Part of our commitment to serving our patients includes providing information that helps them make more informed decisions about their oral health care. This website is a resource we hope you’ll find both useful and interesting.
[+] Night Guard Instructions
Purpose:
Your night guard will prevent nighttime grinding and clenching from damaging tooth structure and allow your jaw joints and muscles to function more smoothly. It allows the jaw to find its best position because the device prevents the teeth from locking together. It should reduce muscle spasm, clenching habits, jaw/joint pain, and teeth wear.
Instructions:
Wear the night guard as instructed, which is usually during sleep. You may have been advised to wear it during the day also, especially when you are tense and find yourself clenching and grinding.
Do not clench your teeth on the night guard because this will cause muscle spasms or pain.
Remember this phrase: “From these words never depart, lips together, teeth apart.” Your teeth should be apart when the guard is out also, unless you are chewing food.
If you are having jaw pain, avoid eating tough and chewy foods while your TM joints, ligaments, and muscles are healing. When you experience pain, apply moist heat to the affected area of the face. Use a damp wash cloth under a hot water bottle for 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. Sipping on hot liquids, such as tea, and rolling them around in your mouth may provide comfort.
Keep your regular check-up appointments. They are necessary for adjusting and refitting the night guard.
What to expect:
Excess saliva may be present for a few days.
When the night guard is removed from the mouth, you may notice that the “bite” of your teeth feels different for a few minutes. This is to be expected because of the relaxation of your lower jaw and muscles.
After a few days, you should have little difficulty in speaking. Remember, any difference in your speech is magnified in your own ears, but it is not as noticeable to others.
To insert the appliance:
Use the forefinger and thumb of both hands to guide the appliance into place over your teeth.
Gently close your teeth together to insure the appliance is fully seated.
Removal of the appliance:
Use the forefinger and thumb of both hands to grasp the appliance.
Use equal pull on both sides of the appliance from your teeth.
Cleaning of the appliance:
Clean both sides of the prosthesis carefully with a toothbrush and toothpaste every time you brush your teeth. Good tooth brushing of your own teeth is also important.
Use liquid hand soap or other mild toothpaste abrasive. The use of “over the counter” denture cleaners with a maximum 15 minute soap will help manage any accumulation of minerals and stains. Brush the appliance under cold tap water with a soft brush.
Storage of your appliance:
Allow the appliance to air dry. Air drying helps dissipate the opaque appearance caused by excessive moisture.
Place the appliance in the container provided, or use a sealable container such as a tupperware container.
Storing your appliance in a moist dark container could cause growing of harmful bacteria and cause discoloration of the appliance.
Store safely from pets.
Contact our office:
If changes in your symptoms occur.
If changes in the appearance of your mouth, gums, or appliance.
[+] At Home Whitening Instructions
Important: Please read before using tooth whitening bleaching gel.
Warnings: Keep bleaching gel out of reach of children. Do NOT use if pregnant or during nursing. Syringes may be under slight pressure, remove cap safely. Irritant and risk of serious damage to eyes. Harmful when swallowed.
Directions
- Floss & brush teeth. The whitening gel is the most effective with clean teeth.
- Try the trays in first without any beach to check the fit and comfort. Make sure that the bleaching trays are clean and dry before applying the whitening gel. Moisture reduces the efficiency of the whitening gel and slows down the whitening process.
- In counterclockwise motion, twist off the clear plastic cap from syringe. Twist mixing tip clockwise to lock on the end of the syringe.
- Place a small amount of gel in each tooth compartment in the tray (Diagram 1, inside cover). The gel drop shown represents the average size drop for each tooth compartment (Diagram 2, inside cover), depending on the size of your teeth.
Important: Overloading trays with gel may cause temporary gum irritation. - Place tray with gel in your mouth (Diagram 3, inside cover). As you insert tray, be careful not to push gel out of the tray. Bubbling within trays is normal.
- Use extra care to avoid getting gel on your gums. Remove excess gel with a cotton swab or a dry toothbrush.
- Once finished placing gel in trays, remove mixing tip from syringe and replace with clear plastic cap. This ensures ingredients in each side of the barrel stay separate for maximum effectiveness.
- After whitening, rinse trays with cold water. Use a toothbrush to remove any residual gel. Place trays in storage case and store in a cool dry place.
- Rinse and brush teeth to remove excess gel.
Duration
Patient Sensitivity | Recommended Formula | Time Per Day |
---|---|---|
High sensitivity | 7.5% Hydrogen Peroxide | 30 minutes, twice a day |
Average sensitivity | 9.5% Hydrogen Peroxide | 30 minutes, twice a day |
Low-no sensitivity | 38% Carbamide Peroxide | 15 minutes, twice a day |
Notes
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while wearing trays.
- Avoid staining foods, drinks and tobacco for 30 minutes after each treatment.
- Store any remaining whitening gel in a cool, dry place for later use. Do not freeze.
- The area of the tooth closest to the gums may take longer to lighten than the biting edge. It will also remain the darkest part of the tooth.
- Tooth Whitening (bleaching) gel will only whiten natural teeth. It will NOT bleach (whiten), nor harm bonding, caps, crowns, bridges, fillings or any other artificial dental work. You may have to have the dentistry redone in order to match your new white teeth.
