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Archives for May 2020

Danger with Tooth Infections

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I’m worried my dentist is putting my life in danger. I have a tooth infection. He wrote me a prescription for antibiotics but told me not to take it until a week before my followup appointment and procedure. That’s not for THREE WEEKS. I’ve always been told that tooth infections are a dental emergency and need to be dealt with right away. I’m worried he’s putting my life in danger with this delay.

Brandon

Dear Brandon,

Man grabbing jaw in pain

You’re right that tooth infections are considered a dental emergency. This is because if they’re not treated they will spread. When you think about how close your jaw is to your brain, heart, and lungs, you can see that you don’t want to allow an infection to grow out of your jaw area.

That being said, it is possible that your infection is so small your dentist knows you have time and you are not in any danger. The antibiotic is a precaution to keep the bacteria growth down as you are going into the procedure to deal with your infection, which I’m assuming at this point is a simple root canal treatment.

If the infection starts to take off and you are in pain, call your dentist back and tell him what is going on. He should get you in right away if that is the case. If he doesn’t and is just leaving you in pain, there are dentists who will treat non-established patients in situations such as yours. You can do an internet search and call some offices.

I hope this puts your mind at ease. The key here is pain and progression. If pain is happening, you shouldn’t be left without aid. If it is progressing quickly, he needs to get you in sooner than originally planned.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Can a Holistic Dentist Heal Cavities?

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Just before COVID-19 started, by regular dentist, who is not a holistic dentist, diagnosed a small cavity. I asked if it was possible to try to heal it since I’ve heard that’s possible when they’re small. He totally dismissed me and got an attitude, telling me that I was eventually going to lose the tooth if I didn’t get it taken care of. Well, now I can’t even go into the office and get it done because this is apparently not an emergency but I’m thinking about revisiting my idea that maybe I could be using my time to try to heal the cavity since I really can’t do anything else with it right now anyway. Is there a chance a holistic dentist could help with this? Or is there maybe something I could be trying at home in the meantime?

Thanks,

Greg

Dear Greg,

Decay in an opportunity preditor. If a tooth is healthy it won’t set in. Instead, it looks for weak spots. If a tooth is in that demineralized stage, it is still possible to mineralize the tooth. At this point in dental care, we aren’t able to regrow enamel on teeth with decay. Though, ongoing research is promising.

A Holistic Dentist Can’t Heal a Cavity, but…

As long as you don’t have a dental emergency, there is no harm in trying to remineralize the tooth. This is not a guarantee, but it is better than doing nothing.

The first thing I’d suggest is to make sure you are brushing after every meal. I know that most people only brush twice a day, but that extra cleaning and fluoride will help your body use the decay fighting minerals in your saliva more efficiently. Use a fluoridated toothpaste. It would be okay to call your dentist and ask if some additional supplements will help as well. If your dentist doesn’t want to bother and just wants to wait until the decay advances, you can call a holistic dentist in your area and see if they are willing to be more proactive.

Secondly, be careful of your diet. Make sure you are only drinking water throughout your day. Other drinks contain acids and sugars that can eat away at your enamel. The healthier you eat, the better chance you have of fighting the decay as well.

Don’t Wait if Infection Develops

Monitor the tooth. If it starts hurting or showing signs of infection, such as a pimple on your gums, treatment shouldn’t be delayed. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies. You will be able to be seen even during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Don’t put that off. Dental infections can spread. Your jaw is close to your heart, lungs, and brain. Delaying treatment can turn a dental infection into a life-threatening one.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.