Every person, age 17-23, grows four additional molars. Dentists call them “third molars”, but most call them “wisdom teeth”. I don’t know why, because they don’t make anyone wiser and, sometimes, it is not even wise to retain these teeth because they can cause crowding of the front teeth! Third molars are uncomfortable as they emerge in the mouth, but they do provide a larger chewing surface when they are fully erupted.
Another source of discomfort is a Canker Sore, a shallow sore on the gums or inner cheek. They are not contagious and they go away in a week or two, on their own. Certain conditions and diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Celiac disease, tend to produce more of these sores. The actual cause of these is unknown but triggers seem to be a lack of vitamin B-12, folate, iron, or zinc in your diet. They have also been linked to food sensitivities, hormonal changes, and toothpaste or dental rinses that contain sodium lauryl sulfate.
If the sore is located on your lips, it is considered a Cold Sore, which is contagious and related to herpes virus infections. Wash all family glasses, cups, and silverware in the dishwasher to prevent the spread of this lesion, which can last up to 10 days.
Another common source of pain is a cracked tooth. Most of the time, one can’t even see the crack but they know something is wrong when they bite down on a nut or raw vegetable. I can often see the crack in a tooth when I view it through a magnifier that has a focused, bright light. Unlike bones that break, but heal themselves when they are unable to move, a cracked tooth doesn’t heal. Usually, we have to remove the crack and put a filling in to bind the two parts of a tooth together, or we must cover the tooth with a crown. It is important to take action when a crack is discovered, because there is a good chance that a crack will lead to a broken chunk of tooth separating from the whole. This often puts people in need of a root canal, quickly.
Contact Winterset Dental today to find out which treatment is right for you.