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With Drs. James and Mary Rose Twohig, emergency dental care is only a phone call away. Dental problems are uncomfortable and should always be treated as soon as possible to prevent them from getting worse.

Whether it’s an abscess or a toothache that you believe might be something more, it’s vital to pay attention to your body and give it the attention it needs. Below, you’ll find some more information about abscesses and toothaches that may clarify any doubts about the differences, whether you may be suffering from one of them … and what to do if you are.

Abscesses

What’s an abscess? It’s a bacterial infection: an accumulation of pus that can form inside a tooth or the gums and cause pain and swelling. It generally develops as a result of poor oral hygiene.

Bacteria lives in plaque so if plaque isn’t removed on a regular basis, it can build up and encourage bacteria to spread, which could ultimately result in an abscess. Antibiotics aren’t always needed for treatment, you should get this situation checked out as soon as possible. If left untreated, oral infections can lead to bigger complications.

Toothaches

Toothaches can happen for a number of reasons. The simplest, most common one is a piece of food that is stuck in your gum, which can cause a bit of swelling and discomfort.

To get rid of it, you can rinse your mouth with hot water and salt, every morning and evening. This helps kill bacteria and bring down the swelling. You can also gently floss the area to remove whatever is stuck there. If you experience bleeding while you’re flossing, and hot water with salt proves ineffective, it may be time to schedule an appointment.

If you’re especially sensitive to cold and heat, you may often experience toothaches. If this is the case, we can recommend a pain reliever to reduce the discomfort, but it’s worthwhile to come in for a check-up anyway to make sure the problem doesn’t get worse.

The last (and most obvious) reason for a toothache is a cavity. Depending on how bad it is, we might fill it or place a crown. The tricky thing with cavities is that sometimes you may not know you have one at all, especially when they’re just starting out. The best way to prevent them from getting worse and creating toothaches is by keeping up with your regular dental cleanings.

At Twohig Dentistry, we’re here to assist you through any and all your dental emergencies! We encourage you to make an appointment at our Albuquerque office if you notice any signs of discomfort, so we can provide the most efficient care for you.

Spring is here! As the season changes and flowers begin to bloom, the team of Twohig Dentistry looks forward to the continuation of providing excellent dental care to our community and the opportunity to bring beautiful smiles to our patients.

Besides the beginning of the Spring, there are many days to celebrate in the month of March. We started the month by celebrating Dentist Day on March 6th and International Women's Day on March 8th. In addition to those, we’re looking forward to Let's Laugh Day and Doctors Day on March 19th and March 30th respectively. All of this makes March a great time for a reminder that our office is devoted to empowering excellent oral habits and overall health to bring joy and beautiful smiles to Albuquerque. As health care professionals, our team is dedicated to educating and providing our patients with the proper tools and techniques that will take care of their dental concerns.

In the months ahead, we are committed to developing a lasting relationship with each of our amazing patients. Our practice is proud to provide optimal care in a comfortable environment for the whole family while using the latest technology. We believe that ensuring our patients' satisfaction truly allows our practice to establish patients as long-lasting friends.

As the days slowly warm up, our team loves to get outside and get active. Some of the team's favorite ways of staying active is taking pets out for long walks, golfing, and now that spring is right around the corner, spending time outside gardening!

We wish you a warm and safe start to your Spring season. We hope to see you and your family in our office again soon.

Happily for all of us who like to celebrate with friends and family, there’s no need to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. Every March 17^th, many of us take the opportunity to display a bit of Gaelic spirit.

• Green Clothing (it’s tradition!)
• Green Hat (for a jaunty look)
• Green Shamrock (always the perfect accessory)
• Green Hair (for the adventurous among us)
• Green Grins?

Here’s where we draw the line. Emerald Isle? Delightful! Emerald smile? Not so beguiling.

That traditional St. Patrick’s party fare—green-frosted sweet treats and green-colored pastries and green-foamed beers—is full of green-tinted food dyes, which can leave us with teeth in subtle shamrock shades. Luckily, most of us will have only a very temporary tinge to remind us of our dietary shenanigans, and there are simple ways to rid yourself of the green sheen:

• Indulge sparingly in colorful cuisine, and drink water afterwards to rinse away green-dyed foods and beverages.
• Use a straw for green drinks.
• Brush your teeth. (Not only will you brush away the green, but you’ll brush away the sugars from sweet green desserts and the acids from sour green brews.)
• Try a whitening toothpaste.

One special note: if you’ve just whitened your smile, best to eliminate strong food dyes from your diet for a few days. Teeth are more sensitive to staining after whitening, because the whitening process temporarily makes them more porous. Give yourself a few days, and your enamel will be back to (stain)fighting strength.

So, celebrate on the 17^th and feel secure that on the 18^th, your smile won’t be “wearing the green” any longer. But if you find that you’re not happy with the appearance of your smile anytime during the year, if you have more permanent staining caused by natural darkening over time, or workdays fueled by black coffee, or a diet filled with tomato sauce, dark berries, red wine, and other tasty (but discoloring) food, you’re still in luck.

Ask Drs. James and Mary Rose Twohig about professional whitening procedures at our Albuquerque office for a brighter, more confident smile. And with a bright, confident smile, every day’s a reason to celebrate!

Unfortunately, dental emergencies can sometimes be unavoidable among young children. The good news is Drs. James and Mary Rose Twohig can help you prepare in case you and your child find yourselves in any of the following situations.

Teething

Starting at about four months and lasting up to three years, your son or daughter may experience teething pain. It’s common for teething children to grow irritable and become prone to drooling due to tender gums. Give your child a cold teething ring or rub his or her gums with your finger to help relieve the discomfort.

Loss of Teeth

If a baby tooth is knocked out in an accident, bring your child to our Albuquerque office to make sure damage hasn’t occurred in the mouth. Permanent teeth can sometimes grow in before baby teeth have fallen out. In this situation, Drs. James and Mary Rose Twohig should examine your child to make sure teeth are growing in properly. This can prevent serious issues from arising later in adulthood.

Gum Issues

Bleeding gums could mean several things. They may be an early sign of periodontal disease, which results from poor oral hygiene. Gums may also bleed if a youngster is brushing too hard or has suffered an injury to the gum tissue.

Rinse your child’s mouth with warm salt water and apply pressure to the area if bleeding continues. Don’t hesitate to contact our Albuquerque office if you are concerned so we can schedule an appointment.

As a parent, you can provide the best education for your children on proper oral hygiene habits. If you some coaching, ask Drs. James and Mary Rose Twohig for tips during your next appointment.