1. A toothache
A trip to the dentist is on your list of things that need to happen soon. To ease the pain, you can rinse your mouth with warm water, floss to get rid of food stuck between your teeth, and take an over-the-counter pain killer. If you have a fever or see pus or swelling around the tooth, that could mean you have an abscess, which is a more serious problem. Get in touch with your dentist right away. You might need more than just antibiotics to get better.
- Teeth that are stained
Like laundry, taking the right steps can get rid of many stains on your teeth. Some things that can change the color of your teeth are foods, medicines, tobacco, and accidents. There are three ways to make them whiter. Your dentist can use a special light and a bleach to whiten your teeth. You can also bleach them at home using a tray made of plastic and gel that you can get from the store or your dentist. Toothpaste and rinses that whiten teeth are the easiest options, but they only get rid of surface stains.
3. Holes
You should not have these small holes in your teeth. You get them when plaque, a sticky bacteria, builds up on your teeth and slowly wears away the enamel, the hard outer shell. Adults can also get cavities around the gum line and on the edges of fillings that were put in years ago. If you want to avoid getting it, brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, eat less junk food, floss every day, rinse your mouth out with fluoride mouthwash, and go to the dentist regularly. Check with your dentist to see if a sealant could help you.
- Broken tooth
It’s the most common kind of tooth damage. A chip can happen by accident. Something much less exciting, like eating popcorn, can do the same thing. If the chip is big, your dentist may suggest a crown or bonding with a strong resin material to fix the broken part. If the pulp is in danger, you might need a root canal and then a crown or veneer.
- Teeth that are pushed together
When an adult tooth doesn’t come in right, it’s called “impacted.” When a tooth is stuck against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, this can happen. A dentist might tell you to leave it alone if it’s not bothering you. They can take it out, though, if it hurts or might cause problems in the future.
