Why is my child's lip swollen and inflamed after having a filling done?

Children, especially the young ones, are at high risk of biting their lips or chewing on the inside part of their cheeks after they receive local anesthetic (a lidocaine shot). The affected area will be red, swollen and painful once the anesthetic wears off (like a canker sore). This usually happens because of their natural curiosity they try to feel the area or areas that are numb. For the first few days, place the patient on a soft, blend diet; avoid, hard, spicy, sour, or hot food because this could cause discomfort for the child. Fortunately, sores in the mouth tend to heal very quickly (3-5 days) with minimal if any scarring. Thus, it is important for parent(s) to remind the child not to bite or scratch his/her cheek/lip/tongue for the first two hours after the procedure.

I heard some children need to be strapped down for dental work, is that true?

Otherwise known as blanket wrap, or safety wrap, a papoose board is a safety tool that a dentist may use with the consent of the parents to help facilitate treatment. When a young child is too active and could not sit still enough for dental treatment, a papoose board physical restraint can be used to minimize the child's movement. Like a car seat that keeps the child secure and safe while riding in the car, the papoose board will secure and minimize the child's movement so that dental treatment can be delivered safely. If the parent(s) does not consent to the use of a papoose board, an alternative treatment approach is to put the child to sleep to have the needed treatment done.

Oral piercings can be bad for your health. Because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Pain and swelling are other side effects of piercing. Your tongue (a popular piercing site in the mouth) could swell large enough to close off your airway. Piercings can also cause uncontrollable bleeding or nerve damage. The jewelry itself also presents some hazards. You can choke on any studs, barbells or hoops that come loose in your mouth, and contact with the jewelry can chip or crack your teeth.

What you eat affects the air you exhale. Certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor. Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled. The odors will continue until the body eliminates the food. People who diet may develop unpleasant breath from infrequent eating.

If you don't brush and floss daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Food that collects between the teeth, on the tongue and around the gums can rot, leaving an unpleasant odor.

Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva decreases. Saliva is necessary to cleanse the mouth and remove particles that may cause odor. Dry mouth may be caused by various medications, salivary gland problems or continuously breathing through the mouth.

Tobacco products cause bad breath, so if you use tobacco, ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.

Bad breath may also be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a local infection in the respiratory tract, chronic sinusitis, postnasal drip, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.