December 8, 2009 | Posted by admin
Most people go for dental checkup every 6-12 months without really understanding what is involved. Dentist recommend regular cleaning appointment.
An average appoitnment should run you no more than 30 minutes to an hour. Since the procedure is essentially painless, you will rarely receive anesthesia. During a regular appointment your dentist will do four essential things: dental check-up, scaling, polishing followed by fluoride treament for some qualifying patients.
Dental check up
During the dental checkup, your dentist will be on the lookout for various ailments – both inside and outside the mouth. Since oral health is linked to the body’s general health, dentists are trained to notice early signs of systematic disease even while you are still just getting comfortable in the dental chair.
A good dentist will take note of any enlarged lymph nodes in the head and neck region, as this is a sign of infection spreading through the body. Discolored facial skin can be indicative of liver dysfunction. An enlarged thyroid that the patient considers “normal” might actually be the result of hyper or hypothyroidism. Without going through the entire list, it is clear that a dental checkup begins before you have even opened your mouth.
Following the regular health questions, your dentist will likely sit you back in the chair and look inside your mouth. Your dentist is examining your teeth for decay (which may require x-ray confirmation) but that is just the beginning. Dentists are trained to examine your gums, palate, tongue, lymph nodes, and check for a host conditions. Many diseases are unique to the mouth (oral cancer, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc), while many systemic diseases manifest themselves in the mouth ( diabetes, herpes, leukemia, etc) – your dentist is trained to diagnose both varieties.
Dental Scaling
What exactly is teeth scaling and why do you need it? When you disregard brushing for a day, you will notice a “fuzzy” film on your teeth surface – this is plaque. Dental plaque is the accumulation of bacteria that have adhered to your tooth surface. Regular brushing and scaling can easily get rid of most of this plaque – but not all pf it. Plaque resides in the pocket that exists between your gums and teeth, as well as hard-to-reach area that your toothbrush misses.
Within days, this plaque hardens or “calcifies” and is now termed calculus or “tartar”. Dental calculus cannot be removed by regular brushing or flossing – only a dentist’s scaling instruments can remove the bacterial colony. Even those of us who practice the best oral hygiene methods will have some calculus and this is what underlines the general recommendation to have a dental cleaning every 6-12 months. Dental calculus, much like dental plaque, greatly increases the odds of dental decay.
During scaling procedure, sharp scaling instruments are run inside the pockets that exist between your gums and teeth to remove the calculus. Your gingival tissue should never come in contact with the instrument. The procedure is painless, but in patients with poor hygiene, the calculus may be so great that the gums are sensitive and bleed with minimal contact. For these patients, your dentist may opt to provide local anaesthesia to prevent pain sensation.
Dental Polishing
Following the scaling, many dentists polish the teeth. While not as critical as scaling, polishing simply provides that fresh-from-the-dentist feeling that many people associate with having their teeth professionally cleaned.
Fluoride Treatment
At the very end, your dentist may determine that you are in need of fluoride treatment. Fluoride foam or gel is then placed into small, flexible foam trays and placed over the teeth for 30 seconds. Afterwards the patient is directed to spit as much as possible into a saliva ejector. It is best not to eat, drink or rinse for 30 minutes after the fluoride has been applied.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that gets built into your enamel and helps strengthen it. Excessive fluoride can cause fluorosis of the teeth though – a dental condition. Fluoride treatment is largely reserve for children, and adults who have poor oral health.
Important Considerations
If you have a heart condition, or have undergone recent heart surgery, it is extremely important to inform your dentist before the scaling procedure. Those with heart problems or heart defects are at high risk of developing a condition called bacterial endocarditis, which can seriously affect the heart. The only treatment needed prior to dental cleaning, unless instructed, is a dose of antibiotics an hour before the claning.
Categories: Oral Hygiene | 
Tags: calculus, checkup, dental polishing, dental scaling, fluoride treatment, polishing, scaling, tartar | 
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August 7, 2009 | Posted by admin
Several inexpensive safety precautions can help prevent costly injuries during the summer sport season.
