Swollen Lips following Extractions

Although we don’t advise patients to get teeth extracted needlessly, the process is usually a simple one. Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs serves patients of all ages, and often performs dental extractions on children in preparation for orthodontic work or to prevent overcrowding from wisdom teeth. When we do this, we do our best to provide clear instructions and arrange follow-ups. However, there are some issues that are known to pop up after extractions, including swollen lips.

 

When we extract teeth from the lower jaw, we usually use local anesthetic to numb the alveolar nerve. This nerve also supplies feeling to the chin and lower lip, and for many children, a numb lower lip is a strange new sensation. Unfortunately, they often experimentally bite on their lower lips, and being numbed, can’t tell when they’re biting too hard. This could result in a lesion and the lip swelling to many times its usual size.

 

Typically, this kind of swelling isn’t dangerous. If the lesion remains white and doesn’t produce any odor, and the patient doesn’t have a fever, it is probably not infected and doesn’t need to be drained. It will likely recede to normal after a few weeks, and patients can take over-the-counter painkillers and apply cold packs to their faces for the first forty-eight hours after the extraction. (They can switch to hot packs after that.) Hopefully, simply informing children of the risk of a swollen lip is enough to prevent them from biting, and they’ll be on a soft foods diet immediately after the extraction that will prevent them from biting their lips accidentally. If a swollen lip does show signs of infection, it will need to be cared for professionally.

 

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Dental.

Tips for Cleaning Dentures

Plaque build-up is a  problem everybody has to deal with.  The mouth is an ecosystem that is home to all sorts of bacteria, including a few that will cause decay if left unstopped. When a person gets dentures, they’ll have to make some changes in how they practice their oral hygiene, or else their artificial teeth could also become decayed. As long-time providers of dental care to people of all ages, we at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs wanted to provide some advice on denture maintenance.

 

Dentures need to be brushed twice a day; in the morning and at night. Although they allow people to chew normally, they aren’t as hard as natural teeth, and can be scratched by the fluoride in regular toothpaste. Instead, patients should brush them with American Dental Association-approved specialized toothpaste and maintain separate soft-bristled toothbrushes for their dentures and natural teeth. They should also brush the whole denture, including the pink part that mimics gum tissue, and floss between the false teeth.

 

There are several safe cleaning solutions dentures can be soaked in overnight, although many people get good results just using soap and water. But it is important for dentures to always be kept wet, and for them to be kept at room temperature. Being put in boiling water or being left in a case under harsh sunlight could cause their shape to distort. Patients should also brush their gums and around implant abutments prior to putting their dentures in each morning, and remember to scrape their tongues as they normally do.

 

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Dental.

Veneers

If you’re unhappy with your smile, there is no reason you can’t change it! Dental veneers reshape your entire mouth to your liking. They are made of thin, durable porcelain placed over your natural teeth. Say goodbye to stained, broken, chipped, or gapped teeth! Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour offer these to their patients at Southern Cross Dental. To learn more, contact our office in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

The entire veneer process takes between 2-3 appointments. The first is more of a consultation. You can ask any questions you have about the process while learning more. If you decide to go forward with veneers, you start making your aesthetic choices.

 

There are many options and variables for your veneers. The shape is the first major choice. Veneers are either rounded or square. Female patients usually prefer the rounded option while men go for the square. Your Colorado Spring, CO, dentist is happy with whatever shape you pick, regardless of gender. The next choice is the shade of the veneers. You can pick anywhere from a natural white to Hollywood-level brightness! The decision is yours.

 

Next, we prepare and measure your teeth. The teeth are smoothed down to make the application of the veneers easier. We then create an impression of your teeth. This goes to a dental laboratory to create your customized veneers. It will take about 10-14 days for their creation and delivery. In the meantime, you’ll receive temporary veneers. At your final appointment, the veneers bond to your teeth.

 

Never settle for anything less than the best when it comes to your smile! Southern Cross Dental helps you get the smile you deserve. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour, call their office in Colorado Springs, CO, at 719-471-1717. You can also visit their website at https://www.scdsmile.com/.

Tongue Cleaning For Kids

There are better ways to clean your child’s mouth than soap and water! The tongue is an essential part of the oral system. Just like your teeth, it needs cleaning too. That’s why Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour recommend a tongue cleaner for your child. At Southern Cross Dental, we believe that healthy dental habits follow a child into adulthood. Having your child clean their tongue is a great way to do so. Learn more by contacting our office in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

Children are much more susceptible to cavities than adults. This is because baby teeth aren’t as strong as their counterparts. Teaching your child to brush their tongue helps reduces their risk. Tongues are naturally very sticky, holding on to food debris and bacteria. Tongue scraping removes these negative coatings. Research also shows that cleaning your tongue improves your sense of taste!

 

Sure, your child can use their toothbrush to clean their tongue. But why not give them the best tool to do so? Most grocery stores and supermarkets sell tongue cleaners for children. Purchase the appliance that matches your child’s age range. The ideal scraper matches the width of the tongue. Just make sure your child is at least five years old before instructing them on tongue cleaning.

 

You’ll need to show your child how to use the tongue cleaner. Go to the bathroom and make sure they can see themselves in the mirror. Ask them to stick out their tongue for you. While they watch themselves in the mirror, guide their hand and the tongue scraper towards the back of their tongue. Then gently move their hand down to the tip in a scraping motion.

 

Southern Cross Dental is a family-friendly dentist in the Colorado Springs, CO, area. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour, call 719-471-1717 or visit their website at https://www.scdsmile.com/.