Lesson learned after the pain
Posted on 08.23.07 6:10PM under Blogging
Last Thursday, I finally had my tooth extracted. In the past few weeks, I have been suffering from pain every time my impacted molar tooth would ache. I sometimes had sleepless nights because of it. I went to the dentist around three weeks ago and was advised to take some medication first because the gums surrounding my tooth were swollen and I was scheduled for a tooth extraction the week after but unfortunately, I didn’t show up to the dentist because on that same day when I had my appointment to the dentist, my tooth was aching and I know for a fact that the dentist would still not pull it out. Thus, I still experienced the pain every time it aches. For another week, I still continued with the medication and when last Thursday came, I was sure glad that I finally said goodbye to my impacted molar tooth.
My dentist gave me some aftercare instructions for the big wound on my gums. I was informed that a common problem for tooth extraction is the formation of a “dry socket.” A dry socket happens when a blood clot has failed to form in the tooth socket (the hole left after extracting the tooth), or else the blood clot that did form has been dislodged. Dry sockets typically create a foul odor or bad taste. Visually, if you can see down into the socket, the extraction site appears “dry,” in the sense that you just see exposed bone. There is no formation of pus. To prevent dry socket, I was advised to eat ice cream. Yes, I could say it helped a lot in blood clotting. I was also advised to eat cold food and drink cold beverages as well. I was also told not to gargle always so as not to dislodge the blood clot that would form and help in the healing process.
Thus, to avoid any tooth problem, here are ways to take care of your teeth:
- Brush at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.
- Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
- Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.
- Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they’re soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it’s time to change them.
- Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you’ll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that’s hidden where your toothbrush can’t get it, no matter how well you brush.
- Visit your dentist twice a year to check for any gum problems or signs of cavities.
- Be careful on what you eat and drink. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water instead of soft drinks.
I thought brushing thrice a day is enough to keep my teeth healthy. I should have followed the other steps as well to avoid tooth issues.
(The above image is a work of the National Institutes of Health, part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.)
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