A child’s mouth and face can easily be injured if the correct precautions and equipment are not uesd during organized sports. In fact, sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in 12 to 17 years old and a typical emergency room visit for a child can cost a lot of if not prevented. A new survey however, reveals parent do not enforce the use of some inexpensive protective sports gear, such as mouth guards in many kids sports. Since many oral sports injuries can be prevented by wearing mouth guards, why aren’t more parents and kids getting the message?
To help educate parents, coaches, and kids a wife of football great Joe Montana and the mother of two sons Jennifer Montana, urge the atheletes to “play it safe” by wearing mouth guards and other appropriate protective gear when participating in many sports and activities.
Survey of parents to dentemine why many preventable face and mouth injuries are still prevalent among young athlets. Overall, the survey results showed the need for better education of parents and coaches about the risks and need for mouth guards and other protective mesaures in contact sports.
The survey founds:
- Mouth guard use is very low-67% of parents surveyed said that their child does not wear a mouth guard yet, 70% said that their biggest fear when their child plays organized sports is that they will get hurt. One out of every four (27%) parents surveyed during an organizes sport that resulted in a trip to emergency room.
- Most coaches and leagues are not advising the use of mouth guards-Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard during organized sports, including practice, 84% said it’s because the league or coach does not require it.
- Many parents have misconception on which sports kids should wear mouth guards. The sports parents most cited that mouth guard be requires for include, football(90%), roller/ice hockey(74%) and wrestling(65%). Less than half of parents surveyed felt mouth guards were necessary for other popular sports, including baskerball(36%),baseball/softball(37%) and soccer(45%). Only 3% said that cheerleading should reauire the use of mouth guards. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates, and mouth guards should be worn in all contact sports. Specifically, baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sport-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age. Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports for women, accounting for 65% of all catastrophic injuries in high school girls’s atheletics.
- Children with braces need to wear mouth guards. One out of every three(31%) parents reported that their child had orthodontic treatment or braces while playing an organized sports. Children in orthodontic treatment should wear a mouth guard during organized sports and practice. Patients can sustain mouth lacerations if braces are hit with a ball or by another player.
Just remember these important tips:
- Wear mouth guards for contact sports. Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth
injuries and are less costly than repairing an injury.
- Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact.
- Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely valuable.
- Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketball, and racquet balls can do severe damage.
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | 11 Comments »
May 25, 2009 | Posted by admin
You know that brushing teeth everyday can help you avoid cavities, but that’s not enough to keep the teeth healthy. You may be surprised to learn that most tooth loss is adults is not cause by tooth decay – it’s caused by gum disease. Gums cover and protect the bone that supports your teeth. This bone is like foundation that supports a building – if the foundation becomes weakened, the building may fall down, even though there’s nothing wrong with the building itself.
Similarly, if gums are not cared for, the bone underneath can become infected and damaged. You can lose your teeth if the bone is not strong enough to hold your teeth in place – even if you’ve never had a cavity in your life.
What cause gum disease?
Gum disease is caused by plaque – a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth. These bacteria produce toxins that can irritate the gums and damage teeth.
The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. This is the swelling of the gums that develops when plaque collects above and below gumline. With proper oral care every day and regular visits to the dentist, gingivitis can be prevented or reversed because no permanent damage has occured.
How does gum disease progress?
Left untreated, gingivitis may progress to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. Common symptoms of periodontitis are red, swollen gums that have started to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets. Periodontitis damages the bone that supports the teeth. Once periodontitis develops, the damage can’t be reversed: only a professional treatment program and an improved level of daily oral care at home keep it from getting worse.
Am I at risk of gum disease?
Yes, gum disease can effect you at any age; however, it most often affects adults. In fact, about three out of four adults over the age 35have gum disease now or have had it in the past.
Your risk of getting gum disease may increase if you smoke or have certain medical conditions. If is therefore vital to keep your dentist informed of your general health.
Can I tell if I have gum disease?
You may have gum disease if you have notice that:
- your gums are tender, swollen or red
- your gums bleed when you brush or floss
- you can’t get rid of bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
- there’s pus from your gumline or between your teeth
- you teeth are loose or separating
- your teeth or dentures no longer fit together correctly
What should I do if I think I have gum disease?
