There is a myth floating around that you can ease a toothache by placing an aspirin next to it. However, our Issaquah dentist advises that this is not a wise practice. Not only will this not alleviate your pain, but you are in fact only making your problem worse.

The cause of most toothaches is an inflammation of the pulp tissues at the center of the tooth, which swell up and push against the immovable wall that is your dentin. This can therefore benefit from an anti-inflammatory drug, but only if you actually swallow it and let it work its way into the pulp via the bloodstream. Meanwhile, an aspirin pill is acidic; placing it next to your tooth is doing the same damage that your oral bacteria is doing every day.

When your tooth is aching, swallow the aspirin, ice the area, and call Meadow Creek Family Dental as soon as possible.

When you need to get rid of the stains on your teeth, you can call our Issaquah dental clinic for a whitening. But how can you keep your teeth from staining more in the future? Unfortunately, tooth-staining substances are all around us, so much so that you can’t reasonably expect to avoid them all. Common staining agents include the following:

• Tea. This is particularly true of common dark teas, but even herbal white tea has the potential to erode your enamel and leave its stain upon your teeth.
• Coffee.
• Any kind of smoking.
• Darkly-colored sauces, including tomato sauce, soy sauce, and curry.
• Sodas and sports drinks.
• Berries. The strong pigmentation present in colorful berries are also present in jellies, jams, juices, and the dark wines that they go into.
• Colorful candies and other sweets.

Obviously, this list represents not only a lot of common indulgences for many people, but also many of the very healthiest substances you can eat. Therefore, instead of cutting these all out of your diet, consider some easy stain-fighting practices that can allow you to enjoy your favorites without tarnishing your smile. You can drink your more colorful drinks through a straw, not letting them linger among your teeth. Keep a glass of water handy as you enjoy staining foods to help you rinse away pigments before they can settle. And remember, when all else fails you can always count on Meadow Creek Family Dental!