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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Teeth whitening is a dental procedure that can give your smile a new luster relatively easily, transforming your entire appearance. However, while the process is relatively straightforward and carries few side effects, it can increase the sensitivity of your teeth in the short term. Thankfully, there are a few different things that you can do to minimize the amount of discomfort that you experience in the weeks following your teeth whitening procedure.
Change Your Diet
The first and most important thing that you should do following a tooth whitening procedure is to alter your diet to avoid things which may aggravate your sensitivity. This includes sugary foods and drinks, as well as acidic substances like orange or lemon juice. Furthermore, you'll want to make sure that the foods and drinks that you are consuming are at a moderate temperature, as extreme hot or cold could cause a flash of pain. You may also want to consider changing your eating habits, such as using a straw to allow drinks to entirely pass your teeth or choosing only softer foods to eat to minimize chewing.
Brush Carefully
Beyond changing your diet, you should also make an effort to maintain good dental hygiene to prevent cavities and bacteria from building up on your teeth. Not only can this undo the whitening process, it can aggravate your sensitivity as well. You should use very little pressure while brushing, and make use of a soft-bristled brush (as well as room temperature water, as opposed to plain hot or cold) to avoid as much discomfort as possible while still keeping your teeth clean. Further, make use of toothpaste and dental products specially formulated for sensitive teeth, and talk to your dentist about which brand they would recommend for desensitization. It may also be a good idea to hold the brushed toothpaste in your mouth for a few seconds, to allow the formula to work on the surface of your teeth before you spit it out.
Painkillers
While the above two points can help you reduce your sensitivity over time and get back to normal, they won't do anything if you are experiencing a great deal of pain immediately. Over the counter painkillers can help you manage chronic discomfort or pain, though you should always consult with your doctor and your dentist to ensure that anything that you take won't have adverse effects when mixed with other medication that you are on or the treatments that you have gone under.
For more information, contact a local dentist, like Pavlakos Vasilios Bill J DDS PC Dentist.
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