Visit your dentist right away for cleaning and exam. In most cases, gum disease can be reversed or controlled if caught and treated early enough.
Better yet, by cleaning your teeth properly everyday and making regular visit you can help prevent gum disease from ever developing.
But remeber, cleaning your teeth is a two-step process of brushing first followed by cleaning in between your teeth – to get areas your toothbrush can’t reach.
Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: gingivitis, periodontitis, plaque, swollen gum | 1 Comment »
April 21, 2009 | Posted by admin
Why Fluoride is Important to Teeth?
Throughout the day, your teeth are exposed to acids released by bacteria found in plaque that can break down enamel (the outer layer) and lead to tooth decay. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can safely strengthen teeth to help prevent tooth decay and permanent tooth loss. More importantly, it helps restore the minerals that have been worn down and repair weak spots in the enamel. Amazingly, the new tooth material created by this rebuilding process is even more durable than the original. Fluoride is also especially beneficial for children because it becomes integrated with growing teeth and helps develop resistance to acids later in life.
Most People Don’t Get Enough Fluoride
You never stop needing fluodire. The simple truth is that most people – kids and adults alike – don’t get enough. Consider the facts:
- 85% of all adults experience tooth decay
- More than 60% of will loss permanent tooth due to cavities
- The majority of bottled waters do not contain optimal levels of fluoride. And, some types of home water treatment systems can reduce the fluoride levels in water supplies.
How can we obtain fluoride?
Frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride each day is the best way to reduce the risk for 
developing tooth decay. Drinking water is most common vehicle for fluoride intake. In non-fluoridated drinking-water (i.e., drinking-water to which fluoride has not been intentionally added for the prevention of dental caries), the fluoride level can be dangerously high. The concentration of fluoride in fluoridated drinking-water (i.e., fluoride is intentionally added for the prevention of dental caries) generally ranges from 0.7-1.2 mg/litre. We can also obtain trace amounts of fluoride in foods, e.g. fish, tea leaves and breast milk.
Topical fluoride is the next best alternative, which can be given in two forms: fluoridated toothpaste or topical fluoride given by a dental professional. Unless a dentist or other qualified health professional advises otherwise, fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced at around age of two. excessive fluoride can cause yellowing of teeth, white spots, and pitting or motting of enamel, known as dental fluorosis. To prevent this, use a baby tooth cleanser on the toothbrush until your child is 2.5 years old, and place a pea-sized drop of children’s toothpaste on the toothbrush from age 2.5 to 8 years of age.
Toothpaste should be dispensed in a pea-sized amount. Children should spit out the toothpaste after brushing but should not rinse with water. The small amount of fluoridated toothpaste that remains in the mouth helps prevent tooth decay.
Professionally applied fluoride (via varnishes, gels, foams) renews the high levels of fluoride in superficial enamel. Topical fluoride may be especially effective for those children at high risk for dental caries because thay lack fluoridated water, have a history of caries, snack frequently on foods high in sugar, or have a medical problem that decreases caries resistance. These treatments also enhance remineralization of early carious lesions. Topical fluoride treatments should be applied only by dentist or qualified health professional.
Studies have indicated that in more than 90% of urban Chinese cities, including Shanghai, fluorine concentrations in drinking water are below levels recommended by WHO (approximately 0.5-1.0 mg/1). This includes the bottled drinking-water supplies to your home or office water dispensers. To ensure a healthy intake of fluoride, use fluoridated toothpaste, which are widely available in supermarkets, and supplement your pearly whites with a topical fluoride treat during your twice-a-year visit to the dentist.
Categories: Dental Health News | Tags: drinking water, fluoride in China, fluorosis, non-fluoridated | No Comments »
April 13, 2009 | Posted by admin
In a recent survey, carried out by the Singapore Dental Health Foundation (SDHF) and the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI), ‘no pain’ was the top reason cited for Singaporeans not going to a dentist regularly.
The survey, carried out last year, sought the oipnions of professionals and workers about preventive dental care – to gauge their level of awareness and desire for dental health benefits.
