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Mayo Dental Takes Time to Educate Our Edgewater Patients

Mayo Dental believes in the necessity of educating our Edgewater, MD patients about preventative care to prevent cavities and a host of other dental issues. Preventative care and practicing good oral hygiene are essential to your oral health. In addition to visiting us semi-annually for dental checkups and cleanings, there are some things you can also do at home to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy in-between visits. On this page, you’ll find tips for cavity prevention and more. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any specific questions or concerns you may have regarding your dental care.

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Tips for Cavity Prevention to Protect Your Pearly Whites

Cavities can be painful. Most of our patients want to know what they can do to avoid them. Here are a few tips for cavity prevention to aid our Edgewater patients of all ages:

Brush & Floss Regularly

If you remember to brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, it can do wonders for your oral health. If you brushed your teeth or even just rinsed your mouth after every meal or snack, you’d be in even better shape. Flossing daily to get rid of hard-to-reach food debris and plaque buildup is also a good practice.

Drink Tap Water

Many cities have fluoride in their drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. We recommend drinking some tap water from time to time. It also aids in saliva production, which can help you get rid of unwanted bacteria in your mouth.

Visit Your Dentist

Going to your dentist for a professional cleaning every six months helps keep bacteria and plaque at bay. We’re often able to remove buildup in hard-to-reach areas that you may miss with your daily brushing and flossing.

Ask About Fluoride Treatments & Dental Sealants

Fluoride treatments and dental sealants are two options you can also discuss with your dentist for added cavity protection.

Avoid Sugary Foods

Avoiding sugary foods and ensuring that your diet is rich in cheese, fruits, and vegetables can also help you prevent cavities.

Use Mouthwash

We recommend using a fluoride mouthwash after brushing twice a day for added protection.

Follow Our Post-Op Instructions Carefully for Best Recovery

Are you preparing for a tooth extraction at our Edgewater dental office? It’s crucial that you follow our post-op instructions carefully for the best recovery. Here are a few general guidelines to remember:

Post Op Instructions/ Extraction
  • Keep biting on gauze for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, change the gauze and put a new gauze only if the extraction area is still bleeding.
  • No Spitting, No rinsing or drinking with a straw for 24 hours. This may cause delay in healing. In rare cases, it may cause a DRY socket.
  • If you smoke, DO NOT SMOKE for 48hrs.
  • It is normal to have mild to moderate pain for up to 3 days. If your Doctor has proscribed a pain medication or antibiotic, take it as directed
  • Swelling is also normal after any extractions for up to 3 days. Please put an ice pack on your face on the side of the extraction for 20 minutes and than take it off for 20 minutes. Repeat this 3-4 times. If you have a lot of pain or swelling after 4 days, please call the office and make an appointment for follow up evaluation.
  • It is normal to have slight oozing the day of the extraction. Do not worry if you have a small amount of blood on your pillow.
  • Please eat soft foods today. Do not eat spicy, hot foods on the day of extraction & drink a lot of fluids.
  • After 24 hours please rinse with warm salt water for 2 to 3 days and keep the area clean.
  • If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office.
Post Op Instruction for Crown Prep
  • You have had a crown preparation done today, please follow the following directions.
  • Wait for numbness to wear off before eating, this could take few hours.
  • It is normal for your tooth and gums to be sore after numbing wears off. Please take over the counter Motrin /Tylenol if needed for pain
  • Avoid drinking anything very cold on the side of the crown prep for the next few days. It is normal for the tooth to be sensitive to cold and hot for few days.
  • You will feel soreness in the gums around the crown prepped area. This is normal, Please rinse the area with warm water for a couple of days.
  • A temporary crown has been placed to protect your tooth while the permanent crown is being made. DO NOT eat anything hard, sticky, and chewy on the temporary crown. This could cause the temporary crown to come out or break.
  • In addition, when flossing, please do not pull the floss back up/down but slide it through as informed.
  • If your temporary crown comes out or breaks please contact the office and make an appointment.
  • If you suspect that your bite is high or you are unable to touch your teeth completely in other areas of your mouth, Please call the office.

