Types of Tooth Whitening

Tooth Whitening is just one of man’s many innovations to fulfill his cosmetic desires. No wonder, it is the most sought after cosmetic dental procedure. Tooth whitening has dawned in various forms and procedures (infact every possible form you can think of).

This article outlines the various methods of tooth whitening that are commonly used by people.

Tooth Whitening Gums: This has been extensively seen via advertising media in recent times. They contain bicarb soda which is also employed in the commercial tooth whitening toothpastes. However, they do not containing any bleaching agent which are regularly employed in most commercial tooth whitening systems which are effective.

You need to be chewing these gums for 20 minutes each four times a day for it to show any affect. Any visible whitening signs can take up to four weeks to appear.

Tooth Whitening Pastes: These are available over the counter and cost slightly above your normal toothpaste. They are to be use just like normal toothpaste and claim to have whitening effects.


However, many dentists have pointed out that they do not have any significant whitening and are just as good as normal toothpastes. People brushing with whitening pastes many times a day might be doing more damage than good to their teeth.
Tooth Whitening Trays: These come as the one-size-fits all whitening trays or custom fitted trays for the patient. The custom fitted trays are preferable since they tend to be more effective and easier to work with. This method requires wearing of the trays with whitening gel in the mouth for a fixed period and number of times each day. The gel contains a Carbamide Peroxide concentration of around 10%-15%. They have been shown to be reasonably effective in many cases although the one-size-fits-all has been often shown to be ineffective due to the improper contact of whitening gel and teeth.
Tooth Whitening Strips: Most of these are available over the counter (except a few) and they contain peroxide (bleaching agent) in low concentrations (generally around 6-15%).

You have to wear these in your mouth for about an hour once/twice a day for a specified number of days. Different brands produce different results. Achieving 3 shades improvement is generally seen.
They are comfortable to wear, produce only slight discomfort upon talking and a good economical option for those who wish to achieve whiter teeth.

In-Office Tooth Whitening: This is the most sought after cosmetic treatment for whitening teeth and also the most effective. In-office tooth whitening is carried out by professional dentists and includes popular procedures such as Zoom Whitening System and Britesmile. The dentist cleans the mouth and applies a protective gel around your mouth. A special gel containing peroxide is then applied on your teeth. A special light is used to activate this gel and it penetrates enamel and bleaches it turning your teeth white and hence this is also known as laser teeth whitening. There might be initial side effects which subside in a few days.

Teeth Grinding Bruxism Can Give You A Headache

Does your wife or partner complain, every morning, about your teeth grinding or teeth clenching keeping her awake? The very fact that your wife complained about it keeping her awake made you aware about your habit. It is always the person sleeping at the side of you who will be able to tell you.
This habit of grinding and clenching the teeth is known as bruxism.
Here, people with irregular or infrequent bruxism do no get affected as much. It does not really show the damage done to the jaws and teeth. It is those who are habitual grinders who get affected. In severe cases it can also damage one’s jaw or hearing.
The question arises as to how would one know if he or she grinds or clenches their teeth? If detected how bruxism can be treated? It has been studied that some people make a noise when grinding their teeth thus making it detectable while some do not make a single sound making it hard to detect.
There are two ways one can know if they have bruxism, first is when your partner complains about it and second is when after a night’s sleep you get up with an ache in your jaws or a slight, persistent headache. Whatever the case, a checkup by the dentist is pertinent.

Precaution And Treatment
People visiting the dentist usually complain of severe toothache. To stop this toothache the very habit has to be put to an end. Otherwise there are other factors that could cause it and have to be contained:

• Lower stress and relax daily
• Reduce alcohol consumption and intake of caffeine
• If grinding becomes a problem at night ask your dentist to recommend a nightguard
• If your dentist says it is caused because of irregular bite, he would suggest teeth alignment

• Consequences of teeth grinding or clenching:
• There are many outcomes to teeth grinding two of which are mentioned above:
  • Severe toothache
  • Sensitive to biting food
  • Sensitive to hot or cold food
  • In advanced cases the teeth can break or result in fractures
  • Tooth loss

How to remove stains on teeth?

stains are very common in the modern world. Many people solve this puzzling problem in their lifetime. These stains are not gray or yellow aesthetic impression to never fade. Your teeth is always there every time you speak or laugh. One could say much about character and how we take care of the body or they can ignore it.

A smile will make the integration with social interaction easier. The use of regular tea and coffee, many years of tobacco use and the weekly routine examination at the dentist infrequently with poor oral hygiene are all factors contributing to the increase in the stain on the teeth. However, it is a slow process, you must pay attention to the health of teeth inside and outside to maintain a bright smile and confidence.Check our suggestions and see how to remove the stain how to feel comfortable in all cases

1 / dental hygiene reasonable

One of the most important thing to have a great smile is a note on regular oral hygiene. So, brush at least twice a day morning and evening before bed is a thing to do. If your teeth are dull or heavy stains, brush your teeth after every meal is a major step to make teeth whiter and healthier.

2 / Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is the whitening of natural and ancient against unpleasant stains and stains effectively. But pay attention when using this method, otherwise you may cause serious injury to his mouth. Dip the brush in water, placed in a small bottle brush and then sprinkle baking soda on it. Brush your teeth gently. These small pieces of baking soda will clean the tooth surface and after a few days you will notice that your white and less than the stain.

3 / Quit Smoking

Smoking is one major cause for tooth-colored and stained. Cigarettes are the worst things you can do with your teeth. Smoking causes the return to live after a black spots on the surface of your teeth, leaving a very bad appearance and loss of aesthetics. The pigments in cigarettes that penetrate and cause serious damage. The heavy smokers can easily be found through the teeth and stain them, and so giving up smoking or at least the number of drugs you consume, is one of the best ways you can do to stay healthy and keep your teeth bright white.

4 / Add the lemon juice

To restore whiteness to the teeth, adding a few drops of lemon juice on the brush and brush your teeth carefully. However, it requires a certain amount of time to see results, lemon juice is an excellent natural remedy without cost to remove the ugly stains on the teeth.

5 / Drinking

There are some cases when you can not brush your teeth after eating, so always make sure you drink water after every meal. As an important step in preventing stains, drink water after using the soda, tea, coffee and any other sugary drinks are a great way to resist fading from the teeth. Gargle a few seconds to make sure the food still on it and sugary drinks will not make the tooth surface and the stain color you lose.