A total of 337 respondents took part in the survey. About 45 percent were workers – mainly blue-collar workers primarily in the 21-30 age group.
Those who said they did not visit a dentist regularly were asked for the reasons.
Assistant manager Charles Vincent, 35, who has not visited a dentist in two years, gave the typical response: ‘ I just didn’t feel the urgency.’
But when finally visited dentist Dr asha Karunakaran, his gums had already retracted – a late sign of gum disease.
‘It is not true that when there is no pain , there is no need to visit a dentist, ’said Dr Asha, one of the founding members of the SDHF.
Even if there is no pain, a person could be suffering from gum disease – an infection that attacks the gums and bone that support the teeth and may result in the loss of teeth.
In fact, in 2003, the Health Promotion Board found that 81 percent of Singapore adults have some form of gum disease.
Dr Asha said gum disease is common because it develops slowly and can go undetected, since pain is one of the last signs. The common early signs include red gums, puffy or swollen gums, bleeding from the gums and bad breath.
Tooth decay is another common problem not nipped in the bud due to the late onset of pain, said Woodlands Polyclinic dental officer, Dr lih Wei Song. ‘ When a cavity forms, there are no symptoms and pain. It’s only when the decay is close to the nerve that there is sensitivity. By then, the tooth is already infected,’said Dr Lih.
Dr Koh Choo Guan, consultant at the periodontics unit at the national Dental Centre, said: “Some are scared to see a dentist because of the expectation of pain, or they know they have bad teeth but do not want to face the truth.”
In fact, ‘if people came for regular check – ups, ther would be little dirt accumulated and less sensitivity,’ said Dr Lih.
Some 92 percent in the survey agreed that preventive care is important. But 68 percent of the workers said they would visit a dentist only if their company paid for it.
Indeed, the survey found that ‘no time’ and ‘no desire to spend money’ at the dentist were common excuses. In fact, regular dental checks can save money.
Dr Asha said it made more sense to visit a dentist regularly than wait for problems to arise.
She said that at an advanced stage of gum disease, a patient might need large filling, root canal treatment and even crown, which would come up to about $1,000.
But if the problem was detected early, consultation and some fluoride can calcium creams would cost just $65. Importantly, dentists also give advice on proper home care.
Said Dr Koh: ‘Home care such as proper brushing, flossing and brushing between the teeth can help to reduce bacteria in the mouth and reduce the risk of disease.’
Now Mr Vincent said he spends 20 minutes on his teeth aech time he brushes. ‘ I feel 200 times better. It’s worth the investment,’ he said.
Source: Straits Times
Categories: Oral care, Uncategorized | Tags: dental visit, gum disease, infection, pain | 1 Comment »
January 21, 2009 | Posted by admin
Tooth eruption is a part and parcel of growing up, at least for the first 15 years of each and everyone of us. This is especially important for parents to note these dates for your child, so that you can ensure that your child is undergoing a normal phase. Let us first explore the different tooth names and their positions.
Baby Teeth
Permanent Teeth
No teeth are visible in the mouth at birth. It is important to note that eruption times vary from child to child just as the individual growth rates between children vary. Some babies are born with an erupted incisor (neonatal tooth), but these are not the true teeth and lost soon after birth. At about 6 months of age the first baby teeth to erupt are the lower two front incisors (mandibular central insicor) and 4 upper front teeth followed. The remaining child’s teeth will appear periodically in pairs on each side of the jaw until all baby teeth have come in about 2.5 years of age. The last teeth to emerge are the top two molars (maxillary second molars at 30 months). The complete set of baby teeth came out from 2 years to 5.5 or 6 years of age (when no permanent teeth are present.) Shortly after 4 years of age your child jaw and facial bones will begin to grow creating spacesbetween their teeth. This is a natural process to necessary to provide larger space for permanent teeth to emerge.
A good rule of thumb concerning baby teeth is that for every 6 months, approximately 4 teeth will erupt. Baby teeth play a vital role in reserving space for their permanent counterparts and for children social development. Missing or decayed baby teeth often cause children to reject foods that are difficult to chew. Decay and infection in baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent tooth developing beneath it. The deciduous second molars are particularly important and should be preserved until their normal time of exfoliation. This prevents the first permanent molars from moving the empty spaces left behind by the removal of the deciduous second molars. The primary are crucial to your child’s normal facial appearance and the formulation of clear speech.
