Nothing is more refreshing than a tall, ice-cold glass of water. It’s rare for anyone to dispute that a simple glass of water can provide more satisfaction than a coffee, soda, or even a can of coke. However, it’s common for people to ignore the former and go for the later, unwittingly causing damage to their bodies.According to a survey, about 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated, which is commonly ignored as people continue to deprive themselves of water and expose their system to serious health complications.
The body provides indicators to warn you when your body fluid level is at a level that can cause problems for you. When you detect any of these signs, drink a glass of water immediately.
Besides being thirsty, what are the signs that you’re not drinking enough water? Do you know that you’re getting enough water into your system?
Well, we will learn about the 9 signs of what could possibly happen if you aren’t drinking enough water. If that happens, it’s important to do everything to get your hydration level back on track.
Impaired Memory and Concentration
One of the reasons you find yourself unable to concentrate can be because you’re not drinking enough water; you are mildly dehydrated.
While it’s not exactly clear what causes these symptoms, researchers at the University of Connecticut Human Performance Laboratory attribute it to changes in the blood electrolyte balance due to dehydration. As a result of this, the brain’s part responsible for cognitive function and reasoning becomes impaired. Irregular blood electrolyte levels can also affect brain serotonin levels, leading to moodiness and anxiety.
The average human body is 60 percent water, which is lost continuously to perform bodily functions such as regulating body temperature and flushing out waste. Not drinking enough water to replenish your body’s water supply will severely impair your concentration.
Skin Dehydration
Dry skin is one of the obvious ways to tell if you’re experiencing dehydration. Some of the first warning signs of this condition include persistent dry skin, chapped lips, dry eyes, and dandruff.
As the largest body organ, the skin needs to be adequately hydrated at all times to perform its function and retain its appearance and texture. Otherwise, it becomes dry, which eventually leads to full-blown dehydration, a more severe condition. When the skin lacks water, it cannot produce sweat to wash off accumulated dirt and oil, causing various skill complications. To manage breakouts, drinking enough water should be your course of action.
Hunger after Eating
Dehydration can confuse your body into thinking it needs food when it just needs to rehydrate. Hunger due to dehydration can happen either during the day or at night when you wake up craving that midnight snack. Rather than satisfying your appetite, eating makes your body heavier, whereas drinking water cleanses your system and provide you with the necessary electrolyte to perform other functions.
This confusion of feeling hungry instead of thirsty happens in the hypothalamus, the part of our brain responsible for controlling thirst and appetite. If you find yourself feeling hungry just after eating, it may be your hypothalamus going haywire. Instead of going for extra helpings, drink water and see if you’re still hungry.
Fatigue and Lethargic
Many factors attribute to Fatigue and lethargic, including insufficient sleep and insomnia. But if you experience tiredness and sluggishness even though you’re getting enough sleep, then it may be a sign that you’re dehydrated.
When you are dehydrated, your blood pressure drops, leading to a reduction in hydrated blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body. Since oxygen can’t circulate your body, you become tired, dizzy, or lightheaded.
Muscle Cramps and Joint Pains
Muscle cramps are a common symptom of electrolyte imbalances, which is due to body dehydration. When you fail to replenish the water lost to sweating, especially during an exercise routine, you end up with cramps. Quickly drink water and rest if you’re feeling dehydrated while working out.
The cartilage between your joints and spinal discs to function correctly needs to be continuously lubricated with water. When it lacks the necessary fluid, it loses its elasticity, responsible for aching, cracking joints.
Drinking enough water helps the joints to be a better shock absorber.
Bad Breath (Chronic Halitosis)
Dehydration can be the cause of that bad breath you have. When you’re dehydrated, your body won’t produce enough saliva, which gives the bacteria in your mouth the opportunity to grow, leading to bad breath. Water moistens and lubricates the mucus membranes in your mouth and throat, promoting saliva production.
While dehydration can easily be solved by drinking a glass of water, leaving it untreated can lead to a more serious problem. Thus, it is essential you drink enough water every day, and as soon you notice any of the listed symptoms.
Lips are one of the sexiest parts of the human body. It is one of the first things we notice when looking at a face.
Do you suffer from dark areas around the edges of the vermillion of your lips? Are you looking for a way to lighten these areas for aesthetic reasons? Read on, and I will tell you what is causing those dark areas and five easy ways to lighten those areas.
