Q: Make sure to keep an eye on your teeth in between dental visits. Watch for a discolored spot on the surface of the tooth. It could be close to black, brown, or even off-white. If the tooth is painful, that is another sign.  The pain from a rotting tooth may be severe and ongoing or only triggered by hot or cold temperatures. Continual bad breath is another sign of tooth damage. A cavity is a hole in your tooth. These gaps make it possible for damaging bacteria to get inside your tooth. If a cavity remains untreated, the tooth will only get worse. It can even lead to another cavity in the same tooth. If only part of a tooth is rotten, it may be possible to fill a cavity hole. Talk with your dentist about the types of fillings that are available, including silver, composite resin, or copper. The filling process is done in-office and usually only requires local anesthesia. However, it’s possible that your dentist will suggest a crown or another procedure after working to prepare a tooth for a filling. If the tooth is beyond repair or compromised by multiple fillings, you may need to get it crowned. This is where your dentist will place a “cap” or molded covering over the entire tooth. The tooth itself will be filed away to remove any rotten portions. This procedure usually takes a few hours and requires a local anesthetic. You may also need to get a root canal before a crown if the dentist believes the roots of the tooth are dead as well. If you have severe bone loss due to rotting teeth or if your gums have receded to a painful extent, your dentist may suggest corrective surgery. This is an in-office procedure where your dentist will place tiny shards of good bone in rotted areas. Your dentist may also graft new tissue on to spots where your gums have receded. If the tooth is decayed to the point where it’s causing gum problems, your dentist may advise pulling it out completely. This is a procedure that requires local anesthesia and can usually be done in your dentist’s office. After the tooth is pulled, your dentist may put a bridge in to hold the space in your mouth.
A: Recognize the symptoms of tooth decay. Treat cavities as soon as you notice them. Consent to a filling for partly rotten teeth. Get a crown if the tooth is not salvageable. Agree to surgery for periodontitis. Remove the tooth entirely if it is rotting your gums.

Q: Most natural acid reflux remedies are safe for the majority of adults. Note that some herbal remedies, however, may not be safe for children or teenagers. It’s best to try mild lifestyle changes first if you need to treat acid reflux in an adolescent. If these do not work, consult your doctor or do some thorough research before giving an adolescent an herbal remedy. For example, you should not give aloe juice to children under the age of 12 since it may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cramping. Most herbal remedies and other natural treatments will be safe in moderate amounts, but too much of a good thing can quickly become bad. When using herbal supplements, check the label for dosing instructions. For any natural remedy that does not have dosage instructions readily available, do some research to find out how much you should safely be able to endure.  For instance, aloe juice can cause stomach pain and other forms of digestive upset, especially if the juice contains aloe latex. Long-term use of large amounts can also result in kidney problems.  Consuming apple cider vinegar is usually considered safe short-term, but drinking too much of it can cause low potassium levels.  High or prolonged doses of licorice root can result in headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and water retention. Do not take licorice for more than 4 to 6 weeks. If you are not currently pregnant or are not at risk of becoming pregnant, most natural remedies are likely safe for you. However, for acid reflux connected to pregnancy, always talk to your doctor before treating your symptoms to make sure you do not inadvertently harm your baby. It’s important that you do this before trying any herbal remedy, dietary fix, or lifestyle change.  Similarly, if you are currently breastfeeding, you may need to stay away from certain ingested remedies since they could get into your breastmilk and harm your baby. Most lifestyle remedies will likely be safe, though. Potentially problematic remedies for pregnant and breastfeeding women include, but are not limited to, aloe juice, apple cider vinegar, ginger, fennel, licorice, and slippery elm. In addition to pregnancy, certain medical conditions may also make herbal remedies or other natural fixes unsafe. If you have a known health concern other than acid reflux, talk to your doctor or do your research before trying any particular home cure.  Avoid aloe juice if you have diabetes, intestinal conditions, hemorrhoids, or kidney problems.  Talk to your doctor before trying apple cider vinegar if you have diabetes. While ACV may have some benefits for people with type 2 diabetes, it may do more harm than good if you have type 1 diabetes.  Ginger may cause problems if you have a bleeding disorder, a heart condition, or diabetes.  If you are allergic to celery, carrot, or mugwort, you may have an allergic reaction to fennel. You should also avoid fennel if you have a bleeding disorder or hormone-sensitive condition, like estrogen-sensitive cancers.  Licorice root may cause problems if you have heart disease, heart failure, hormone-sensitive cancers, fluid retention, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, or low potassium. If you have an immune system disorder, you may need to avoid taking probiotic supplements.
A:
Use herbal remedies as an adult with acid reflux. Try natural remedies in moderation. Consider natural remedies if you're not pregnant or breastfeeding. Exercise caution if you have other medical conditions.