As medical care is advancing every day, infection control levels get higher and higher every day when undergoing oral surgeries. But is it still possible for the infection to occur? Hence you must know what to look out for and when to consult your doctor for medical assistance. Once your surgery is complete, you must follow the instructions for a smooth recovery. And to learn more about the signs of infection after oral surgery, read this article.

Why Do You Need Oral Surgery In The First Place?

Nowadays, oral surgery is extremely common and happens due to several different reasons.

• If you are suffering from mouth pain, so oral surgery can help control the pain and discomfort.
• To extract your tooth, you will have to undergo oral surgery.
• Oral surgery is very common for correcting jaw bone joint issues like TMJ, adjusting bite sizes, and breathing issues.
• If you have had facial trauma, oral surgery is the best to reconstruct the damaged area.

What Happens After The Oral Surgery

As your surgery ends, you will feel complete numbness around your mouth area, remaining numb for the next three to four hours. It would be best to start taking antibiotics and painkillers because you will feel pain as the numbness lessons. Hence make sure not to chew or bite anything in the meantime. Your doctor will also advise you to gargle using salt water to clean your mouth and avoid infection.

Rest as much as you can to avoid exertion, as keeping your head up will control the swelling and bleeding. Infections after oral surgery are not common but can occur if you have a weak immune system or are diabetic. This infection could spread across the body to other organs hence must be treated as soon as possible.

What Are Some Symptoms of Infection After An Oral Surgery

If you see these symptoms, then you have an infection growing in your mouth; hence immediately visit our doctor.

• Continuous bleeding after twenty-four hours of surgery
• Extreme pain which is not being controlled by medication
• Swelling has increased
• Pus discharge
• Cannot open the mouth
• High fever

How To Control This Infection?

The first thing is to prevent the infection from happening. The best way to prevent it is by following your doctor’s instructions. Keep your mouth clean after eating or drinking. Take your medicines as prescribed. These antibiotics are to control the infection from building up in the first place.

And once the infection has started, you will have to start taking heavier antibiotics to control the infection.

What’s Next?

If you have had oral surgery, make sure you keep your mouth clean because you are also at risk of infection. And if you are worried about learning about signs of infection after oral surgery, visit our specialists at Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry for assistance. Call us now at 281-937-7530 to book your appointment.

Oral hygiene begins right from brushing and flossing your teeth. There is no way you can skip this. The next activity is to rinse your mouth using a mouthwash which is an extra step in improving your dental health and giving you a great smile. There are many different types of mouthwash to choose from; as it can help your mouth fight bad breath and kill other bacteria. But the question here is, is it safe for kids to you use mouthwash.

When adults use mouthwash, it can benefit them in several ways, i.e., it improves your oral health, fights your dental problems, etc. But if your kids are using it, you must be aware of all the risks that come with it. Do n not worry, it’s completely safe for them to use it and this article will help you understand more about this topic.

When Is It Best For Kids To Start Using Mouthwash?

It would be best if you did not allow your kids to begin using mouthwash before they turn six years old. And when they turn six and start having them use a mouthwash; you should supervise them until they are twelve years old.

Why do we say so is because until this age; their motor and control skills are still being developed, and they are not completely able to control their rinsing and spitting functions. Also, there are chances they might swallow the mouthwash liquid; which could be dangerous for them if it is in large quantity.

Other than the risk of swallowing, using mouthwash before the specified age can have negative effects than having positive ones. Kids may develop fluorosis due to the extensive use of fluoride; which is one of the main ingredients in a mouthwash. Yes, fluoride protects the teeth and strengthens the enamel; but excessive use can leave stains on your child’s teeth which may be difficult to remove at a later age.

Some Precautions You Should Take

Here are some preventive measures you can take to help your kids have a safe experience while rinsing their mouths:

Teach Them How To Swish & Spit: As swishing and spitting is the most important activity, teach this to your kids so they do not swallow the mouthwash. Have them practice with water first, and then let them use the mouthwash.

Do Not Let Your Kids Have Access To The Mouthwash: Small kids may fancy the mouthwash bottle and try using it themselves. Hence it would help if you kept mouthwash out of their reach.

Let Them Enjoy: If you want your kids to have a good time while mouth washing, let them have fun and make it exciting for them.

What Should You Do Next?

If you are looking to learn more about the use of mouthwash for kids; visit Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry and speak to our specialists. They will be able to solve all your queries. Call us at 281-937-7530 to book your appointment.

Braces are the most common orthodontic treatment these days, and you can also regard them as one of the most effective and reliable ones. But don’t worry if your dentist hands you in a box of dental wax after your next sitting with them. The idea is to make your treatment and daily life as smooth as possible. This article will help you understand the usage of dental wax for your ongoing braces treatment.

Do You Know What Is Dental Wax?