Both men and women can get these dark spots. There is a myriad of reasons why your lips may be dark. Let’s explore the most common ones.
Why Are My Lips Dark Around The Edges And How To Lighten Them?
Sun Exposure
Yes, going outside and getting some sun is great for our health and happiness, but we need to go out with the right protection for our skin, including our lips! These spots may be a result of a buildup of melanin (skin pigment) in these areas.
The condition is called hyperpigmentation (if you have dark spots on other parts of your face; this is the same reason why). People with higher melanin in their skin are more likely to have these spots. It’s ok to have fun in the sun, just bring the sunblock!
Birth Control
Even though birth control is amazing for plenty of other reasons, it could be the cause behind those dark areas around your lips. Birth control is linked to melasma, when melanocytes (aka, melanin cells) overproduce melanin, resulting in those pesky dark spots.
This is thanks to the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone; “the pill” is changing these hormone levels, resulting in those unfortunate dark spots. Keep in mind other medications may cause this too—so be sure to ask your doctor about side effects!
Post-Inflammatory Hyper-Pigmentation
This is a temporary condition that causes dark spots after an injury (burn) or inflammation (such as infection, dermatitis, etc.). It may become darker when exposed to UV light. Be aware that waxing and shaving can also cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation!
Hormone Disorder
Certain hormones (besides sex hormones) can cause hyperpigmentation. If you suffer from an endocrine disease, it could be contributing to this condition. Ask your doctor to test your hormones and if your condition may exacerbate hyperpigmentation.
Vitamin Deficiency
Did you know that what you eat can affect the color in your skin? Numerous studies have liked B12 deficiency with skin pigmentation issues. You may need to rethink your diet or start supplementing. Consult your doctor or registered dietician if you think you may have a vitamin deficiency.
Too Much Iron
Speaking of vitamins, too much of iron is NOT a good thing. Having too much iron is called hemochromatosis. This can cause iron to build up in the sweat glands of the body, causing a heavy bronze stain. While this condition is quite often underdiagnosed, it is also very rare.
Genetic Pre-Disposition
You could be genetically predispositioned to hyperpigmentation. That means if mom or dad had skin pigmentation issues, they most likely passed it on to you. But hey, there are worse things to pass on in genes, am I right?
Prevention
Prevention is key when it comes to preventing or worsening dark areas. Some things you can do include:
Stop taking birth control
Use more sun protection or stay out of the sun during peak hours.
Consult a physician to get your blood tested for hormones and vitamin deficiencies.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed reading this article about how to get rid of dark areas around your lips.
Toothache can disrupt your comfort in several ways, as the pain can be unbearable and affect your ability to eat, drink, speak, and even sleep. It can cause significant discomfort, leading to poor performance at school or work, mood swings, and decreased quality of life. The increased sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks that often accompanies toothache New York can also be an added discomfort. The annoying pain can be due to several factors, each requiring a unique treatment approach.
Tooth decay
As tooth decay progresses, it can reach the softer inner layers of the tooth, called dentin and pulp, resulting in sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks and eventually leading to a toothache. If left untreated, tooth decay can result in an abscess, a painful infection at the root of the tooth that can cause severe pain and swelling. Adhering to your routine dental check-ups, practicing good oral hygiene, and eating a healthy diet can help prevent tooth decay and the resulting toothache.
Abscessed tooth
An abscessed tooth occurs when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected, typically due to decay or damage. The infection can spread to the tooth’s root and surrounding tissues, causing pain and swelling. In some cases, a pocket of pus may form in the affected area, leading to additional discomfort and even fever. Abscessed teeth may also cause sensitivity to hot or cold foods, a bad taste in your mouth, and difficulty chewing or speaking. If you have an abscessed tooth, inform your provider to prevent further complications and potential tooth loss.
Tooth fracture
A tooth fracture can expose the sensitive nerves and blood vessels inside your tooth, leading to pain and discomfort. The severity of your discomfort can vary, depending on the extent and location of the fracture. A small crack or chip may only cause mild discomfort, while a larger fracture may result in severe pain and sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. In some cases, a tooth fracture can also lead to infection, further exacerbating the pain and requiring immediate dental treatment.
