone), contact your dentist as soon as possible.

The treatment of a fractured tooth depends on how deep the fracture is. Regardless of the damage, treatment should always be determined by a dentist.

If you cannot close your upper and lower teeth together, your jaw may be broken. This requires emergency dental help.

Prevention

  • Wear a sports guard when playing any contact sport.

  • Avoid fights

  • Avoid hard foods

  • Always wear a seatbelt.

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Broken or Cracked Tooth

Any trauma to the mouth that causes bleeding and lacerations to the gums, tooth fracture and/or dislodging of teeth, may require immediate attention. If you take longer to see your dentist, it will reduce the chance of revival of the tooth.

Causes

Whether the result of an accident or biting on a piece of food that’s too hard, mouth injuries can cause teeth to become cracked, broken, or knocked out/dislodged. It is important to see a dentist because if left untreated, a dental emergency can lead to serious complications.

If the tooth is just chipped, you should make a non-emergency dental appointment to have it smoothed down and filled. If the tooth has been knocked out or is badly broken, see a dentist immediately. Find your nearest dentist who offers emergency dental appointments.

 

 

While you wait to see a dentist, you can follow these dental tips:

  • If you still have a knocked out tooth, handle by the tip of it (crown) and avoid touching the root. Do not scrape or brush the tooth. If that tooth is dirty, rinse with milk or salt water. The sooner a knocked-out tooth is reimplanted, the more likely it is to embed itself back into the gum. If you don’t want to be left with a gap, make an emergency appointment to see your dentist. Usually, your dentist will want to re-implant your tooth as soon as possible, ideally within an hour of it being knocked out. If you have already attempted this yourself, they will check that the tooth is in place correctly.

  • In case of lost tooth, most people will choose to have it replaced. Different dental treatments are adopted for tooth replacement. Your dentist can replace the tooth with a denture, a bridge or an implant.

  • If you have broken your tooth, do not try to re-implant the fragment back into your gum – store it in a clean container and cover the fragment with milk or saliva until you can see a dentist. It may be possible to reattach the broken fragment to the tooth. If you have broken a tooth halfway down and damaged the network of blood vessels and nerves in its centre (the pulp), root canal treatment will be needed to remove the damaged pulp from your tooth, as this can become infected. The space will then be filled and the tooth sealed with a filling or a dental crown.

Unlike broken bones, the crack in a tooth will never heal completely. It is still important that you get treatment. Our dental team at Expressions Dental™ will be able to tell you more about this problem and recommend treatment for a broken or cracked tooth.

 

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Abscessed Tooth Treatment Calgary NW

What is abscessed tooth?

An abscessed tooth is a severe infection that usually shows up on the root of the tooth or between the gum and the tooth. It could become a dental emergency, as an abscessed tooth not only causes a great amount of pain, but if left untreated it can also cause serious health problems. An abscess can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, damage to the jaw bone and in some cases even affect the immune system resulting in death of the afflicted person. A number of things can cause tooth to abscess such as:

  1. Severe tooth decay
  2. Bad trauma to the tooth
  3. Broken or chipped teeth
  4. In some cases a tooth can be susceptible to infection after a crown or a filling has been put in:
    1. Gingivitis
    2. Gum disease

Symptoms of a dental abscess typically include pain, swelling and redness of mouth and face. Other signs of abscess might include cavities, gum inflammation, oral swelling, pus drainage, and difficulty in fully opening your mouth or swallowing.

Tests for dental abscess

A dentist often can determine by a clinical exams + radiographs if you have an abscess.

Treatment for a dental abscess

You should see a dentist for dental abscess treatment. Root canal therapy may need to commence to drain the infected tooth. The doctor may decide to cut open the abscess and allow the pus to drain. Unless the abscess ruptures on its own, this is usually the only way that the infection can be cured. People with dental abscesses may be prescribed pain relievers and, at the discretion of the doctor, antibiotics to fight the infection. An abscess that has extended to the floor of the mouth or to the neck requires immediate attention.

With a dental abscess, as with each and every illness, comply with your doctor’s instructions for follow-up care. Proper treatment often means reassessment, multiple visits, or referral to a specialist. Cooperate with your doctors by following instructions carefully to ensure the best possible oral health for you and your family.

 

 

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