SWOLLEN GUMS

SWOLLEN GUMS

Swollen gums normally are enlarged or bulging gums. Sometimes swollen gums are also referred to as gingival swelling. Swollen gums usually are also accompanied by irritation, over-sensitivity or sometimes even pain. Eventually one may also notice bleeding during brushing. Swollen gums are normally attributed to a number of causes.

One major cause of swollen gums is gingivitis. Normally gingivitis is not easily noticeable. It is largely caused by poor oral hygiene such as poor brushing that leads to build up of bacteria and food particles. If not removed, the bacteria and food particles eventually harden and now become very hard to remove through brushing. This build up gradually causes gingivitis results to swelling of gums.

Another major cause of swollen gums is pregnancy. During pregnancy there is usually a hormonal surge that may cause increased blood flow in gums and this causes irritation and over-sensitivity and this definitely leads to swelling of gums. At the same time, this hormonal surge reduces the body's ability to fight bacteria that causes gum infection. This leaves the pregnant individual vulnerable to gingivitis that is eventually manifested through swollen gums.

There are also other not so common causes of swollen gums. A good example is malnutrition. Lack of enough vitamin B and C for example may lead to scurvy. Scurvy is a major cause of gum disease and anemia.

Infections may also lead to gum disease. Such infections include those caused by fungi or viruses. Good examples of such conditions include herpes and thrush. These normally may result to swelling of gums.

Swollen gums no matter the cause have to be taken care of. Measures suitable for taking care of swollen gums include brushing gently to avoid irritation. It is also important to rinse using salty water to try and eliminate bacteria. Rinsing with a lot of water also helps in production of saliva that kills bacteria. It is also advisable to avoid irritants. A good example of an irritant is alcohol or tobacco. One is also advised to avoid strong mouth washes. In case of severe swelling a cold compress on the face helps reduce pain and the swelling too.

Prevention is always better than cure. Swollen gums can be avoided through very simple measures. One such measure is brushing and flossing after every meal. This is what we generally refer to as oral care. Regular visits to a dentist for cleaning can also come in handy in preventing gum disease. Dentists can also give advice on the best toothpastes and toothbrushes to use.

Yet another preventive measure is proper nutrition. Ensure you ingest enough vitamin B and C in your diet to avoid scurvy that eventually gives birth to gum disease. It is also recommended that one takes enough calcium to avoid gum disease.

Sometimes, swollen gums get serious to the extent of requiring medical attention. If the gums are swollen for more than two weeks it is advisable that one visits a dentist for appropriate medication. Treatment ranges from simple measures such as oral rinses and toothpaste recommendations to surgery in case of very extreme gingivitis. However, if proper care is taken, none of this would be necessary since swollen gums would be completely avoided.

BRACES

BRACES

Braces are fitted on teeth normally to improve the facial appearance of an individual but also to treat problems such as crowded or crooked teeth, incorrect position of jaws and overbites(and under bites too). These problems if untreated have been established to be major causes of tooth decay and gum disease. Problems in speaking properly, biting and chewing are also consequences of the above defects, if left untreated.

Individuals can benefit from braces at almost practically any age. However most dental specialists suggest that the best age for braces fixation is between 10 and 14 years, while the mouth and head too are still undergoing growth. This means that teeth can be straightened easily. Before imposing braces on children, it is very important that one gets their opinion bearing in mind how sensitive kids are to criticism from their peers.

It is also important to note that braces nowadays are not just for children. Adults too are going for braces especially to improve their appearance and also correct minor orthodontic problems.

When it comes to the question of which are the best braces for whom, dentists are the ones to determine which best befits which individual. However, they normally come in different varieties. Nowadays however, braces are being replaced by aligners. Aligners are clear and removable. They are invisible and removable so that they do not trap food between teeth. This is unlike metal braces that do not provide for this.

An aligner is worn for around two weeks. It is taken of during meals, brushing and flossing. However, dentists advise that these invisible aligners are not appropriate for those who have not fully developed permanent teeth.

