Tooth | Dentistry

Teaching Preschoolers to Brush their Teeth

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Teaching a young child to brush his or her own teeth is often easier said than done. In some cases it can take years for a child to finally develop the proper technique to do a really thorough job. But by following a few tips and tricks, you can help your child get on the road to good oral health.

You should start caring for your child’s gums when he or she is a baby, and brushing their teeth as soon as the baby teeth begin to come in. Once a child reaches preschool age, it is usually a good time to being teaching them how to care for their teeth on their own. (But your supervision will still be required for a long time.)

Explain to your child that everyone has dirt on their teeth and people have to brush their teeth to get it off. Teach your child a song to sing while he or she brushes. There are many examples on the internet of songs that are catchy and describe the proper teeth brushing actions of brushing up and down and around and around. For starters, use just a wet toothbrush. Once your child begins to understand, you can use a small amount of child-friendly toothpaste.

It’s important to keep things fun and lighthearted. Reward your child when he or she does well, and help your child understand the right way to do it if he or she makes a mistake. Let your child watch you brush your teeth – kids this age love to copy what mom and dad do.

Once you begin letting your child brush their teeth regularly, explain that you still need to do a check to make sure all the dirt is gone. Quickly do a final brush of your child’s teeth to make certain they are completely clean. You’re well on your way to developing good teeth brushing habits in your child.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Dental, Dentistry, Gingiva, Health, Shopping, tooth, Tooth brushing, Toothbrush

Are Gum Disease and Heart Disease Linked?

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For years doctors and scientists have debated the possible connection between gum disease and heart disease. There are bits and pieces of evidence that suggest a link, but nothing has yet been scientifically proven.

What is known is that people who do not have gum disease also have lower incidences of heart disease. Some experts think it is possible that people who care for their teeth and gums simply take better care of themselves overall, resulting in a lower incidence of heart disease in these groups. That is to say that people who take the time to brush their teeth and floss may also take the time to eat well and get regular exercise, thereby taking care of their hearts and circulatory systems.

Scientists, doctors and other researchers have reviewed a large amount of existing data from studies, searching for a conclusive link between gum disease and heart disease. They found that gum disease is a risk for heart disease and for clogged arteries in the legs. A study of 50,000 people discovered that people with gum disease were at greater risk for stroke.

There are more links that were uncovered. Several types of bacteria that are common in hardening arteries also cause gum disease. Additionally, one symptom heart disease and gum disease share is inflammation. But what they didn’t find is the “why.”

Experts recommend that people take the time to take care of their teeth and their hearts. Whether or not the two are related, caring for yourself in this way is the smart thing to do. People should talk to their dentists about gum disease and if they have it, get evaluated by a physician for heart disease. Those with heart disease should watch closely for the development of gum disease and if it is found, seek care from a qualified dentist.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Circulatory system, Conditions and Diseases, Dentistry, Gingivitis, Health, Heart disease, Periodontitis, tooth

Good Foods that are Good for your Teeth

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Everyone knows that to take care of your teeth, you need to brush and floss every day, and see a dentist twice a year. But did you know that you can choose to eat foods that will help you keep a beautiful smile?

The foods listed here are not only good for you, but they are good for your teeth because they make them stronger, remove that nasty plaque and fight the bacteria that can damage your pearly whites.

Water tops the list. Not only is it essential to all life, it is essential to a healthy smile. Water makes your body make saliva, an important protector against bacteria. And drinking water can help wash away any food that’s been left behind after a meal or snack.

Celery is a great teeth protector. Like water, it stimulates the production of saliva, and the abrasive action of it rubbing against your teeth and gums when you chew actually cleans between your teeth.

It might be surprising but onions, while horrible for your breath, are actually great for your teeth. They have been proven to have antibacterial properties, and to work against the leading bacterial cause of cavities.

Sesame seeds might be another surprising addition to this list. Those little things have a nasty habit of becoming lodged between your teeth. But, they are abrasive like celery, so they help clean your teeth while you eat them. They’re also high in calcium, and we all know how beneficial calcium is for our teeth.

If you tire of drinking water, don’t reach for a soda. Try some green tea. It has been proven to kill the bacteria that cause plaque and bad breath. Just don’t sweeten it with sugar or honey!

By consuming these common foods and drinks, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Dentistry, Drinking water, Food, Halitosis, Health, tooth, Tooth enamel, Water

Diabetes and Gum Disease

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Most of the millions of people who have diabetes are aware of the common side effects of the disease. Foot problems, heart disease, stroke, kidney issues and eye problems are some of the more well-known issues that can develop in people with diabetes. But did you know that gum disease, or periodontitis, has been found to be more prevalent in diabetes sufferers, too?

