Author: Kara Urland

Having a toothache or pain is not fun, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t see a dentist. Symptoms of a toothache may include sharp, throbbing, or constant pain. You may have swelling, fever or headache, or foul-tasting drainage from an infected tooth. The symptoms may vary but it’s important to know when to go to the dentist.

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:

• You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
• Your toothache is severe
• You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide

Proper identification and treatment of dental infections are important to prevent its spread to other parts of the face and possibly even to the bloodstream.

Treatments for a toothache:

• Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth, if necessary.
• A root canal might be needed if the cause of the toothache is determined to be an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner aspects of the tooth cause such an infection.
• An antibiotic may be prescribed if there is fever or swelling of the jaw.

For temporary relief, you can do the following:

• Rinse with warm saltwater: Saltwater can loosen debris between your teeth, act as a disinfectant and reduce inflammation. Stir a ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
• Rinse with hydrogen peroxide: A hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and rinse thoroughly. Do not swallow it.
• Cold compress: For swelling and pain hold a cold compress of ice wrapped in a towel to the painful area for 20-minute periods. Repeat every few hours.
• Pain medications: Over-the-counter pain medications can reduce pain and inflammation. Take as directed on the bottle.

Since most toothaches are the result of tooth decay, following good oral hygiene practices can prevent toothaches. Good oral hygiene practices consist of brushing regularly with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing daily, and seeing your dentist twice a year for professional cleaning.

Contact us at Noll Family Dentistry today to schedule an appointment. If you have a toothache make sure to call us as soon as possible so we can get that taken care of and you can be pain-free again!

Flossing is an important part of keeping your mouth healthy but when is the right time for kids to start? With brushing teeth, parents and children can start the habit as soon as a child grows in multiple baby teeth. However, with flossing, it’s not necessary to begin until their teeth start to fit closely together.

Most children will be able to start flossing between the ages of two and six. Parents should floss for children before they try it on their own. Even after your child is physically capable of flossing their own teeth, you should continue to supervise and help out until they are around the age of 10 so that you can be sure they are flossing thoroughly and getting the areas between each tooth every time they floss.

Bleeding when flossing:

You may notice your child’s gums bleeding when you floss for them. No need to panic; a little bit of bleeding at the beginning of a flossing habit is totally normal. This can also happen in adults who start flossing their teeth regularly for the first time. If your child’s gums bleed when you floss for them, this should stop happening after you’ve been flossing regularly for several days, as their gums become stronger and healthier.

If your child’s gums are still bleeding after a week of starting a flossing habit, contact your dentists to check and make sure everything is okay. You may simply need to floss more gently, but persistent gum bleeding could also be a sign of gingivitis, which should be checked by a dental professional.

Tips to make flossing easier:

If you are using traditional dental floss to floss your child’s teeth, you may have difficulty reaching between each tooth effectively since their mouths and teeth very small. If you’re able to effectively use traditional floss for your child’s teeth, teach them the same flossing techniques adults use when they are old enough to start picking it up on their own. You can show them how to wrap the floss firmly around their fingers and pull it tight so that it is more effective in removing plaque and food particles from their mouth.

You may want to consider selecting a wider, flatter dental tape for flossing your child’s teeth than you would for your own. Since kids are still growing in all of their teeth and their baby teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent ones, baby teeth tend to be smaller and farther apart than adult teeth. A flatter dental floss will help your child more effectively clean the spaces between their teeth than they would with a floss that has a finer width.

Praising your child for doing a good job is another motivator. Using rewards like colorful stickers may help encourage those harder-to-motivate kids.

Floss picks for kids:

Consider buying some floss picks if you are struggling with traditional floss. This will make it much easier to reach between your child’s teeth effectively, and they are also much easier for children to use on their own when they learn to floss. Additionally, individual floss picks come in fun shapes and colors that may make your child more interested in nightly flossing!

These tips should help start you and your child out on the right foot to set up a lifelong flossing habit to keep their mouth healthy! If you have any questions or would like to consult with a dentist, please contact our office today.

Starting and practicing good habits at a young age can help keep their teeth and gums healthy for decades to come.

There are dozens of toothbrushes to choose from in stores these days. So how do you know which one is right for you? Here are some steps to help you choose the best type of toothbrush for your oral care needs.

The steps:

1. First Decide on Manual or Electric: As long as you brush for two minutes twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, it doesn’t matter which one you choose. However, you might be better off with a powered toothbrush if you:

• Have limited manual dexterity
• Tend to brush too vigorously
• Need help ensuring you brush for the proper amount of time
• Get advice from your dentist to do a better job of cleaning your teeth.

