Dental emergencies are best described as situations and problems that occur in the oral cavity that require the assistance of a dental professional to resolve. They need immediate care and attention to avoid permanent problems. Dr. Kenneth Egger and his team in Mount Pleasant, MI, provide emergency dentistry to both new and current patients, allowing individuals to get the care they need when they need it!

Common Dental Emergencies and First Aid Tips

One of the most common dental emergencies is a toothache. A toothache occurs when there is inflammation or infection in your teeth or mouth. Some of the most typical causes of toothaches include cavities, damaged fillings, an exposed root, or gum disease.

If you experience a toothache, try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. You could also use over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve some of the pain and swelling. If these remedies do not provide relief, request an appointment with your personal dentist as soon as you can.

Another common dental emergency is a broken or chipped tooth. If you experience a broken or chipped tooth, try to find any pieces of the tooth that may have been knocked out and store them in cool water until you can get to your dentist’s office. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with warm salt water and use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.

In some cases, patients may experience a knocked-out tooth. This often occurs when patients are not wearing a mouth guard to protect their smile while participating in high-impact, high-contact sports. If you experience a knocked-out tooth, find the tooth, if possible, and rinse it off with cool water. Ideally, store the tooth in milk or saliva until you can get to Dr. Egger’s office.

Call for Emergency Dental Care When You Need It!

As you can see, many common dental emergencies may require emergency treatment. If you experience any of these emergencies, seek immediate help from an experienced dentist such as Dr. Kenneth Egger to prevent further damage or infection. His office is in Mount Pleasant, MI and he can be reached by calling 989-773-3560 for an appointment.

It’s interesting, sort of. (Well, not really to Dr. Egger…) Most people probably pay more attention to the regular maintenance of their cars than they do to the maintenance of their teeth. Considering that healthy teeth are an important component of everyday life, and you can take I-Ride instead of your car, if need be, that makes no sense.

Well, if you want healthy teeth, it doesn’t take much. All you need is a consistent brushing and flossing regimen and that’s pretty much it. Let’s make sure you know what you should be doing.

What is the proper way of brushing my teeth?

Your teeth need to be brushed at least twice a day, but not more than three times. Use a soft-bristled brush (bristles that are too stiff can damage your tooth enamel and make your gums recede) and use gentle pressure. You should brush for around two minutes, 30 seconds per quarter of your mouth. That can seem like an eternity if you’re a cursory brusher, but that’s the time recommended. Here’s how to brush teeth properly:

1. Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Using small, circular strokes, gently brush the teeth while making sure that the bristles are also touching the gums. Use overlapping circles to cover all the tooth surfaces.
2. When brushing, make sure the inner, outer, and biting surfaces of the teeth are included.
3. Using the tip of the brush, clean the inner portion of your front teeth.
4. It is important to brush the tongue as well to remove existing bacteria and to freshen up your breath. And don’t miss the roof of your mouth.

Electric toothbrushes are great, and if they get you to brush better (for instance, they all have a built-in timer for two minutes) they’d be a good investment. Use a toothpaste with fluoride.  

What is the correct way of flossing my teeth?

Flossing has two purposes. It removes food debris and plaque from between the teeth, and it stimulates the gums. Floss once daily. Follow these steps to properly floss your teeth:

1. Use a piece around 18 inches long. Wrap the thread around your middle fingers and leave 2 inches of thread in between your fingers.
2. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently insert the floss in between each tooth and clean the area following a sawing motion.
3. Hold the floss in a “C” shape on each tooth as well as under the gumline. Move the thread up and down to clean every side of the tooth.

If you want more convenience, you can purchase floss holders. Mint or cinnamon flavors make no difference, but if they make you floss more often, then go for it!

There. That wasn’t so hard, now was it? And you don’t need to watch for a coupon for a discount or hope they don’t put the oil plug back in crooked. 

Practice this hygiene routine and come see Dr. Egger twice each year for professional cleanings and checkups. Call (989) 773-3560 for an appointment.

