Healthy Smiles Family Dental

If you find yourself or a loved one with a broken tooth, don’t panic. There can be a lot of stress from the pain, or even from the uncertainty of what will happen next. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental, located in Salem, Oregon, Dr. Na Xu, D.D.S., and Dr. Mark Thomas, D.M.D. are here to assist you during this turbulent time.   There are many things that might cause a tooth to break. Perhaps you bit or chewed on something too hard. Maybe you fell or experienced an injury that broke your tooth. You could even have a cavity inside the tooth that could cause it to break. Regardless, here are a few tips to reduce your pain while you wait to see the dentist.   -With some warm water, rinse out your mouth, collecting all the broken pieces of the tooth for the dentist to look at. -Use gauze to stop any bleeding. Hold it there for about ten minutes or so, allowing the bleeding to stop. -Use icepacks on the outside of the cheek or lips for 15-minute intervals. This will keep the swelling down. -If...

Teeth whitening is an in-office cosmetic procedure that provides a simple and affordable method to whiten your teeth. It gives you the chance to have the bright smile that you’ve always wanted. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental, located in Salem, Oregon, Dr. Na Xu, D.D.S., and Dr. Mark Thomas, D.M.D. can walk you through the teeth whitening process.   There is a multitude of reasons that your teeth can become discolored. Eating certain foods, like ones high in tannic acid, like grapes and tea, have coloring effects. Coffee and cigarettes are another common cause. General lack of oral maintenance, like tooth decay and worn down enamel, are also big factors. Some of the quicker ways to improve the whiteness of your smile are to cut back on the coffee and smoking. But for many patients, this isn’t quite enough. This is where professional teeth whitening comes in.   It is necessary to understand that teeth whitening will not magically transform your smile. It will just allow you to greatly i...

Dental emergencies happen every day. You’re out playing sports with your friends, you trip and fall, or experience some kind of facial trauma. Your mouth or teeth are in incredible pain, but it's past all regular business hours. Dr. Na Xu, D.D.S. and Dr. Mark Thomas D.M.D. of Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem, Oregon are available for dental emergencies.   When suffering a dental emergency, get in contact with us immediately. If for some reason you can’t reach our office, consider going to your local emergency room. There are a few traditional dental emergencies that we can help you with.   -Inexplicable toothache: rinse your mouth thoroughly to make sure there is nothing pressed up against or stuck between the tooth and an adjacent tooth. If this doesn’t help, call us. -Broken or chipped tooth: Rinse out your mouth and try to save as many pieces of the tooth as possible. Apply icepacks in 15-minute cycles to keep the swelling down while on your way to your emergency appointmen...