Signs an Infection is Spreading

It can be all too easy to ignore a minor irritation caused by an infection in the mouth. Your tooth may ache or your gums may look inflamed, but the pain may not yet be serious enough to seek out an appointment with Dr. Christopher Green. However, it’s important to never put off receiving dental services for any type of tooth infection. The infection could spread beyond the tooth, beyond the gums and into other parts of your body. Your health and your very life could be compromised, even if you never experience much by way of tooth pain.

To stay healthy and keep your mouth healthy, it’s important that you learn to recognize the symptoms of an infection that has started to spread beyond the tooth.

Understanding a tooth abscess

Just what is an abscess in your tooth? Put simply, it is a pocket of infection inside your tooth. While it can occur anywhere inside of the tooth, it is most often seen at the very tip of the root. There are typically some very clear indicators of an abscessed tooth, including the following.

A persistent toothache that intensifies
Rapid onset and extreme sensitivity to cold or hot
Sensitivity felt when biting or chewing
Swelling on one side of the face
Seeing a pocket of pus, often taking on the appearance of a large pimple, on the gum line near the affected tooth
Swollen lymph nodes beneath the jaw

If you reach out for treatment in a timely manner, a tooth abscess may not get too severe. When you come in for emergency tooth repair, Dr. Green will drain the infection and may need to perform root canal therapy on the tooth.

Signs of a spreading infection

There are several signs that your infection is spreading beyond the abscess. If it ruptures, you may notice a sudden metallic or salty taste in your mouth. The pain may be relieved at this point, and it can be easy to think that the infection is no longer a concern. In reality, a rupture could just be one of the very first signs an infection that is spreading.

If the infection enters your bloodstream, this can lead to a serious condition known as sepsis.

Other signs an infection is spreading could include the following.

A general feeling of being unwell. You may have a persistent headache, pain in your jaw and you may also have an earache.
You may feel fatigued and dizzy.
You may develop a fever. Fever is your body’s response to an infection in the body. While a fever is a natural and normal response that can help you heal, if your temperature stays consistently over 101F, this could be a sign of sepsis developing.
Seeing swelling is a normal side effect of having an abscess. If it persists and the pain is unbearable, you need to seek out emergency treatment. Untreated swelling could start to impact your ability to breath and swallow.
Rapid heart and breathing rates are indicative of sepsis taking hold in your body. If this does happen, Dr. Green recommends that you seek out emergency medical treatment.
Stomach pain, accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea are very common when you’re struggling with sepsis, and can quickly further the dehydration that is common with sepsis.

Preventing the spread of infection

Dr. Kacos, a dentist from Shreveport’s Dentist, adds that there are several things that you can do to avoid developing an abscess. Perhaps the most important thing that you can do is to maintain good oral health habits, including the following.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day
Use a good quality mouthwash
Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months
Visit your dentist, to keep up with your examinations and cleanings

Any signs of inflammation, sensitivity or swelling should be addressed as soon as you notice it. This will allow your dentist to prescribe antibiotics if needed, and to treat the infection before it is allowed to spread beyond the infected tooth.

If you have an abscess or tooth pain that you’d like to get relief from, call Green Dental Care to schedule your appointment.

How to Choose a Cosmetic Dentist

These days, cosmetic dentistry has grown in popularity to the extent that a large number of people have either heard about or actually undergone a cosmetic dentistry procedure. With so many cosmetic dentists out there, the task of picking the best to transform your teeth and smile can be a daunting challenge. If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in Parker, CO, dental care experts at Green Dental Care, recommend the following.

Check Their Credentials

Your quest for the best cosmetic dentist should start by looking into the credentials. For example, is that dentist a member of a professional association for cosmetic dentists? For example, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry?

Dr. Christopher Green, the best dentist in Parker CO, has made a huge mark as a cosmetic and general dentist that he was even named among the top 40 under 40 by Incisal Magazine (the leading lifestyle magazine in dentistry). When you make Green Dental Care in Parker CO, your home for all your cosmetic dentistry needs, you will have selected one of the best professionals in the area.

Ask for Referrals

Our friend, Dr. Kristina Neda, one of the top dentists in Georgetown, KY , says that asking around for referrals is a great option for choosing a cosmetic dentist. There is a high likelihood that someone in your social and professional circles has had a firsthand experience of undergoing a cosmetic dental procedure, such as getting dental veneers, undergoing teeth whitening, or even Invisalign. That friend, colleague, or family member will, therefore, point you in the right direction. That way, you don’t spend time and money trying out different cosmetic dentists.

