Prevent Dental Disasters While on Vacation!

You know if you’re close to home and a dental accident or sudden toothache happens, you can call Dentist Shirley Cagle in The Woodlands, and we’ll do everything we can to help you. But accidents can happen anywhere – whether it’s one mile from home or 1,000.

If you have kids, it’s not a bad idea to carry a first aid kit with you everywhere! There are also small dental emergency kits available as well. They often will contain oil of cloves, an applicator, and a small container to hold lost teeth or pieces of a tooth. If you have active children, or a child losing baby teeth, a kit like this isn’t a bad idea.

Sites like WebMD offer first aid tips:

Knocked-out tooth: Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and gently rinse off the tooth root with water if it's dirty. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available) or a product containing a cell growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth.

Abscess: See a dentist as soon as possible if you discover a pimple-like swelling on your gum, especially if it is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt-water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day.

Lost crown. If you can't get to a dentist right away and the tooth is causing pain, use a cotton swab to apply a little clove oil to the sensitive area (clove oil can be purchased at your local drug store or in the spice aisle of your grocery store). If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue!

Many of these techniques can apply to nearly any dental emergency during the first few minutes. And get to a dentist as soon as possible, even if you’re out of town. The sooner your emergency receives appropriate care, the better your chances are of saving your tooth.

Once you return home, schedule an appointment at our dental office in The Woodlands at 855.251.4554 to have your injury checked out by Dr. Shirley Cagle.

Let’s Wise Up About Wisdom Teeth in The Woodlands!

Most of us know that our third molars — wisdom teeth — typically come in during our late teens or early 20s, when we’re hopefully learning and gaining wisdom at college or starting new jobs!

Wisdom teeth can cause problems when they come in only part way or not at all. When this happens, they’re called partially or fully impacted wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth can also grow in at odd angles and can crowd your other teeth. Often the solution for problems with wisdom teeth is to extract them. At Dr. Shirley Cagle’s dental office in the Woodlands, we can help you determine if wisdom tooth extraction is right for you. If it is, then we’re here to make the experience as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

If you’re having pain or problems with your wisdom teeth, call our Woodlands dental office at 855.251.4554 so that Dr. Cagle can evaluate your situation. We may also be able to tell if you’re likely to have problems in the future, or if you have wisdom teeth at all! Nearly 35% of all people don’t  have them. So if it’s time for a checkup, call us today! Remember, prevention is always a wise move!

These Teeth in the Woodlands Were Made For….

These Teeth in the Woodlands Were Made For….

…biting and chewing food, talking, giving your face its structure. Period! Tooth enamel seems like a hard surface, but it’s not made to withstand excess pressure or habits that erode it.

At Dr. Shirley Cagle’s dental office in the Woodlands, our patients tell us stories of their bad habits. Do any of these actions sound familiar to you?

●      Crunching and sipping

Now that may sound like what teeth are made for, but we’re talking about crunching things like ice cubes, or even popcorn kernels. Bite down on them the wrong way, and you could end up with a cracked tooth.

Sipping? Yes! Soda (even diet), tea, and other acidic beverages can eventually erode your teeth, especially if you habitually consume them.

●      Using teeth as tools

Teeth aren’t nutcrackers or bottle openers! Or any other tool!

●      Tooth grinding

If you grind your teeth, even in your sleep, you can wear them down without even noticing! You may need a night guard or other appliance to help stop grinding, and if your teeth are worn down, you may need further dental treatment to rebuild your bite.

●      Hard-bristled toothbrush

A toothbrush with hard bristles might seem like a good idea, but it’s better to use a soft- or medium-bristled brush, and brush regularly and longer!

●      Not brushing or flossing enough

Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime. If you can’t brush during the day, try to drink plain water so you can at least “rinse” out any food particles or acidic drinks.

If you have any of these habits, it’s never too late to change! If you have any tooth or gum pain for any reason, please call our dental office in the Woodlands at 855.251.4554.

As Much Fun as a Root Canal?

Root canal treatments don’t really deserve their bad reputation any more! And if you’re already a patient at Dr. Shirley Cagle’s dental office in the Woodlands, then you know we can keep you comfortable and nearly pain-free no matter what treatment we’re giving you.

Why would I need root canal therapy?

The pulp cavity and root canals of your tooth contain the blood vessels and nerves that your tooth needs to thrive. If these tissues become injured or diseased, infection can set in and root canal therapy will be needed. Remember a root canal is a way to save your natural tooth. That’s the most important thing, and why you want to get here as soon as possible if you start to experience any pain, swelling, or inflammation in a tooth.

How does Dr. Cagle perform a root canal?

First, we remove any diseased or damaged tissue and thoroughly clean out all bacteria, infection, or debris. You may need time to heal, but in some cases, root canals can be completed in a day. The next step is to fill the root canals to replace the tissue and seal out bacteria.

Once the root canals have been filled, we’ll reinforce and protect your tooth by placing a porcelain crown over it.