Many powered toothbrushes alert you when you’ve brushed for two minutes.

2. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance: It’s always best to use a toothbrush backed by the American Dental Association. The standards ADA-approved toothbrushes meet often go beyond what government regulations require.

3. Select the Best Type of Bristles: Most dental professionals agree that a soft-bristled toothbrush is best for teeth, especially for removing plaque and debris. Depending on how vigorously you brush your teeth and the strength of your teeth, medium and hard-bristled brushes could actually damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel.

4. Choose the Size of Toothbrush Head: Small-headed brushes can better reach all areas of the mouth – including hard-to-reach back teeth. For most adults, a toothbrush head a half-inch wide and one-inch tall will be the easiest to use and the most effective. You might also check with your dentist to determine if you need any particular toothbrush.

5. Pick Out a Brush Handle That’s Best for You: Depending on your situation, you might require a non-slip grip or flexible-neck handle.

6. Opt for Your Favorite Color Toothbrush: This is the fun part. Once you narrow down your choices pick your favorite color!

Taking it step-by-step, choosing the most effective and most comfortable toothbrush should be a breeze. Unless you select a powered brush, the manual toothbrush you use will most likely be an ADA-approved small-headed, soft-bristled brush with a proper grip in your favorite color.

Contact us at Noll Family Dentistry for any questions on toothbrushes or to make an appointment!

We see celebrities and pro athletes sporting pearly white teeth but the smiles of most people are a tad duller. Many things can affect the color of your teeth and turn them yellow, which may make some people feel self-conscious about their appearance. 

There are several causes of tooth discoloration, including:

• Foods/drinks – Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and certain fruits and vegetables.
• Tobacco use – Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth.
• Poor dental hygiene – Not brushing, flossing, and rinsing enough to remove plaque and stain-producing substances.
• Disease – Several diseases that affect enamel can lead to tooth discoloration. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can cause teeth discoloration.
• Medications – Some antibiotics are known to discolor teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing. Antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure also cause teeth discoloration.
• Aging – As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth wears away, revealing the natural color of dentin.
• Genetics – Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
• Environment – Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources or from excessive use can cause teeth discoloration.
• Trauma – For example, damage from a fall can disturb enamel formation in young children whose teeth are still developing. Trauma can also cause discoloration to adult teeth.

How the color of your teeth changes may help point to the cause:

Are your teeth yellow? As you age, the white enamel surface of your teeth may wear down. The yellow core of your teeth becomes more visible.

Are your teeth turning brown? Tobacco, dark beverages like tea or coffee, and poor brushing habits that lead to tooth decay may cause teeth to turn brown.

Do you have white spots in your teeth? As young teeth develop, too much fluoride can cause white spots. This is called fluorosis and it happens when teeth come into contact with too much fluoride from drinking water or excess use of fluoride rinses or toothpastes.

Tooth Discoloration Prevention Methods

A few simple lifestyle changes may help prevent teeth discoloration:

• If you’re a coffee drinker or smoker, consider cutting back or quitting.
• Improve your dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using a mouthwash daily.
• Have your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months.
• If the color of your teeth change without an explanation and other symptoms are also present, make an appointment to see your dentist.

Tooth Discoloration Treatments

Treatment options to whiten teeth can vary depending on the cause of the discoloration and may include:

• Using tooth brushing and flossing techniques
• Avoidance of the foods and beverages that cause stains
• Professional whitening treatments
• In-home whitening agents purchased from your dentist
• Veneers: A dentist or oral surgeon puts a thin shell of material over the entire front of your tooth to change the color or shape.

Our Team in Carlisle, PA loves providing the care you deserve. From Children’s Dentistry to routine dental care, we go above and beyond to ensure you’re comfortable and confident at our office. Contact us today at 717.243.9020.

Whether you have had a routine procedure or something more complex there are several steps you can take to maximize the results, prevent infection, and ease discomfort. Restrictions on eating and drinking after a dental procedure are common. So how long after a crown is cemented can you eat and drink?

At your first visit, you will have a temporary dental crown placed on your tooth.

With a Temporary or Permanent Crown: 

1. Avoid sticky or chewy foods that have the potential to grab and pull at the crown.
2. Shift the bulk of your chewing to the opposite side of your mouth.
3. Avoid chewing hard foods that can dislodge or break the crown.
4. When cleaning your teeth, slide flossing material out rather than lifting it out. Lifting the floss out could pull off the temporary crown.