Find Out What Services Are Offered

If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist, you must select one who offers a broad range of cosmetic and restorative services. This is important because you’ll want to get all the services in one place.

You wouldn’t want to be sent to different dental offices all over Colorado, right? Luckily, it’s much easier to find a cosmetic dentist online. All you have to do is to check their website and reviews.

At Green Dental Care, all the dental care needs of you and your entire family can be addressed whether you require restorative dentistry services (implants, bridges, and crowns, for example), general dentistry (root canals, TMJ treatment, and fillings, for example) or cosmetic dentistry (dental bonding, veneers, teeth whitening and Invisalign, for example).

Schedule a Meeting with Your Parker Dentist

It is always good to talk to the cosmetic dentist first. You can meet either in person or talk on the phone. This will achieve several things.

First, you will have a chance to ask and get answers to all your questions.

It is important that you select a cosmetic dentist that you are comfortable with, and this discussion will give you a chance to evaluate whether their office is a good fit or not.

At Green Dental Care, Dr. Christopher Green is always happy to talk with potential or current patients. Take advantage of this open door. You will soon be convinced that we are the best providers of cosmetic dentistry services in Parker, CO.

Ask About Payment Options

As you may already know, cosmetic dentistry procedures are usually elective, so most dental care insurers don’t cover these procedures. It is, therefore, prudent for you to find out what type of payment they take. Whether the cosmetic dentist that you wish to select accepts credit cards and other forms of payment so that you can select the option that suits your needs.

At Green Dental Care, we even have an in-house Dental Savings Plan for people who have no insurance. Talk to us today and learn how this savings plan can help you and your family.

Don’t take chances with your smile. Cosmetic dentistry can produce remarkable transformations if done right. Dr. Christopher Green and the entire team have the skills and experience to offer all the services that you need. So, call today and schedule a consultation.

cosmetic dentist parker co cosmetic dentistry Dr. Christopher Green Green Dental Care how to choose a cosmetic dentist

Foods to Avoid with Veneers

You may need dental veneers if your natural teeth have gaps, have become discolored, are chipped, worn down, or have an awkward shape. Dr. Christopher Green, the best dentist in Parker CO, has ample experience in providing veneers to patients. So, visit Green Dental Care in Parker, CO, if you would like to improve the appearance of your smile or protect mildly damaged teeth from further deterioration. As a way of preparing you to transform your smile using dental veneers, we have compiled the following information about the dietary choices that you are advised to keep in mind so that your veneers can last for as long as possible.

Temporary Veneers

In most cases, permanent veneers are made at an external dental lab. Since this process takes approximately 2-3 weeks, Dr. Green cannot allow you to leave without giving you protection while you wait for the permanent veneers to be made. In the interim, you will leave the Green Dental Care office in Parker, CO, with temporary veneers.

Foods to Avoid If You Have Temporary Veneers

Temporary veneers are made to last for only a short while until you can get your permanent veneers. For this reason, Dr. Christopher Green, the best dentist in Parker CO, will attach these temporaries to your teeth using temporary cement. When this temporary cement is exposed to high levels of stress, it can give way, and the veneers may drop off. So, we recommend that you refrain from eating the following foods during the time when these temporary veneers are in place:

Tough meats
Toasted or crusty bread
Hard foods, such as raw vegetables, candy, popcorn, ice, etc.
Pigmented drinks, such as coffee, ketchup, berries, red wine, colas, tomatoes, tea, etc.
Sticky foods, such as caramels and taffy

Foods You Can Eat If You Have Temporary Veneers

You don’t have to be on tenterhooks each time you are eating or drinking with temporary veneers on your teeth because there are foods that are perfectly safe to eat with temporary veneers. The Parker CO dentist recommends foods that are soft and won’t stain the veneers. These include, but are not limited to:

Eggs
Mashed potatoes
Pasta
Soft bread
Bananas
Chicken
Soft canned food

Permanent Veneers

While temporary veneers aren’t built to last, permanent veneers are made from carefully selected materials that will last for long. For example, high-grade porcelain can last for up to two decades, and it resists staining quite well. Permanent veneers aren’t easily damaged, so your dietary options will widen once the temporaries are removed and replaced with the permanent veneers. However, permanent veneers aren’t indestructible, so care needs to be taken to avoid the foods that could damage these veneers. Those foods and habits include:

Dark liquids, such as red wine and coffee, should only be taken in moderation since they have the potential to stain your permanent veneers eventually.
Extremely hard foods, such as popcorn kernels and hard nuts
Alcoholic beverages can gradually damage the cement used to attach the veneers onto your teeth, so Parker CO’s best dentist recommends that you limit your alcohol intake.
Tobacco products can deliver a double whammy to your teeth and dental veneers. For example, tobacco has chemicals that can react with and loosen the bonding material used to affix your veneers. Secondly, tobacco (whether in cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, or any other related product) will cause your veneers to become discolored. Staying away from tobacco products is, therefore, your best bet to long-lasting and esthetically appealing veneers.