Repetitive motions
Repetitive motions like chewing or clenching your teeth can cause pressure and stress on your teeth and surrounding tissues. When you continuously subject your teeth to these motions, they may become sensitive or even develop cracks or fractures, which can expose the underlying nerves and cause pain. Clenching or grinding your teeth can cause wear and tear on the enamel, leading to tooth decay or gum disease, which can also cause toothache.
A damaged filling
A damaged filling can cause toothache when the filling is no longer able to protect your tooth from external stimuli. When a filling is damaged, it can create an opening in the tooth, allowing bacteria to penetrate and cause an infection, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain. Additionally, if you don’t replace the filling in time, it may cause your tooth to weaken or crack. A damaged filling may also cause sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks.
If you have a toothache, call the Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC office or book an appointment online for diagnosis and treatment.
It’s officially chapped lips season. And let us tell you, we feel your pain.
One of the worst side effects of dealing with cold weather is dealing with dry, cracked, painful lips. Sometimes, it feels like no amount of lip balm can help.
Some people have even questioned whether lip balm is the problem. According to the pros, however, that’s a myth, as long as your lip balm contains the right mix of ingredients. But more on that later.
There are, however, a few things that actually can make your chapped lips worse. If you’re one of the many people who struggle to keep your pout sufficiently moisturized, take note:
1. Licking your lips all the time
You’ve probably heard this one before, but just to enforce it one more time: Licking your lips when they’re already chapped isn’t doing you any favors.
Although it may seem like a good idea at the time, “as the saliva dries and evaporates, it draws moisture away from the skin,” Dr. Y Claire Chang, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology, told HuffPost.
Excessively licking your already-dried out lips, as Dr. Benjamin Barankin, a Toronto-based dermatologist and medical director of Toronto Dermatology Centre, put it, leads to “short-term gain, long-term pain.”
Dr. Rachel Nazarian, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, elaborated: “Our saliva contains enzymes that make it effective for digesting our food when we eat. By licking your lips you apply the same digestive enzymes to your skin, and it can break down lips and make them dry and chapped.”
Licking your lips repeatedly can also get you caught in a cycle of wetting and drying the lips, and can even lead to something called “lip licker’s dermatitis,” which Chang described as “an irritant contact dermatitis around the lips characterized by redness and dryness around the lips.”
“The best way to treat dry lips is to avoid licking and, instead, apply bland emollients frequently to provide external hydration,” Chang added.
2. Cleansing with hot water
We’ve been told that super hot water isn’t great for keeping your skin moisturized, so it only makes sense that it won’t help dry lips. In fact, it can actually make dry lips worse, Chang said.
“Although hot water feels nice in the short-term, it can actually draw out moisture from the lips as it evaporates,” she added.
Barankin also noted that hot water strips away the natural oils that keep lips moisturized. To keep your lips from drying out, Nazarian recommended using lukewarm water and gentle cleansers when washing your face “to prevent your skin from drying out, especially in arid and cold weather months.” And that applies to your time in the shower, too, when hot water will come in contact with your lips.
3. Exposure to the sun
“Sun exposure can worsen chapped lips, so it is important to wear lip balm with SPF to keep your lips protected, especially when out in the sun,” Chang advised.
4. Flavored lip balms
All three dermatologists we spoke to agreed that fragrances, which are commonly found in lip balms, can irritate the skin and increase the potential for chapping.
It’s best to avoid using any products with fragrance, Nazarian said. She suggested applying a lip balm with lanolin or beeswax with no added colors or perfumes to prevent evaporation of moisture from the lips. Vaseline, which contains white petrolatum, is also effective, she said.
5. Irritating ingredients
Not all lip balms are created equal.
“I recommend avoiding excessive use of lip balms with salicylic acid, which is an exfoliant that removes dead skin cells,” Chang said. “Too frequent use of salicylic acid can cause irritation and further dry out the lips.”
Other ingredients to avoid are menthol or peppermint ― commonly added to lip balms for that cooling, soothing sensation ― Nazarian said. She also recommended steering clear of cinnamic aldehyde, the chemical compound that gives cinnamon its flavor, which can cause irritation in sensitive skin.
So what’s the best way to keep lips hydrated?
We’ll start by saying this: all three dermatologists said there’s really no such thing as applying too much lip balm, so long as you’re using something with the right ingredients.
