Dental Health – Troop Pharmacy

Posted on: April 28, 2022

Home Remedies for Toothache

If you have a toothache, it’s important to figure out what’s at the root of your discomfort. From there, you can determine how to best relieve any pain, swelling, or other symptoms.

A regular salt water rinse and cold compress application can typically remedy minor irritation, but more serious toothaches may require a dentist’s intervention.

If your symptoms persist for more than a day or two, see your dentist. They can provide guidance on how to relieve your symptoms and prevent future pain.

Some home remedies include:

1. Salt water rinse

For many people, a salt water rinse is an effective first-line treatment. Salt water is a natural disinfectant, and it can help loosen food particles and debris that may be stuck in between your teeth.

Treating a toothache with salt water can also help reduce inflammation and heal any oral wounds.

To use this approach, mix 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of salt into a glass of warm water and use it as a mouthwash.

2. Hydrogen peroxide rinse

A hydrogen peroxide rinse may also help to relieve pain and inflammation. In addition to killing bacteria, hydrogen peroxide can reduce plaque and heal bleeding gums.

Make sure you properly dilute the hydrogen peroxide. To do this, mix 3-percent hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water, and use it as a mouthwash. Don’t swallow it.

3. Cold compress

You can use a cold compress to relieve any pain you’re experiencing, especially if any type of trauma has caused your toothache.

When you apply a cold compress, it causes the blood vessels in the area to constrict. This makes pain less severe. The cold can also reduce any swelling and inflammation.

To use this approach, hold a towel-wrapped bag of ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time. You can repeat this every few hours.

4. Peppermint tea bags

Peppermint tea bags can be used to numb pain and soothe sensitive gums.

Allow a used tea bag to cool down a little before applying it to the affected area. It should still be slightly warm.

You can also use this method to cool, rather than warm, the area. To do this, put a used tea bag in the freezer for a couple of minutes to chill it and then apply the bag to your tooth.

5. Garlic

For thousands of years, garlic has been recognized and used for its medicinal properties. It also has antibacterial properties. Not only can it kill harmful bacteria that cause dental plaque, but it can also act as a pain reliever.

To use garlic on a toothache, crush a garlic clove to create a paste and apply it to the affected area. You may wish to add a tiny bit of salt. Alternatively, you can slowly chew a clove of fresh garlic.

6. Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract contains alcohol, which can help to numb pain. Its proven antioxidant properties also make it an effective healer. Just be sure to use real vanilla rather than imitation vanilla.

To use this remedy, dab a small amount of vanilla extract onto your finger or a cotton ball. Apply it directly to the affected area a few times per day.

Other natural remedies

You can do the following remedies at home, but you may need to source the ingredients from your local health food store or online.

Your mouth, teeth, and gums are likely sensitive at this time, so it’s especially important to purchase these ingredients from a reputable manufacturer. This can reduce your risk of potential irritation.

7. Clove

Clove has been used to treat toothaches throughout history. The oil can effectively numb pain and reduce inflammation. It contains eugenol, which is a natural antiseptic.

To use this approach, dilute clove oil with a carrier oil, like sunflower or jojoba oil. Use a ratio of about 15 drops of clove oil to one ounce of carrier oil, according to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Then, dab a small amount of the diluted oil onto a cotton ball and apply it to the affected area a few times a day.

You can also add a drop of clove oil to a small glass of water and make a mouthwash.

8. Guava leaves

Guava leaves have anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal wounds. They also have antimicrobial activity that can aid in oral care.

To use this remedy, chew on fresh guava leaves or add crushed guava leaves to boiling water to make a mouthwash.

9. Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass has countless healing properties, like anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. It contains many nutrients, including a high chlorophyll content, that help to fight bacteria.

You can drink wheatgrass or use it as a mouthwash..

10. Thyme

Thyme also has powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties that can help to treat toothaches. It can even help fight bacteria that contributes to tooth decay.