Parents should note that without the benefit of a full dental examination, including a review of medical history, dental x-rays, and diagnostic aids, no attempt can be made to provide specific diagnosis or recommended coursesof treatment.
Baby Eruption Patterns
- teeth tend to erupt in pairs
- lower teeth usually erupt before the upper teeth
- girls generally preceded boys in tooth eruption
- the teeth in both jaws usually erupt in pairs – one on the right and one on the left
- by the time the child reaches the age of two to three years, all the deciduous (baby) teeth should have erupted
Eruption Dates for Baby Teeth
Tooth Lower Upper
Central Incisor 6 1/2 months 7 1/2 months
Lateral Incisor 7 months 8 months
First Molar 12-16 months 12-16 months
Canine 16-20 months 16-20 months
Second Molar 20-30 months 20-30 months
Permanent Teeth
At about 6 years of age, the first permanent molars (upper and lower) and lower permanent incisorsbegin to erupt. Between the age of approximately 6 and 12 years, children have a mixture of permanent and deciduous teeth. This is known as the mixed dentition stage. By the age of 12 most children have all their permanent teeth, except for their wisdom teeth.
Eruption Dates for Permanent Teeth
Tooth Lower Upper
Central Incisor 6-7 years 7-8 years
Lateral Incisor 7-8 years 8-9 years
Canine 9-10 years 11-12 years
1st Premolar 10-12 years 10-12 years
2nd Premolar 11-12 years 10-12 years
1st Molar 6-7 years 6-7 years
2nd Molar 11-13 years 12-13 years
3rd Molar 17-21 years 17-21 years
Categories: Oral care, Uncategorized | Tags: canine, deciduous teeth, incisor, lateral incisor, molar, permanent teeth, premolar, tooth eruption | 6 Comments »
November 17, 2008 | Posted by admin
Here is a saying that goes…Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so bad breath is in the nose of the receiver!
Halitosis, bad breath, or foetor oris (stench of the mouth) is an age-old and universal problem. Nowadays it is called oral malodour. But halitosis by any other name still smells as foul and creates a social problem.
Oral malodour is caused by nasty-smelling chemicals, such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH). These substances are by-products of protein breakdown by bacteria. In about 85% of cases, the malodour originates in the mouth. The commonest sources are the spaces between the teeth, around the gum margins, and at the back of the tongue.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Here are three common causes of bad breath:
- foods and drinks, such as garlic, onions, cheese, orange juice, and soda
- poor dental hygiene, meaning you don’t brush and floss as you should
- smoking and other tobacco use
Other food categories that will result in an increase of sulfur production because these categories have a stimulating affect on the bacteria that cause bad breath:
Beverages such as beer, wine, and hard liquor. Mouthwashes you find in grocery store, which only makes a bad breath problem worse. Smoking although not a food but is the quickest way to dry your mouth.
Dairy food is notorious for creating bad breath. The buildup of amino acids that are converted into volatile sulfur compounds by the anaerobic bacteria found within the surface of your tongue and throat. Eg: milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.
Using concentrated mint flavorings, your taste buds pick up mint as a taste. Stay away from candies, mints, and chewing gum if they contain sugar instead find a product that contain Xylitol, which is a natural sweetening agent with anti-decay compound.
Foods with a high acidic content are a problem as well. pH is a term used to describe the acidity of an environment. The oral cavity has a normal pH of 6.5 (7 is considered neutral).Some of the foods you should watch out for are coffee and many citrus juices. Among the citrus juices the ones with the highest acidic content include tomato juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grapefruit juice.
Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath because when you leave food particles in your mouth, these pieces of food can rot and start to smell. The food particles may begin to collect bacteria, which can be smelly, too. Plus, by not brushing your teeth regularly, plaque (a sticky, colorless film) builds up on your teeth. Plaque is a great place for bacteria to live and yet another reason why breath can turn foul.