Gum disease happens when your gums recede from your teeth, leaving space for all the nasty bacteria to invade. These bacteria cause puss and infection to settle in. If left untreated, the infection eats away at the bone loosening your teeth. They may even become so loose they fall out.

Research shows that the connection between diabetes and gum disease goes both ways. People with diabetes are more likely to get gum disease because they are generally more susceptible to all infections. People with gum disease may be more likely experience a faster progression of diabetes, as there is some evidence that gum disease can affect how well blood glucose is controlled.

If this concerns you, there are some simple things you can do. Take care of yourself by controlling your blood sugar levels and properly caring for your teeth and gums. Brush your teeth after every meal and snack, and floss daily. See your dentist twice a year. When you visit your dentist, make sure he or she knows you have diabetes. They’ll be able to better care for you and will know to look closely for any signs that gum disease might be developing. If you need to have a dental procedure beyond a regular cleaning, make sure your blood sugars are well under control first.

Not only will following these simple steps help keep your mouth healthy and your gums disease free, they will also keep your smile in tip-top shape.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Blood sugar, Dentistry, Diabetes mellitus, Disease, Gingiva, Infection, Periodontitis, tooth

Causes of Bad Breath

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Have you ever heard about Halitosis. Or bad breath as it is commonly known to many. It is an oral problem faced by people of all ages due to several reasons. Food particles stuck on the tooth starts to decompose in mouth and when we exhale the odor of bacteria and decomposed food causes Halitosis. Most of the bad breath can be prevented if the cause is found soon. But in rare cases Halitosis is caused by some medical conditions which have to be treated. The common reason where a person experiences a Halitosis are the type of food consumption, eating habits, oral hygiene, dry mouth, smoking, or any other medical conditions. The food we eat plays an important role in having bad breath. Garlic and onions are known for causing Halitosis. Improper brushing of teeth on regular bases is also a common cause of Halitosis. Brushing twice a day and using a fluoride based paste may prevent from bad breath. Bad breath is also caused by dry mouth where the production of saliva is reduced a condition known as Xerostomia. Saliva is a natural lubricant produced by mouth to help in chewing the food and helps in swallowing. If produced in fewer quantities may cause the food particles to be stuck in tooth which not only cause bad breath but also tooth decay.

When we think about smoking we think about lung cancer. But smoking also is a major cause for bad breath. During smoking the smoke we exhale comes from mouth. The smoke residues get deposited in mouth causing bad breath. Eating a mint after smoking prevents bad odor for a limited time but on a long run it is harmful. It is recommended to visit a dentist to find the exact root cause of Halitosis and a proper treatment to prevent it.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Dentistry, Halitosis, Mouth, Odor, Oral hygiene, Root cause, tooth, Xerostomia

New Born Dental Care

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Prevention is better than any form of cure. Parents should educate their children about tooth related problems and help them to develop a proper oral hygiene. Especially for a new born the care of the mouth is as important as much the growth of the child. Visiting a dentist at the end of his 12 month to see the development of his jaws and growth of his first teeth is necessary. Parents should ask quires and learn how to give a proper care for the further growth and formation of the teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is very common in infants. It is caused of continuous feeding from breasts or bottle even after the child is grown. Feeding in this form should be stopped after a particular age.

The upper front teeth of the child are easily affected because of this decay as the lower teeth are protected by tongue during the process of sucking. Never allow the child to fall asleep with a bottle or a pacifier in his/her mouth. The liquid which forms helps the bacteria to turn milk into acid which causes decay. Make it a habit to clean the mouth after feeding with a soft clean cloth even before the first tooth appears. And when the growth is prominent use a small soft bristle brush without a paste to clean the tooth. Help the child to brush his teeth regularly twice a day as he grows up. Encourage him to brush every day the first thing in the morning. This cultivates a habit of healthy oral hygiene. Allow the child to use the tooth brush and don’t worry if the child like to brush his teeth all the time during the day, just a close inspection is required. Avoid eating of sweets and candies before sleeping to prevent further decay. A newborn is totally dependent on you to take care of.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Child, Dentistry, Health, Infant, Mouth, Oral hygiene, tooth, Toothbrush

Children and The Candy Nightmare

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Eating candies is the one of the favorite things from with you cannot part your children with. They can have candies for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every time in between. Eating a little candy is all right but eating too much without any control is not good especially for growing children. Parents are more afraid when their children eat sweets in excess. If eating candies worries you about your children’s health then some tips have to be followed which will give your children healthy teeth and parents can be free from all the worries. No one can stop children from eating candies. Candies are a part of their life and they will be ready to do anything if you promise them a candy.