6 / Use crunchy foods

Try adding foods like pears, apples, carrots and celery into your daily diet to see stars? Once they are separated into small pieces, they began to brush the surface of the teeth, so to remove plaque around the teeth which can cause damage and stains. This tweak is not needed nothing but little attention so you can own a beautiful smile.

7 / Check regular dental

Visit the dentist at least every 6 months to ensure that you are in good condition. If your teeth are discolored, or dull black, check with your doctor’s advice on how to overcome those problems. These periodic checks at the dentist is very important if you want to maintain the great white light and healthy teeth.

Tooth Pain

Introduction to toothpain

“Tooth pain” or “Tooth ache” can be generally regarded as pain around a particular tooth, teeth or jaws. Tooth pain can range from mild discomfort or sensitivity to being excruciatingly painful. Some women have even compared toothpain to being as painful as child birth. Of course, these might be exaggerated claims from some desperate women, but it does reflect the intensity of the pain arising from a toothache.
The actual pain we feel is due to the irritation of the nerves which are associated with the tooth/teeth. If you didn’t know, nerves are responsible for carrying sensations like heat, cold, touch and PAIN to the brain. In this case when the nerves inside the tooth are irritated, these carry the pain impulse to the brain.

Causes of toothpain

Most of the causes of tooth pain are limited to oral/dental causes.
The oral causes of toothpain are

• Tooth Decay or Cavity (being the most common cause of tooth pain)

The most common cause of tooth pain is Tooth Decay. Tooth decay is the degradation of the tooth due to harmful acids secreted by bacteria in the oral cavity.

• Gum Disease

The next important causing agent of tooth pain is gum disease. Poor oral hygiene leads to bacterial plaque accumulation and the toxins release from these bacteria damage the gums. The gums become swollen, red and painful (Gingivitis). If gum disease is not controlled early, you are at a risk of losing your tooth.

• Root Sensitivity

Root sensitivity (commonly termed as tooth sensitivity) is when the roots of the teeth become exposed due to recession of the gums. The roots are very sensitive and respond with pain to reasonably hot or cold foods.

• Cracked teeth

A painful accidental blow or extreme biting force can cause the tooth fracture which can become a source of intense pain whenever the fractured tooth is even touched.

• Temporomandibular joint(TMJ) Disorder

TMJ disorder is an inflammatory reaction at the sight of the lodgment of the lower jaw at the skull. Various factors such as Bruxism (Night grinding or teeth grinding), arthritis can cause TMJ disorders.

• Wisdom tooth eruption or impaction

The eruption of Wisdom tooth often causes pain due to its misalignement. It can become impacted (does not erupt) and require surgical extraction.

• Fillings:

People who have undergone fillings can get severe toothache suddenly. This might be because of the spread of the decay to the pulp and you will need to undergo root canal treatment for that. It can also occur due to accumulation of fluid with organic debris and bacteria between the filling and your teeth often termed as microleakage in dental jargon.
The non-oral causes include Ear and Sinus infections .

Prevention of toothpain

There is no magic trick to prevent tooth pain from occurring. All you need to do is maintain a good oral hygiene which you can do by following the 10 Commandments for healthy teeth.

Home remedies for toothpain

There isn’t a fixed time for toothpain to occur. You can’t drive to your dentist at 3 am at night. However, you can surf the net looking for home remedies. Although, these should not be substituted for a visit to the dentist, they can provide temporary relief from the agonizing pain.
I have not tried any of them and do not suggest their use either. They are listed here for informational purposes only
1. The Whiskey BC Mix: Works for nearly all tooth pains and is quite effective. Note that this can be nasty when you try it.

1. Add teaspoon of baking soda in a shot of Whiskey.
2. Dissolve a packet of BC pain relief powder in the above mix.
3. Swish around the affected tooth for two minutes.

Try this if you have unmanageable tooth pain and you cant get health care right away.
2. Sensodyne Therapy: Works for tooth cavities

1. Rinse your mouth with warm water.
2. Put max strength sensodyne toothpaste on the cavity.
3. You can feel the pain relief after few minutes.

The effect will decrease when you drink water or other liquids after putting the sensodyne.
3. Nyquil therapy: Lots of people swear by this fast and effective trick. It works very well indeed and I have quite a few people thanking me for this one.
Take half a teaspoon of Nyquil or Kroger Nitetime (cold/flu syrups) and swish around the affected area.

Other
Try sucking at a clove or put clove oil on the affected tooth.
Place a raw piece of onion on the affected tooth.

Treatment for Tooth Pain

The treatments for toothpain vary greatly. They treat the actual cause of your tooth pain. For example
If you have tooth decay, you will have to undergo a filling procedure.
If the tooth decay has reached your pulp, you would have to undergo a RCT procedure.
If you have impacted Wisdom tooth, they need to be extracted.
Your dentist will determine the best treatment option for you after examining you.

Wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth at the end of your gums. The medical name for wisdom teeth is the third molars and there are usually four of them.
Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teens, or early twenties. The other 28 adult teeth are already in place by this time, so sometimes there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth in the mouth.
As they grow through, wisdom teeth are often obstructed by the other teeth and the lack of space, and can emerge at an angle. They may end up in the wrong place or only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as impacted.

Impacted wisdom teeth

There are different types of impacted wisdom teeth, depending on the way that the tooth has grown through. These are:

• mesial impaction: where the tooth grows at an angle facing towards the front of the mouth
• vertical impaction: where the tooth grows straight down but gets stuck against the tooth next to it
• horizontal impaction: where the tooth grows horizontally and pushes against the tooth next to it
• distal impaction: where the wisdom tooth turns away from the tooth next to it and becomes lodged in that position

Removing wisdom teeth

Not all impacted wisdom teeth will need to be removed but sometimes they can start to cause dental health problems. Your dentist will advise you if it is necessary to have your wisdom teeth removed.
If hospital treatment is required, it will be provided through the NHS free of charge. Dentists charge depending on the treatment that is required, unless you are under 18 years of age or otherwise exempt from NHS charges.
Discuss issues such as charges, payment methods and waiting times with your dentist before your treatment begins.

About wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth usually emerge from your gums between the ages of 17 and 24. They are the last of the large grinding teeth at the back of your mouth (molars). Some people never develop wisdom teeth but you could have up to four – one in each corner of your mouth.

For most people, wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems so don’t need to be removed. However, if there isn’t enough space for them to grow at the back of your mouth they become what is known as impacted wisdom teeth, and can cause pain, swelling and/or infection.
Having your impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed (extracted) can relieve your symptoms. It may be possible for your dentist to remove your wisdom teeth, or he or she may refer you to an oral surgeon.

What are the alternatives?

Antibiotics can help treat an infection, but your symptoms may flare up again. Having your wisdom teeth removed is often the only way to permanently relieve your symptoms.

Preparing for wisdom teeth removal

Your dentist or oral surgeon will explain how to prepare for your procedure. For example, if you smoke, you may be asked to stop as smoking increases your risk of getting a wound infection, which can slow your recovery.
The operation is usually done under local anaesthesia. This completely blocks pain from your gums and you will stay awake during the procedure. You may be offered a sedative to help you relax during the operation. If you go to a hospital and your wisdom teeth are particularly challenging to remove, you may be given general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the procedure. Your dentist or oral surgeon will let you know which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you.
If you’re having a general anaesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. This means not eating or drinking, typically for about six hours beforehand. However, it’s important to follow your dentist or oral surgeon’s advice.
Your dentist or oral surgeon will discuss with you what will happen before, during and after your procedure, and any pain you might have. This is your opportunity to understand what will happen, and you can help yourself by preparing questions to ask about the risks, benefits and any alternatives to the procedure. This will help you to be informed, so you can give your consent for the procedure to go ahead, which you may be asked to do by signing a consent form.

What happens during wisdom teeth removal

The procedure for removing your wisdom teeth will depend how deeply impacted your teeth are. Many wisdom teeth can be extracted simply like any other molar. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your dentist or oral surgeon will widen the socket (the area your tooth sits in) using a tool called an elevator or a pair of special forceps. He or she will then move the tooth from side to side until it is loose enough to be removed completely.
However, if your tooth is more difficult to remove, your dentist or oral surgeon will cut through your gums and may remove some of your jawbone to reach your tooth. He or she will remove your wisdom teeth and then close your wounds with stitches if necessary. Most wisdom teeth only take a few minutes to remove, but the more difficult cases can take around 20 minutes.

What happens afterwards

You will need to rest until the effects of the general anaesthetic or sedation have passed.
After a local anaesthetic, it may be several hours before the feeling comes back into your jaw. Take special care not to chew on the area or have any food or drinks that are too hot, as these could burn the area.
You will be able to go home when you feel ready.
If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours.
Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you some advice about looking after your teeth and gums before you go home. You may be given painkillers, antibiotics and mouthwash solutions to take home. You may also be given a date for a follow-up appointment.
Dissolvable stitches will disappear on their own in seven to 10 days. Non-dissolvable stitches are removed a week after surgery.

Recovering from wisdom teeth removal

If you need them, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice. Don’t take aspirin because this can make bleeding worse.
Don’t vigorously rinse out your mouth during the first 24 hours after having a wisdom tooth removed because this can disturb blood clots that help the healing process. After meals, you can rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of table salt dissolved in a glass of water).
You should brush your teeth as usual, but keep your toothbrush away from the healing wound for the first couple of days. At first, you may feel small fragments of bone with your tongue. These are the edges of the tooth socket and will soon disappear as your gum heals.

Eating and drinking

To begin with, you should eat soft foods, gradually returning to your usual diet once your jaw feels less stiff.

Bleeding

If your gum bleeds, fold a clean handkerchief or piece of gauze, place it on your bleeding gum and bite on it for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Don’t rinse your mouth out or lie down until the bleeding has stopped.
Most people don’t experience any problems after having their wisdom teeth removed. However, contact your dentist or your GP immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying pressure, or that lasts for more than half an hour
• difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• severe pain that isn’t helped by painkillers
• a high temperature
• swelling that continues for more than three days after your operation

What are the risks?

Wisdom teeth removal is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure.

Side-effects

These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment, for example feeling sick as a result of a general anaesthetic.
You may have some facial swelling, bruising, pain or jaw stiffness for up to two weeks. These symptoms are usually at their worst for the first two or three days and then gradually improve.

Complications

This is when problems occur during or after the operation. Most people aren’t affected. The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic or excessive bleeding.
Specific complications to having your wisdom teeth extracted are uncommon but may include:

• infection
• accidental damage to other teeth and your jaw during your operation
• severe pain caused by dry socket – this is when the blood clot breaks away from the wound exposing the bone and nerves, causing pain and delaying healing
• numbness in your lower lip or tongue, or changes to taste – this can be caused by nerve damage and there is a small chance that this could be permanent
• jaw stiffness – it’s possible that you may not be able to open your mouth fully

The exact risks are specific to you and will differ for every person, so we have not included statistics here. Ask your dentist or oral surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you.

10 Commandments for maintaining healthy teeth and gums

General Dental Health Tips

Healthy teeth and gums reflect a healthy personality. Poor Oral health damages our self-esteem besides the various other harmful effects it has. Here I have outlined the 10 Commandmentswhich will go a long way in ensuring you have healthy teeth and gums.
1. Brush your teeth twice daily: Brush your teeth twice a day to avoid majority of the dental problems.
2. Use a Dental Floss: Flossing cleans the areas which are harder for a toothbrush to reach. It removes the food debris and plaque accumulated between the teeth. Flossing twice daily is preferable.
3. Use of Mouth Washes: Mouthwashes such as Listerine or Chlorohexidine possess effective antiseptic properties. They kill the bacterial plaque known to cause bad breath, tooth decay and gingivitis. Use a mouthwash AFTER BRUSHING as per its directions.
4. Eating right: Maintain a balanced diet but reduce the consumption of foods containing sugars or starch. Sugary Foods( Candies, gums) and Starchy foods(potato chips, snacks) play an important role in causing tooth decay.
5. Avoid in between eating habits: Snacking between meals makes the teeth prone to tooth decay. The bacterial action is greatest at acidic Ph. The Ph is most acidic immediately after meals and gradually reduces and comes to a normal level. Eating in between meals does not allow the acidic level to come down increasing bacterial action leading to caries.
pop causes poor oral health
6. Avoid Cola and Energy Drinks: Cola drinks contain acids such as phosphoric acid and citric acid which have damaging effect on teeth. Energy drinks contain organic acids in addition to the above which directly damage the tooth calcium. ENERGY DRINKS AND COMMERCIAL LEMONADE ARE 11 TIMES MORE HARMFUL TO TEETH THAN COLA DRINKS. If you must drink, don’t sip on them for a long time and do rinse your mouth after drinking
7. Quit Smoking: Smoking not only stains your teeth but also damages your gums by reducing the blood supply. It also causes smokers breath
8. Chewing Sugar free Gum: Chewing Sugar free gum prevents bad breath and fights tooth decay by washing away the plaque acid resulting in healthier teeth.
9. Regular visits to your Dentist: It is essential to visit your dentist once in 3-6 months to diagnose any oral concerns early. Most oral health problems do not produce any symptoms till they have progressed to a later stage.
10. Oral Piercings: Oral Piercings such as tongue or lip are a no-no for good oral health. Tongue piercings can lead to allergic reactions, infections, nervous damage to tongue and gum disease.