To use this, dilute thyme essential oil with a carrier oil, and then apply it to the affected area.

You can also add a drop of the oil to a small glass of water and make a mouthwash.

Reference: Healthline

Written by: Omojo Emeje

Posted on: April 4, 2022

Oral Thrush

What is thrush?

Thrush is a fungal (yeast) infection that can grow in your mouth, throat and other parts of your body. In your mouth thrush appears as a growth that can look like cottage cheese – white, raised lesions on your tongue and cheeks. The condition can quickly become irritated and cause mouth pain and redness.

CAUSES

Thrush is caused by the overgrowth of a type of fungus called Candida. Mouth and throat thrush is called *oropharyngeal candidiasis. A thrush infection is annoying but it’s generally a minor problem for healthy people and will clear up in a few weeks with anti-fungal treatment.

While thrush can affect anyone, babies under 1 month old, toddlers, older adults and people with weakened immune systems (where symptoms can be harder to control) are at more risk. Thrush in the esophagus (swallowing tube) is one of the more common infections in people with HIV/AIDS.

Thrush can be contagious to those at risk (like people with weakened immune systems or are taking certain medications). In healthy people, it’s unusual for it to be passed on through kissing or other close contacts. In most cases, thrush isn’t considered particularly contagious but it can be transmitted.

If you’re worried about getting thrush from another person who has it, avoid coming into contact with their saliva (spit). It’s smart to wash your hands as often as possible if you’re near someone who has thrush.

Why is thrush a concern during breastfeeding?

Because infants are more at risk, getting or giving thrush during breastfeeding is a worry with many moms. It’s a common breastfeeding problem, and in some cases treatment can be tricky.

Babies with thrush can pass the infection to their mothers. When the infection in a baby’s mouth leads to sore throat and pain, they cry and are irritable during feeding. Mothers (especially if they’re taking antibiotics) may also develop thrush infections around the breasts and nipples and transmit it to their babies.

When both mom and baby develop thrush they should be treated for the condition at the same time to prevent an ongoing exchange of the infection.

DIAGNOSIS

How is thrush diagnosed?

Your health care provider can usually tell right away if you have thrush by looking for the distinctive white lesions on your mouth, tongue or checks. Lightly brushing the lesions away reveals a reddened, tender area that may bleed slightly. A microscopic exam of tissue from a lesion will confirm whether or not you have thrush (but a physical exam is not always necessary).

If thrush extends into your esophagus other tests may be needed. Your health care provider might:

– Take a throat culture (swabbing the back of your throat with sterile cotton and studying the microorganisms under a microscope).

– Perform an endoscopy of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine (examining the lining of these body areas with a lighted camera mounted on the tip of a tube passed through these areas).

– Take X-rays of your esophagus.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is thrush treated?

Healthy kids and adults can be effectively treated for thrush. But the symptoms may be more severe and hard to treat in those with weakened immune systems.

Anti-fungal medications (like nystatin) are often prescribed to treat thrush. These medicines are available in tablets, lozenges or liquids that are usually “swished” around in your mouth before being swallowed. Usually, you need to take these medications for 10 to 14 days. Your health care provider will have a specific treatment approach designed for you based on your age and the cause of the infection.

The presence of Candida infection can be a symptom of other medical problems. Be sure to talk to your health care provider to look for these and set up a treatment plan if needed.

PREVENTION

How can thrush be prevented?

You can do these things to help you avoid a case of thrush:

– Follow good oral hygiene practices: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day.

– Avoid certain mouthwashes or sprays

– Get regular dental checkups. Especially if you have diabetes or wear dentures. Even if you’re healthy and don’t have dental issues, you should get your teeth cleaned by your dentist every 6 months.

– Treat chronic health issues. A condition such as HIV or diabetes can disturb the balance of bacteria in your body and lead to thrush. If you’re taking medications for an ongoing health condition, take them regularly, as directed.

