What are general recommendations for cleaning cats teeth?
Some cats have worse teeth than others, and some may need teeth cleaning every few years. Part of owning a cat is being prepared for such expenses. Tooth-cleaning catfood does not work, it gets mushy when it goes into their mouth. You can get a little cat toothbrush and some enzymatic cat toothpaste, but that will only work on plaque (not tartar) and frankly, many cats will not put up with it. Tartar is what your cat has, most likely, and once tartar forms, no crunchy food or tooth brushing will get it off. The accumulation of which can lead to irritation of the gums, leading to exposed tooth roots, and eventually possible loss of teeth, and gum infections. If you think your vet is BSing you, take your cat to another vet. Just go for a checkup and mention that you want the vet to look at the teeth, but don't say why. Please go forward with the removal of the tartar as soon as possible. I suspect your vet is correct - vets may insist on many extra procedures, some of which may not be ultra important, but a vet would not lie to you about such a condition. There are enough animals that your vet sees with serious conditions; he doesn't have to make them up. For the record: BRUSHING THEIR TEETH AND FEEDING CRUNCHY CAT FOOD DOES NOT CONTROL TARTAR. Only a proper veterinary procedure can remove plaque.
No. More expensive does not always mean better.Brushing with an electric tooth brush is much more important than the brand of the toothpaste IMHO.The most important factor in choosing good toothpaste is its content of Fluoride. The toothpaste should have at least 1000 ppm. Most of the toothpastes available in the market today have +1400 ppm.Other factor to consider is how much abrasives the toothpaste has. I generally recommend low abrasive toothpaste because the “whitening” variant can remove parts of the enamel.This could become a serious issue in patients who consume many acidic drinks, but are also concerned about their oral health; those patients usually brush immediately after a soda or an orange juice. The acidity + the abrasive in the toothpaste = enamel abrasion.Some toothpastes contain antibacterial agents such as Triclosan. Thses will have an added benefit and help in protecting the teeth and the gingiva from the toxins of bacteria.Try choosing something that has ADA seal, enough Fluoride and low abrasive content.
It is a difficult decision. Losing a tooth can lead to a domino effect of problems including bone loss, other teeth shifting and feeling more aged. However, maintaining a bad tooth can be expensive. Here are the options to consider: 1. Get the root canal. Usually this is followed by a "build-up" (replacing the lost part of the tooth) and a crown. The $4000 quote you got seems pretty pricey. I would guess that you could have it done for less than or around $3000 by shopping around. The down side is that there is no %100 guarantee that the root canal will work. If it fails then it has to be redone or else the tooth is extracted. 2. Extract the tooth. As you've noted this is the least expensive option. The problem is that the adjacent and opposing teeth can begin to shift position. The treatment after an extraction can be expensive. Usually after an extraction one would receive either: a) an implant, abutment and crown, b) a dental bridge or c) some type of a partial denture. Probably an implant is the best option and also the most expensive. Really think it through. Losing teeth can make someone look and feel older and can lead to other expensive problems down the road.
Tooth hurts when I drink cold water?
Yes, you most likely have an exposed nerve under your gum. It doesn't even have to mean that your gums are badly receding, some gum nerves can just indiscriminately longer then usual. I'm 43 and I've had one for the past 2 years. I've been to the dentist, and no cavities were found. I also use Sensodine toothpaste, and it still hurts when I drink cold liquids, or brush that tooth wt my electric toothbrush. Does anyone know of a way to take care of this. According to my dentist, my teeth and gums are in good health, and I fully trust that he is a good dentist. My gums are a 2.5, where a 5 means gingivitis. He told me that that number is okay for my age. He didn't mention anything about a need for a root canal. I just wish I could enjoy a cold drink once in a while once again. Any advice?
Hi,Believe it or not, it can be done! You should see a dentist though but in the meantime there are some things to do right now to help reverse it and some people have successfully reversed cavities and did not need any dental treatment.1. Floss and Brush your teeth after each meal or at least twice a day. Try to floss after eating anything including snacks. Keep some floss with you when away from home. 2. Toothpaste: Use a natural toothpaste. Get one at a health food store and see if they have one called Periobrite or Himalaya Neem & Pomergranate. 3. Dip your toothbrush with toothpaste on it into some SEA salt and then brush for at least 2 minutes taking 1/2 minute in each corner.4. Once or twice a day warm 1/2 cup of water and add a teaspoon of sea salt (not table salt) or Himalaya Pink Salt and stir until dissolved. Take a mouthful and hold it for 1 minute in the area of the cavity to let it soothe and heal. Do this until all the solution is used up. *** When I had oral surgery a couple of years ago, the Oral Surgeon in Berkeley CA told me to do that to help "pull out bacteria and infection and to lessen inflammation to help the gum tighten up against the tooth" (because that is the nature of salt!) - I did this and each time I did the pain immediately disappeared. Now anytime I have any tooth pain or TMJ I do this and I have instant relief. I tell everyone to do this and they can't believe how effective it is.5. Avoid sugary fruits and drinks. Avoid starchy foods. Eat mostly fresh fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water. Tea is good too, all kinds including herb tea.6. Drink some Neem Juice or some Bentonite Clay in a full glass of water as directed at night before bedtime to detox any bacteria and infection in your system. 7. Eat yoghurt the next day or take a probiotic to replace good bacteria.8. If you do this seriously before you see the dentist you might not need much dental care except for a deep cleaning.All the best.
