Things To Know About Trigeminal Neuralgia

Our brain is a complex structure, consisting of countless nerves and neural pathways. These nerves can encounter abnormalities or injuries. Such incidents can result in chronic conditions. One of such conditions is trigeminal neuralgia, which is a painful disorder. It affects the trigeminal nerve, which covers the face and upper jaw area. Because touching the face can trigger spasms of this disorder, people can mistake it for a dental problem. Nonetheless, it is a neurological disorder, which has nothing to do with oral health. Although there is no cure available for this condition, several pain managing solutions are available.

Life with this disorder

Trigeminal neuralgia can result in frequent attacks of shooting pain in the face. This pain is similar to a burn or an electrical shock. The duration of an attack can vary between a few seconds and a few minutes. An attack can affect a person for an hour or more.

Daily life with facial neuralgia can be can quite hard. The worsening of this condition can result in difficulty eating and speaking. It can also make committing to an oral hygiene routine quite hard. Additionally, the patient remains worried about the next episode of facial pain.

Reasons for trigeminal neuralgia

This condition is usually the result of a blood vessel or a tumor pressing onto the trigeminal nerve. This contact generates pressure on the nerve, damaging its protective coating. This situation can occur as a side-effect of sinus or oral surgery, a stroke, head trauma, or a complication of multiple sclerosis. While this condition can affect people of any age, people above 50 and women are more prone to developing it.

Trigeminal Neuralgia and Teeth

Doctors and surgeons need to consult a thorough medical exam to diagnose this problem. After you discuss this problem with your doctor, he or she will refer you to a neurologist, who may perform an MRI to confirm the location of the problem and formulate a treatment plan.

There is no set treatment plan for every individual with this disorder. Ordinary pain relievers and opioids are not effective in reducing pain. Anticonvulsants, however, may help reduce pain to an extent. Your neurologist may prescribe a muscle relaxant or other medication to help control painful episodes.

Surgery and other options

Surgeons will go for an invasive treatment procedure only when available drugs and medications fail to show any results. Even then, they will want to go ahead with a minimally invasive procedure called microvascular decompression. This procedure has provided complete pain relief to over 75% of patients.

In some cases, the surgeon may choose to damage a nerve to ensure pain relief. This treatment option sounds a bit strange, but damaging a pain-generating nerve may prove to be the best way to provide permanent relief to the patient. Such a treatment plan usually involves radiation to damage that nerve.

Another treatment under investigation is the use of botox, which is derived from the botulinum toxin. This non-surgical treatment option may freeze facial muscles, providing pain relief.

Don't stop brushing even when not at home

With the pandemic locking people inside for a whole year people are dying to get out in 2021 and be free.  I truly enjoy a vacation and plan on doing a few this year.  It is the epidemy of literally not working and letting go of stress.  Well, that is the idea anyway. But sometimes stress seems to follow us and for all the wrong reasons.  One reason that it should not be for is your dental hygiene.  This is something that I stress for importance before we plan a vacation.  I make sure that we plan ahead on how to take care of the little things that can save us from a visit to the dentist later on. So I want to go over a few things that can keep you and your family safe on vacation and some of them are really important to keeping everyone safe.

 

Vacation is a great time so don't take that away with random habits.  I think vacations are exciting and remembering them in fun was is something that I like to do.  What this means is that I like to take 10 dollars and go to the big box store near me and get travel tooth gear.  It is a little silly, but we all get a new toothbrush.  For traveling, I like to get ones that have a suction cup on the bottom.  It makes packing so much easier and it makes it safer for our whole family.  We don't want the toothbrush ever falling on a stranger's sink or falling on a floor.  The counter sticking is amazing and something not to be downplayed.

Don't be lame either.  Go and get exciting things.   A fun toothbrush means many people are going to be excited to use them. If they are younger as well then it is even more useful. For my family, if I see Star Wars toothbrushes or lion king toothbrushes we all get a fun character. It is hard to not want to brush your teeth at a hotel or a strange B&B with a fun toothbrush. Also, make sure to get really fun toothpaste.  Put sprinkles on the list or get a charcoal toothpaste that turns all your teeth back while whitening. This is a wonderful way to keep the family brushing and excited about it after an exhausting day. We all know how those days go and it is really important to have motivation in some way.

Don't just stop at brushing though. Go and get some of those incredible travel flossing items. Flossing is still important and make sure that all the food is out of your teeth is a good way to stay healthy and keep food allergies from hurting anyone's gums. I really like the travel sticks that are a toothpick and also a flossing stick. 

 These work double duty and keep the nasty mess of flossing string away from our trip.  To be honest I use these daily and not just on vacation.  Either way, some people only use them when they have to so to each their own. Now just remember to do that at the end of the day and you should be right as rain.  It will help keep your teeth safe from all the new foods or excess drinks you consume on vacation. And think about your diet too. Try to stay away from too many sugary items. 

What Are The Reasons Of Black Gums?

