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Brush up on your dental health
continued from page 2
Sedative medicine
Oral sedatives can be taken in liquid or tablet form before visiting the dentist, and are designed to make you drowsy, relaxed and less aware of the dental treatment. While you can still co-operate with the dentist, you MUST NOT drink alcohol, drive or operate machinery while the sedative is still active. In some cases, sedative medicine is administered intravenously. Although not recommended for patients under 16 years, dentists often use a drug called midazolam. This has an amnesic effect lasting a few hours. While patients remember little of the dental procedure, some people have been known to have erotic dreams!
Hypnosis
While hypnosis is used outside the dental surgery to help banish dental phobias, some dentists have experimented with hypnosis themselves. They claim that by altering the patient's state of consciousness, they can make a tooth numb and remove the need for an injection. However, different patients have different susceptibilities and the technique isn't necessarily successful for everyone.
For those of us who suffer from pre-dental nerves which aren't debilitating enough to require specific treatment, it's worth remembering to avoid caffeine-rich drinks such as tea and coffee before visiting the surgery as these can raise anxiety levels.
Relieving toothache
If you've ever been unlucky enough to suffer dental pain, then you will well know that toothache can be an excruciating, head, jaw and ear-throbbing experience. It also has a nasty habit of striking when you least expect it and for no apparent reason.
Although a visit to the dentist is almost always necessary to find and treat the cause of the ache, temporary relief (and a better night's sleep) can thankfully be found over the counter. The best off-the-shelf drug for toothache is a painkiller (analgesic) called ibuprofen, contained in products like Nurofen. Incidentally, placing an aspirin next to the troublesome tooth is not recommended as the aspirin will not enter the tooth via the outside of the gum. Other pain-relieving tips include avoiding heat and hot food and drinks, and applying an ice pack to the face over the affected area.
Good dental habits
Brushing and flossing
First and foremost, brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush which should be changed at least every three months. In the absence of an electric toothbrush, which helps do the work for you, the toothbrush should be held at a 45-degree angle to the tooth and used in a gentle circular motion.
While brushing is essential, one of the best (and most neglected) ways of keeping your gums and teeth healthy is flossing. How many times has the dentist or hygienist told you to floss, and you've gone away and flossed for a while until you lapse back into old habits? Daily flossing - or 'interdental' cleaning - reaches the areas missed by the toothbrush, reduces the build up of tartar and plaque and reduces the risk of tooth loss through gum disease. And if you thought you were immune to gum disease, think again: gum disease is the most common disease in the world, affecting 19 out of every 20 people during their lifetime. Also, another good reason to reduce stress: new studies have linked gum disease to stress - so keep flossing and stay calm!
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Oral sedatives can be taken in liquid or tablet form before visiting the dentist, and are designed to make you drowsy, relaxed and less aware of the dental treatment. While you can still co-operate with the dentist, you MUST NOT drink alcohol, drive or operate machinery while the sedative is still active. In some cases, sedative medicine is administered intravenously. Although not recommended for patients under 16 years, dentists often use a drug called midazolam. This has an amnesic effect lasting a few hours. While patients remember little of the dental procedure, some people have been known to have erotic dreams!
While hypnosis is used outside the dental surgery to help banish dental phobias, some dentists have experimented with hypnosis themselves. They claim that by altering the patient's state of consciousness, they can make a tooth numb and remove the need for an injection. However, different patients have different susceptibilities and the technique isn't necessarily successful for everyone.
Relieving toothache
If you've ever been unlucky enough to suffer dental pain, then you will well know that toothache can be an excruciating, head, jaw and ear-throbbing experience. It also has a nasty habit of striking when you least expect it and for no apparent reason.
Although a visit to the dentist is almost always necessary to find and treat the cause of the ache, temporary relief (and a better night's sleep) can thankfully be found over the counter. The best off-the-shelf drug for toothache is a painkiller (analgesic) called ibuprofen, contained in products like Nurofen. Incidentally, placing an aspirin next to the troublesome tooth is not recommended as the aspirin will not enter the tooth via the outside of the gum. Other pain-relieving tips include avoiding heat and hot food and drinks, and applying an ice pack to the face over the affected area.
Good dental habits
First and foremost, brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush which should be changed at least every three months. In the absence of an electric toothbrush, which helps do the work for you, the toothbrush should be held at a 45-degree angle to the tooth and used in a gentle circular motion.
While brushing is essential, one of the best (and most neglected) ways of keeping your gums and teeth healthy is flossing. How many times has the dentist or hygienist told you to floss, and you've gone away and flossed for a while until you lapse back into old habits? Daily flossing - or 'interdental' cleaning - reaches the areas missed by the toothbrush, reduces the build up of tartar and plaque and reduces the risk of tooth loss through gum disease. And if you thought you were immune to gum disease, think again: gum disease is the most common disease in the world, affecting 19 out of every 20 people during their lifetime. Also, another good reason to reduce stress: new studies have linked gum disease to stress - so keep flossing and stay calm!
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Created: 10/06/2004 Updated: 01/02/2007
This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational
purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a
substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or
hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or
that of a child, please consult your family's health provider
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