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 It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Braces as an adult? No way. At least, that was what I thought when my dentist told me that I was going to have to see an orthodontist about my crooked teeth. But my teeth were so misaligned that they were causing me pain when I chewed, so I decided to at least look into it. Turns out braces today are nothing like the ones my friends had when I was a kid. Mine were practically invisible, and I didn't need to wear them that long. I started this blog to encourage other people like me who are nervous about the prospect of wearing braces as an adult. My straight smile is so worth the trips to the orthodontist, and wearing braces was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Read on to find out more about how you can straighten your smile.

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It’s Never too Late to Straighten Your Smile

Getting Ready For Some Serious Summer Adventures? 3 Steps To Take In A Dental Emergency

by Jacqueline Byrd

Summer is the time for fun outdoor adventures. If you like to take things to extreme, it's also the time for potential dental injuries. If you're faced with a dental emergency this summer – especially one that involves the loss of a tooth, you'll need to act fast. To make sure you're prepared, here are three steps you should take if summer activities result in a dental emergency.

Stop the Bleeding

If you suffer a blow to the mouth that results in the loss of a tooth – or several teeth – there will probably be considerable bleeding. The first thing you'll want to do is stop the bleeding. First, rinse your mouth out with clear water. This will help remove debris from your mouth. Next, place medical gauze over the injured area and apply pressure. If you don't have access to medical gauze, place some other type of clean cloth in your mouth and bite down. You can also use clean paper towels, if nothing else is available. Continue applying pressure until the bleeding stops. It's important to note that if the bleeding is severe, you should continue applying pressure until you get to the dentist.

Collect the Tooth

Once you've taken care of the bleeding, you should find the tooth. If the tooth is intact, carefully rinse it off and place it in a small container. Cover the tooth with either milk or clear water. This will preserve the tooth so your dentist can try to reinsert it into the socket. If the tooth is not intact, you should still collect the pieces. This will help your dentist determine if particles of the tooth are still inside the gums. If more than one tooth has been lost, follow the same procedure for all the teeth.

Get to the Dentist

After you've stopped the bleeding, and collected the tooth – or teeth – you should get to a dentist as soon as possible. In some cases, your dentist will be able to reinsert the tooth and prevent permanent tooth loss. If the tooth cannot be saved, your dentist will be able to clean the socket and repair the damage. If you're faced with permanent tooth loss, you should talk to your dentist about a dental implant. This will allow you to have a permanent replacement for the lost tooth.

If you're going to be involved in extreme sports this summer, be prepared for dental emergencies. If you suffer a dental emergency this summer, contact your dentist as soon as possible. Places like Aesthetic Dentistry can help. 

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