Eating with permanent crowns after cementation is somewhat similar to temporary crown eating. Your dentist will tell you to be careful with temporary crowns because they’re only made of plastic, but actual crowns will also need time to harden before you can eat normally.

You only have to wait for 30 to 45 minutes after you leave your dentist’s office before eating. Just remember not to chew where your crown is even in the days following the procedure.

What’s safe to eat after crowns? 

Besides sticky and chewy foods, you may eat to your comfort level after the anesthetic is worn off. Your gum and tooth may be tender in the area that the work was done, so sometimes it’s helpful to stick to a softer diet for the first few days.

With a permanent crown, it is best to avoid sticky things for the first 24 hours. After that, you may eat, drink, and clean your tooth just like you did before. The crown and gum may be tender or sensitive for the first few weeks while the gum is healing from the work done, but soon you shouldn’t even notice that it’s there.

If you have any additional questions about your procedure or if you are experiencing abnormal bleeding, swelling, severe pain, or any reaction to medications, please do not hesitate to contact us at Noll Family Dentistry.

A sealant is a thin, protective coating (made from plastic or other dental materials) that adheres to the chewing surface of your teeth. They’re no substitute for brushing and flossing, but they can help keep cavities from forming.

According to the ADA, sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of decay by nearly 80% in molars. This is especially important when it comes to your child’s dental health. In October 2016, the Centers for Disease Control released a report on the importance of sealants for school-aged children, of which only 43% of children ages 6-11 have.

WHO CAN GET SEALANT?

Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better. Your first molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free from the start.

Ask your dentist if sealants are a good option for you and your family.

HOW ARE SEALANTS APPLIED?

It’s a quick and painless process. Your dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel roughs up your tooth surface so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, your dentist will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth again before applying the sealant. Your dentist will then finish the procedure with a special blue light to harden the sealant.

Sealants will often last for several years before they need to be reapplied. During your regular dental visit, your dentist will check the condition of the sealant and can reapply them as needed.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment! Feel free to call Noll Family Dentistry if you have any more questions about sealants.

Mouthwash, also called oral rinse, is a liquid product used to rinse your teeth, gums, and mouth. It certainly is a good thing to use after brushing your teeth because it usually contains an antiseptic to kill harmful bacteria that can live between your teeth and on your tongue.

Some people use mouthwash to fight against bad breath, while others use it to try to prevent tooth decay. While mouthwash doesn’t replace brushing your teeth or flossing, it’s only effective when used correctly so it’s important to understand that different formulas contain different ingredients, and not all mouthwashes can strengthen your teeth.

You can use mouthwash prior to brushing to remove any food debris and plaque build-up in your mouth to set yourself up for a good cleaning.

How to use mouthwash:

Directions may vary per brand so always make sure to follow package instructions. Generally the instructions are as followed:

• Brush your teeth first
• Pour your oral rinse using only as much as the product instructs you to use. (It’s typically between 3 and 5 teaspoons.)
• Rinse in your mouth for about 30 seconds
• Spit it out

How often should you use it?

Most mouthwash products recommend that you use them twice per day, after brushing and flossing. But you can also use it in a pinch to banish bad breath.

Also, one important thing to note is that if you’re using fluoride toothpaste, don’t use mouthwash for at least 30 minutes after brushing! Why? Because the wash will rinse the fluoride out of your mouth.

Speak to a dentist about any concerns you have about your breath or using mouthwash.

Contact us at Noll Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment or ask our treatment coordinators any questions.

Drinking water is always good for your health but it’s also one of the best things you can do for your teeth especially if it’s fluoridated. Our bodies are made of 60% water, and staying hydrated helps your system distribute healthy nutrients, gets rid of waste, gives your skin a healthy glow, and keeps your muscles moving.

Why water is so good for your oral health:

It strengthens your teeth

Drinking water with fluoride is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to help prevent cavities. Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter and occurs naturally in varying amounts in water sources.

It keeps your mouth clean

Drinking juice or soda leaves unwanted sugar behind on your teeth. The cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth love to eat sugar and produce acid that wears away enamel, which is the outer shell of your teeth. Many of these drinks also have added acids to make them taste less sweet, but those acids also cause trouble by eroding away enamel.

Water cleans your mouth with every sip. It washes away leftover food and residue that cavity-causing bacteria are looking for. It also dilutes the acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth.

It fights dry mouth

Saliva is your mouth’s first defense against tooth decay. When your saliva supply runs low, dry mouth may put you at risk for tooth decay. Drinking water can help cut your risk as you and your dentist work to find the best long-term solution for you.