Nazarian suggested using a product that contains hydrating ingredients (like ceramides and hyaluronic acid) along with ingredients that seal in moisture (like lanolin, petrolatum or beeswax) for “the perfect combo for soft, hydrated lips.”
Barankin recommended using a bland chapstick twice a day and urged not to lick or pick at your lips. If you need to put some moisture back into your lips, he also said you can put a damp cloth with warm water over the area followed by a proper lip balm to lock it all in.
In Chang’s opinion, if you’re using a lip balm to hydrate and lock in moisture, free from irritating ingredients, it’s “the more, the better.” It’s also wise to drink more water and use a humidifier at home to keep moisture in the air during the cold, dry winter months, she added.
You should also note:
If you’ve been treating your lips with care but continue to experience irritation and dryness, it might be a sign of an underlying issue, Chang said.
“Dry, chapped lips can sometimes be a sign of vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory bowel disease, fungal infections, contact dermatitis, excessive sun-damage, ill-fitting dentures or medication side effects,” she added, noting that it’s “important to address any underlying issues and medical conditions that may be causing dry lips.”
If the filler isn't permanent, such as Restylane Silk or Juvederm, the lips will return to their original shape, according to Dr. Howard Sobel, founder of DDF Skincare. Permanent fillers, such as Silicon 1000, will remain unchanged. The skin of the mouth and lips will return to its normal appearance without sagging or stretching.
This change will occur gradually; you won't wake up one morning to find that you've suddenly lost volume. As the filler fades, your lips may look somewhat aged as the normal aging process continues. Body+Beauty Lab always recommends starting lip augmentation with a small amount of filler and then slowly increasing the amount as desired. If you are somehow dissatisfied with the results of your lip injection or want to return to your previous appearance, we can easily reverse your result after lip injections.
Products containing hyaluronic acid can be partially or completely dissolved through an enzyme called hyaluronidase. In turn, the muscles will temporarily relax and cause the lip to move upwards to create the illusion of defined and thick lips. Over time, fillers will slowly decrease in fullness before taking their original shape and will not “deform” at all. On average, fillers are supposed to last six to nine months, but because the lips are more mobile on a daily basis, they can sometimes be a little less.
The amount of lip filler can be controlled, so the results are more accurate compared to implants. During a lip change, a trained Botox provider will skillfully inject the toxin into the orbicularis muscle (the muscle surrounding the mouth) just above the upper lip area. Since lip fillers are created using natural enzymes, the body processes them over time. Unfortunately, some people hesitate to put on lip fillers because they have questions about treatment.
Lip threading or lip flossing is a technique that uses dissolvable threads to soften the folds and lines shown around the mouth. Regardless of whether the type of dermal filler chosen increases collagen production, most of the time, no dermal filler will have any type of negative and lasting effect on your face.
But what can happen when you suddenly decide to stop Botox treatments? Botox lip injections work by relaxing the muscles in the upper lip area so that they bend upwards and achieve a smooth appearance.
Dental technology is a branch of the dental sciences that includes dental technicians, lab scientists, metallurgists and other compound specialists who work to recreate dental anatomy. Whether the natural oral environment is disrupted by disease, accidents or other alterations, skilled professionals can help restore the function, health and look of their patients' mouths.
Who Are Dental Technicians?
Dental technicians use their artistic and scientific talents to construct prostheses after obtaining a prescription and dental impressions from a licensed dental professional. By using materials available in the industry, dental technicians can improve the quality of life for patients by restoring or retaining their natural smiles through the replacement of missing or damaged teeth and gums.
The dental technician collaborates with the dental office to design safe reconstructive devices, such as crowns, bridges, full dentures, partial dentures, ceramics or veneers, orthodontic appliances and implants. The cost of these devices varies greatly depending on the time, work and materials that go into each one. For dentures, in addition to the initial purchase price, any repairs must also be factored into the overall price tag.
What Type of Education Do Dental Technicians Need?
To award an associate degree in dental technology, most educational programmes require two years of study. During this two-year programme, students become experts in the creation of dental restorations, appliances for tooth movement, or any one of the various modalities for tooth replacement that can be fitted onto dental implants or natural tooth structures.
A dental technician is formally trained at a recognised institution to an NQF level 6 qualification in dental technology, and is registered with the South African Dental Technicians Council.