Dry Mouth

Saliva is a digestive enzyme, a cleansing agent, and a moisturizer. It has also got germicidal properties and so protects the mouth from micro-organisms like fungi and bacteria. A mouth without saliva would be a parody, and a very uncomfortable proposition at that. Luckily, there are effective remedies for a dry mouth.

What Leads to a Dry Mouth?
A variety of things, as listed below, can lead to a dry mouth.

• Certain medicines. The use of some over the counter medicines or prescription medications can cause a dry mouth. Decongestants and antihistamines used in treating allergies and colds, and sedatives, and muscle relaxants, can lead to it. Diuretics used in the treatment of acne, hypertension, epilepsy, and obesity, and bronchodilators used for asthma, and a variety of drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety, diarrhea, or nausea, can also have dry mouth as a side effect.
• Diseases or infections. Dry mouth is often seen in people suffering from AIDS. It is a symptom of even a minor infectious disease like mumps. And many problems like Alzheimer’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and anemia and stroke and hypertension have dry mouth as a symptom.
• Medical treatments. Chemotherapy done for cancer can result in reduced production of saliva, while radiation to head or neck areas can also cause damage to salivary glands and lead to a dry mouth.
• Nerve damage. Any damage to a nerve around the mouth, which is supplying the salivary glands, can cause a dry mouth.
• Dehydration due to diseases. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of blood, burn injuries, or heavy sweating can cause the body to dehydrate. This in turn will lead to a dry mouth.
• Removal of salivary glands by surgery. This will cause a dry mouth as production of saliva will be completely stopped.
• Daily habits. Open-mouthed breathing, tobacco chewing, or smoking can affect a faster rate of drying of saliva and increase dryness of the mouth.

Dry Mouth Symptoms
The following are the symptoms of a dry mouth:

• A parched feeling in the mouth.
• Constant thirst.
• Cracked lips, mouth sores, and skin cracking at mouth corners.
• Dry throat.
• A burning mouth or stinging sensation on the tongue.
• A dry tongue, or red tongue.
• Difficulty in speaking, and in chewing and ingestion of food.
• Sore throat, or dryness in nasal passage.
• Halitosis or mouth odor.

Treatment for Dry Mouth
If you developed dry mouth symptoms soon after you were put on some drug, the drug is probably the cause of it. You should then report the problem to the doctor who can change either the medicine or the dosage to solve the problem.
A common remedy prescribed for a dry mouth is an oral rinse. A medicine by the name Salagen, is also effective in increasing saliva production. Some home remedies that can ameliorate the dry mouth problem are the following:

• Chewing candy or gum that is sugar-free.
• Drinking large quantities of water.
• Using a fluoride toothpaste and fluoride oral rinse. Regular visits to a dentist will also help.
• Remembering to keep the mouth closed.
• Using a vaporizer that can moisturize the air.
• And over the counter medications are available which can work as a saliva substitute.

Dangers from a Dry Mouth
Besides causing the problems listed above, a dry mouth puts a person at increased risk of mouth infections like thrush, tooth decay, and gingivitis, a gum disease. Wearing dentures is also not easy for people who have a dry mouth.

Fractured Teeth Types and Treatments

Tooth fractures can be of different types and each type needs to be treated differently.

• Minor Cracks: These are also known as “craze lines” and are surface cracks affecting the white surface of your tooth, known as the enamel.These cracks do not require any treatment.
  However, a dentist might polish the effected area to smoothen the rough spots.
• Cracked Tooth: This is one such fracture type that affects the tooth on the whole, from the surface used for chewing to the nerve. Cracks can often be mended with typical dental filling materials.
  The tooth can also be prevented with the help of a crown and this also helps in preventing the worsening of tooth. If there’s a damage in the pulp (nerve, live tissues), a root canal treatment might be needed.
• Chips: Minor chips might not need treatment all the time. Your dentist might just repair the damage with the help of filing material in order to prevent worsening. If the chip is a tiny one, polishing would be enough to even out the area that has been chipped.
• Broken Cusps: These are breaks that affect the pointed cusps or the chewing surface of your teeth. They are unlikely to affect your pulp and might not cause any pain as well. Your dentist might feel the need to mend the damage if it disrupts chewing. A crown or onlay might however be required.
• Serious Breaks: These are deeper breaks that can expose and affect the nerve. This causes pain and tooth sensitivity. The broken part of a tooth usually bleeds. You will have to undergo a root canal treatment for removing the nerve that has been exposed and then crown it in order to bring the tooth back to its regular functions so that you can chew and eat properly.
• Split Tooth: In this case, the tooth splits vertically into separate parts. Some teeth, like the ones at the back (the molars), have quite a few roots. One of the roots can possibly be kept and then covered with a crown.
  Firstly, a root canal treatment becomes obvious. Secondly, the damaged roots will be removed by the dentist. Thirdly, the root will be covered by a crown and the tooth will be replaced. In case if the root is totally damaged and can in no ways be saved, removing the tooth is the ultimate choice.
• Vertical Breaks / Split Root: These cracks affect the root of tooth first and then expand upwards to reach the chewing surface. These are painful breaks and are caused by infection and inflammation. This calls for a tooth removal.
• Decay-Induces Break: This is a case of a broke tooth caused by cavities that weaken the tooth, inside out. A dentist will examine the cavity and will then recommend the best way of restoring the tooth. In certain cases, the tooth might have to be removed.
• Our teeth are extraordinarily strong, but they might chip, crack or even break quite often. This might happen in more than a few ways:
  • Biting something that is very hard.
  • Being hit or punched on the mouth or face.
  • Falling.
  • Extensive tooth decay.