It’s calorie free

Sweetened drinks that are high in sugar and calories, create a perfect storm that puts you at risk for cavities and other unhealthy consequences like weight gain. In fact, studies have shown that drinking water can actually help you lose weight. So the next time you need a drink, pick water to take care of your body and your smile.

Again, drinking water throughout the day will go a long way toward keeping your smile cavity-free. Contact us at Noll Family Dentistry for any of your dental questions or concerns!

Before determining if you have a cavity or not you need to know what exactly a cavity is and what type of damage can it cause.

A cavity, also called tooth decay, is actually a permanently damaged area in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes.

Cavities are especially common in children, teenagers, and older adults but anyone who has teeth can get cavities, including infants! In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says close to 30 percent of American adults have untreated dental cavities.

Cavities left untreated can destroy your teeth and possibly create more serious issues.

So what are the symptoms?

Symptoms of cavities can vary. When one is just beginning, you may not have any symptoms at all! As the decay gets larger, it may cause signs and symptoms such as:

• Hot and cold tooth sensitivity
• Lingering sensitivity to sweets
• Pain when you bite down
• Visible holes or pits in your teeth
• Toothache, spontaneous pain, or pain that occurs without any apparent cause
• Brown, black or white staining on any surface of a tooth

When should you see a dentist?

If you have any signs that a cavity is forming, it’s time to see a dentist. If it doesn’t get treated, they can get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth. It can also create more serious complications, like a tooth abscess or an infection that gets into your bloodstream, which can be life-threatening..

Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits are your best protection against cavities and tooth decay. But remember, if you experience a toothache or mouth pain, see your dentist as soon as possible.

Treatment options:

Treatment options vary on how severe the cavity may be. Some options include:

• Fillings: also called restorations are the main treatment option when decay has progressed beyond the earliest stage.
• Crowns: for extensive decay or weakened teeth, you may need a crown which is a custom-fitted covering that replaces your tooth’s entire natural crown.
• Root canals: when decay reaches the inner material of your tooth, you may need a root canal. This is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it.
• Tooth extractions: some teeth become so severely decayed that they can’t be restored and must be removed. Having a tooth pulled can leave a gap that allows your other teeth to shift. Consider getting a bridge or a dental implant to replace the missing tooth.

Prevention

Good oral and dental hygiene can help you avoid cavities. Here are some tips to help prevent cavities:

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste
• Visit your dentist regularly
• Consider dental sealants
• Avoid frequent snacking and sipping (especially with sugar)

Visit Noll Family Dentistry regularly to prevent cavities! Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.

Fluoride is nature’s cavity fighter and occurs naturally in varying amounts in water sources. To help protect teeth from cavities, fluoride is also added to some dental products such as toothpaste.

Benefits for both children and adults:

Before teeth break through the gums (erupt), the fluoride taken in from foods, beverages, and dietary supplements makes tooth enamel stronger, making it easier to resist tooth decay. After teeth erupt, fluoride helps rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel and reverses early signs of tooth decay.

It is specifically important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. It becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize teeth.

When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste or use other dental products, it is applied to the surface of your teeth. This provides what is called a “topical” benefit.

The fluoride you take in from foods and beverages continues to provide a topical benefit because it becomes part of your saliva, constantly bathing the teeth with tiny amounts of fluoride that help rebuild weakened tooth enamel.

What forms are available?

As mentioned, it is found in foods and in water but it can also be directly applied to the teeth through toothpaste and mouth rinses. Mouth rinses containing fluoride in lower strengths are available over-the-counter; stronger concentrations require a doctor’s prescription.

A dentist can also apply it to the teeth as a gel, foam, or varnish. These treatments contain a much higher level of fluoride than the amount found in toothpaste and mouth rinses.

Supplements are also available as liquids and tablets and must be prescribed by your dentist, pediatrician, or family doctor.

How can I make sure I’m getting enough?

The most effective way to ensure that you are getting enough is to brush your teeth twice each day with fluoridated toothpaste. Make sure that when you are brushing, you take the time to go over and around each tooth on all sides and along the gum line.

You can also introduce fluoride into your diet through foods such as, yams, milk, eggs, cassava, red meats, and fish, especially if it’s canned. All of these foods contain less than 0.1 milligrams in them per serving.

Having a regular dental checkup every six months is also extremely important, not just because your mouth will be professionally cleaned, but also because you should receive a concentrated fluoride treatment each time.

Contact us at Noll Family Dentistry today to schedule an appointment!