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How to Handle an Unexpected Dental Emergency

August 10th, 2016

Regardless of the type of dental emergency you experience, it is important that you visit Weaver Dentistry for emergency dental care as soon as possible. A chipped or cracked tooth requires professional attention, as bacteria may gather in these areas, potentially causing infection that could require a root canal. Remember, you may be capable of managing pain, bleeding, and swelling at home, but by visiting our office for immediate treatment, you can fight infections and minimize lasting damage to your mouth, teeth, and gums under the expert care of our emergency dentist.

24/7 Emergency Dental Care

Weaver Dentistry is proud to offer emergency dental care around the clock, seven days a week. Dental emergencies do not wait for regular business hours, and if you experience a serious dental emergency, you need immediate treatment. Whether you have a broken tooth or if you have bitten through your tongue, do not hesitate to visit us day or night. Until you arrive at our office, however, there are some helpful steps you can take if you encounter a serious dental dilemma.

Managing Your Dental Emergency

If a toothache is causing problems, you can probably keep the discomfort under control until our emergency doctor can treat you. Start by checking the gums that surround the affected tooth for inflammation, bleeding, or foreign objects. There may be food lodged in the gum that could be removed by flossing. You can control pain by placing a cold compress against your mouth, or by using an over-the-counter oral numbing agent.

More serious situations may be extremely time sensitive, and require immediate emergency attention. For example, if a tooth is completely knocked out, carefully clean it with water. Try to place the tooth back into its socket or briefly store it in a cup of milk if it will not fit back into the gum. Never pick up a tooth by the root or force it into the socket. Come straight to our office, as your tooth will need to be replaced within a short amount of time. Similarly, if you have bitten through your lip or tongue, the American Dental Association recommends carefully cleaning the area before coming as quickly as you can to our emergency dental office for treatment.

Remember, there is no reason you should live with discomfort. By visiting our Raleigh, NC office immediately in an emergency, you can take control of your oral health comfortably and safely.

How do I make my child’s diet safe for his or her teeth?

August 3rd, 2016

The food you feed your child can have a lasting effect on his or her oral health. In fact, diet plays a major role in whether a child develops cavities and decay, which can lead to many dental visits and potential tooth loss. So what should you feed your child to ensure he or she has a healthy smile for life?

Foods to Avoid

It is normal for your child to take interest in many foods -- especially those filled with sugar and carbohydrates. But as tasty as these foods are, they can cause rapid decay when eaten in excess. That’s not to say your child can never have sugar again. Dr. Gregory Weaver and our staff suggest limiting starchy and sugary foods such as candy and potato chips as much as possible.

Remember that some seemingly healthy foods can present the threat of decay too. Some of the most common culprits are sticky foods like peanut butter, raisins, and granola bars, which can stick to the teeth after eating. If you serve these foods to your child, be sure to have him or her brush immediately after eating to remove any lingering sugary residue.

Beverages

Many beverages marketed toward children contain sugar servings that far exceed the daily recommendations from national health organizations. They suggest no more than three to four teaspoons of added sugar per day for young children.

Make an effort to serve only water to your child any time other than meal times. During meals, allow your child to have milk or juice, but in limited serving sizes. Most importantly, never allow your young child to sleep with a bottle or “sippie cup” full of juice or milk. Doing so can cause rapid tooth decay: a condition known as “baby bottle caries.”

A Healthy and Balance Diet

So long as your child is brushing regularly and eating a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, you should have little or no problem with tooth decay. For more questions about how your child’s diet affects his or her oral health, contact our Raleigh, NC office to schedule a consultation.

TruDenta®: What You Should Know about Headaches

July 27th, 2016

Have you ever considered going to the dentist for a headache? No, probably not. Chances are you just reach into the medicine cabinet and pop a Tylenol. It is said that over 80 million people suffer from chronic headaches and migraines. Experts believe that 80% of the symptoms are dental force related. In other words, tension-type headaches as well as face, jaw, and neck pain can be interconnected and caused by unbalanced forces in your mouth affecting the muscles of these areas. TruDenta utilizes state-of-the-art examination and treatment technologies to evaluate the dental forces that may be causing you pain.

The Reason for the Pain

While pain medication can provide temporary relief from a headache, it doesn’t tackle the underlying reason for the pain. TruDenta, on the other hand, targets the groups of muscles, joints, tendons, and nerves that comprise the jaw, head, and face, addressing the principal reason for the discomfort. TruDenta can help with the following symptoms:

  • Chronic headaches and migraines
  • Unexplained pain in the neck or face
  • Ringing in the ears, tinnitus
  • Jaw clenching and teeth grinding
  • Limited range of motion in the head or neck

How Does TruDenta Work?

TruDenta utilizes a combination of sports medicine rehabilitation and dentistry technologies. It is a drug-free, pain-free, non-surgical system that measures the force balance in your mouth on a tooth-by-tooth basis. It provides mouth movement measurements as well as measurements of the disability of your muscle movements. And it all starts by having your bite measured by Dr. Gregory Weaver.

In the old days, when a headache or migraine came on all you could do was take pain medication and close the blinds to keep out the light and noise. Today, a trip to our Raleigh, NC office might give you the long-lasting relief you’re looking for.

How do I handle my child’s dental emergency?

July 20th, 2016

With children undergoing developmental dental changes and engaging in rough-and-tumble activities, dental emergencies can sometimes arise. If your child knocks out a tooth or experiences any type of oral discomfort, call Weaver Dentistry right away so we can provide you with a quick assessment and pain-free treatment.

Before an emergency occurs, it’s a good idea to stay informed about the problems your child may encounter. Here are a few things you should keep in mind about teething pain, loose baby teeth, and other common dental issues.

Teething Pain

Typically occurring in babies that are between four months and two and a half years old, teething may cause excessive drooling, tender gums, and some irritability. Giving your baby a cold teething ring or gently rubbing her gums with wet gauze or your finger may also make her feel better.

Loose Baby Tooth

It is normal for a child’s first set of teeth to become loose and fall out. On the other hand, if your child’s baby tooth is knocked loose, schedule an appointment with our office so we can assess whether any damage has been done.

Issues with Permanent Teeth

Sometimes a child’s permanent teeth will grow in before the baby teeth have fallen out. Even if this condition isn’t causing any discomfort, you should schedule an appointment with our office so we can determine whether your child’s permanent teeth are growing in correctly.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums can result from a number of factors, including periodontal disease, rough brushing, or an injury to the gum tissue. If your child’s gums are bleeding heavily, call our office right away so we can address the situation. If you have time before your appointment, wash your child’s mouth with salted water and gently put pressure on the affected area.

Regardless of the type of dental issue your child has, you can always consult Dr. Gregory Weaver for further guidance. We make sure our emergency services are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so you have ready access to convenient and professional dental care that will have your child feeling better in no time.

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