When your teeth chip or break, it doesn’t hurt. You might not even perceive the damage caused. Minor fractures of the tooth might not cause any pain, but if a larger piece of tooth chips off, it can be very painful. This is because the underlying nerve is damaged and if this is exposed to cold or hot drinks or foods, air and saliva, it can cause extreme discomfort.
Pain caused by a cracked or a broken tooth can either be constant or it might be periodic. Some people feel this pain while chewing something as it exerts pressure on the teeth.

What can you do?

• Fractured or Cracked Tooth

A fractured or a crack tooth cannot be treated at home. You’ll have to seek your dentist’s help. A tooth might only hurt while you eat or there’s a change in the temperature of your mouth (after drinking something cold or hot). If you are experiencing a continuous pain, it can be a case of damaged blood vessels or nerves. This is an alarming sign.

• Broken Teeth

In case of broken teeth, visit your dentist immediately. Your dentist will be able to understand the cause of the breakage, whether it is caused due to cavities or your teeth’s nerves are in danger. Adults having a damaged nerve would need to go for a root canal, but in case of children, sometimes these damaged nerves can actually be saved with proper and immediate treatment.
Until you reach your dentist’s chamber:

• Save the broken pieces. Your dentist might try to cement all the pieces of tooth to be placed back together.
• Rinse the mouth very nicely with warm water. If you have saved tooth pieces, rinse those as well.
• Put gauze on the bleeding spot and leave it for 10 minutes or till the time the bleeding stops.
• Apply an ice cold pack on the lips and cheeks just over the tooth which is broken. This will lessen the pain and swelling.
• If you are unable to reach the dentist, cover the tooth with dental cement temporarily. This can be found in any drug store.
• Take pain relieves available over-the-counter.

How to whiten teeth !

Beautiful new teeth are bright smile. There are lovely teeth, regular, neatly arranged on the arch it was wonderful. But if the teeth are dull … it was a pity! Of bright white teeth are important for the beauty of the smile. Thus, from the past, his father was looking for ways to make teeth whiter, such as brushing your teeth with soot, hen’s egg, determine cau, or toothpaste …

Bleaching simple and modern

Today, to whiten your teeth, the first can think of is remove calculus and polishing. If not satisfied, then there are still lots of alternatives. The simplest and least expensive is to use whitening products without a prescription is sold on the market, for instance, specific types of toothpaste, stickers, soft plastic trays available … But overall, it usually takes more time can last a month and the result is only relative, not as bright as when the teeth whitening methods used (TTR) is controlled by the doctor .

TTR is the control of the doctors there are two types to choose from: TTR TTR at home and in their offices. Each format has its advantages and disadvantages. At present, the TTR measures are based on the principle of fertility is the application of oxygen and oxidation of Hydrogen Peroxide (HP). The authors suggest that HP is a low molecular weight, should be able to diffuse through the enamel and dentin. HP is unstable and easily decompose into free radicals are very active. The main radical oxidation of this bridge, or the original color of the pigment in the dental tissues, decomposing them and thus brighter teeth.

TTR for good results in 95% of stains caused by externalities, such as that in the elderly dark, staining due to filling, due to tooth decay, certain drugs, dental trauma, dead pulp … Particularly for stains caused by internal factors, such as infected teeth tetracycline, fluorosis … very different effect depending on the severity of infection, the response of the teeth and the duration of treatment.

Bleaching at home

Bleach teeth with carbamide peroxide concentrations commonly used 10%, 16%, or 22% Carbamide peroxide exposure … saliva will decompose into HP and urea.Chlorine bleach may lower the effective concentration of the slower but less likely to cause more sensitivity.

Bleaching process at home:

Remove calculus and cleaned teeth. Get the seal jaws to remove the tray. So teeth, shooting to evaluate the effectiveness of bleach. The next appointments, doctors test tray, placing the drug user and extradition are essential around the TTR. Re-examination after two days to test the response of teeth to the drug, control and treatment side effects (if any), through which doctors will decide on the course of treatment, drug concentrations and times next appointment.

In-office whitening

Previously, the TTR in the form of clinics provide HP with a tray containing a high concentration of 30 to 38% and house sitting in a chair for about 1-2 hours. Later, bleach is usually placed directly on the tooth surface without carrying tray bleaching.

TTR in the office used a device support to promote free radical reaction of HP. May simply be an ordinary light bulbs for the purpose of creating heat, or modern than halogen lamps, LED (Light Emitting Diode), and recently the high-end devices such as laser lights, plasma lights … allows for very high energy source with the appropriate wavelength: result, it has shortened the duration of treatment is only 30-45 minutes and is described under the term “in-office QUICK TTR”.

TTR fast process in the office:

Remove calculus and polishing; Place protective gum tree balls and mouth; for patients to wear eye protection; Set to that medication and phototherapy. Each set of drugs and phototherapy called a cycle. Showtimes and some screen time in each cycle varies according to type of lamp. For example: halogen lamps 20-40 seconds / time / dental x 3lan / cycle; LED (LumaCool) 8 min / 2ham; light laser (LaserSmile) 15giay / time / 4rang; plasma lamp (Apollo Elite) 3 seconds / time / dental x 3lan / cycle.

Apollo Elite can Lamp Total transmission parts and power supply plasma shape so that the front teeth of both functions are shown at the same time, screening time is considerably shortened, just 2 minutes / time / 2ham x 3 times / cycle.

The number of cycles to repeat will depend on the response of the teeth, on average, take place 2-3 times is enough drugs. Then, doctors apply fluoride gel in 1 minute and extradition things to note.