The common perception about healthy gums is that they are always pink. However, their color can vary just like skin color. The Future Dental Journal suggests that the color of healthy gums can range from pink to dark brown or even black. Dark patches on gums, however, can result from several factors, including medication and tobacco use. Although black gums do not always mean a dental issue, it is necessary to seek a dental appointment. You can also consider having cosmetic treatment for dark-colored gums.

Natural variations in the color of gums

The dark pigment that gives the skin the black color is known as melanin. This pigment is also present in gums. Gums get the dark color from it. According to the Future Dental Journal, dark gum color is common among people of African, Asian, and Mediterranean descent. This variation of color can be on any side of the mouth. It can be in patches or uniforms. This pigmentation is natural, there is no need for its treatment.

Reasons for black gums

Some endocrine diseases can also result in black gums. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, people with Addison's disease are more prone to developing dark patches on their gums and other areas covered by mucous membrane in their oral cavity.

Some medications can also affect gum color. According to the Future Dental Journal, darkening of gum color can happen due to medications, including antipsychotics, cancer therapy drugs, antimalarials, and antibiotics. If you notice the darkening of the color of your gums due to any of the treatments mentioned above, speak to your dentist.

Smoking can result in a host of oral health problems, including darkened gums. It is mainly due to nicotine that activates cells that produce melanin. Quitting smoking can help reduce dark pigmentation on gums.

In some cases, black gums indicate a much severe issue. A type of oral cancer known as malignant melanoma can result in a black spot on the mucous membrane of gums. You will need to consult with your dentist as soon as you notice this problem. A tissue biopsy may be required to diagnose oral malignant melanoma.

Treatment of black gums

If your gums are black without any reason, you do not need any treatment unless you are interested in a cosmetic solution. Your dentist will recommend an appropriate treatment for you after checking your gums.

One of the surgical options to treat black pigmentation is the removal of darkened gum tissues with the help of a scalpel. While the results of this treatment are instant, they are not usually permanent. It is because melanin-producing cells sometimes move to another location.

Another treatment for dark pigmentation on gums is Cryosurgery, which is a treatment aimed at freezing the affected gum tissue. The International Journal of Health Sciences suggests that the result of this treatment tends to be permanent.

Another way to treating this issue is free gingival grafting. This treatment involves harvesting gum tissues without pigmentation from the roof of the mouth and applying them to gums with dark pigmentations. This treatment is a way of concealing the affected area.

If you have any concerns regarding the color of your gums, contact your dentist to get an appointment.

Are Canker Sores Making Your Life Miserable?

If you are like me and you’ve been plagued with canker sores your whole life, you know how miserable and life disrupting they can be. From keeping you up at night because of the pain, to making it difficult to be intimate with your significant other, to preventing you from eating anything at all, canker sores can put certain aspects of your life on hold until the slow process of healing takes its course. And even then, there are no guarantees of how quickly they may return. Every tingle of the gums to the accidental slip of biting your cheek leaves you in fear of those little monsters rearing their ugly heads. So, how does one not just learn to live with canker sores, but actually prevent them in the first place? Well, thankfully, there are several solutions that can help with both. 

The biggest thing to tackle when it comes to canker sores is prevention. And I can speak from personal experience when it comes to this subject matter. Over the years, I have found and developed a method that has kept my mouth almost 100% canker sore free for several years. The biggest (not so) secret to preventing canker sores is this little essential amino acid called L-Lysine. (Lysine is an amino acid that has been shown to help fight the herpes virus, which is what causes canker sores.) Unlike non essential amino acids such as glutamine, which your body makes naturally, essential amino acids can only be obtained through diet. And Lysine, while prominent in many different foods, isn’t always as easily absorbed in certain individuals. Therefore a supplement may be needed, especially if you deal with chronic canker sores like I have. Studies have shown that by taking a steady dose of Lysine daily, you can significantly reduce the development of new canker sores, and it has been shown to help you recover from present canker sores more quickly. So, I would highly encourage you to go out and get started on a Lysine supplement today. This alone has been the number one cause in my canker sore reduction. 

The other challenge one faces in dealing with canker sores, is how to help it heal once you have one. And there are actually several different methods to both encourage healing and prevent irritation. One helpful method is by gargling (not swallowing) salt water. Salt has been used for centuries as a natural to treat and fight off infection. In the case of canker sores, it is no different. It can help to speed the healing process by killing off the virus and keeping fresh bacteria off the sore. 

Diet also plays a crucial role in the healing process. To help avoid irritation you’d be well off to avoid certain foods such as tomatoes, coffee (sorry, the nectar of the gods will have to wait), chocolate, spicy foods, salty foods, carbonated beverages, anything acidic, and even avoiding sugary foods can help. It’s best to eat soft and bland until the sore has healed. But just make sure you’re getting your vitamins, even if it’s through a supplement during this period of time. 

And of course I would always recommend having an oral anesthetic on hand to help numb the pain, because let's be honest, no one has time for that. 

If you are like me and struggle with canker sores, then give these methods a try. And hopefully, like me they will be your miracle to a canker sore free life.