Dental Lab Technology in Action
Dental technology is a rapidly changing field. Through new CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) techniques and improved treatment options, patients are keeping their teeth longer in life. According to a survey 48 percent of adults aged 20 to 64 had retained all their teeth in 2011-2012. Nevertheless, that means a large percentage of the population still needs the expertise of dental technicians.
Did you know that along with the other parts of your smile, as you’re striving to keep your smile health in exceptional condition, you should keep your tongue in mind along the way? If you’re shrugging your shoulders because this is truly something you’ve been overlooking, then remember: It’s never too late to add new knowledge to your already significant collection of important smile-related facts that help you keep your grin safe and sound! Make sure you’re confident about this area of oral health care by considering our Overland Park, KS team’s suggestions for things you should always remember.
#1: It Needs To Be Cleaned, Too!
We realize you may have the idea in your mind, which may have been there for many years already, that dental hygiene that is complete is hygiene that includes brushing your teeth and flossing between them. With that said, we must now inform you that you’re almost there. However, what you’re missing is the fact that you need to also pay attention to the tissue along the top surface of your tongue, if you wish to keep your oral health in lovely condition. Add this to your mental list of smile requirements now!
#2: You May Brush It Or (Gasp!) Scrape It
Brush your tongue, as you brush your teeth. Or, use a tongue scraper. Either will work just as well!
#3: A Dirty Tongue Contributes To Bad Breath, Etc.
Remember that protecting your smile from an accumulation of bacteria, which can lead to oral health problems, means removing it from your entire mouth, not just teeth and gums. When you ignore your tongue and you don’t keep it clean, the bad bacteria that build up will contribute to a host of unpleasant issues, such as bad breath. Follow our suggestions for protecting your smile with complete dental hygiene (as in, brush your tongue, too) and enjoy the benefit of fresh-smelling breath!
#4: If You Notice Changes, It’s Time To See Your Dentist!
It’s not always easy to know what’s going on inside your mouth, which is why we always encourage you to contact our team to schedule a dental checkup for anything that changes. While you may assume this is primarily for your gums and teeth, remember that you are invited to come in with questions about all of your mouth, including your tongue and other tissues! Don’t ignore changes. Come in. The sooner you do, the easier it will be for us to help you!
Few things feel more satisfying than finishing a good meal. But this positive feeling can sour if you are left with bits of food stuck between your teeth. It may feel hard to resist trying to free the trapped food with your tongue, and this can distract you from other activities on your agenda.
But trapped food between your teeth is more than just annoying. Lingering food particles in your mouth can also pose a threat to your dental health. So you should not ignore this oral phenomenon if you want to protect your smile. Read on to learn more about what food stuck in your smile means for your oral health.
Does Trapped Food Hurt My Oral Health?
Most people associate food stuck in the teeth with a pesky foreign presence within the mouth. But if food stays trapped between the teeth, your mouth might start to feel sore as well. Trapped food can apply pressure on the tooth which can lead to this chronic ache.
You should not try to tolerate or ignore this sensation. The pressure may indicate that the teeth are starting to shift out of their straight alignment. To preserve the look and feel of your smile, you should address this issue promptly.
Lingering food in your smile will also start to decay after a while. This encourages natural oral bacteria to produce plaque. And as food particles and plaque form, they will start to eat away at your dental structure.
Then you will have a high risk of forming cavities and many other dental dangers. Prevent dental emergencies by getting rid of trapped food between teeth as soon as you can.
How Do I Safely Remove Food from Between Teeth?
You can take action to remove food from your teeth on your own, though you should stick to recommended methods of doing so. You may feel tempted to dig the food out with fingernails, but this is not a polite act to do in public. Also, it is unsanitary to put germy fingers in your mouth and then transfer oral bacteria to your hands.
Instead, dentists suggest using dental floss or a toothbrush to free the food stuck between the teeth. Your oral hygiene regimen is designed to scrub away residues from your smile in a safe and effective way. Floss in particular targets the space between the teeth so that you can eradicate these harmful particles without hurting the rest of your smile.
Can I Prevent Food Trapped in My Smile?
A small seed or bit of pork might stick in anyone’s smile every now and then. But if you often have trouble with food in the spaces between your teeth, you might have what dentists call a food trap.