– Don’t overuse mouthwashes or sprays. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash once or twice a day to help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Using any more than that may upset the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth.

– Clean inhalers after using them. If you have a condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), clean your inhalers after each use to kill germs.

– Limit foods that contain sugar and yeast. Bread, beer, and wine will cause extra yeast growth.

– If you smoke, quit. Ask your doctor or dentist about ways to help you kick the habit.

Oral Thrush Outlook

With treatment, oral thrush usually goes away after a couple of weeks. If you are prone to it or don’t get better, you may need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. Sometimes thrush goes away and comes back. This often happens because the underlying cause hasn’t gone away.

In some people, thrush can turn into a more serious systemic infection. This happens most often in people with another health condition such as:

HIV
Cancer
Kidney failure
Diabetes
Prior surgery
Other critical health conditions requiring treatment in an intensive care unit

In this case, doctors will treat the infection with oral or IV anti-fungal medicines.

Written by: Ebere Chienjine

Posted on: March 17, 2022

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums (gingiva) surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis affects a significant portion of the population and is the most common form of periodontal diseases (diseases of the tissues surrounding the teeth). Chronic gingivitis may lead to receding gums and can be a precursor of periodontitis. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection of the gums.

For gingivitis to develop, plaque must accumulate in the areas between the teeth. This plaque contains large numbers of bacteria thought to be responsible for gingivitis. But it is not simply plaque that causes gingivitis. Almost everyone has plaque on their teeth, but gingivitis is far less common.

In certain instances, an individual may have an underlying illness or condition that renders their immune system susceptible to gingivitis. For example, people with diabetes and other immune system diseases (such as HIV) have a weaker ability to fight bacteria invading the gums. People who smoke, chew tobacco, or have a substance abuse problem are also predisposed to develop gingivitis.

Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to gingivitis.

Sometimes hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy, puberty, and steroid therapy leave the gums vulnerable to bacterial infection.

Local factors, such as crowded teeth and poor fitting or altered tooth anatomy due to dental work increase an individual’s susceptibility to gingivitis.

A number of medications used for seizures, high blood pressure, and organ transplants have been shown to cause an enlargement of the gingiva.

How Do You Treat Gingivitis?

For simple gingivitis, work with a dentist. A concerted effort involving good home dental hygiene, including regular and correct brushing and flossing, and regular dental visits should be all that is required to treat and prevent gingivitis. Gingivitis can usually be managed at home with good dental hygiene.

If gingivitis continues despite the effort to prevent it, contact a doctor to investigate the possibility of an underlying illness. If there are other conditions that seem to be coinciding with the signs and symptoms of gingivitis, seek medical attention. For example, chronic gingivitis and periodontitis are felt by medical scientists to be risk factors for the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

A complication of gingivitis is a so-called desquamative condition of the gums, in which ulcers, blistering, and sloughing affect the gums. This can be a sign of lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), and pemphigus vulgaris. These conditions often require a consultation and usually a biopsy from a periodontist or oral pathologist.

What is gum disease (gingivitis)?

Gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and is most commonly a result of poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis is a very common condition and varies widely in severity. It is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily when teeth are brushed or flossed. Gingivitis is not the same thing as periodontitis. Gingivitis always precedes and acts as a warning sign for the more serious condition of periodontitis.

Gingivitis starts when food debris mixes with saliva and bacteria which, in turn, forms dental plaque that sticks to the surfaces of teeth. If dental plaque isn’t removed by brushing with toothpaste and flossing, it can become mineralized and form tartar, or calculus. Tartar is very hard, and only a professional dental cleaning can remove it.

Both dental plaque and tartar are filled with harmful bacteria, and if they aren’t removed from teeth, they will begin to irritate the gums and cause gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis will often extend from the gums to the bone and lead to periodontitis.

Gums that bleed easily during flossing or brushing is a sign of gum disease (gingivitis).

What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?

