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Tooth Pain? You May Need a Root Canal.

When your tooth hurts, it’s incredibly unpleasant and often described as a pain unlike any other. There could be any number of explanations for the discomfort, but sometimes the problem is pretty serious and may require a root canal. But how can you tell? Let my Douglasville dental office help.

Signs & Symptoms

Besides the obvious sign that your tooth hurts, there are other symptoms that may mean you need a root canal including:

• Increased pain while chewing or with applied pressure
• Sensitivity to heat or cold that doesn’t go away quickly
• A small, raised bump on the gums near the tooth that hurts
• Tooth discoloration
• Gum swelling or pain

It’s Not So Bad — Really!

Root canals have a pretty bad reputation as being painful. But the truth is, root canals actually stop the tooth pain. When your tooth becomes so infected or decayed that it hits the inside pulp, it can be incredibly painful. Once your Douglasville dentist cleans out the area where the roots are located (the canal), and covers it with a filling or dental crown, relief will feel so good.

What’s The Process Like?

Before beginning, you’ll be numbed to avoid any discomfort. Once the medication kicks in, your dental team will get to work. First, a tiny hole is made in the infected tooth which allows access to the middle of the tooth, known as the pulp chamber. This is where the root canals are located. The root canals house pulp, nerves, and blood vessels. Your dentist will remove any and all of these materials, making your tooth no longer able to feel anything. After a thorough cleaning, the canals are sealed and the tooth is capped with a restoration.

Avoiding a Root Canal

The best way to prevent the need for a root canal in the first place is to brush and floss everyday to rid your mouth of the day’s bacteria and food particles. And speaking of food, limit eating sugary or acidic foods. These types of eats can weaken enamel and increase bacteria, leaving your teeth at higher risk for decay. Lastly, always keep your dental cleanings at least every six months for an extra-deep, extra-thorough cleaning you just can’t get at home.

If you’re having tooth pain and think you may need a root canal, give my Douglasville dental office a call. We’ll get you scheduled as soon as possible, get to the root of the problem, and discuss the best treatment options. Don’t let tooth pain linger, call for an appointment as soon as possible.

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.

Why Men Don’t Visit Their Douglasville Dentist

We all need to see the dentist regularly — kids, men, and women. But one of those demographics is avoiding regular dental appointments. We’re looking at you, men! Statistically, men don’t visit the dentist as often as their female counterparts. At my dental office in Douglasville, we wanted to know why, so we looked it up. And now we’re sharing it with you.

Depending on the man, the reason for avoiding dental care regularly varies. Research conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry surveyed dentists on why they felt male patients didn’t maintain regular dental care. Here’s what those dentists said:

• 45% said men don’t see a need to visit the dentist
• 30% believed men are embarrassed or afraid
• 18% blame lack of time

Some other common reasons we found include: only visiting the dentist when there’s a problem, societal standards that men should be tough and, therefore, don’t usually discuss things with a healthcare provider, including a dentist, and men sometimes rely on women to make healthcare decisions for them, so single men may be the biggest dentist avoiders of them all.

Why Men Should See the Dentist Every Six Months
Just like women, men should visit the dentist at least twice year for preventive dental care. These appointments allow any problems to be caught and treated early. And when we say problems, we mean a lot more than just a cavity filling or possible root canal. Regular dental appointments help catch scary things too that, if left undetected and untreated, could lead to whole-health concerns. For example:

• Oral Cancer, which can affect the lips, tongue, throat, and cheeks
• Gum Disease, which can lead to increased risk for heart disease
• Sleep Apnea, which may result in high blood pressure, weight gain, and diabetes

But regular visits to their dentist in Douglasville can also help men get the smile they’ve always wanted. Cosmetic dentistry options like whitening, veneers, or bonding, and restorative dentistry treatments like dental implants or bridges are all ways to transform a smile.

Feel free to pass this information on to the man (or men!) in your life. And if you’re a man reading this and you’re one who hasn’t been to the dentist in awhile, pick up the phone, call my Douglasville dental office, and schedule a dental cleaning and exam today. We won’t lecture you or make you feel guilty, we’ll just be happy you came to see us and get you on the path towards a healthy smile and healthy life.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.

