Could Invisalign be making my lip numb?

 

I have worn Invisalign for 3 months. I haven’t had any problem with them, but this morning when I woke up the left side of my bottom lip was numb. It’s also slightly swollen too. I didn’t eat anything different and I was in town for the weekend, not exposed to anything unusual. Could Invisalign be causing the problem? Mikayla

Mikayla – It is unlikely that Invisalign is the cause of the problem.

Some of the causes of a swollen lip are a cold sore, an allergy, an insect bite, or an infection. You should make an appointment with your dentist to examine your lip. Your Invisalign aligners can also be examined to ensure that they are not irritating your lip.

Be sure to keep your regularly scheduled follow-ups with your dentist to ensure your progress with Invisalign is as predicted. Any problems with Invisalign can be detected during the follow-up visits.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

How do I whiten patchy spots on teeth after braces are removed?

Hi. I saw the orthodontist last week and I will be getting braces soon. I have to wear them for 2 years. I am afraid that after wearing them so long I will get patchy spots on my teeth like some of the kids I go to school with. If I have patchy teeth when the braces are removed after 2 years, how can I get rid of the patches? Brooke Turner

Brooke – Instead of treating patchy spots on teeth after braces, we advise you to follow the steps required to avoid the patchy spots altogether.

Patchy spots on teeth after your braces are removed are the result of poor oral hygiene. When food is left on your teeth, it comes in contact with acid, causing bacteria to form on your teeth. When food and bacterial are trapped between braces and are not removed, calcium and phosphate are depleted from your teeth. The decalcification is the cause of the white spots on your teeth.

The white spots can be prevented if you avoid sugary and acid foods and drinks. Use fluoride toothpaste and brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal. Floss daily, and keep your regular appointments with your dentist for an exam or cleaning. Your dentist may recommend a fluoridated mouthwash or fluoride treatments.

When braces are removed and a person has white spots on their teeth, a cosmetic dentist can help. The teeth may need to be carefully remineralized with fluoride. Or, microabrasion—gently removing the damaged enamel from the tooth can help. If teeth are excessively spotted, they can be restored with porcelain veneers.

If you are diligent about oral hygiene you won’t have patchy spots on your teeth, but there may be stains on your teeth from the composite that was used to bond the braces to them. A cosmetic dentist can polish away the composite stains. After that your teeth can be whitened.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.

Best medicine for my toothache?

For the past 6 months or so I got a horrible toothache every 2 or 3 weeks. I would hurt so bad for about 10 minutes then it go away. Within the past 2 months it’s more frequent. Now I think I need to take something for it. What’s better ibuprofen, aspirin, or something else? – Amber

Amber – We recommend that you see a dentist to identify the cause of the toothache. The dentist will recommend the correct treatment to eliminate the pain.

Sometimes people choose to self-medicate a toothache with pain reliever. But when you have a persistent toothache, the likely cause is a tooth infection. Pan reliever may help with the pain, but it won’t eliminate the tooth infection, which can make you very sick.

A tooth infection may spread into your jawbone. It can cause fever, earaches, headaches, and it can even spread to your brain.

Sometimes injury, problems with your ears, or sinus problems can cause tooth pain.

Don’t cover up your toothache with pain killers. See a dentist for an examination.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy