Mouth Sores and How to Deal With Them

Dental health doesn’t only involve the teeth and gums. Sores and irritations may develop inside and around the mouth.

Mouth sores are common ailments that affect most people at some point in their lives. These sores usually appear on any soft tissues in the mouth including the lips, gums, tongue, and the floor and roof of the mouth.

 

Causes

These sores come in different shapes and sizes and might be caused by one of the following:

*Irritation from a loose orthodontic wire, sharp edge from a filling or a broken tooth or, a denture that doesn’t perfectly fit

*Burns from hot food and beverage

*Brushing your teeth too hard with a very firm toothbrush

*Chewing tobacco

*Biting your tongue, cheek or lip

*Infections from various bacteria, fungus or viruses

*The symptom of a disease or disorder

*Over-the-counter or prescription medications

*Weakened immune system

 

Symptoms

Mouth sores commonly cause redness and pain, most especially when drinking and eating. They come in various sizes and severity, and they may be located on the different parts of your mouth.  These sores may also develop blisters, making it difficult for a person to eat, talk, or smile.

 

If a sore does not go away after a couple of weeks, or once they start getting worse, it’s time to consult a doctor for further examinations. The doctor will check your mouth, tongue and lips and may perform other necessary tests.

 

Treatment

Minor mouth sores often heal naturally within 10 to 14 days.  To help ease the pain, you may try the following:

*Gargle with salt water.  

*avoid hot, spicy, salty, citrusy, and sweet foods.

*Avoid tobacco and alcoholic drinks.

*Avoid squeezing or picking at the blisters and sores.

*Eat ice chips, sherbet, or other cold foods.

*Take over-the-counter anti-pain medications.

 

For more severe cases, however, the doctor might prescribe a pain medication, steroid gel, or an anti-inflammatory drug. If results show that the sores are caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus, then the proper medication will be prescribed to treat the infection.

 

Prevention

There is no absolute way on how mouth sores can be prevented. However, these practices might be helpful in reducing the risk for having these painful sores:

*Be careful with very hot foods and drinks.

*Chew with caution.

* Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and practice good and regular dental hygiene.

*Eat a balanced diet.

*Drink plenty of water.

*Do not smoke or use tobacco.

*Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.

*Take vitamin supplements, especially B vitamins.

*Let your dentist know if any dental wire of teeth may be irritating your mouth.

*Avoid excessive stress. 

DRY MOUTH AND LIPS: Tips for Prevention and its Complications during Wintertime

Winter brings with it its own set of skin care issues. For those with dry skin, the scourge of dry mouth and dry lips can prevent even the most wonderful winter day from being enjoyed. The painful cracking and peeling of dry lips can be prevented, however! And in this blog, we’ll look at several preventative measures as well as review the complications that can arise during the wintertime.

1. Keep Your Body Hydrated

During the dry winter months, your body requires hydration to stave off dry lips. Take steps to prevent dehydration such as keeping a water bottle with you at all times. And try to eat more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis to ensure you achieve optimal nutrition in the wintertime.

2. Exfoliate Your Skin to Remove Dry Buildup

The dry flakey skin that can occur in wintertime should be removed on a regular basis to help further ensure comfort. Use a damp cloth to gently exfoliate the skin and remove any dry patches. You might also consider a specialized lip scrub to remove the dry skin areas. However, it’s important to ensure the lip scrub is fragrance free to prevent any further skin reaction.

3. Use a Humidifier

Heated indoor air is one of the leading causes of dry skin around the lips and mouth. To combat this issue, set up a humidifier within an office space or home area where you spend the majority of your time. Setting a humidity level of 30-40% can often help prevent the occurrence of dry lips.

4. Don’t Lick Your Lips!

It’s very common for those with dry lips to try to resolve the issue by licking them. But unfortunately, this can have more of a negative than positive effect. That’s because the digestive enzymes present in the saliva can dry tissue out very quickly. And so, when the moisture evaporates, your lips can become even drier than before. The application of a specially designed moisturizer or lip balm is often a superior solution to the problem especially when routinely applied in wintertime after brushing your teeth morning and night and as required in between..

This winter, try to protect the skin on your lips by following the guidelines highlighted within this article. You’ll feel more comfortable and ready to enjoy the many activities that winter living in Canada has to offer! 

SPORTS INJURY & SPORTS GUARDS: Recommended Jaw and Teeth Protection Measures When Playing Sports

Playing sports such as football and hockey is a leading cause of injury for Canadians. It’s important to understand how simple preventive measures can help to protect your teeth and jaw and ensure safety while playing your favourite sports.  Within this blog, we’ll highlight several measures to protect your teeth and jaw during sports play.

Wear Custom Designed Mouth Guards

Custom-made mouth guards created by a dental professional can help keep your teeth and jaw secure when playing sports. The latest data shows that an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard. It has also been estimated that mouth guards aid in preventing over 200,000 injuries each year including concussions. The leading advantages of custom made mouth guards is their comfort and customized and precision fit.  They will help protect your mouth and jaw without detracting from the sporting experience as well as aiding in preventing concussions.

Select an Effective Helmet

The latest helmet products have been designed to protect you from serious head injury during contact sports such as football and hockey. The helmet can absorb the blow of an impact and ensure your jaw, teeth and spine don’t take the brunt of the force. But it’s important to select an effective helmet for your head size. Speak with a local sports specialist in your area to discuss helmet sizing and the factors behind effective helmet performance.

Stop Play Immediately If an Issue Arises

One of the leading causes of the most serious head injuries during sports is when a player doesn’t exit the field or ice when they’re injured. Many try to play on after suffering a severe blow to the head. But it’s important to remove yourself from play until you regain your composure and have been cleared to return to play.  If you experience any dizziness or loss of vision, it’s imperative to speak with a medical professional as soon as possible who can help ensure you haven’t suffered a concussion or another serious head injury.

By taking precautions during play and preparing yourself with the leading properly fitting equipment for the next game, you can protect your jaw and teeth over the long-term. Speak with one of our in-house experts directly to learn more about customized mouth guard options.
 

5 Possible Causes of Gum Bleeding

When you notice traces of blood in your saliva after brushing or flossing, it can be a disconcerting experience. But there could be a perfectly harmless reason for gum bleeding. It’s important to do your research, however, and make sure a more serious medical or dental concern is not behind your bleeding issue. Within this blog, we’ll outline five possible causes of gum bleeding.

1. Poor Hygiene

Have you been skipping occasionally skipping brushing and flossing a minimum of twice daily? This could be the reason that your gums are inflamed and bleeding.  Poor oral hygiene habits can cause the build-up of plaque and tartar on the gums. This, in turn, can cause the gums to bleed at even the slightest contact from the brush.  If not addressed it could lead to more serious oral health issues!

2. Vitamin C Deficiency.

Vitamin C deficiency occurs when you don’t have enough fruit and vegetables in your diet. It’s a problem that can lead to swollen gums that bleed more easily. By simply going to your doctor and explaining your symptoms you can be tested for vitamin deficiency.

3. Hormonal Changes

For women going through puberty or pregnancy, bleeding gums is a common occurrence. This is due to the hormonal changes taking place in your body, which can often be mitigated by a dental professional.

4. A Medication Side-Effect

Many of the leading medications for epilepsy and cancer are known to cause gum bleeding. This is a problem that many patients experience while battling their condition and can often be reduced through concerted steps taken by both the doctor and the dentist. Certain over-the-counter medications such as aspirin can also cause some gum bleeding, but this is quite rare among the general population.

5. A Smoking Side-Effect

For smokers, gum bleeding can be a side-effect of their habit. That’s because tobacco smoke contain numerous chemicals that can affect our body’s ability to fight against bacterial plaque. This means that, by giving up smoking, you can not only improve your general health but also your oral health for the long-term.

Gum bleeding issues can be treated if you know the cause. Speak with our team, and don’t wait until it’s too late to report gum bleeding… get to the root of the problem!