These refer to changes in the spacing between teeth, whether due to issues with the gums or alignment concerns in the teeth, where food will easily get stuck. You should talk to your dentist if you notice this problem so that they can offer treatment to stop this from happening going forward.
(01/07/2025) by Reedy Creek Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dentures do not technically cause you to have “dry-mouth,” but when you have dry mouth and wear dentures, the affects can be much more noticeable and irritating. Dry mouth can be frustrating and can cause issues when wearing or trying to use your dentures for practical uses. If dry mouth persists or is extremely bad, it can lead to other health problems. The good news is that there are treatments and processes that can reduce or eliminate this problem.
What is dry mouth?
Dry mouth or xerostomia is a condition in which the salvatory glands in your mouth are not producing enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of different conditions and circumstances. Dry mouth can range from just being irritating, to something that is strongly impacting your well-being.
Saliva is important because it enhances your ability to chew and swallow food (it also helps enhance taste of food), it helps aid in digestion as there are enzymes in saliva that help break down food and neutralize bacteria, and it also helps prevent issues such as tooth decay by limiting bacteria growth and washing away food particles from gums and teeth.
Dry mouth can cause a feeling of dryness and/or stickiness in your mouth, it can cause bad breath and sore throats, it can make chewing, talking, and swallowing difficult. It can also cause cracking at the corners of the mouth, bleeding gums, and dry or bumpy tongue.
Why is dry mouth problematic for denture wearers?
Dry mouth is annoying, but even more so for denture wearers. When wearing dentures and struggling with dry mouth, you may notice that your dentures are not suctioning to your gums properly; that is because saliva acts like a glue to keep your dentures retained against your gums.
Dry mouth also makes you more prone to bacterial and fungal mouth infections such as angular cheilitis, oral stomatitis, and thrush. Thrush, for example, can cause white lesions in your cheeks and tongue. It can cause soars and make it difficult to eat. When struggling with an oral infection, it can be very uncomfortable to wear and use your dentures.
Not only are health issues associated with dry mouth and dentures, but dry mouth can cause your dentures to dry out. When dentures dry out, they can become brittle and warped, and are more likely to break, which will result in needing a new pair. If you suffer from dry mouth, it is extra important to take your dentures out at night and put them in a hydrating cleaning solution.
What causes dry mouth?
Many different circumstances can bring about dry mouth including:
Your age
As we age, the saliva glands in our mouths start to slow down and produce less saliva.
Medications, illnesses, and cancer treatments
Certain medications, illnesses, and cancer treatments have side effects such as dry mouth.
Nerve damage
Injuries to nerves in the head or neck can cause dry mouth as some nerves carry messages from the brain to the salivary glands; when damaged, they may not carry these messages to the brain.
Smoking
Smoke, as well as nicotine in tobacco reduces saliva flow.
Mouth breathing
As a mouth breather you are more likely to have dry mouth as the air constantly flowing through your mouth can cause saliva to evaporate or produce at a much slower rate.
Sugary diet and diabetes
Increased blood sugar can cause dry mouth.
What are the solutions for dry mouth when wearing dentures?
The cause of your dry mouth will determine what type of treatment options you need to seek.
Some of the general steps you can take to combat dry mouth include, but are not limited to:
Staying hydrated
Hydration is a major factor that can contribute to dry mouth. If you are not drinking enough water or are consuming too many sugary drinks, you may find your mouth drying out.
Avoid dry foods and drinks
Dry foods such as crackers, breads, and pastries, and drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol can contribute to the drying of your mouth.
Avoid tobacco and other smoke products
As mentioned, nicotine and smoke contribute to a dry mouth.
Avoid mouth breathing
The constant flow of air through your mouth can cause saliva to evaporate or produce slower.
Alternative or complimentary medications
If you are taking medications that cause dry mouth, talk to your doctor about alternatives and medications that can aid in saliva production (never stop taking your prescribed medication without talking to your doctor).
Dental implants
Consider dental implants. These can help reduce dry mouth as the implant posts increase the integrity of the jawbone, this can help encourage saliva production.
A loose tooth can be very annoying and discomforting. Your oral hygiene, gum disease, teeth grinding, hard food, mouth injury, anything can result in a loose tooth. You can let your tooth come out on its own. But the issues that come with that, like problems in eating food, constant sensitivity, etc can be hard to bear. And you just can’t keep waiting for your tooth to fall on its own for a long time. So, how to get a tooth out in a fast and painless way?
