Author: adv-admin

It’s not the first thing you think of when you think of allergy season, but allergy season can also have an impact on your gums and teeth as well as oral health as well. The following are all things to consider when thinking of allergies and oral health:

Tooth Pain:

      It’s common to feel a pounding pain in the open cavities of the upper part of the nose during allergy season. Your nose can fill with mucus and saliva as you fight off pollens and dust that cause the allergies. This can cause a pound pain in the upper back part of the mouth that causes the upper molars to feel tender and sometime sore. This can be accompanied by an extreme sensitivity to foods or drinks that are hot or cold. Pain may vary based on your position of sitting, standing, or lying down. Antihistamines are the best prevention to help alleviate this pain. If the antihistamines take care of the tooth ache then it was likely sinus related, but if the pain continues see your dentist.

Dry Mouth:

        Sometimes having a stuffy nose can cause you to have to breathe through your mouth. This can cause dry mouth. Sometimes a side-effect of antihistamines is also a dry mouth. Either way be sure to sip plenty of water throughout the day as dry mouth can leave a better chance of cavities and allows bad bacteria to grow in the mouth.

Sore Throat:

In this case, the sore throat is likely caused by postnasal drip. There isn’t much you can do about it at that point. It also may cause bad breath, but it originates deep in the throat so brushing teeth won’t help. Possibly try chewing sugar-free gum or having a mint.

What to Do:
To help ensure premium oral health during allergy season ensure you follow these steps listed below:

• Stay Hydrated: Constantly sipping water throughout the day can help you avoid dry mouth that can also cause a greater chance of bad bacteria multiplying and causing cavities.
• Gargle w/Salt Water: Dissolving a tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water then using it to gargle with can help draw the mucus out of your sinuses. Continue gargling and spitting till the glass of water is gone. It can also kill bad bacteria in the mouth and throat. *Do not drink this water it has a high amount of sodium and is not good to ingest!
• Keep Brushing & Flossing: Keep brushing at least twice a day, and be sure to floss every evening before brushing to keep oral health at its best.
• Treat Your Allergies: Take the antihistamines or vaccinations to help with your allergies. Avoid the allergy triggers. If basic treatments do not help, talk to your doctor to figure out what you are allergic to and also to how to treat the allergy symptoms.
• Talk to Your Doctor: If allergies are leaving you with sore, sensitive teeth and dry mouth talk to your dentist about remedies for the problem.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

A few steps that can help you feel comfortable with your new dentist that is committed to helping you overcome your phobia include the following:

1. Meet Your Dentist Prior to the First Treatment: Sit down and have a consultation with the dentist. Talk about your fears and concerns, and see in which ways he/she will help address your personal concerns. Ask any questions you may have about their dental policies and procedures as this time as well.
2. Be Upfront About Your Dental Phobia: Explain what you are feeling and how your phobias effect you seeking help for your dental needs. Any dentist who wants to help will not laugh at or scoff you, they will welcome the honest openness of your discussion and want to help.
3. Bring a Family Member/Friend with You for Moral Support: Bringing someone you trust who does not have a phobia of dentists can help you make the whole thin seem more reasonable. They can put the treatment in perspective and help you remain calm during your new experience.
4. Ask About Modifications: Some dentists can make modifications to treatments or the way they are administered to help you feel more at ease. Just ask!
5. Consider Changing Dentists: If the dentist seems unwilling to help you find a solution to your problem then it might be time to look for a dentist who will help! Same goes for dentists who may find your fears “comical” or “entertaining”. There is nothing funny about it, so possibly looking for someone who can take you seriously is in order.
6. Use Noise-Cancelling Headphones: If the sounds of dental tools grating on the surfaces of your teeth makes your skin crawl request to use headphones while the dentist is performing the procedure. Losing yourself in the music can help you forget about what is happening. It can block those terrible noises that can make your skin crawl as well!
7. Talk About Pain Management Options: If you need more detailed dental work like root canal or cavity that needs to be filled talk to your dentist about ways to manage pain that you may feel during the experience. If you have had this experienced in the past, ask if there is a way they can guarantee you are not feeling pain. If you feel pain during this procedure, ask for a signal to stop the procedure till the pain is addressed.
8. Stay Halfway Up in the Chair: Possibly ask the dentist to only put the chair halfway back if you feel laying in the supine position makes you feel vulnerable. Many dentists will be able to comply

All of these tips, and finding a dentist who is happy to accommodate can help make your entire experience the next time you go to the dentist something that is bearable. If you have children try not to pass that fear of the dentist on to them. Talk about the benefits/perks of regular dental care (i.e. oral health, avoiding cavities, keeping your natural teeth, etc.). Take the children to their dentist for the first time when they are young so they are able to grow up with regular dental care to ensure they are not fearful as they age.

If you have questions regarding this article or would like to learn more about us visit our website or call us 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

According to the Dental Fears Research Clinic has studied and determined that between 5-8% of the population avoid the dentist because of crippling fears of going. Another 20% only go when they have to for things like toothaches because of fears. Most children are also terrified or go through a phase of being terrified of the dentist before growing out of it, but some never do grow out of it! About 25% of the population by all estimations.

What you really need to find is a dentist with empathy. A dentist that understands how you feel, and who is really willing to work with you to help ensure you have a positive experience at the dentist without letting your oral health suffer.

The main reasons people fear dentists are quite varied, but at the same time all share a generally similar reasoning: a bad past experience with the dentist that has put them off from going again or the way they feel while they are there. Here are some of the top reasons people explain they avoid dentists:

1. A Bad Dental Experience as A Child: The person cites a generally unpleasant or painful experience at the dentist and it has given them a bad impression of the dentist since. They vow to never return, and there is hardly anything someone can do to convince them otherwise. It wasn’t worth the pain, and they will just put up with any problems that come up over going through that miserable experience ever again in their adult life.
2. Pre-Existing Disorder Anxieties: some people have general anxiety of the unknown and they just can’t get past anything otherwise so they never bother going to the dentist.
3. Lack of Control: the feeling of lying in a supine position in a dentist chair with no control over what’s going on inside one’s mouth is most people’s furthest definition of “fun”, but for some it’s a downright unbearable thought. This is especially true for those suffering from PTSD who feel they have no control over their environment.
4. Bad Teeth: some people may have a phobia of dentists after endless sittings of dental work for bad teeth. People who don’t take care of their teeth may have had endless crowns, caps, and cavities filled and after a while they just have enough. They don’t bother going back because they dread the next bout of hours sitting in a dental chair while having more work done to their already battered teeth. Simple daily oral care can generally help people avoid these conditions.
5. Biological Mechanisms: some people still have that gagging feeling or sensation when they go to the dentist like they are being “suffocated” if you will. This is a miserable feeling so they decide to avoid going to the dentist. People with the most sensitive gag reflexes seem to fall into this category the most often.

If you are having dental issues, but have a deep-seeded fear of going to the dentist the most important, empowering thing you can do is find out where that fear is coming from. Acknowledging that you have an issue and a fear to conquer is the first step in getting over anything is realizing that there is an issue to be solved in the first place. Admitting that to yourself is a vital step. Figure out what causes that fear and complex for you personally. Is it a bad past experience? Is it a psychological condition? Knowing what is causing the issue is what can help you solve the problem! Commit to overcoming the condition by contacting a dentist who specializes in helping people overcome dental phobias. There are plenty out there that are willing to help if you just reach out.

We’re experts at dealing with dental phobia patients.  If you have any questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”