Caring for our dental and overall health is as easy as brushing and flossing our teeth twice daily. When you brush your teeth properly, you remove surface stains, freshen your breath, and reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. These are all good excuses to show off your grin, but only if you’ve prepared properly.

Many of our patients still falsely believe that bleeding gums during brushing or flossing is normal. Therefore, we’d want to set the record straight immediately. Your gums should be happy with your oral hygiene routine if you use a soft bristles toothbrush and floss properly after each meal. 

You may be tempted to reduce your brushing intensity to stop the bleeding, but doing so could make matters worse. Notify either Dr. Hardy or Dr. Wilson if you have this or any of the following symptoms:

• Chronic bad breath: Plaque formation leads to bacteria growth, producing an offensive odor.
• Gums that are swollen or red: As the inflammation worsens, the healthy pink hue of your gums will turn red, and you may also notice some swelling.
• Gum recession: If the swelling and redness do not go away, you will most likely have a recession, which will cause your teeth to appear longer than before.
• Sensitivity: If your gums have receded, the exposed tooth roots will make your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold meals and beverages. Exposure to the tooth roots can cause this sensitivity.
• Abscess: This occurs as a direct result of germs populating the periodontal pocket in your mouth. Pain, swelling, and pus will be some of the symptoms.
• Loosening teeth: If the infection has lasted for a significant amount of time, you can notice bone loss and teeth that shift or become loose. This procedure can be sped up if you have the habit of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth at night.

Gum disease causes most tooth loss. We recommend preventive actions to maintain your teeth healthy and beautiful for life. Gum disease-free teeth protect your bloodstream from hazardous microorganisms. This bacteria can spread inflammation-related diseases like heart attack, stroke, dementia, etc.

If you find yourself in need of immediate dental care, Cornerstone Dentistry is here to help. When should you visit the dentist?

We provide an emergency after-hours phone line in case of accidents or other time-sensitive situations that can only happen during normal office hours. We create room in our schedules for emergencies because we want to save your grin if we can.

If you’ve lost a tooth in an accident, it’s best to handle it by the crown (the part that shows when the tooth is whole) rather than the root. You can give it a light rinse in water, but avoid scrubbing it or pulling out any tissue pieces. A tooth can survive better if it is reinserted into its socket with the correct orientation while biting down on gauze or a wet tea bag. If you don’t have milk handy, you can store the tooth in water with a pinch of salt.

If you’re having a dental emergency and need some advice on what to do and what not to do until you can get in to see us, this guide should help. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so that Drs. Hardy and Wilson can be ready for your appointment. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, we’ll stop at nothing!