You must have thought of candle wax when you heard the word wax but remember that the wax we’re talking about in this article is called Dental Wax which is very different from the candle wax we all know about.

Dental wax is made from beeswax and other biocompatible ingredients that are not harmful if you consume them, although your dentist will advise you not to consume it purposely. These ingredients allow dental wax to be flexible so it can be held on to your braces for a longer time.

Dental Wax And Braces, What’s The Connection?

In the beginning, your braces will make your mouth feel uncomfortable and uneasy. That is because metal brackets attached to your tooth with a wire constantly pulling them in a direction will be a little difficult. Another reason is that the wire touching your cheek and lips will make you feel more uncomfortable; and difficult for you to open your mouth wide. The edges of your wire may hit your cheeks and injure them, but eventually, you will get used to it, and your braces will not bother you. But during the first several weeks, your dentist will apply dental on to the sharp edges of your braces to smoothen out the corners and minimize its interaction with your cheeks soft tissues.

How Can You Use Dental Wax?

It’s relatively very easy to use dental wax. Begin with brushing and flossing your teeth. That is because you do not want to trap debris and particles of food beneath the wax, as that will turn into tartar and damage your teeth. Then wash your hands, dry them and take a small pinch of wax. Roll the wax to make it a ball shape piece; Then, place that ball onto the area of your braces that are hitting the insides of your mouth. Press is a bit, and Voila, it’s done! Let it be there for a white. You do not need to remove it while eating or drinking. And if you accidentally swallow it, do not worry. It’s absolutely safe. All you need to do is, brush again and apply some new wax.

What’s Next?

At Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry, we are the masters of orthodontic treatment. We use some of the best state-of-the-art technology and treatments to ensure your illness is cured. We also offer flexible payment options and accept insurances, but all is to be discussed later. Hence we suggest you begin by calling us on 281-937-7530 and book your appointment. Let us specialists examine you, and we can then move on from there.

As the title says, fake braces can be very, very dangerous; hence this blog will help you understand how you can stay away from fake braces.

Although this is a very rare situation, there are still many cases where patients come in with fake braces, which are absolute like the original ones. In some cases, it’s just for fashion, but it poses a serious health hazard. Because they are not designed to function as they should, they can harm your gums, teeth, and jaw and destroy your teeth’ alignment. Hence it would be best if you only had your braces applied by a certified or well-known orthodontist.

If you are looking to improve your smile and make a difference in your look, why opt for something fake and poses a dangerous threat to your teeth. Instead, opt for originals. Original braces will not only improve your smile but will also make sure your teeth and gums remain healthy and strong. It will ensure your bone alignment stays intact.

If you are looking to have braces applied and are unsure where to go, why not speak to our specialists at Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry. We’re just a call away. Speak to us at (281) – 937 – 7530.

Although there is no comparison to visiting your dentist for teeth cleaning sessions, if you are looking for a quicker option, you can always opt in to use teeth whitening pens. This is a household product and has become very popular recently.

Teeth Whitening Pen Work Like This?

How whitening pen works is, you have to rub it on your teeth which creates bubbles. That is because the peroxide in it oxygenates and cleanses the stains off your teeth. You may have to use it for several days to achieve your desired whitening.

Why Is Teeth Whitening Pen A Good Option?

It completely depends on what your dental priorities are, but in the vast majority, most people prefer a teeth whitening pen because:

Concentration Of Peroxide: The peroxide levels are very important, so there is no damage to the enamel of your teeth, and it is effective enough to whiten your teeth.

The Technology It Uses: The laser technology built inside is what pushed the barriers to teeth whitening. When this whitening gel is photoactivated with LED, the effects are marvelous and comparatively visible.

Visible Results: Everyone wants results, and that too for a long time. The reason many use whitening pens is because of their effective results that last for months.

If you are looking for a teeth whitening pen that gives your results in the least number of trials, speak to our dental specialists at Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry for their advice. Call us at (281)-937-7530 to book an appointment now.

The dental assistant provides various tasks related to clinical administration and patient care. In contrast, the dental hygienist works for cleaning and polishing patient’s teeth.

While comparing the dental assistant vs. dental hygienist, it is observed that the dental hygienists also check for oral diseases by performing a dental health examination.

Dental Assistant vs. Dental Hygienist Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of a dental assistant are,

• To take care of the patients and enable them to sit on chairs comfortably.
• Sterilize and clean all the dental pieces of equipment.
• Prepare the clinical working areas to carry on treatment processes.
• To dry the patient’s mouth through suction hoses and give the required instruments to the dentist during treatment.
• Perform x-ray processes and other laboratory tasks.
• Schedule all the patient’s appointments and their records so the patients can feel comfortable.