In case of severe tooth stains, the doctor can coordinate TTR in the office and at home.After TTR in the office, that still more white after 12-24 hours, so if you need combined TTR at home, usually starting 24 hours later and also to reduce the risk of tooth sensitivity. However, when TTR usually just 2-4 at night is enough. Sometimes TTR is a preparation for the prosthetic teeth later on it for a better cosmetic result.

Bleaching selectivity

Besides both forms of TTR functions as above, there are forms of selective removal of one or several teeth or only on a portion of the tooth (such as cervical …). This measure is commonly prescribed for staining the teeth with dead pulp stock or dark teeth.

Where on an area of the tooth bleaching, bleaching process is the same as above but only where necessary to bleach white. Where the dead pulp bleaching, endodontic treatment that should be good, and the doctor will perform a special process to HP be placed both outside and inside the tooth and still ensure that the tip does not cause irritation.

(According to the Health & Life)

Smoking and Its Bad Effects toward Mouth Health

Smoking is known to have many ill-effects on health and most of us are aware of the dangers of smoking on general health. What people tend to ignore is the impact of smoking on dental health.
Let us analyze some of the bad effects of smoking on oral health.

Tooth Discoloration:Most smokers are generally aware of the tooth stains that are caused by smoking. These tooth stains are due to nicotine and tar present in the cigarette. The staining ranges from yellow to dark brown (from years of smoking).The staining can be on specific teeth or general discoloration. These stains are hard to remove by normal brushing.
Bad Breath: Smokers are at a much greater risk of developing bad breath than non smokers. The nicotine and tar content gives rise to a typical bad breath known ass mokers breath.
Apart from this smoking causes dry mouth which is a leading cause of Halitosis (bad breath).
Tooth Decay: Smoking puts you at a greater risk of developing dental caries due to plaque build up.
Gum Disease: Smoking also results in gum disease due to plaque and tartar build up. Smoking also interferes with the normal functioning of the cells in the gum tissue. A recent study published in the journal of Periodontology highlights that smokers are 4 times more likely to develop
advanced gum disease.

Tooth Loss: Advanced gum disease (Periodontitis) is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Oral Cancer: We easily associate smoking with lung cancer but another major bad effect of smoking is oral cancer. Nearly 90% of all Oral Cancer patients are smokers.
Some other bad effects of smoking include:

• Jaw bone loss
• Mouth bores
• Shifting teeth
• Hairy tongue
• Sinusitis
• Altered sense of taste and smell
• Delayed wound healing
• Smokers lip

Smoking not only creates dental health issues but worsens already existing dental conditions.
The Journal of Periodontology reports a direct correlation between gum disease and number of cigarettes smoked per day. There was an increased likelihood of developing gum disease for people who smoked more.
It reports that people who smoked less than half a pack a day were three times more likely to suffer from periodontal disease where as people who smoked more than one and half pack were 6 times more likely for the same. Recent studies have pointed out the reduced ability of the body to heal itself after surgery. This is because the body’s defense system was weakened by years of smoking.
There are plenty of harmful effects of smoking on oral health which gives all the more reasons to quit smoking.

Night Terrors In Toddlers – Causes and Effective Treatment

Night terrors or sleep terrors are quite common in toddlers. Quite many parents think that night terrors are similar to nightmare. However, they are two complete different sleep problem we might see in kids.

The differences between sleep terrors and nightmare

It is essential for parents to distinguish between sleep terrors and nightmare as they have different approaches of treatment.

• When the toddlers suffer nightmare, they will be awaken. However, when they have sleep terrors, they are still sleeping
  In the morning, the child will remember the nightmare but they don’t remember the experienced sleep terrors
• While it is possible to comfort the child while he/she has nightmare, you will find it is not possible to do so with sleep terrors simply the kids is not awake.
• In night terrors, kids can have movement such as sit up, even walk around without recognizing. However, when experiencing nightmare, kids will stay on bed until they are awake.

Possible causes of sleep terrors

Up to now, doctors still don’t know what the exact cause of sleep terrors is. However, it is assumed that inadequate sleep can be the possible cause.

Dealing with night terrors in children

As the possible cause of sleep terrors is inadequate sleep, help the baby sleep better at night can bring positive effects. Research shows that if your toddler sleeps better at night, the frequency of night terrors will be reduced. There are quite many way you can do to help children sleep better:

• Reduce daytime naps
• Practicing good sleep habits

In addition to the above methods, the intervention approach has been proven to be highly effective in dealing with night terrors in toddlers. Here are things you need to do in the intervention method:

• Records the times that your baby has sleep terrors (usually after 90 minutes since your baby fall asleep, at this time; he/she has passed theREMsleep).
• When you have the sleep terrors schedule, just around 30 minutes before he/she has another one, you will wake him/her up and then help him/her get back to sleep again.
• Usually, you will not get the same time of sleep terrors occur every night. In this case, you should wake the child up before the earliest point you recorded 30 minutes.
• It’s not necessary to fully wake up the kid, when you see he opens his eyes, you can let him get back to sleep again.

You should follow this routine for 7 days straight then skip for a night. If your kid don’t have any other sleep terror, that’s good. If the kid still has night terror, you should repeat the routine again and skip one night after 7 days.
With the intervention method, you will help the kid “skip” the sleep terrors. The second time they fall asleep; they will sleep deeper and have less chance of having another night terror.
It is always recommended that you consult this matter with the pediatrician if you don’t have confidence to deal with it alone.

Teeth bleaching with banana

Use banana peels to whiten teeth is very safe, effective, and more are easy to find and cheap … dirt.
For whitening with banana peels should brush your teeth with normal toothpaste normally, then use the inside of the banana (the banana is ripe, the new shell containing high levels of potassium) in scrub gently that the two minutes, the minerals present in ripe banana peel will penetrate the tooth surface and brightens teeth.

It is also possible to reverse the rub banana peels on teeth before brushing it with toothpaste normal. To perform again in the evening before bedtime. If tartar is a lot of time rubbing banana peel on the teeth longer.
Try to apply this method 2 times / day to a stunning smile.