How much does a cavity filling cost for a small dog?
You really want to call your vet and ask for an estimate. They'll happily give you one. It's probably not a cavity - dogs don't get cavities the same way people do. Best case scenario, it's just a little tartar staining and removal of the tartar will be included in the price of the dental. In fact, that's the most likely problem. Dentals usually go for around $200-$250, but you really want to get your own estimate from your vet. If it's NOT just tartar, then vets usually extract the whole tooth. Fillings are very rare and can only be done in very special circumstances. For a big molar, extractions can be $100 or more (in addition to the price of the dental). (Smaller teeth are cheaper and easier to extract.) If you wanted to save the tooth, you'd probably have to see a dental specialist, and that could cost several hundred dollars - maybe even a thousand or more. But you really do want to get his teeth cleaned. If you let tartar build up, it can lead to serious gum infections and even heart problems.
Formation of plaque is a continuous process. To avoid the conversion of plaque to tartar, we need to avoid the accumulation of plaque deposits by continuously removing the plaque layer before it hardens into calculus.There are a number of reasons for tartar build up like pre-existing calculus or dry mouth (insufficient secretion of saliva), etc. You need to have the diagnosis and get treated the underlying cause for your problem.To reduce the plaque or tartar buildup, first you need to get rid of the existing plaque/calculus in your oral cavity. Get an appointment with your dentist to diagnose if you have any existing plaque. What is the need of going to a dentist??- Many times, an individual can not see the plaque present underneath the gums. The existing plaque acts as magnets for the tartar build-up. So get the plaque diagnosed and also treated. Do not attempt cleaning the tartar on your own, as you may damage the tooth structure. It needs professional care. Usually the plaque /calculus can be treated with ultrasonic scaling procedure, which may take up to two to three visits and a follow up.Once the treatment is done and there is no existing plaque, you can care to avoid any further build up of tartar in your oral cavity. You need to maintain the oral hygiene by-Brushing twice daily with soft/medium bristles toothbrush.Cleaning your tongue with brush or tongue scraperRinsing every time you eat or drink anything.Flossing regularly as flossing removes the plaque from the spaces between the teeth, which is not easily removed by brushing or rinsing. It is very important for the oral health, which is often ignored by the people.Get the routine oral health checkup done every 6 months.Good Luck.
The reason a tooth ache like this is that there are some stimuli to iritate the pulp.In order to explain the way pain is transmitted to dentin many scientists proposed many theories of transmission of pain through the dentin to the pulp where the nerves are largely crowded. The most accepted is hydrodynamic theory.The harmful stimuli such as heat, cold, air blast, mechanical pressure. . etc cause some changes in the fluid movement in the dentinal tubules either inwards or outwards which causes some mechanical disturbances due to mechanoreceptors present at the nerve endings, which stimulates the pain mechanism.Sensitivity after a filling is placed can occur for a number of reasons. The most common is a high bite. When you are numb, the bite may feel okay but be a little high. When the anaesthetic comes out, the tooth may become sensitive. To see if the issue is due to a high bite, check if it "feels like something is in the way when your teeth come together?" Also, does the opposite side feel normal? Your dentist can check your bite.When a filling is very deep, it irritates the nerve and the tooth doesn't heal on its own. If it is iritated a little than everything will be ok in week or two. If it is irritated a lot, and if this does not go away over 2 weeks to a month it is probably time for a root canal. Have the dentist check the vitality status of the nerve - sometimes when you have a large cavity or filling, the tooth (nerve) may die over time. If this is the case, you need a root canal.Hope it helped:)
Destruction of your tooth enamel is termed as tooth decay. It can be a problem among children, teens, as well as adults. Carbohydrate remains that stick on your teeth results in plaque formation. As you drink and eat foods containing sugar, the bacteria produce acids and attacks tooth enamel. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria; so,it keeps the acids in contact with your teeth and the first layer of your teeth breaks down over time.Why it is a problemYou have to suffer from a lot of discomfort due to tooth decay problem. Apart from tooth decay, tooth sensitivity causes short sharp sensation in and around your gums. Whether you suffer from tooth decay or tooth sensitivity, it’s important to consult a qualified dentist in time. If you leave tooth decay untreated, it can result in the following complications:Ongoing tooth ache: You will feel constant toothache due to tooth decay.Tooth abscess: Tooth decay can result in an infected tooth abscess and trigger severe complications. You may get an infection that enters your bloodstream due to the tooth abscess.Pus development: You may develop pus around the infected tooth and it can get serious if left untreated.Chipped tooth: Tooth decay can lead to an increased risk of breaking a tooth.Chewing difficulty: You will find it difficult to chew food with tooth decay problem.Facing any of these problems and not seeing a dentist in time can make the problem worse. While you can try some home remedies against tooth sensitivity causes, you will have to consult an experienced dentist for tooth decay problems.