What is a dental emergency?

Your Tooth Was Forcibly Removed
Whether it was knocked out, pulled out, or any other force was exerted on it that resulted in it coming out, it requires immediate dental care. If you practice good aftercare and visit a dentist as soon as you can, the tooth can actually be reinserted. "Good aftercare" means cleaning the tooth (being sure not to remove any tissue or scrubbing) and placing it in a cup of milk. 

Your Tooth Is Out of Alignment
If something happens and your tooth get's pushed out of alignment (but is still attached), you will want to visit an emergency dental care facility right away. In the meantime, try to put the tooth back into its original position. Just be sure not to force it back into place or use too much pressure. If you need to, gently bite down to keep your tooth from moving. 

Your Tooth is Chipped
If one of your teeth becomes chipped, it may not constitute a dental emergency. If it doesn't hurt, then you probably don't need to see an emergency dentist and can wait to make an appointment with your regular practitioner. However, if your tooth is cracked or fractured, or if you experience intense pain, then you will need emergency dental care right away. Some fractures can be so severe that the tooth is unable to be saved, in which case it will need to be pulled and replaced. 

If you experience any mouth or facial pain that doesn't subside, these could also be indications that it's time to visit your emergency dentist. Should you choose to wait or avoid the dentist altogether, the damage caused by any of the aforementioned issues could be irreversible. So, if you're dealing with any of these issues, it's important to call an emergency dentist right away. 

Lip Taping

It seems crazy to think you should physically tape your lips closed when you are asleep, doesn’t it? Well, the reality is… it is a pretty smart thing to do! Here’s why.

Lip taping makes us breathe through our nasal cavity. This is very important in order to utilize the benefits of Nitric Oxide that is produced in our paranasal sinuses. When Nitric Oxide is inhaled into the lungs it supercharges our lung’s ability to absorb Oxygen by 10-25%.

Breathing through your nose will also make you healthier. Nitric Oxide kills bacteria and viruses. That fact combined with the role of our nasal mucous, helps us to get rid of bad germs that cause infections, such as sinus and ear infections, to name a few.

Breathing through our noses elicits a Parasympathetic Response. Our heart rates will be lower, as will our blood pressure.

Mouth breathing causes chronic hyperventilation which throws off our Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide balance, leading to Oxygen starvation. Our brains and organs are directly affected by this imbalance.

For overall health, well-being and for better sleep quality, try lip taping. It’s an inexpensive and easy thing to do that has optimum benefits for your body.

Materials: 1 inch Micropore Surgical Tape: Hypoallergenic, Scissors

Instructions: 1. Get ready for bed: wash your face, brush and floss your teeth. 2. Cut a strip of tape long enough to cover your lips horizontally. 3. Fold the tape over on both ends to make it easy to rip off if necessary. 4. Pat your lips dry. 5. Relax your lips, (do not purse them, or it may be a little uncomfortable). Place the tape on your lips, from corner to corner, horizontally. For Beginners: start with using the tape vertically. Nighty-night!

If you tear off the tape in your sleep, contact your dentist. He/She can help you figure out what is stopping you from being able to consistently breathe through your nose. Perhaps you have allergies, a deviated septum, reactive turbinates, large adenoids/tonsils, or other airway issues that need to be addressed prior to beginning a lip tap protocol.

Bleaching Instructions

FOR 10% BLEACHING TRAYS:

Bleaching should be the last thing you do at night.

Brush and floss your teeth.

Dry your bleach trays or clear retainers completely (A Q-Tip works well for this)

Droop bleach inside each reservoir excluding where crowns are. Put the drop on the inside where you want the tooth to whiten.

About 1/3 to 1/2 of a tube for both upper and lower trays is how much will be used each night.

Place the trays over your teeth and press it against your teeth. If excess comes out remove it with a tissue. If gel gets on your gums it can burn your gum tissue.

Keep the trays in for 15-20 minutes the first time to make sure your teeth are not overly sensitive. If your teeth are not sensitive, you can leave bleach on your teeth overnight.

Remove trays in the morning, rinse out your mouth and the trays, Make sure that all of the bleach has been removed. You can brush your teeth again!

If teeth are sensitive do not bleach again until the sensitivity goes away.

If tissue is sensitive and looks white around the teeth place Vitamin E on the tissue.

On the days that you are bleaching it is a good idea to avoid foods that can cause staining such as: Coffee, tea, berries, red wine, juice.

FOR 20% & 35% BLEACHING TRAYS:

Bleaching should be the last thing you do at night.

Brush and floss your teeth.

Dry your bleach trays or clear retainers completely (A Q-Tip works well for this)

Droop bleach inside each reservoir excluding where crowns are. Put the drop on the inside where you want the tooth to whiten.

About 1/3 to 1/2 of a tube for both upper and lower trays is how much will be used each night.

Place the trays over your teeth and press it against your teeth. If excess comes out remove it with a tissue. If gel gets on your gums it can burn your gum tissue.

Keep the trays in for 15-20 minutes the first time.

Remove trays, rinse out your mouth and the trays, Make sure that all of the bleach has been removed. You can brush your teeth again!

If there is no sensitivity after, you can repeat each night and increase the bleaching time up to 2 hours.

If teeth are sensitive do not bleach again until the sensitivity goes away.

If tissue is sensitive and looks white around the teeth place Vitamin E on the tissue.

On the days that you are bleaching it is a good idea to avoid foods that can cause staining such as: Coffee, tea, berries, red wine, juice.