A question most people ask is how long they have to undergo this treatment. Normally this depends with the level of the problem one is being treated for. The level of problem dictates the treatment plan and hence the duration for treatment. Age is also a determining factor when it comes to duration of treatment. Adults have to wear braces for a longer time, some for up to 24 months for minor problems.

Braces are slightly uncomfortable. This comes bearing in mind that for traditional metallic braces for example, they have to be tightened a little more after each visit to a dentist and this is bound to cause some little discomfort. Some teeth have to be extracted to create room for alignment and this means discomfort sometimes is expected. Aligners also create soreness.

Individuals with braces are advised to avoid sugary things such as sweets. Generally, items that may accelerate tooth decay are to be avoided at all costs. Hard foods such as carrots should be cut into small pieces to avoid causing damage to braces wires. Crunchy foods should also be avoided as they may break braces.

Above all most importantly, oral hygiene must be observed strictly. Food particles may get trapped and it is only advisable that brushing is done regularly using appropriate toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Thorough rinsing is also recommended. With the above measures observed to the letter, braces are definitely bound to do the work they are meant for effectively.

SEDATION DENTISTRY

SEDATION DENTISTRY

Sedation dentistry refers to using medication to relax patients as the dentists carry out dental procedures.Some people refer to sedation dentistry as sleep dentistry but this is not very correct since one is not entirely asleep in the process.Patients remain awake unless there is need for general anesthesia.Sedation dentistry is very helpful especially when it comes to patients who dread visiting dentists' clinics since it helps them relax through the entire process.

 There are different levels of sedation when it comes to sedation dentistry.Sedation will range from minimal going to moderate,deep, and finally we have general anesthesia.

Minimal sedation is perhaps the mildest of all levels of sedation in sedation dentistry.Here the patient remains fully awake even after sedation though he/she feels relaxed throughout the entire process.

Above minimal sedation we have moderate sedation also commonly referred to as conscious sedation.This is slightly higher than minimal sedation since one 's speech may be slurry and also later one may not be able to recall all the events in the process.

Beyond moderate sedation we get to deep sedation.Here now the patient may be losing his consciousness.However it differs from general anesthesia since the patient can be awakened at any time during the procedure.

Above deep sedation is where we now get to general anesthesia.This is the highest level of sedation and the patient is normally completely unconscious.

Sedation can be achieved bu using sedative drugs.Traditionally sedatives used to be injected into the patients especially through the arm.Today however,sedation is commonly carried out orally.This tends to work out best bearing in mind some people are scared of needles.However,oral sedation may still require injection of anesthetic into the mouth to numb one completely from all pain.This injection however may not be that painful since sedation would already have been done.

Sedation dentistry has brought some great advantages in the field of dental health.It helps simplify complex dental procedures so that they only seem to take just a few minutes while in fact they took hours.This is because one is sedated and relaxed through the entire process.Traditionally,these procedures seemed to last forever and patients were really anxious to get out of that dentist's chair.

Also,sedation dentistry has contributed greatly in ensuring people do not neglect their oral health since they are no longer afraid of visiting dental clinics.They visit dentists regularly since sedation dentistry has brought a way of eliminating fear,pain and anxiety.

With advancements taking place in all fields,sedation dentistry indeed has played a big role in bringing the same into the field  of dental health.

WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?

CHIROPRACTIC

Before a chiropractic treatment, chiropractors usually do an in-depth evaluation of their patients. This includes even digging into the patient’s past history, physical examination-rays in different parts of the body, consultations, just to name but a few. This enhances the doctor-patient relationship to be more close and beneficial not like in other types of treatments.