Parents of babies are so busy cleaning up barf, changing diapers, making sure the house is baby-proof over and over again, and otherwise pulling their hair out that the idea of visiting a dentist, such as Dr. Egger, can slip right out between the synapses.

Ah, but Dr. Egger is well known around Mt. Pleasant and its surroundings for caring for generations of family teeth. And who doesn’t want to keep a good thing going, dental health-wise?

So, the question is — When should a kid see Dr. Egger for the first time?

What is pediatric dentistry?

Dr. Egger doesn’t really think of caring for his smaller patients as a different form of dentistry, but it does have a different name — pediatric dentistry. This area of dental practice targets the oral health of children from birth until adolescence.

Taking care of children’s teeth demands some additional skills beyond pure dentistry. There’s an art to pediatric dentistry, acknowledging a child’s misgivings about going to the dentist, while at the same time performing the evaluations needed. A large part of our pediatric care is also educational, showing children the value of proper dental care along with the nuts and bolts of how to do it. This is important because good oral hygiene habits started early on in life usually stick with the person for the duration.

The first visit

The first dental visit to Dr. Egger should coincide with the eruption of the child’s first tooth, usually before the first birthday. Like adults, the American Dental Association recommends that children see their dentist every six months to achieve optimal dental health. This may seem like overkill considering your child has but one or two teeth, but it’s important at this time to develop the patterns of care. Plus, if there is a problem, we can see it early and decide on the proper course of care.

How do I keep my child’s baby teeth clean?

When you’re cleaning your baby’s teeth, you won’t use a regular toothbrush. You need a specifically designed soft-bristled infant toothbrush. With this soft toothbrush, you will brush the baby’s teeth and gums once a day. This will prevent the buildup of bacteria and plaque that can lead to cavities.

My child still sucks his thumb and uses a pacifier. Would this affect his teeth?

Thumb sucking and pacifier sucking are normal self-comforting behaviors in very small children. (We covered this in more detail in last month’s blog.) But if allowed to continue for too long, they can lead to dental problems. Normally, children grow out of these habits on their own, but if they persists until your child is three years old, we may recommend the use of a mouth appliance to counter this problem. Continued thumb sucking will lead to orthodontic issues, so it’s better to stop the practice rather than allow it to continue.

Do you have a tiny one who is ready for his or her first dental appointment? Give Dr. Egger a call at (989) 773-3560 to schedule your appointment. Remember, we are closed on Fridays in the summer.

Get Your Family Dental Care Here!

At the offices of Dr. Kenneth Egger, we understand how important your family is to you and try to give them the best dental care possible. Our well-trained staff takes pride in their profession and strives to make your visit as pleasant as possible. Dr. Egger has the necessary skills to meet the needs of all patients across all age groups.

We cater to the needs of our patients.

• Our team is full of caring practitioners.
• We are professional, well-trained, and efficient.
• We offer some of the best dental services in the area.

Our Family Dental Practice Could Be the One You’re Looking For!
We offer dental advice that we believe is best for you and your family. Our goal is to provide our customers with outstanding service.

• Our staff advises patients on healthy dental care practices.
• Family is important, and we can take care of everyone.
• Our aim is to provide the best dental care.
• We meet the needs of our patients.

Variety of Dental Care Offered To Our Patients
Our practitioners are trained in various types of dentistry to facilitate the needs of our customers. From root canals to tooth fillings, periodontal to preventative care, we want to provide comfortable care. We create an environment that’s conducive to a relaxing experience to make visiting the dentist easy.

• We strive to give our patients quality service.
• Our staff is trained to take you step-by-step through your procedures.

Why Should Patients Choose Us?
At our practice, we treat the whole family! Our staff takes into consideration the concerns that our patients might have before undergoing a procedure, so we try to assure them that they’re in the best hands in the business.

• We accommodate patients by offering procedures at their leisure.
• We facilitate the various needs of our clients.
• We accommodate patient needs and desires.
• Your satisfaction is our ultimate goal.

If you have any questions, call us! We’re accepting new patients.