- Tetracycline (an antibiotic) stained teeth or grayish teeth are more difficult to bleach and have a varied prognosis.
- Exposed root portion of teeth which occurs with gum recession will also not bleach.
- If you have amalgam (silver) fillings in, near or behind the front teeth, long term bleaching can cause the surrounding tooth to have a greenish tinge. Bleaching teeth which have a lot of translucency can cause the teeth to become even more translucent and may give the tooth a darker appearance.
- Clean whitening trays with a toothbrush or Q-tip and cold water. Store trays in the tray holder and gel in cool dry place away from heat and direct sunlight.
Possible Side Effects
Sensitivity: Some patients may experience increased tooth sensitivity to cold during the treatment, while others may have non-specific sensitivity in their teeth, gums, tongue, lips, or throat. Symptoms should subside within 1-3 days. In case of increased sensitivity, try whitening every other or every third day or ask dentist for a lower concentration gel. Aspirin or Ibuprofen may be taken for pain.
Gingival Irritation: Trays that extend onto the gingiva (gums) may cause soft tissue irritation. If the trays extend over your gums, have your dentist trim them. Reduce amount of gel in your trays. Teeth whiten when HP is absorbed into the tooth and whitens from the inside, so it is not important to cover the entire tooth.
If all of the above options have been exhausted and you still have gum irritation or tooth sensitivity, treatment should be ceased until irritation subsides. Resume treatment with shorter, less frequent applications until desired whitening effect has been achieved.
[+] Acid Erosion of Teeth
Many people consume carbonated beverages, fruit juice and highly acidic foods every day but probably don’t realize that they may be harming their teeth. The acid in the foods we eat and drink can cause tooth enamel to wear away and teeth can become sensitive and discolored. In many cases, it’s not what you eat and drink that is as important as how you consume these foods.
What is tooth erosion?
Tooth erosion, or tooth wear, is the loss of tooth structure caused by the weakening of dental enamel. Dental enamel is the thin, outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth’s structure and shape. When the enamel weakens, it exposes the underlying dentin (the tissue that makes up the core of each tooth), causing the teeth to appear yellow.
What causes tooth erosion?
Tooth erosion may occur when the enamel on your teeth is weakened by the acid found in many foods and drinks. Usually the calcium contained in saliva will help remineralize (or strengthen) your teeth after you consume small amounts of acid; however, the presence of a lot of acid in your mouth does not allow for remineralization. Acid can come from many sources, including the following:
- Carbonated drinks. All soft drinks (even diet varieties) contain a lot of acid and can dissolve enamel on your teeth very quickly.
- Fruit juice and wine. Juice and wine have similar effects on your teeth because they contain acid.
- Fruit, pickles, yogurt and honey. These foods are acidic; don’t let them linger in your mouth. Swallow them as soon as you’ve chewed them enough.
- Bulimia and acid reflux. Bulimia and acid reflux also can cause tooth damage from stomach acids coming into contact with teeth. Medical and dental help should be sought for anyone who suffers from either of these conditions.
What are some signs of tooth erosion?
Acid wear may lead to serious dental problems. It is important to notice the signs of tooth erosion in its early stages (sensitivity, discoloration and rounded teeth) before more severe damage occurs (cracks, severe sensitivity and other problems).
- Sensitivity. Since protective enamel is wearing away, you may feel a twinge of pain when you consume hot, cold or sweet food and drink. As more enamel is worn away, teeth become increasingly sensitive.
- Discoloration. Teeth can become slightly yellow because the thinning enamel layer exposes the underlying dentin.
- Rounded teeth. Your teeth may have a rounded or ‘sand-blasted’ look.
- Transparency. Your front teeth may appear slightly translucent near the biting edges.
- Advanced discoloration. Teeth may become more yellow as more dentin is exposed because of the loss of protective tooth enamel.
- Cracks. Small cracks and roughness may appear at the edges of teeth.
- Cupping. Small dents may appear on the chewing surface of the teeth. Fillings also might appear to be rising up out of the tooth.
What can I do to prevent tooth erosion?
Because there are different reasons why you may experience tooth erosion (swishing carbonated drinks, drinking a lot of juice or wine, eating disorders), talk to your dentist about your habits so that a plan for preventive action can be determined. Be smart about how you consume acidic foods and you can continue enjoying the things you like. Here are some general ways to protect your teeth:
- Reduce or eliminate drinking carbonated drinks. Instead, drink water, milk or tea — but skip the sugar and honey!
- If you must consume acidic drinks, drink them quickly and use a straw so that the liquid is pushed to the back of the mouth. Don’t swish them around or hold them in your mouth for long periods.
- Don’t let acidic foods linger in your mouth; swallow them as soon as you’ve chewed them enough so that they are ready to digest.
- Instead of snacking on acidic foods throughout the day, eat these foods just during meal times in order to minimize the amount of time the acid is on the teeth.
- After consuming high-acid food or drinks, rinse with water to neutralize the acids.
- Chew sugar-free gum to produce more saliva, as this helps your teeth remineralize.
- Brush with a soft toothbrush and be sure your toothpaste contains fluoride.
- Your dentist may also recommend daily use of a toothpaste to reduce sensitivity (over-the-counter or prescription strength) or other products to counter the effects of erosion.