7 Top Causes of Bad Breath

Halitosis which is commonly referred as BAD BREATH affects a substantial number of people in all countries. The causes range widely but 85-90% of all the causes originate from the mouth itself.
The seven most common causes of bad breath are:

1. Smoking: Smoking causes smokers breath which is due to the accumulation of nicotine, tar and other foul smelling substances in the oral cavity.
2. Accumulation of Food Debris: The most common cause for bad breath is the accumulation of food debris on or between the teeth, coated

tongue (resulting from poor oral hygiene). These food particles are acted upon by anaerobic bacteria producing respiratory products which give off the characteristicrotten egg smell.
3. Dryness of mouth (Xerostomia): Saliva has extensive anti-bacterial action. When there is reduction or absence of saliva in the oral cavity, it leads to accumulation of plaque which favors bacterial growth causing bad breath.
4. Gum Diseases: Gum diseases and periodontal diseases are important causative agents of bad breath.
5. Tooth Decay: The decay of tooth (Caries) by bacteria is an important causative agent of bad breath. The bacteria have putrefactive (rottening) action on the tooth leading to its demineralization causing halitosis.
6. Severe Dieting: Apart from the innumerable other harmful affects, severe dieting also causes bad breath due to ketoacidosis because of prolonged starvation.
7. Extra-oral sources: The extra oral causes of bad breath include infections of respiratory tract, diabetes and kidney dysfunction.
An important aspect of halitosis that should be mentioned is Halitophobia or delusional Halitosis which affects around 25% of the people seeking professional advice for Halitosis. Halitophobia is the fear of having bad breath (and not actual bad breath) which drives these people to seek professional advice.

Plaque and Tartar

Common Oral Problems
Whenever you browse through any oral health article/blog you might encounter the words Plaque, Tartar and Calculus with a brief definition that hardly renders any understanding.
You might have also been told by your dentist that you have calculus or tartar deposits and need to get them removed. Often people misuse the words either mistaking one for the other or lacking any understanding on them. So let me throw some light on this issue and the appropriate measures to remove them

Plaque:

This is a thin film of clear sticky bacteria that forms on your teeth, gums and tongue.
Plaque contains various types of bacteria and is a sticky layer. Hence, mechanical cleansing by toothbrush is essential to remove plaque.
Plaque begins forming 12 hours after brushing and thus brushing twice a day is very important to control it.
Mucoid Plaque(or simply Plaque) is harmful as it contains infective bacteria which can cause tooth decay and gingivitis.

Calculus (Tartar)

If Plaque is not removed, it hardens to mineralized visible mass which is calledCalculus or Tartar.
It forms hard yellowish deposits above or below the gums, on the inner or outer surface of teeth and can only be removed by your Dentist or Oral hygienist.
Different people exhibit varied susceptibility to calculus formation. Some are quite resistant where as others experience frequent calculus formations.

Removal of Tartar

• People who have susceptibility to Tartar formations should use Tartar control toothpaste. Previously, Hand scalers were used by dentist to remove the deposits which was very tedious, time consuming and tiring procedure both for the patient and the dentist.
• The process has been made much simpler now by the advent of automatic machines and you can simply get your calculus deposits removed by asking the dentist to scale or clean your teeth.

Root Canal Treatment

A Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is carried out to repair and restore a tooth which has been badly decayed or infected and comes under a branch of dentistry called asEndodontics. The RCT actually focuses towards elimination of any infection to the Pulp Chamber of the tooth.

Root Canal Treatment is the last option to save the tooth failing which the tooth has to be extracted. After the RCT the tooth is basically dead as the entire pulp inside the tooth is removed and filled with an inert material.
What is the Pulp Chamber?

The pulp chamber is the inner most layer of the tooth. It is present at the center of the tooth and consists of nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels. It is through these blood vessels the tooth receives nutrition. The cells in the pulp chamber are predominantly odontoblast cells (cells which form dentin) apart from other cells.

The pulp chamber is broad at the center and narrows to a very thin root canal which runs towards the root.
When is RCT Required?

When tooth decay occurs and is detected, a normal filling procedure is carried out .However, if this tooth decay is not detected, it progresses to deeper layers and finally reaching the pulp chamber. When the tooth decay reaches the Pulp chamber,there is no alternative but to perform a Root Canal Treatment. This is because, the infection in the pulp chamber must be removed else it will progress further.
What if I don’t undergo an RCT?

It is essential for you to undergo the Root Canal Treatment to save your toothfailing which you might loose your tooth. The bacterial infection in your pulp can cause tooth abscess, bone loss around root tip and swelling which can spread to your face and neck.
Why has been my Pulp Infected?

You might be thinking why did the infection to the pulp occur in the first place. There can be quite a few causes for this such as:

Tooth Decay which wasn’t detected and it spread to your pulp chamber.
Large fillings
Secondary Caries after tooth filling which lead to further decay progressing to your pulp.
Physical trauma to the tooth by accidental blows.
Spread of infection from periodontal pockets to the pulp

RCT Procedure

The Root Canal Treatment procedure should ideally be carried out by anendodontist. An Endodontist is a dentist who specializes in treating diseases and injuries of the pulp and tissues surrounding the root of the tooth. The RCT procedure can be completed in one or more visits.

An X-ray will be taken to examine your tooth and detect the presence of infection in the surrounding bone.

The area surrounding the tooth is numbed using a local anesthetic which desensitizes the patient to any pain.
The tooth to be worked upon is isolated by placing a rubber dam around it.
The drill is employed to make an access hole to the pulp chamber and the pulp along with decayed tissue and debris is removed. The entire pulp chamber including the root canals is cleaned and disinfected.
If the Root Canal Treatment is to be spread over multiple visits and some dentists prefer this, the empty pulp chamber is filled with disinfecting agent. This is covered by a temporary filling which is removed in subsequent visits and replaced by a permanent filling.
The next step is filling of the pulp chamber with an inert material as the tooth is effectively dead. Gutta percha (along with Zinc Oxide eugenol) is generally used to fill the empty pulp chamber and root canals.
A permanent filling (similar to the filling for treating cavities) is carried out on the tooth and a crown is placed over the tooth. A crown is required in most cases as the tooth becomes brittle due to absence of pulp.
If your RCT procedure is spread over more than one appointment, minimize the chewing on the affected tooth till the procedure is entirely completed. This will prevent recontamination of the pulp chamber and will also reduce the risk of fracturing or damaging your tooth

Failed Root Canals

The RCT is a very effective procedure and enjoys a 90% success rate. However, complications can and do arise leading to the failure of root canal. A failed root simply means you have get Root Canal Treatment procedure done again or get the tooth extracted by the dentist.
Causes for Failure of Root Canals

Extra Canal: Some teeth may have an extra root canal which might not be apparent to the dentist. Hence, the failure to remove the pulp from this root canal causes the failure of the treatment

Some patients have irregularly shaped root canals and its not possible to remove the pulp from such root canals.

