Piercings and Dental Care

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Do you have oral piercings? Song’s Lynnwood dental center advises that you take particular care of your teeth. A piercing in the lip or tongue poses a whole new set of problems for your dental hygiene.

The problems with oral piercings are threefold: first of all, biting down on a piece of metal is a good way to damage a tooth. They can also rub against your gums, which breaks them down and puts you at risk of tooth loss. And finally, piercings give bacteria lots of new places to hide. With extra holes in your mouth that your brush cannot reach, and extra surfaces for food to cling to, you’re at a greater risk of infection.

If you have oral piercings, consult your dentist to learn more about the risks involved and the steps that can be taken to mitigate them.

Toothaches: the Aspirin Myth

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Do you have a toothache, but aren’t able to make an appointment with your Lynnwood dental clinic quickly enough for your liking? It can be agony to have to live with a throbbing tooth for even a few days, and most people look for ways to dull the pain. A common belief is that placing an aspirin next to the tooth will make the ache go away. This is unfortunate, as you can only make the problem worse with such a practice.

Your tooth isn’t benefiting from the anti-inflammatory attributes of an aspirin for as long as it’s in your mouth. Quite the contrary, the acidic nature of aspirin is working to weaken your gums and enamel, effectively acting just like the bacteria that are eating away at your mouth. Only when you swallow the aspirin can you hope to get some relief from your pain.

Should you or a family member have a toothache, remember to never give aspirin to children. Consult your doctor for appropriate painkillers, and contact Song’s Lynnwood dental center to get to the root of your tooth problems as soon as possible.

When Canker Sores Go Bad

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

We all get canker sores every now and then.  They usually appear without apparent reason, only to disappear just as easily within a few days.  But when does a canker sore turn into a problem?  Look out for these warning signs for when it’s time to bring your sore to Song’s Lynnwood dental clinic:

  • You have a sore that persists for more than two weeks.
  • Your sore is more than one centimeter in diameter.
  • You have a high fever that appeared when your sore appeared.
  • Your sore is unbearable, particularly if it makes it difficult to drink.

How Pregnancy Affects Your Oral Health

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

Are you pregnant? Congratulations! Call your parents, call your friends, and then be sure to call your Lynnwood dental clinic. Dental care may not be first on your list of priorities when you’re expecting, but pregnancy has a bigger impact on your oral health than you may expect.

First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that your dentist plans your treatment around your pregnancy. There are certain procedures that may put your baby-to-be in unnecessary danger. If you can, tell your dentist if you’re planning to get pregnant before the pregnancy occurs so that you can have your regular x-rays or any other treatments done in advance.

On top of this, you will want to take extra care throughout your pregnancy to avoid tooth decay and gum disease. Your body goes through changes during pregnancy, and some of these changes compromise your ability to fight dental problems. Combine this with the increased consumption of sugary foods that many pregnant women go through, and it adds up to a seventy percent rate of women experiencing some form of gum problem while pregnant.

A healthy mouth means a healthy body, and a healthy body means a healthy baby. If you would like to learn more about how to handle your oral hygiene during pregnancy, contact Song’s Lynnwood dental center today.

Watching for Gum Disease

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

In many ways, the health of your gums is more important than that of your teeth.  Gums are fragile and harder to repair, and when they’re compromised your entire mouth can suffer.  This is why our Lynnwood dental clinic offers extensive periodontal care, and encourages you to watch out for these warning signs of gum disease:

  • Your gums bleed easily, particularly after proper brushing or flossing.
  • The gums are inflamed, changing color and swelling up to an unusual size.
  • Pus appears in between your teeth and gums.
  • Your gum line is retreating from your teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth.
  • You experience bad breath that doesn’t go away..
  • You have a bad taste in your mouth that you cannot account for.
  • Your teeth no longer fit together the way they used to.
  • Your teeth are coming loose.

Gum disease is among the leading causes of tooth loss among adults, but it is easily treated if it is caught in its early stages.  If you experience any of these warning signs, don’t hesitate to call Song’s Lynnwood dental center.

White Fillings: the Clear Choice over Silver

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by Lynnwood Song Dental

At Song’s Lynnwood dental clinic, we favor the newer, composite fillings over amalgam. Not only do they look better, blending in with the white of your teeth, but they’re also a lot less controversial.

The biggest issue regarding the silver amalgam fillings is their mercury content. These fillings are generally about fifty percent mercury, which is by itself a highly toxic material. For a long time the FDA maintained that the mercury in amalgam fillings is safe, but in light of recent lawsuits in the past decade they have been forced to acknowledge that mercury vapors that may be released in the process of installing an amalgam filling could have a harmful effect on developing fetuses or anyone with a particular sensitivity to mercury.

Though controversy continues on the topic, and amalgam continues to be used in about thirty percent of dental fillings, Song Dental Center is happy to offer a safe and effective alternative to you and your family. When it’s time to go under the drill, make the secure choice and call our Lynnwood dentist for a composite filling.