Is bad breath curable or only preventable?
The words “cure” and “prevent” are commonly interchanged when describing bad breath remedies; however, the premise remains the same. Bad breath is both curable and preventable.
Bad breath is curable, because once you adopt an effective bad breath prevention regimen; your bad breath problem will disappear. Bad breath is also preventable, because your bad breath problem will not return if you continue applying your regimen.
Modern Technology to Treat Bad Breath
A new portable sulfide monitor called the Halimeter is being used widely to test for levels of sulfur emissions in the mouth air. Halimeter was introduced in the early 1990s as an adjunct method for determining halitosis levels, alongside human assessment of odor levels.
The advantages of using a Halimeter for a study rather than a gas chromatograph are that a Halimeter requires no special training to use, is portable, breath measurements can be made quickly, and the apparatus itself is comparatively inexpensive.
Categories: Oral Hygiene | Tags: foetor oris, halimeter, oral malodour, xylitol | 4 Comments »
October 27, 2008 | Posted by admin
PARIS – Here’s another reason to brush your teeth: poor dental hygiene boosts the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a pair of studies reported this week.
Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, claiming upward of 17 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Smoking, obesity and high cholesterol are the most common culprits, but the new research shows that neglected gums can be added to the list.
“We now recognize that bacterial infections are an independent risk factor for heart diseases,” said Howard Jenkins of the University of Bristol in Britain, at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Dublin.
“In other words, it doesn’t matter how fit, slim or healthy you are, you’re adding to your chances of getting heart disease by having bad teeth,” the professor said.
There are up to 700 different bacteria in the human mouth, and failing to scrub one’s pearly whites helps those germs to flourish.
Most are benign, and some are essential to good health. But a few can trigger a biological cascade leading to diseases of the arteries linked to heart attacks and stroke, according to the new research.
“The mouth is probably the dirtiest place in the human body,” Steve Kerrigan of the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin said.
“If you have an open blood vessel from bleeding gums, bacteria will gain entry to your bloodstream.”
Once inside the blood, certain bacteria stick onto cells called platelets, causing them to clot inside the vessel and thus decreasing blood flow to the heart.
“We mimicked the pressure inside the blood vessels and in the heart, and demonstrated that bacteria use different mechanisms to cause platelets to clump together, allowing them to completely encase the bacteria,” he said.
This not only created conditions that can provoke heart attacks and strokes, it also shielded the bacteria from both, immune system cells and antibiotics. 
“These findings suggest why antibiotics do not always work in the treatment of infectious heart disease,” Mr. Jenkins said.
In separate research, a team led by Greg Seymour of the University of Otago Dunedin in New Zealand showed how other bacteria from the mouth can provoke atherosclerosis, a disease that causes hardening of the arteries.
All organisms – including humans and bacteria – produce “stress proteins,” molecules produced by conditions such as inflammation, toxins, starvation or oxygen deprivation.
One function of stress proteins is to guide other proteins across cell membranes.
But they can also can latch onto foreign objects, called antigens, and deliver then to immune cells, provoking an immune reactions in the body.
Normally, the body does not attack its own stress proteins.
But bacterial stress proteins, which are similar, do trigger a response, and once that has happened the immune system can no longer differentiate between the two, said Mr. Seymour.
“White blood cells can build up in the tissue of arteries, causing atherosclerosis,” he explained in a phone interview.
Source: China Daily 11 Sep 2008
http://chinadaily.cn/world/2008-09/11/content_7019822.htm
Categories: Oral care | Tags: brushing teeth, heart attacks, heart disease, strokes | No Comments »
October 27, 2008 | Posted by admin
Orthodontic treatment is an important investment for your future. While wearing braces, it is essential that you take care of your teeth and gums.
More Care Needed During Treatment
Have a look in the mirror at your new braces. As you see, the brackets and wires have many nooks and crannies that can trap the food and plaque. This means you risk of tooth decay and gum problems may be higher while you are wearing braces. You need to pay special attention to cleaning your teeth everyday and to your diet. Permanent damage to tooth enamel can occur if the teeth and brackets are not kept clean. Areas on the enamel surface may begin to lose minerals (the early stage of tooth decay) leaving unsightly white spots. You may also develop inflamed, bleeding gums (gingivitis).