How to pull an adult tooth out without pain?
There are a few ways through which you can pull out a loose tooth without hurting yourself. However, if you are experiencing any kind of inflammation or pain, it is advisable that you visit a dentist.
1. Wiggle your tooth
Continuously wiggling your tooth back and forth using your tongue or clean hands will loosen it up. And it will come out eventually, on its own. However, don’t wiggle it too hard or it will hurt. And if you feel any kind of discomfort while wiggling it, see your dentist immediately.
2. Chew on hard food
Chewing on hard foods like apples, carrots, pears, etc will considerably loosen the already loose tooth. Usually, this process is quick and painless. Start with something a little softer and gradually move to something crunchier. You can also bite into an ice pop and pull out the tooth gently while your gum is still numb from the ice.
3. Brushing and flossing
Regular brushing and flossing will also help you pull an adult tooth out without pain. Don’t brush or floss too hard or it can get painful. When you are flossing, gently guide it between your loose tooth and the one next to it. Curve the floss around the bottom of your loose tooth. Also, run your floss up and down each side of your loose tooth. Doing it every day will loosen up the tooth even more and help it come out painlessly.
4. Wet wash cloth or gauze
Use a cold and wet washcloth or gauze to hold and remove the loose tooth gently. If your tooth is not loose enough to come out painlessly, keep wiggling it while holding it with a wet cloth or gauze. When you think the tooth is loose enough, give a gentle tug. The tooth will come out easily and the gauze will help in stopping the bleeding if any.
5. Sucking on ice chips
Sucking on ice chips will help the gums around the loose tooth to get numb. It will prevent you from feeling the pain when you gently pull it out. After you have pulled out your tooth painlessly, keep sucking on ice chips for ten minutes thrice or four times a day to numb the pain. Don’t keep sucking on ice continuously or it will damage your gum tissue.
6. Teething gel
You can use aesthetical gel with benzocaine to numb the tooth socket. This could be very useful if wiggling the tooth is causing pain. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using the gel. Apply it to your gums, wait for the gel to numb your gums, and then pull out the tooth gently.
7. Use tweezers
You can use tweezers to wiggle the tooth free. If you are not able to pull out the loose tooth without hurting, don’t apply force. You can repeat the process after wait for a few days. When you feel the tooth is loose enough to come out easily, give it a gentle tug.
These are a few ways to get a tooth out in fast and painless ways. But the process doesn’t stop here. Aftercare of your gum is very important.
Aftercare tips after pulling out a tooth
Pulling out a tooth can be quite painful and finding a little blood on the spot is common. Here are a few care tips after pulling out the loose tooth.
1. Use sterile gauze
Apply a little pressure on the tooth socket using sterile gauze to stop the bleeding. The bleeding should stop in a few minutes. You can also press it gently using the upper tooth.
2. Wet teabag
Wet teabag can also come in handy for soothing the gum after pulling the tooth out. Steep the teabag in hot water for a few minutes, squeeze out the excess water, let the teabag cool down for a few minutes and apply it to the tooth socket to dull the pain. You can use chamomile, black, green, or peppermint teabags to soothe the pain.
3. Over-the-counter pain relief medicine
It is not easy to pull out the loose tooth without hurting. If you are still experiencing pain, you can take pain killers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. Make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions before taking the medicine. Or, even better, ask your doctor if you are not sure about taking them.
4. Wait for 24 hours before rinsing
After pulling the tooth, there will be a blood clot in the tooth socket. This clot will help the area to heal properly hence it is vital to let it remain in place for 24 hours at least. So, wait for that time before rinsing your mouth. Use a straw to drink water and avoid anything that can result in suction or vigorous rinsing.
Additional tips
Don’t brush or floss the socket of the tooth you have just pulled out, or the area around it.
Rinse gently but don’t swish vigorously.
Don’t consume anything too cold or too hot. For two days, eat soft food and consume everything at room temperature.
Use toothpaste with fluoride and mouthwash two times a day.
Avoid smoking and consuming tobacco.
If you are still feeling pain or sensitivity even after two-three days of pulling the tooth out, visit your dentist.
Try not to pull out your loose tooth until it is absolutely necessary. In case of any discomfort, pain, swelling in gums, and inflammation, visit your dentist immediately.