Taking Care of Your Dental Veneers

It goes without saying that the above are only recommendations, and the degree to which each patient implements them will vary — for example, many people like drinking pigmented drinks, such as coffee or red wine. To limit the detrimental effects of these drinks, our friend Dr. Brian Leeson, a dentist in St. Petersburg, Fl, recommends that you rinse your mouth with plain water immediately after consuming dark liquids or berries. You can then wait for half an hour and brush your teeth. The point in taking these steps is that you will reduce the amount of time that those pigmented substances remain in contact with your teeth, so the likelihood of staining will reduce. Taking these drinks with a straw can also reduce how much contact happens between the drink and your teeth or veneers.

It is also a good habit to cut all your food into small pieces and chew it slowly. This will reduce the amount of stress to which your teeth and veneers are exposed. If you can’t resist eating particularly hard food, such as tough meat, cut it into small pieces as recommended earlier. You can chew it using your back teeth since these are designed for that task, and most veneers are placed on the front teeth (for aesthetic purposes).

If you are careful, your dental veneers will last a long time. Contact us at Green Dental Care if you have any questions about getting dental veneers. Our experienced team will give you all the answers that you need to make an informed decision.

best dentist in parker cosmetic dentistry foods to avoid with veneers Green Dental Care oral health veneers

Tooth-Friendly Holiday Treats

The amount of sugar that you and your family consume plays a key role in dental health problems. The amount of sugar consumed on a daily basis often shoots up dramatically over the holiday season, and that in turn triggers a range of dental problems, such as cavities and gum infections. This year, Green Dental Care in Parker, CO, would like you and your family to enjoy the holidays, but we strongly encourage you to eat healthy snacks and meals. Here are some tooth-friendly holiday treats that you can be on the lookout this holiday season.

Gingerbread

Most sugar cookies have a huge load of added sugar, but you can opt for gingerbread. Typically, gingerbread requires less than half a cup of sugar. Dr. Christopher Green, the best dentist in Parker, CO, explains that gingerbread cookies have a lot of fiber, which is good for your overall health.

Almond Cookies

The dental care experts at Green Dental Care point out that almonds are great for your health. For this reason, you should consider trying out cookie recipes that contain almonds. Almond-based cookies are great for your health and contain a lot less sugar than other cookies.

Pumpkin Pies

Pumpkin pies, a common treat during the holidays, can be one of the healthiest snacks that your family can enjoy! Only as long as you set aside the whipped cream. Pumpkin pies contain lots of fiber. To make sure you’re sticking to tooth-friendly holiday treats, the dental health professionals at Green Dental Care recommend that you make your own pumpkin pies at home. That way, you can decide how much sugar you add.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Our friend, Dr. Tim Lyons, an orthodontist in Fair Oaks, CA, recommends chocolate-covered holidays because what would the holidays be without the color red? Hard to imagine! Well, your family can get all the red they need in strawberries. These berries have a huge load of nutrients, especially vitamins. Strawberries are the perfect healthy snack for the whole family! If you want something sweeter, try dipping your strawberries in dark chocolate! Dark chocolate is an excellent source of antioxidants.

Tweak the Holiday Meals Too

Let’s not forget that choosing healthy meals are just as important. It’s difficult during the holidays because so many of our favorite dishes contain high sodium and sugar. For example, Dr. Christopher Green singles out sweet potato recipes as typically containing marshmallows and caramelized brown sugar. To make such recipes more tooth-friendly, avoid adding the marshmallows or the caramelized brown sugar to keep the meal tasty but having less sugar.

Cranberry sauce can also be a good ingredient to use in your holiday meals, especially if you use it in a low-sugar recipe. Cranberries are good for the teeth because they kill oral bacteria, thereby keeping cavities and periodontal disease at bay.

Moderation is Key

Dr. Christopher Green, a Parker CO dentist, wants you to keep one more thing in mind during the holidays. Moderation is necessary. Since the consumption of large amounts of low-sugar treats can also have a detrimental effect on your dental and overall health. Once the holidays are over, visit Green Dental Care. Dr. Christopher Green will assess your dental health and fix any dental problems that developed during the holidays.

best dentist in parker Green Dental Care oral health parker co dentist tooth-friendly holiday treats