What you got to know about Dental Sedation

Have you ever put off a trip to the dentist because you’re nervous? Dental anxiety is quite common, and many times, one of the best ways to help ease this is dental sedation. This can ease that tension and give you a better experience, but you should definitely know what to expect when sedation is utilized, how it works, and the different aspects to help make it better for you. 

Dental sedation is using medication in order to relax for something. When a person is too scared or too tense to have dental work completed, sedative will ease some of that anxiety. Most of the time they’re used when someone has fear and anxiety, and that can cause problems down the line. Mild sedatives will help with relaxing enough during checkups and teeth cleaning. It also is used too for those who are getting fillings and mild work.

Is it safe? Well yes, so long as you have someone who is qualified to administer that.  They must consider your medical history, any allergies, and the benefits before they do so.

You can get this for children too.  This is usually done when they need to do extensive work on the child.  This helps with a lot of difficult or time-sensitive procedures.  You don’t need to do anything special minus the instructions that are followed such as eating and drinking beforehand.  Usually, the sedation is given either through a liquid medication or nitrous oxide. It’s rarely done through an IV, unless of course it’s a very invasive procedure.

If your child is nervous, just tell them they’ll feel like they’ve fallen asleep.  They might wake up feeling like they took a long nap.

Usually, you get four different types of sedation. The first is inhaled, which is commonly known as laughing gas.  This is used to help relax.  Sometimes you might get an oral sedative, which will help them feel drowsy, but awake, and some people might fall asleep completely. Then there is the IV sedation, which is done via a vein. It’ll work fast, and it’s adjusted throughout this. only trained professionals use this, and it’s only for the super anxious types of people. Finally, you get general anesthesia, which means that you’re nearly unconscious or completely unconscious.  Usually, it takes time to fully awake from this kid of sedation. Usually, you don’t get that unless you’re getting super invasive surgery.

Typically, these are used for dental extractions, oral surgery, dental implants, periodontal surgery, treatment of abscessed teeth, and root canals, but sometimes you might get these for other reasons too. If you feel like you really need some oral sedation to sit there and go through the procedure, make sure to talk to your dentist about it, and let them know how you’re doing, and if you need any special sedation as a result.

Manual Vs. Electric Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes are an essential part of oral care and have been for almost 100 years. For most people, traditional toothbrushes are used, but electric toothbrushes can help with improving the hygiene. So what’s the better version? For you.

What is the difference between electric toothbrushes versus manual ones though? Well for starters, you do the work with the manual kind, but with the electric one, it takes care of most of the heavy lifting, and you definitely may want to consider it.

So what’s so good about electric toothbrushes then? Well for starters, they are very easy to use, they require less work and they clean the tooth more thoroughly, have built-in timers to let you know when you’re done, and finally, they’re actually fun! But what are the cons of it? Well, you’ll either need to recharge or change the batteries more often. They tend to be costlier from the get-go than the manual options.  They are bulky in size, and aren’t super compact, so you can’t fit them in a purse. They also aren’t travel friendly, and they tend to be fragile.

What about the manual ones? Well, they do the job and they thoroughly clean the teeth as long as you take the time to put the effort in and use the correct technique. You also can choose the types of bristles, the color, and the style that works for you. They don’t require charging or batteries for the most part. They are easy to travel and bring with you wherever you want. They also are very cheap compared to the electric one. 

The cons however do weigh a bit on this.  you have to do it right, or you won’t get nearly enough of a cleaning from these. If you don’t clean it right, that means it’ll rend itself ineffective. They also need to be tracked by other means in terms of time, since right now there isn’t a timer set for manual toothbrushes, unlike in the case with electric where it’ll tell you every thirty seconds to switch to the next part of the mouth. There is the fact as well that you may not get as much of a deep cleaning with an annual toothbrush than an electric one.

So, which one should you get? What’s right for you?

The big thing to remember here is that one is not better than the other if you know how to use it. No toothbrush will help you clean your teeth if you aren’t using it right, and practicing proper oral hygiene. At the end of the day, you’re the one who chooses what kind of toothbrush you want to use, and what will work for you.

For those who prefer to have something else track your time, and to help you get in deep in a simple manner then you might want to choose the electric option. For those who are budget-friendly however, you might want to consider a manual one, but again, this is ultimately up to you, and what you want out of this.

Good Oral Hygiene can protect against COVID-19

Did you know that practicing good oral hygiene can help fight off some of the viruses and diseases that are out there including potentially COVID-19?  Yes, our teeth and gums are important, but the mouth is also the initial line of defense that’s used against infectious bacteria, such as viruses, including COVID-19.  But, brushing your teeth does remove bacteria which is harmful and prevents it from invading you.  Saliva also contains antibacterial and antiviral proteins which will fight infections.

Poor oral hygiene has been linked to many healthcare issues including diabetes and heart disease. Not enough care routines can also mean that the bacteria and viruses will spread a whole lot more, and there are chances that it could reach the bloodstream there too.

Oral care routines are a big step to overall health, and it’s something that you have complete control over.  This is the best time for you to work on this, to have a healthier smile and start using better habits.

So how can you keep your mouth healthy and protect it from this? well first, wash your hands before and after you brush and floss.  Make sure to store it properly and keep it away from other parts of the household to stop the spread of germs. Make sure to disinfect the toothbrush, and try to sterilize it as much as you can. Make sure to add antibacterial mouthwash to your routine, and also replace it every few months, or after you’re sick.

This can be a life-threatening emergency, and a lot of ER professionals aren’t equipped to handle the pain.  Dentists will help treat dental problems easily, and it can be a good thing for you. If you go to the ER with a dental emergency, chances are they wont’ see you for it, but if you see a dentist, they have the technology to help take care of it.

That’s why, in order to protect yourself you should take care of your oral health immediately. One problem some people have is getting into the dentist’s office, but now, you should definitely consider taking time and ensuring that you protect yourself right away, and understand that while social distancing and the like are good, forming a good oral hygiene routine will help you even more, and protect you from some of the viruses and diseases which are out there, that can wreck your body as well.