I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, the approach of Spring can mean a host of symptoms, including stuffy nose and headaches. It could also usher in a number of dental problems. To help ensure you are adequately prepared to handle allergy-related dental problems here is what you need to know.
What Dental Problems Can Occur?
People are accustomed to the usual symptoms that result from season allergies, such as coughing, but your oral health can be impacted, too. One of the most common problems that result from seasonal allergies is tooth pain.
As your body's immune system produce mucus in an effort to rid your body of allergens, you can experience a buildup of pressure in your head. The pressure can touch the root tips of your teeth and cause tooth pain.
You can also experience dry mouth. Dry mouth not only can lead to bad breath, but it can leave your mouth unprotected from harmful bacteria. Saliva works to wash away bacteria and sugars that are on your teeth. When you suffer from dry mouth, the bacteria are allowed to grow and can lead to other issues, such as infection and even leave you vulnerable to cavities.
What Can You Do?
The best defense to allergy-related dental problems is a good offense. For instance, to ward off dry mouth, you can chew gum that is sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol has been shown to not only help stimulate saliva flow, but it also reduces your risk of developing cavities.
You also need to talk to your doctor about using over-the-counter and prescription strength antihistamines. The antihistamines will help to reduce the sinus pressure that builds up and impacts your root tips.
If you use an inhaler, be sure to rinse your mouth with water afterwards. The medication from the inhaler can result in dry mouth. Ideally, you should use a spacer to prevent the medication from lingering in your mouth.
When Do You Seek Professional Help?
Even though some dental problems are caused by seasonal allergies, not all are. If you continue to experience tooth pain after using antihistamines or the dry mouth continues, seek professional help. It is possible that you are suffering from other dental problems, such as an infection.
In addition to contacting the dentist when you are experiencing problems, you need to be sure to keep up with your regular checkups (from professionals such as those from Kingsgate Dental Clinic). The dentist might recommend an additional checkup to detect any allergy-related problems before they can develop.
Share9 March 2016