Chiropractic treatment is vital as it concentrates in ensuring that all the skeletal bones and joints in our body function normally even after a tragic accident. Different techniques are employed in chiropractic positive so that it encompasses people of all ages be it women, men, children and the elderly for example the MC Timoney Chiropractic. Chiropractic treatments also helps in dealing with pains all over the body for example back pain, hip pain, headache, joint relaxation, pains of the muscles and also sports injuries. Chiropractic enhances better movement (mobility) and this is simple because the treatment itself works in restoring normal body functions. 

Chiropractic services ensure that no other damage will recur in future as it stresses on the prevention of mechanical problems especially in the spinal cord. It involves taking a serious examination on the spine to ensure that any damage is repaired and treated effectively as this part is so sensitive to the point that any damage in the spinal cord can cause paralysation of the whole nervous and endocrine systems.

Chiropractic treatment not only includes the examining of the spine but also physical exercises of the body not leaving behind counseling. Counseling in the sense that maybe a patient suffered physiological trauma after a fatal accident. Chiropractic treatment involves providing guiding and counseling about health issues and general life style to patients in order to avoid depression. This gives chiropractic an edge over other types of treatment because it not only pays attention to the physical problems of a patient, but also the emotional part of it.

Chiropractic treatment also prevents chances of a patient being crippled in future. Chiropractic treatment keeps in mind that it should with the whole body parts after an accident and check all the muscular system to ensure that they are functioning well hence manipulating your body to heal well and resisting diseases.

Chiropractors mainly use manual adjustments, ultrasound or massage to treat their patient. Chiropractors sometimes even employ electrical muscular inducement or even ultra sound. Hardly do chiropractors employ medicinal drugs. This is a positive as no patient of a chiropractic treatment may suffer from side effects due to use of pharmaceutical drugs.

Chiropractors are not discreet in their treatment to the extend that they allow the intervention of other medical doctors. If a chiropractic patient requires other assistance from other professionals, chiropractors always allow that referral.

ALL WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEADACHES.

HEADACHES

Headaches are one of the most common ailments that attack human beings everyday. Headaches can be defined as pain originating from the head or neck. The brain has no pain fibers so it is parts that surround the brain that give rise to headaches. Headaches can be classified into different categories.

In 2005, a classification for headaches listed three major categories of headaches. We have primary and secondary headaches. We also have facial pain and other headaches. It is important to note that headaches are classified according to the source of pain.

Primary headaches normally do not come as a result of any underlying medical problem. There are a number of factors associated with primary headaches. Such factors include alcohol, lack of enough sleep, stress, poor posture among others. Bearing in mind that primary headaches are not associated with underlying health problems; it means that they can be easily taken care of especially if one is able to determine the cause. Over the counter drugs are also commonly used by individuals experiencing these headaches.

We have several forms of primary headaches. First we have tension headaches that are among the most common types f headaches. Sometimes they are referred to as daily chronic headaches. They are especially very common in adolescents and adults.

Under primary headaches we also have migraines. These come second in the list of most common primary headaches.

The third form of primary headaches that is not as common as tension headaches and migraines is cluster headaches.

Secondary headaches unlike primary headaches are normally linked with underlying health problems. In simple terms they are mostly symptoms of another health problem ailing the body. There are quite a number of sources of secondary headaches.

Common causes of secondary headaches include concussion, dehydration, hang overs among others. The list is quite long so it is important that one visits a doctor so that the specific cause of the headache is established and appropriate medication prescribed.

There are several types of secondary headaches. One form of secondary headaches is external compression. These are headaches that come as a result of pressure on the head for example exerted by head gear.

Another common type of secondary headaches is rebound headaches. These headaches are normally caused by continued overuse of painkillers.

We also have sinus headaches that normally come as a result of inflammation of sinus cavities. Other examples of secondary headaches include spinal headaches and thunderclap headaches among others. It is very important that professional medical help is sought so that the correct cause is established.

As much as some headaches are very easy to treat, others might be symptoms of really serious conditions. It is therefore advisable to seek medical attention for example in cases of extreme headache pain or when the headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as vision problems. One may take it lightly whereas in fact it is a sign of serious medical problems.