Lichen planus is a common chronic inflammatory condition that can affect the mucous membranes, skin, nails, and hair follicles. An oral version of the condition, aptly named oral lichen planus, affects the mouth areas. The oral version can come with mild or more severe symptoms, including gum inflammation, a burning sensation, or painful sores. Oral lichen planus is not contagious, and women tend to be affected more than men. Although there is
Parenting is full of all sorts of challenges, including figuring out what’s wrong with your children when they’re sick. That difficulty is compounded when very young children aren’t able to communicate what’s wrong or don’t understand what being sick means. So you have to look for symptoms. But some oral symptoms might not be so obvious, such as bumps on a tongue. It can be stressful to discover that you
When you think of proper posture, you probably think of sitting up straight. Keeping your back and neck in the proper position is certainly important, but they’re not the only parts of your body to be concerned about. You’ve probably never given any thought to the position of your tongue, but proper tongue posture is important, too. If your tongue isn’t in the correct position, you could experience dental and
When you’re not feeling well, what do you do? You might call your doctor or dentist or take an over-the-counter medicine. Alternatively, you might consider trying out some type of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). As the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes, approximately 38% of adults in the U.S. have tried CAM, either alongside or in place of conventional medicine. One example of a CAM therapy is Ayurveda.
Is your child feeling anxious about their next dentist appointment? Let them know that this is perfectly normal and that even some grown-ups get nervous. The American Dental Association found 22% of adults in the United States avoid the dentist because they’re scared. Your dentist may recommend sedation to help your child relax before their dental treatment. This can cause worry in a parent, “is it even safe?” you may wonder. Put
Tooth decay requires swift and effective treatment to preserve a healthy smile. Your dental professional knows various restoration procedures — from simple fillings to root canals — to repair damage caused by plaque. Depending on the level of decay, a procedure known as pulp capping might prevent the need for a root canal. Learn more about the types of pulp capping treatments and when they are used. Why Do You
Reusable straws are not only great for the environment, they can also help keep your smile healthy and bright. Drinks like soda, coffee and other dark-colored beverages can leave stains on your smile over time. In addition, sugary, acidic drinks wear down enamel and pave the way for cavities. Drinking through a straw can help prevent discoloration and decay. So you’re ready to step up and made the switch to
If you’ve just gotten a root canal or had your wisdom teeth extracted, chances are you’re in pain. Now that the numbness has worn off, you might want to know what can help ease the pain. Did you know that the best relief you can get after a tooth extraction is found in your medicine cabinet? That’s right, a study conducted by the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University has shown that
While oral cancer makes up only three percent of all cancer diagnoses in the United States, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms and risks. After all, if diagnosed, there’s one major component that can help improve your recovery prospect: early detection. Here, we’ll discuss the background on oral cancer, symptoms, treatments, and how to reduce your risk so that you can ultimately improve your oral cancer prognosis or
Many parents notice that their child develops a rash right around the time that they start teething. Is this rash directly caused by teething? How do you treat teething rash? The first step is to understand how and why teething rash appears, then we’ll walk you through when teething typically occurs, and what you can do to treat the associated rash. Teething Rash: What You Need to Know Does teething
Perhaps your sparring partner landed the perfect left cross. Whatever the reason, getting your tooth pulled or extracted can and does happen. It’s very common. And you may have seen that shiny tray full of dental instruments. They all serve a unique purpose in making sure your tooth removal procedure goes as smoothly as possible. Learn more below about how these tools could be used in a tooth extraction procedure.
Most toothaches are caused by sensitivity to the nerve (pulp) of the tooth due to decay, injury to the tooth, and infection. You could also be suffering from gum disease, tooth fractures, or even sinus infections that can cause bursts of pain as well. Though you may need dental intervention from a professional to restore the tooth and combat the pain, if it is not immediately available, try these natural