Gingivitis and the early stages of tooth decay can be reversed by taking extra care with your oral hygiene and by eating a tooth friendly diet. If left untreated, they can lead to bigger problems that will require treatment and have lifelong effects. While you are having orthodontic treatment, you need to continue to have a regular check ups to ensure little problems don’t become big ones.
Braces Friendly Diet and Habits
There are foods that can loosen, break or bend wires and bands when you are wearing braces. Avoid hard foods such as nuts and hard biscuits. Avoid sticky food and chewing gum! No chewing ice!
Habits such as nail biting, unnatural tongue thrusting, pencil chewing and nervous picking at your wires can also break braces. Be aware of these and make an effort to stop them. If you do break your braces, be sure to make an appointment with your Orthodontist immediately. Broken braces are not correcting your teeth.
Care at Home
When cleaning your mouth while you are wearing braces, you need to pay special attention not only to your teeth and gums, but also to the brackets and wires.
Here are 6 steps for keeping your teeth, gums and braces in great shape:
- Using fluoride toothpaste and a small toothbrush, place your tooth brush at an angle 45 degrees against the
gums. Gently brush along the gum line where the gums and the teeth meet, using a small circular motion on each tooth.
- Spend about 10 seconds on each tooth, brushing in a set pattern so that you don’t miss any teeth.
- Gently brush the braces. Press your toothbrush firmly enough so that the bristles spread into the gaps between the wire and the tooth. Brush in and around all of the brackets and wires.
- Brush both the inside and the outside surfaces of your teeth using a gentle circular motion on each tooth.
- For chewing surfaces, use a firm back and forth motion.Spit out excess paste then closely inspect teeth and braces in a mirror to check that they are clean.
- Maintaining good oral hygiene is especially important during orthodontic treatment. The placement of orthodontics brackets and wires create a real challenge for effectively removing plaque and ensuring teeth and gums remain healthy.
Categories: Orthodontic Treatment | Tags: brackets, gums, orthodontist, wire | No Comments »
September 11, 2008 | Posted by admin
A wisdom tooth is impacted when it is obstructed from erupting fully into the mouth, by the tooth in front of it or the surrounding bone or gums.
Problems caused by impacted wisdom teeth
Improperly erupted wisdom teeth are bleeding grounds for bacteria and may cause tooth decay, sometimes even affecting the neighboring teeth. Infection of the overlying gums can take place as well resulting in pain and swelling.
More serious problems such as the formation of cysts or tumors around an impacted tooth can occur, leading to destruction of the surrounding jawbone and neighboring teeth. These conditions may require complex and extensive treatment. As problems can develop silently without your knowledge, a check – up with your dentist is thus advisable.
Check – up and Consultation
Your initial visit to the dentist would include an examination of your mouth and x – rays to determine the position of the wisdom teeth, their condition and the status of the adjacent teeth and bone.
To prevent problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth, it is advisable to remove them early. The best time to remove them would be during the teenage years, before the roots of the teeth are fully formed and firmly embedded in the jawbone. Healing is also better during this period, with less risk of complications.
Wisdom Tooth Surgery
This is a minor surgical procedure which can usually be performed with little discomfort. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia. Your surgeon will advise you on the type most appropriate for your needs. The surgery involves uncovering the tooth and bone. The tooth may need to be sectioned in order to remove it. The gums are then stitched back.
After the Surgery
After surgery, some minor bleeding from the wound can be expected, which can be controlled by biting on a piece of gauze over the operation area for about half an hour. Facial swelling and discoloration of the overlying skin will also develop, increasing for the first 72 hours and subsiding thereafter. You may not be able to open your mouth as wide as usual for a few days.
Painkillers, antibiotics and an antiseptic mouthwash are usually prescribed after surgery. You will be advised to maintain good oral hygiene and also to keep to a soft diet for a few days following surgery.
Categories: Oral Surgery | Tags: antibiotic, antiseptic, impacted, obstructed, painkiller, surgery, wisdom tooth | No Comments »