Post Op Instructions After Crown Delivery
  • We has just cemented your final crown, Please avoid doing anything with your mouth for one hour after the insertion.
  • In addition, as the final cement is not completely hard, Please avoid eating on your permanently cemented crown TODAY.
  • After 24hrs, you can resume normal eating, flossing activities on that tooth.
  • Thank you for your cooperation.
Post Op Instructions for Root Canal Treatment
  • You will be numb for few hours, please wait for numbness to wear off before eating. This could take few hours.
  • We have placed a temporary filling on your tooth. This filling is not very strong. Please avoid eating for the next hour and don’t eat on this temporary filling for the next 24 hours. If this filling breaks/comes out for any reason please call the office.
  • It is normal to have some soreness and discomfort in and around the tooth that had the root canal especially when biting.
  • This pain may last for few days up to 2 weeks. However, if you have extreme discomfort or swelling, Please call the office.
  • You can take Motrin/Tylenol if needed.
  • If the doctor prescribes you any medication, Please take it as directed.
  • It is very important to place a permanent restoration after completion of your root canal. In most cases, a crown is needed.
  • Please do not bite hard on you tooth until the crown is completed or you may risk breaking the root canal treated tooth.
Risks in Delaying Your Final Crown or Restoration Include
  • Reinfection of your tooth requiring another root canal.
  • Fracture of your tooth: this may cause decrease in the long term prognosis of your tooth and in some cases loss of your tooth.
Post Op Instructions After White Fillings
  • Please avoid eating until your numbness wears off, this may take few hours.
  • Your gums around the tooth may be sore, in some cases the jaw may be sore as well.
  • Please take some Motrin/Tylenol if absolutely needed.
  • After numbness wears off, some patients may feel that their bite is different or high.
  • Please wait a week if you feel your bite is different but all the other teeth are touching completely.
  • If you feel your bite is high, Please call the office for an adjustment as soon as possible.
  • Always avoid drinking anything very cold on the side of your filling for the next few days. If your cavity was moderate to large size, some people may experience some sensitivity to cold. This is normal and may take few weeks to get better. If you experience spontaneous/ throbbing pain with the tooth, please call the office. Any filling, no matter what size or depth may result in the need for a root canal.
  • The Symptoms to Look out for Include:
    • Heat sensitivity that lasts for few weeks.
    • Spontaneous pain that can occur any time during the day or night.
    • Cold sensitivity that lingers for few minutes after the cold stimulus is removed.
    • Swelling or pain in the tooth.
Teeth Whitening Directions
  1. Brush and Floss teeth. Venus white pro is most effective on clean teeth.
  2. Make sure trays are clean and dry prior to applying Venus White Pro.
  3. Remove syringe from case and snap tip cover from the end.
  4. To load tray with Venus white pro, depress the plunger and fill each tooth in the tray with a pearl of gel. Each tray will typically use ½ to 1/3 of a syringe.
  5. Position tray over your teeth and gently press tray to move the gel into place. Wipe excess gel, which seeps over the brim of the tray, off of your gums with a tissue or your finger.
  6. Wear tray for prescribed amount of time depending on application choice. If sensitivity occurs, discontinue use for 24 hours.
  7. After whitening, remove the tray and rinse your teeth. Brush away any remaining gel.
  8. Clean bleaching trays with toothbrush and cold water. Store trays in the tray holder and gel in a cool dry place away from heat and direct sunlight.
Possible Signs and Symptoms of Tooth That May Need a Root Canal Are:
  • All teeth that need a crown have a risk for a potential root canal in the future.
  • Heat sensitivity that lasts for more than few weeks.
  • Cold sensitivity that lingers for few minutes after the cold stimulus is removed. However, initial cold sensitivity after crown preparation is normal.
  • Spontaneous pain.
  • Throbbing pain when you change positions such as laying down.
  • Heat sensitivity that begins after the tooth has been problem free for a while.
Warnings
  • Keep product away from children. DO NOT use if pregnant or breastfeeding. DO NOT use tobacco products or eat while wearing bleaching trays.
  • If irritation (such as redness, swelling, soreness) of the gums or the mouth occurs, discontinue use and consult your dentist. Products containing peroxides are not recommended for use by children under 12 years of age.
  • Use for periods of longer than 14 days is to be only under the supervision of a dentist.
  • Avoid swallowing Venus white Pro gel or part thereof.
  • Avoid contact of the product with the eye.
  • Avoid direct contact of the active surface of Venus white Pro with the gums and/or salivary flow.

Contact Our Office Today with Questions & Concerns

Do you have a question or concern about your dental care not addressed here? Please feel free to contact us and speak directly with our knowledgeable, courteous staff at Mayo Dental!

Call Today to Schedule an Appointment!