While gingivitis is inflammation of the gums around the teeth, periodontitis occurs when the bone below the gums gets inflamed or infected. Periodontitis derives from the word periodontal, which means “around the tooth” and refers to the structures that surround and support teeth such as gum and bone. Periodontology is the study of the supporting structures of the teeth.

When the underlying bone gets infected, the gums will start to recede away from the teeth and form deep gum pockets. This is called attachment loss. These pockets readily collect plaque and bacteria. Because these pockets are very difficult to keep clean, more bone loss occurs. As periodontal disease progresses into later stages (early, moderate, and advanced) and more bone tissue is lost, the gum pockets are deeper and the teeth may eventually become loose and fall out.

What causes gum disease?

Improper oral hygiene that allows bacteria in plaque and calculus to remain on the teeth and infect the gums is the primary cause of gum disease. But there are other factors that increase the risk of developing gingivitis. Here are some of the most common risk factors:

– Smoking or chewing tobacco prevents the gum tissue from being able to heal.

– Crooked, rotated, or overlapping teeth create more areas for plaque and calculus to accumulate and are harder to keep clean.

– Hormonal changes in puberty, pregnancy, and menopause typically correlate with a rise in gingivitis. The increase in hormones causes the blood vessels in the gums to be more susceptible to bacterial and chemical attack. At puberty, the prevalence of gingivitis ranges between 70%-90%.

– Cancer and cancer treatment can make a person more susceptible to infection and increase the risk of gum disease.

– Alcohol negatively affects oral defense mechanisms.

– Stress impairs the body’s immune response to bacterial invasion.

– Mouth breathing can be harsh on the gums when they aren’t protected by the lips, causing chronic irritation and inflammation.

– Poor nutrition, such as a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates and low in water intake, will increase the formation of plaque. Also, a deficiency of important nutrients such as vitamin C will impair healing.

– Diabetes mellitus impairs circulation and the gums ability to heal.

– Medications such as antiseizure medications increase the risk for gum disease.

– Infrequent or no dental care

– Poor saliva production

Treatment of Gingivitis

Removing the source of the infection is primarily how simple gingivitis is treated. Home treatment is key. Ultimately, these home remedies can lead to a cure for gingivitis.

– By tooth brushing regularly with a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste approved by dentists, plaque buildup can be kept to a minimum. – The presence of triclosan combined with fluoride has proven to significantly reduce the formation of plaque on the teeth.

– Flossing once per day is another means of removing plaque in between teeth and other areas hard to reach.

– Regular checkups with a dentist are also important. A dentist is able to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) that is too dense to be removed by a toothbrush or dental floss.

– Once a dentist removes plaque, regular brushing and flossing will minimize plaque formation. Even with good dental hygiene, plaque will begin to accumulate again.

– Correct dental defects, such as over contoured or poorly fitting fillings, crowns, and other restorations.

– Avoid smoking.

– Limit sugar consumption.

– Drink plenty of water.

Severe gingivitis may require antibiotics like azithromycin and consultation with a physician. Antibiotics are medications used to help the body’s immune system fight bacterial infection and have been shown to reduce plaque. By reducing plaque, bacteria can be kept to a level manageable by the human immune system. Taking antibiotics is not without risks and should only be done after consultation with a dentist or doctor.

Some studies have shown brushing with a solution made of baking soda and peroxide will reduce the bacteria that cause gingivitis.

Mouthwashes that contain essential oils have shown the ability to reduce plaque formation and treat gingivitis when used in conjunction with professional cleanings and daily brushing. Specific ingredients include thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and menthol.

Oil pulling is the practice of swishing fractionated coconut oil for 20-30 minutes, then spitting it out and brushing your teeth. This will reduce inflammation and bacterial contamination of your gums.

Some have used the main ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, to fight gum disease; but this should be avoided as it often can lead to burns on the gums.

Written by: Ebere Chienjine

Home Remedies for Toothache

Oral Thrush

Gingivitis

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