At our dental office at the Woodlands, we use several different methods to keep you relaxed, comfortable, and out of pain. If you have questions about your root canal treatment, please call us at 855.251.4554 and let us know and we’ll be glad to discuss any concerns you may have.

Tips on Baby Dental Care for Moms in the Woodlands

There are so many amazing “firsts” when a new baby arrives. That first smile, first steps and words. And of course, that first precious baby tooth. When your child loses her first tooth, you probably save it like the treasure it is. It’s an important milestone as your baby grows up.

Once your child’s teeth start coming in, it’s natural to think about dental care and teaching your child to care for her teeth herself. But you can start much earlier than that, long before her first tooth comes in.

It’s good to get in the habit of cleaning your baby’s gums twice a day with a soft, damp cloth or piece of gauze. When her teeth start coming in, get a soft baby toothbrush, use a tiny drop of non-fluoride toothpaste and gently brush her teeth (or tooth!). Fluoride should be introduced into her system no earlier than 6 months, and even then in minimal amounts until she reaches 12 months.

Once she’s able to spit successfully, you can start teaching her to brush her own teeth. Establishing good dental habits early will help your child have a lifetime of healthy teeth and general well-being.

Baby teeth are important, even though they eventually fall out. They help your child eat and speak, and are a placeholder for her permanent teeth. If she loses or damages a baby tooth before it falls out naturally, you know a permanent tooth will replace it. But it’s a good idea to have it checked out anyway. If you can find the tooth, clean if off and try to put it back place, then get her to a dentist. You’ll want to make sure that no underlying teeth were damaged and that the permanent tooth will have enough space to grow in properly.

Starting dental visits in the Woodlands early for your children will help make it a natural part of their health care. And don’t neglect your own dental care, even though your baby keeps you busy! Call our dental office in the Woodlands to schedule a checkup!

Hand Washing Wisdom in The Woodlands

How often do you wash your hands every day? Do you wonder if you’re washing them long enough or with the right product?

Because cleanliness and sterile conditions in our dental office are so important to us, I’d like to pass on a few tips about good hand washing. You can get your children started with good washing habits too!

My suggestions come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This is the agency that sets guidelines for dental offices, in addition to the ones set by the state of Texas.

When Should You Wash?

First of all, when are the important times to wash your hands? Any time you’re around food, either cooking or eating. If you’re the cook, it’s good to wash before, during and after working with food. Any time you’re caring for someone with a cold, or with a cut or wound, or after sneezing and coughing. And of course, after using the toilet and after changing a diaper or helping a child in the bathroom. If in doubt, just wash!

How Clean is Clean?

Here are a few tips to make sure you’re washing enough to really clean your hands:

●      Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.

●      Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

●      Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

●      Rinse your hands well under running water.

●      Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Some sources claim that too much hand washing could lead to germs that become resistant to antibiotics. The CDC studied this in 2005 and found two things: 1) It doesn’t matter whether you use antibacterial or regular soap; they’re equally effective. 2) There’s no evidence that antibacterial soaps are creating any supergerms!

Obviously, we wash our hands a lot! But we do much more to ensure a completely safe and sterile office. If you’d like to know more about how we keep our dental office in The Woodlands clean and sterile for our patients, we’d be happy to show you during your next visit!

Oral Cancer – Do You Know the Risks?

April is Oral Cancer Awareness month, but for me, it’s an important topic all year round, and I want to take this opportunity to give you some important information about oral cancer, its causes, and about prevention. Oral cancer may not be in the news as often as other cancers, but nearly 7,000 people will die in 2013 as a result of oral cancer and nearly 36,0000 new cases will be diagnosed. (Source: ACS, revised 02.26.2013)

Oral Cancer Symptoms     

Oral cancer in The Woodlands isn’t difficult to diagnose, but the danger is that it’s often caught in late stages when it’s spread to other parts of the body. If you notice any of the following symptoms in between checkups, please call us right away:

●      A sore that doesn’t heal

●      A lump or thickening of the lining of the mouth

●      Difficult or painful chewing or swallowing

Who Gets Oral Cancer

More than 80% of oral cancers in men (65% in women) occur in tobacco and alcohol users, and combined heavy tobacco and alcohol use increases the risk 300 times that of non-users. (Source: National Institutes of Health, 2006)

Notice I didn’t say “smokers.” There is NO safe tobacco product, despite what you might hear. Even smokeless tobacco, pipes, and clove cigarettes increase your risk dramatically.

HPV and Oral Cancer

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus that causes approximately 25% of head and neck cancers, including oral cancer.

At our dental office in the Woodlands, I do an oral cancer screening at every checkup. It’s also a good practice to check your own mouth for any changes when you brush and floss.

I hope you also have annual and periodic health checkups and cancer screens, and make sure regular dental checkups are part of that routine. Call our Woodlands dental office today to make an appointment for a checkup. Information and prevention are good keywords for every aspect of your health, including dental health!