Retainers can be used to fix problems like minor tooth gaps or a single crooked tooth. They're less expensive than other options, especially since you generally must wear a retainer after having braces removed anyway. Retainers require a certain amount of attention and excellent oral hygiene because the metal wires scratch the enamel surface of your teeth, which can lead to tooth decay. Your retainer is designed specifically for you because it has to accommodate your particular problem. During the process, the orthodontist will make a mold of your mouth with a thick substance called alginate. They will use the mold to make your retainer. It may take you a couple of days to get used to the retainer, so don't be alarmed. It can affect your speech and cause you to produce more saliva. Try reading aloud to yourself to become accustomed to talking with the retainer. If you experience moderate to severe pain or the retainer is cutting into your gums or pulling too hard on your teeth, contact your orthodontist. Removing your retainer makes both processes easier. You should also take it out if you play contact sports, as it can cause injury. Make sure to protect your retainer by keeping it in its box when not in use.  It also needs to be kept moist when not in your mouth so it doesn't crack. Your dentist should tell you how to soak it.  Avoid keeping it near a heat source, as that can also crack it. lean your retainer daily. Your retainer should come with instructions on how to clean it, but you can usually use mouthwash or denture cleaner to remove any build-up on it. Wear your retainer as long as your dentist recommends. You may need to wear it for years, depending on your teeth. If you stop wearing it too early, your teeth will move back to the previous stage and you will need to repeat the process all over again.
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One-sentence summary -- Use retainers for minor problems. Have your orthodontist fit a retainer for you. Adjust to the retainer. Take out your retainer while eating and brushing your teeth. Keep it in its box. . Don't stop wearing your retainer.


Care is given to prevent further damage and relieve pain, but not a lot can be done to speed up the healing process. The use of cold water or cold compress can reduce the inflammation by constricting the blood vessels and reducing the blood flow in the affected area.  The cool temperature helps to numb nerve endings, providing you with instant, localized pain relief from the burning sensation of the blistered sunburn. You can also use soaks and compresses with Burrow’s solution (a solution of aluminum acetate in water). Burrow’s solution can usually be found in drugstores. When taking a bath, use cool water and relax for 10 to 20 minutes; this can help relieve the pain of a sunburn. Repeat as often as you like  for several days.  If you use a face towel, soak it to the cold water and apply it to the affected skin. Warm baths and the utilization of soaps or bath oils is not advisable, because these can irritate the skin and increase discomfort. Make sure the temperature of the water when you shower is just below lukewarm. Pay attention to the flow of the water, making sure it is very gentle so it does not aggravate your pain.  In general, if you can avoid showering, do so. The pressure of the shower could prematurely pop your sunburn blisters, leading to pain, infection, and scarring. After showering, pat dry your skin using gentle movements. Don’t rub or wipe the skin with a towel as this can cause irritation. If the pain of the sunburn is bothering  you, you can take anti-inflammatory analgesic oral medication such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.  Ibuprofen (Advil) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. It also reduces hormones that trigger fever. Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid)is a drug that works as an analgesic, relieving pain by inhibiting pain signals in the brain. It is also an antipyretic, a drug that reduces fever. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer than aspirin for children who may have a sunburn. Acetaminophen has many of the same effects. Discuss these options with your doctor if you have any doubt about their usage and whether the medications are right for you. Cortisone cream contains a minimal amount of steroids that help reduce the inflammation of the sunburn by suppressing the activity of the immune system. It is not advisable to use cortisone cream on children, so consult your physician for an alternative.
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One-sentence summary -- Understand that the bulk of the treatment is symptomatic. Use a cold compress to provide cooling relief. Take a bath. Shower in lukewarm water. Take pain medication. Use cortisone cream to reduce inflammation.


If you are unsure whether your symptoms are just discomfort associated with being pregnant or signs of preeclampsia, contact your doctor to see if you should get checked. Signs of preeclampsia can include:  Headaches Shortness of breath Blurred vision, loss of vision, light sensitivity or other vision changes Nausea and/or vomiting Abdominal pain on your right side under your ribs A decrease in urination Preeclampsia can range from mild to severe. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, then it is important to seek immediate medical care. Call your doctor or go to an emergency room right away if you notice a sudden increase in your symptoms or if you are having:  severe headaches blurry vision intense abdominal pain difficulty breathing or severe shortness of breath Most often women with preeclampsia experience a sudden spike in their blood pressure, but it can also increase slowly. Not all women who have high blood pressure feel other symptoms. Because of this it is important for your doctor to monitor your blood pressure regularly.  Your blood pressure should be below 140/90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). If it is higher for more than four hours when you are at rest, this is cause for concern. The doctor will likely do additional tests to check the health of your other organs and your baby. This may involve:   Blood tests. This will enable the doctors to check how well your liver and kidneys are working. The doctors will also likely evaluate whether your blood has the right platelet count so that your blood clots properly.  Urine analyses. This will measure whether you have too much protein in your urine. This may involve either a single sample or repeated sampling over 24 hours.  An ultrasound. During an ultrasound, the doctor uses sound waves that are higher than we can hear to create an image of the baby in your womb. It does not hurt and is not dangerous for you or the baby. The doctor will be able to see if the baby is developing properly by measuring the baby’s size and the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby.  A nonstress test. During this test the doctor will measure your baby’s heart beat as it moves.  A biophysical test. During this test, the doctor may do an ultrasound at the same time as the nonstress test or at a separate time. The biophysical test uses an ultrasound to detect amniotic fluid levels, fetal movement, tone, and breathing. If you are diagnosed with preeclampsia, there are several different combinations of symptoms that may have produced the diagnosis. Your doctor will have detected high blood pressure and at least one of the following symptoms:  Protein in your urine. The doctor may refer to this as proteinuria. Other signs of kidney malfunction Decreased liver function Not enough platelets in your blood Pulmonary edema. This occurs when your lungs fill with fluid. Vision problems Headaches that are new or different than usual.
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One-sentence summary --
Go to the doctor if you have symptoms of preeclampsia. Seek immediate medical attention for severe symptoms. Let the doctor monitor your blood pressure. Get other tests if the doctor recommends it. Ask your doctor about your diagnosis.