However, the typical responsibilities of a dental hygienist are,

• To take care of the patient’s plaque, bacteria, and stains from the patient’s teeth.
• Apply fluoride treatments to protect the teeth from decay.
• Examine oral conditions of patients and provide health reports to dentists.
• Help patients to select appropriate dental tools (e.g., floss, toothbrush, and mouthwash)
• Provide the best education to the patients on brushing and flossing techniques.

Dental Assistant Program

The dental assistant program is itself a challenging task. It requires both technical and interpersonal skills. There are several ways to receive the training, which includes,

• A formal dental assisting program
• On-the-job training (OJT)

On-the-job training in place of formal dental assisting education is accepted in some states. But usually, other states require students to complete a one or two-year dental assistant program accredited by CODA.

Dental Assistant Salary

According to the HR-reported data, the average salary of a dental assistant is noted as $44,431 in California (as of June 2021). But a particular range lies in between $34,831 and $53,737. Also, the salary varies state-wise.

Dental Hygienist Program

An associate’s degree in the hygienist program requires two years to complete. Typically, 300 dental hygiene programs are accredited by CODA.

Hygienist Salary

Based on the data, the average salary of a dental hygienist is $84,907 in California (data recorded in June 2021). But as mentioned earlier, the salary also varies state and nation-wise.

So, the salary contrast is clear between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist.

If you are thinking of becoming a dental hygienist just because of their handsome salary, WDAS will first encourage you to become a dental assistant first.

This technique gives you a wide variety of knowledge for your upcoming dental career. It also provides you with the skillset of becoming a successful hygienist in your desired future.

Therefore, while contrasting the dental assistant vs. dental hygienist, the studying program of dental hygienists requires a long commitment. Being a dental hygienist, it’s a gratifying job but requires a lot of dedication. One has to learn a variety of subjects in a short period. But if you succeed in doing so, the hygienist salary will be as promising as your hard work.

The use of Invisalign rubber bands is a beneficial orthodontic treatment. This procedure includes clear plastic aligner trays, which help to reshape your teeth. These aligners are replaced every one or two weeks. Sometimes, your dentist may require you to wear elastic rubber bands with Invisalign, which is considered an alternative to traditional braces.

How Does Invisalign Work

Some devices help to align your teeth. But even they can not change the way your upper and lower teeth meet. The processes involve,

• Traditional braces
• Invisalign
• Other aligners

On the other side, elastic rubber bands exert force on teeth to correct the bite conditions. The bite usually involves overbite or underbite. The placement of rubber bands depends upon the bite condition you are going through.

The question that arises is, how does Invisalign work? Invisalign are transparent plastic aligners that align the teeth. And while brushing, one can remove it as well. Invisalign is easy to wear and remove while eating a meal, flossing, or brushing. However, rubber bands along with Invisalign can give excellent results.

Under the question of how does Invisalign work, it usually takes 21-22 hours a day. If lesser time is given, then the treatment will become prolonged. Aligners are set according to the condition of the patient.

Primarily, dentists recommend wearing rubber bands along with Invisalign if the condition is worse. Rubber bands speed up the recovery process. One should change the elastic 3-4 times a day, or at least after every 12 hours because the rubber bands lose their effectiveness and strength after 12 hours.

Invisalign is an advanced form of traditional braces. And if talking about Invisalign vs. braces cost, Invisalign costs a bit more than these conventional braces.

Invisalign vs. Braces Cost

The next question that pops up is, how much is Invisalign, and how much are braces? According to Diamond Braces, braces cost $1700 to $3500. And, Invisalign can cost from $2400 to $9000. But dental insurance will make the Invisalign process a bit cheaper.

The cost of Invisalign and braces depends upon the severity of one’s condition and the region where you live. The dentists usually advise wearing rubber bands in clear or ivory-colored rounds as they have lower visibility. But it is not necessary that every time you get Invisalign, you would also need rubber bands. For this, you should contact your dentist and discuss your situation. The dentist will recommend you the need of rubber bands if necessary.

When considering Invisalign vs. Braces cost, Invisalign is more advance than traditional braces. Rubber bands make the recovery process quicker if used with Invisalign.

After the removal of your wisdom teeth, it’s very important to rest for a healthy and speedy recovery. To get the maximum out of your recovery time, you should prepare in advance so you can spend most of your time in bed. If you plan everything before your wisdom tooth extraction, you’ll stay away from house chores and enjoy your time. One of the most common question patients ask before going for surgery is, “How long after wisdom teeth removal can I drink my coffee, or soda, or alcohol?”. This article will explain the guidelines about the beverages that you like and want to drink after your extraction. With this preparation, you’ll know what you need to do and have before going to your dentist.

A common point for every drink after tooth removal surgery is to avoid straw. For successful recovery of the tooth socket after wisdom teeth removal, the formation of a blood clot is essential. If you suck on a straw to enjoy your favorite drink, it can disturb the blood clot and prolong your healing time. If the blood clot is dislodged badly, it can also give you an extremely painful condition called dry socket. Whatever you drink, please avoid using a straw after your wisdom tooth extraction.

