Do you experience pain in your neck, shoulders, or ears? How about clicking, grating, or popping when you chew? Perhaps you suffer regularly from jaw pain or headaches? TMD may be the culprit! But you may wonder, “What is TMD, and how can I find relief?”
Pain associated with your jaw and the muscles that control it is referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). Your dentist may be able to recommend solutions to help you find relief for frequent headaches and jaw pain. Learn more about TMD – statistics, symptoms, and solutions – in the infographic below:
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The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
You’ve been told you need a root canal, and understandably, you now have questions: What exactly IS a root canal? Is it going to hurt? What can you expect when you go in for treatment?
We want to make it easier on you, so we’ve rounded up some great online resources that will help answer the questions you need answers to.
1. Read about root canals and learn what to expect
The American Association of Endodontists has included a plethora of information about the root canal (or endodontic) treatment on one handy webpage. You’ll find many answers to your questions here, including:
What is a root canal?
What exactly is involved in the treatment?
Why would you need the treatment?
What are the symptoms?
What happens to the tooth after the treatment?
Will you need to get a crown?
Will your tooth need any special care afterward?
You’ll also find another page dealing with Root Canal Myths. Here, three myths are debunked, including the common misconception that root canals are very painful. The truth is, when you need this treatment, you’re already in pain, so it actually brings much-needed relief. On top of that, anesthetics and other modern techniques make root canal pain on par with other basic dental procedures, which is not very high. Yay!
Do you want to see the steps of a root canal without a lot of reading? Go to the Colgate Oral Care Center website and quickly view the steps of this treatment in seven simple illustrations.
These images will help you visualize the answers to these questions:
3. Watch a 3-minute video showing how a root canal treatment is done
Once again, the folks at American Association of Endodontists have produced a great resource to learn about root canals. Watch their helpful video below:
Quickly go to any section of the video that you’re curious about by using the quick jump guide below. Just move the progress bar slider to the specific spot in the video:
0:36 – What is Endodontics?
0:43 – What is an Endodontist?
1:05 – What and where is your tooth pulp?
1:24 – Why does the pulp need to be removed?
1:38 – What are the steps of root canal treatment?
2:23 – What follow-up procedure will still need to be done?
Conclusion
Yes, the news that you’re in need of a root canal may ruin your day, but having helpful resources can really go a long way! Being informed will help you make the right treatment choice. Having answers to your root canal questions can also allay your concerns and calm your fears.
Do you have a favorite resource that has taught you helpful information about root canals? Please tell us about it in the comments below!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Need a motivational tool to get your kids brushing their teeth regularly and correctly? Look no further! The Brush DJ App was created for just this purpose. You can download Brush DJ for free on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
Creating good oral hygiene habits doesn’t just happen. It takes time and attention, and most parents will no doubt welcome a tool that makes the process easier.
Download the free Brush DJ app
To try this app, simply download it and start it up. After agreeing to a couple of disclosure messages, you can begin the setup process.
Your first choice will be to customize the colors. What color do you want the background to be? How about the timer? Set the colors to match your bathroom, toothbrush, or simply choose your favorite color.
Next, set the music you want the Brush DJ to play. You have the choice of locating and playing music already on your device, music from an online service, or defaulting to tunes that are included in the Brush DJ app.
Set important reminders
Good habits require reminders and there are plenty of reminders built into this app. Scrolling across the top are messages that remind you to floss, how to brush, and to turn the water off while brushing.
Other reminders can be customized. Why not use them to manage all the different aspects of your child’s oral hygiene? Some of these helpful reminders include:
When to brush in the morning.
When to brush in the evening.
When to use mouthwash (hint: it’s at a different time than brushing).
When to go to the dentist, hygienist, orthodontist, etc.
When to replace your toothbrush.
Like an oil change sticker on your windshield, you can easily see the benefit of having this data stored simply and neatly in one place, reminding you exactly when to do each thing.
Hit the “run” button and your favorite tune will start to play. As time ticks down, the little circles will change showing your progress as you brush your way through the two-minute DJ session.
While brushing, reminders will scroll across the top, helping you to do the best job possible, and will even advise on how to finish. Did you know that you should not follow brushing with mouthwash?
Finally, at the end of two minutes, the music will stop and you’ll be good until your next session.
Summary
Helping your child develop good brushing habits at a young age is always a good idea! Good oral healthcare habits can prevent tooth decay and gum disease now and further down the road, and the Brush DJ app is a great tool to make brushing fun for kids of all ages!
How do you get your child to brush regularly and properly? Please share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