Now, you can probably guess the main reason for the failure of root canal treatment. Any infected pulp left behind leads to the failure of the root canal treatment.

Hypersensitivity to material: Some patients are allergic to the material used in the root canal treatment and hence leading to failure of the procedure.

Defective or inadequate restoration: If a restoration is inadequate or defective, bacteria are able to creep past the restoration causing reinfection.

Instrument left in the root canal: The files used to remove the pulp are quite brittle and often chip inside the root canal and cannot be retrieved. This may cause the failure of the treatment.

Dental Braces

Orthodontic Braces (Dental braces or simply braces) commonly employed to straighten crooked or misaligned teeth come under a branch of dentistry known asOrthodontics.
Braces are employed in many cases of malocclusion such as open bite, deep bite, cross bite and other structural and cosmetic flaws. Braces shape your teeth in the desired form by constantly exerting pressure on the teeth in question. Braces can also used along with other orthodontic appliances for successful treatment of Orthodontic problems

Types of Dental Braces

Different types of Braces are required depending on the requirement of the patient. Orthodontic Braces are generally classified as

Traditional Braces

These are the ones that come to our minds when we think of dental braces. The stainless steel color wire covering the full mouth with metal brackets soldered on to the steel wire. These are now outdated and not preferred by patients generally but still present an economical option for the interested.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic Braces are not as apparent as the traditional ones and they tend to blend with the color of teeth and hence providing a more appealing alternative. They are susceptible to damage by accidental blows or trauma.

Lingual Braces

These are fitted behind the teeth and hence are not apparent from the outside.

Invisalign

Aesthetic clear braces resembling tooth color are marketed under the trade name Invisalign. They blend in with the teeth making them virtually invisible. Invisalign are a boon for patients who always needed braces but avoided them because of cosmetic reasons. They are removable enabling the wearer to snap them on and off when required.
However, Invisalign treatments tend to take longer, are costly and not preferred in complex orthodontic cases.

How Braces Work?

Braces work by application of constant pressure on the teeth over a period of time. Although the force applied isn’t substantially high, the constant pressure coupled with the time factor manages to reshape the teeth in the desired way.
When pressure is exerted on the teeth, they start moving in the desired direction. This causes the bony socket (which holds and serves as anchor point of teeth) to get remodeled based on the newly acquired position. This is known as bone remodeling which is carried out by selective deposition and resoption of the bone to support the newly acquired position.

Time is an important factor. You can’t apply a great force and expect to align your teeth in a few days as this will rather damage them. There is a limit to the force your teeth can handle. An optimum pressure along with suitable time achieves the best results in orthodontic treatments. The average tooth movement is 1mm per month although there is no standard and different people show different responses to the treatment

Procedure for getting Braces?

You should first consult an Orthodontist (A dentist specializing in Orthodontic Treatments) who will make an oral examination and determine whether you require braces.
Preliminary tests will be conducted such as impression making of your mouth and X rays. The results of these tests are analyzed to determine your exact requirements and a plan of action.
The Orthodontic treatment period can range from 6 months to 3 years or even more depending on the severity of the problem. In extreme cases, Orthognathic surgery might be the best viable option.
The teeth which will receive the brace will undergo a process called etching which creates micro-porosities on the teeth surface. A bonding agent is added which helps strengthen the bond between the teeth and composite. The composite is a material which is added to a single tooth and then a small square like metal piece (called bracket) is attached to it. A special light is then projected on the teeth with the bracket to help in hardening the composite so that it better retains the brackets.
This process is repeated for all the teeth which are to be shaped. Molar bands are metal bands that are placed on your first molar which make sure that the bracket sticks well. A typical archwire is then passed through the brackets and secured with ligatures.
Braces tend to hurt up to a week after getting them and the pain should subside soon enough. You should take regular visits to your dentist (generally at 1 month intervals) after getting your braces. The dentist may tighten, modify or even replace the arch wire depending on your teeth response to the brace.

Retainers

Retainers are worn by the patient after the completion of treatment by the Dental braces. These are used to “retain” the newly acquired position of the teeth so that they don’t revert back to their original positions.
Retainers are essential to orthodontic treatments. Many people tend to give them a miss only to realize later that their teeth have shifted back to their original positions wasting all the time, money and effort they put in over the years.
The dentist will suggest a retainer specific to your needs and you need to make sure you stick to his directions.

7 Dental Dangers of Tongue Piercing

Tongue piercing is a fad these days, a bold style statement which lures many people especially teenagers to go for it. People tend to overlook the possible health hazards that are caused by tongue piercings. Apart from general health hazards tongue piercings have many oral hazards.

Seven common oral hazards associated with tongue piercings are:

1. Infection and death
Major blood vessels connect the tongue with brain and other areas. Damaging such blood vessels can cause infection which can spread to vital organs of the body such as brain which in severe cases can even kill a person.


2. Gum Surgery
Tongue barbells rubbing against the gum tissues can damage the sensitive tooth gums and have to be treated by surgery by a periodontist.

3. Swallowing the barbell
The piercing is subjected to constant stress in the oral environment and can get unscrewed. It could end up getting swallowed or get stuck in your lungs.

4.  Chipped or Broken Front Teeth
Many people who opt for tongue barbells end up with chips, cracks and fractures to their front teeth. These damaged teeth have to be repaired by using crowns or fillings and even these can wear out due to the action of metal over teeth.


5. Blood loss and nerve damage
As mentioned previously, tongue has large blood vessels and you would need to get it surgically treated if one of them gets perforated.
Damage to any nerve of the tongue would mean irreparable damage and makes the tongue functionless.
6. Lingering Pain.
Tongue piercing has also been associated with cases of neuralgia which is severe and long lasting nerve pain.
7. Hepatitis or HIV
Instruments that are not sterilized properly can pass HIV infection to the person getting the tongue pierced. Hence, it should be emphasized that such procedures must be done at reputable clinics only or possibly avoided all together.