Are You Using the Right Toothpaste?

Toothpaste serves a very specific purpose — to brush away bacteria and plaque that collects on teeth. But with all the developments in toothpaste technology, many options offer additional benefits like whitening, decreasing sensitivity, and adding an extra boost of freshness. With all the options available to you, how do you know you’re using the right one? Read on to learn more from the dental team at my Douglasville dental office.

Seal of Approval

Before we talk about the different types of toothpastes and what they’re used for, we need to talk about the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of approval. The ADA researches and tests ingredients and claims made by different toothpastes, and supplies a seal of approval to those whose claims are supported by the research. This seal is something you should look for, no matter which type of toothpaste you choose.

Whitening Toothpastes

If your smile needs a little extra help in the whitening department, using a toothpaste that has magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate may help. These ingredients paired with a mild abrasive can brighten teeth. However, sometimes a whitening toothpaste alone isn’t enough to get you the results you want. If that’s the case, consider cosmetic dentistry like veneers or a professional whitening.

Tartar Control Toothpastes

Tartar, also known as calculus, is basically plaque that has been allowed to build up on teeth and harden. The only way to remove it is at your dental cleaning. But you can do things to prevent it from hardening in the first place like using a toothpaste that contains zinc citrate or pyrophosphates.

Sensitivity Toothpastes

Whether it’s sensitivity to heat or cold, or maybe both, having sensitive teeth can be painful. If you suffer from sensitivity, choosing a toothpaste that aids in desensitizing your teeth and gums may be the right decision for you. Look for a toothpaste that has the ingredient strontium chloride or potassium nitrate. Both have been shown to help decrease sensitive tooth pain.

Selecting the right toothpaste for your unique needs can help protect your smile from decay and the need for dental treatments like fillings, root canals, or dental crowns. But selecting the right toothpaste is only half the battle — you need to use it to brush twice a day every day and maintain visits with your Douglasville dentist at least every six months for optimal oral health.

If you’re looking for more help identifying your teeth’s needs, or are in need of a dentist, call my dental office in Douglasville and schedule an appointment today.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.

Top 4 Alternative Uses for Toothpaste

First and foremost, toothpaste should be used to brush your teeth. That’s obvious. But at my Douglasville dental office, we’ve been hearing of other possible ways toothpaste can be helpful around the house, besides just as a daily teeth cleanser. We thought we’d share some of the top uses for toothpaste with our patients because, after all, we’re here to help with whatever we can (except actually cleaning your house).

Tired of that foggy mirror? After a steamy shower, the bathroom mirror clouds up, basically becoming unuseable until the fog evaporates. To avoid a fogged up mirror, wipe it down with toothpaste before hopping in the shower.

Want a sparkling faucet? Sink faucets tend to get pretty grody, especially in the bathroom. Usually covered with splatters of toothpaste and backsplash of soapy water, bathroom faucets can take on almost a spotted look. Use toothpaste (yes, we just told you add more toothpaste to the already toothpaste-speckled faucet), and then sponge it up. Viola! Sparkling faucet.

Miss how white your sneakers once were? There’s something to be said about new sneakers. They’re crisp, white, and super clean. Until you wear them. The more shoes get worn, the more discolored they get. But with the help of a little toothpaste, you can take them to white again. Just gently scrub them with toothpaste.

Did your kid Picasso the coffee table with permanent marker? It happens. Kids get ahold of a permanent maker and start doodling away on the closest surface, which just so happens to be your coffee table. Don’t panic. Internet users widely support the use of applying a dollop of toothpaste to the table, gently rubbing it in, and wiping it off for a clean, marker-free coffee table.

Of course, being a dentist and having a team full of people who are passionate about teeth, we can’t stress enough how our favorite use for toothpaste is actually using it to keep your smile healthy. Make sure you’re using it to brush twice a day, at a minimum. Besides a good at-home oral hygiene routine, maintaining regular dental cleanings and exams with your dentist in Douglasville is the best way to reduce the need for cavity fillings or other types of dental procedures like root canals, onlays, or crowns.

We recommend visiting us at least once every six months. If it’s been longer than that since you’ve had a dental checkup, call my dental office in Douglasville to schedule an appointment today.

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, and Villa Rica.