How Long After Wisdom Teeth Removal Can I Drink Coffee?

You may be waiting during the whole surgery just to drink your cup of favorite coffee, but you shouldn’t. After your wisdom tooth extraction, you should avoid consuming hot coffee, tea, and other hot drinks for 24-48 hours. The heat from these liquids can irritate the surgery site and damage the healing process. Instead, go for a cold coffee or ice tea. When drinking cold liquids, please avoid using a straw as it’s terrible for your recovery.

How Long After Wisdom Teeth Removal Until I Can Drink Soda(Carbonated Drinks)?

Who doesn’t like to drink a soda, especially when feeling low! According to most dental experts, you should wait for, say, at least 48 hours to drink soda after the removal of your wisdom teeth. Soda drinks have carbonated bubbles that can disturb the blood clot that is essential for the healing of your surgery site. This, in return, can make your recovery time lengthy and agonizing.

Can You Drink Alcohol After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

After having your wisdom teeth extracted, it’s best to wait for 48-72 hours before drinking alcohol, beer, or wine. But the time period as to when it’s safe to drink alcohol also depends on the prescription pain relievers you’re taking. When combined with pain medication, alcohol can be very harmful, leading to liver failure and other severe health conditions. Listen to what your dentist says and follow the instructions. To stay away from troubles, avoid drinking alcohol until you’re done with your pain relievers.

How Long After Wisdom Tooth Extraction Can You Have Acidic Drinks?

Drinks that contain high amounts of citric acid are not the best liquids to drink when healing from wisdom teeth removal surgery. Lemonade or orange juice can upset the surgery area and increase the chances of infection development. Avoid acidic drinks for around 7-10 days until the surgery site heals.

Following these preventative measures will promise a healthy recovery. If you’re wondering, the best drink after a wisdom tooth extraction is none other than your H2O friend – water! The more rigorously you follow these measures, the faster you can return to your favorite drinks.

Feel free to contact us!

Our team at Smiles On Greatwood Dentistry is always glad to answer your queries. To talk to your Sugar Land dentist, call us at (281) 937-7530.

Brushing the teeth twice a day is not enough. Teach your child how to brush appropriately. Supervise the children while they brush to make sure that they brush for at least two minutes and spit the toothpaste out. This is the most common way to keep cavities in children low.

Keeping your child away from sugar is vital to their oral health. A small exposure to sugar every once in a while is safe; but constant exposure to sugar and junk food is dangerous for the child. Sugar weakens the enamel layer upon the teeth. Without the enamel, the teeth become vulnerable to cavities that can eventually lead to tooth loss.

There is a lot of plaque buried in the parts between our teeth. Flossing every day helps you get rid of plaque that can lead to cavities. While the child is still small, it is the parent’s responsibility to floss their child’s teeth. A mistake while flossing could harm the gums severely. Once your child turns eight to nine years old, begin teaching them how to floss and supervise them while they floss.

Take your child for their first visit to the periodontist as soon as they get a year old. The periodontist will be able to inform you if the child is brushing their teeth appropriately and if further attention is required. The dentist will also be able to guide you on what steps you can take to protect your child’s oral health from a young age. You can also discuss with your dentist about getting your child a dental sealant to protect their teeth from cavities.

At Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry, we have expert periodontists to help ensure there are no cavities in your children’s mouths. If you haven’t booked your child’s first visit to the dentist, then call us now at 281-937-7530 to book your appointment.

Adult teeth are capable of enduring minor oral illnesses without taking severe damage to the teeth and gums. Children, however, can not endure oral diseases since their teeth are not strong enough and are easy for cavities to penetrate.

The first step you can take to protect your child’s oral health is to teach them how to brush their teeth. In the beginning, hold your child’s hand and guide them. Once they begin brushing their teeth on their own, supervise them. Some parents do not supervise their children when they brush their teeth. If you do not watch your child, your child may not use the correct technique for brushing his teeth, which may further endanger their teeth. Next, make sure that your child brushes their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Your child will need to use fluoride toothpaste for a maximum cleanse.

You will also need to have your child visit the dentist after their first birthday. Dental checkups should take place every six months. An early dental visit helps the child get familiar with dental processes. As a result, the child will not be afraid to visit the dentist when they are old. So, the sooner you bring your child for his first visit, the better experience you will have in your later visits.

It is essential to protect your child’s oral health while they are still an infant. Make sure that your child stays away from chocolates as well since they are harmful to oral health.

At Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry. We have a dental specialist experienced in dealing with children, our team of dentists is always happy to guide you towards protecting your child’s oral health. Do not hesitate to call us at 281-937-7530 or schedule your child’s first visit.