This consideration can be used in keeping some restriction on children like when to eat candies, how much to eat, what to do after eating lots of candies. Set a limit on the number of candies child must eat in a day. Do not exceed a limit of 5. It can be made like one candy after a meal. After eating candy make them wash their mouth with a mouth wash or make them brush. If they refuse to brush, show them a candy and tell them that you will give it the next day. If the child still refuses to brush provide them with a sugar free chewing gum which will make their mouth fresh and give healthy teeth. Utmost care should be provided for children and make sure they brush at least twice a day. Utmost care should be provided for children and make sure they brush at least twice a day. Following these simple routines, your child can have a healthy teeth and gums and prevent form tooth decay. Dental care is a must and hence every bite of candy can be enjoyable if a healthy care is given.

Filed Under: Dental care, Dentistry Tagged With: Candy, Dental caries, Dentistry, Eating, Food, Health, Healthy Teeth (Healthy Living), tooth

The Truth About Wisdom Tooth

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Wisdom teeth are the final permanent teeth to come in your mouth. Third molars are called wisdom teeth because they grow during the 17 and 20 years of life when we enter adulthood and become wiser. On an average there are four wisdom teeth but may vary from person to person. Some may have extra or even no set of molars. It depends on size of our jaws which are designed to hole 28 to 32 teeth. Since wisdom teeth come at last they have little space to grow and final shape of our teeth are decided. As they have less space the wisdom tooth tries to push the teeth forward or have an impartial growth which tends to its removal. Sometimes when the wisdom tooth is not completely out it causes the food particles to get stuck. This causes tooth decay and may even lead to removal of them.

Not everyone needs a wisdom tooth extraction and not all wisdom teeth are removed. Dentist carefully examines the wisdom tooth or even takes an X-ray to decide which molars have to be removed. Then the patient undergoes a small surgical operation to get the wisdom tooth removed. The dentist starts the procedure by giving the patient a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the areas around the mouth and tissue. Once this is done the gums covering the wisdom tooth is removed to have better visibility. The tissue surrounding the area is pushed with a surgical instrument. If the wisdom tooth is not been impacted under the bone then the dentist just loosens the tissue connecting and wisdom tooth and remove it from the socket. Otherwise a hand drill kind of instrument is used to remove the bones covering the wisdom tooth and then the above procedure is repeated. Once removed the area is closed by stitching to heal the wounds.

Filed Under: Dental care Tagged With: Dental extraction, Dentistry, Health, Shopping, Surgery, Tissue (biology), tooth, Wisdom tooth

The Perfect Smile

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Are you worried about your tooth color? Do you fear to laugh openly?
Modern science has found an easy solution for tooth whitening for people who smoke, drink lots of cola and do not brush. It was never this easy before to clean your teeth or to control bad breath that generated from your mouth but now a variety of tooth whitening techniques are available which will give you not only perfect shining color but also perfect shape. Teeth whitening gels and pastes are used and show the maximum result. Bleaching teeth is a part of general dentistry and most of the youngsters need white teeth hence why not bleach them. The upcoming generations have to be perfect in everything and they prefer these easy and fast techniques. Tooth whitening techniques are a fast spreading cosmetic dentistry.
Although whitening tooth is easily done but that will not last for long as intake of food and other beverages will automatically change the color of your teeth. Tooth whitening techniques used will be different for different persons. It will depend on the type of teeth you have and the color of it. Tooth whitening shows its best result when teeth have yellow hue rather than any other colored hue. Enamel is removed and penetrated for whitening. This technique should not be applied on sensitive teeth. Even it should not be used by pregnant ladies and ladies doing lactation. Risks like allergy caused by the pastes and gels can create bad effects on our teeth.
But without going to these techniques you can get whitening teeth just by properly caring them. Smoking and drinking should be avoided. Brushing and flossing must be done regularly. A dental checkup should be arranged every 3 months. Also the usage of whitening pastes can give best results. Usage of soft bristles brushes maintains your gum. These methods will give you healthy teeth.

Filed Under: Dentistry Tagged With: Dentistry, Halitosis, Health, Hydrogen peroxide, PRWEB, tooth, Tooth bleaching, Tooth enamel

The Root Cause of Root Canals

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Root canal is a space in the tooth between the pulp chambers (which contains small nerves) to the root of the tooth. The pulp chamber is the space from the center of the tooth to the root tip. It is a portion below the enamel of the tooth which contains very sensitive nerves. These nerves are protected by dentin which is above the pulp. An average human have 1 to 4 root canal on each tooth. Incisors have only one where as molars can have up to four root canal. There may be some extra canals which may branch from main canal. These are called accessory canals. A severe pain is felt when this nerve is exposed from their protective barrier due to tooth decay or any other accidental trauma or sometimes due to aging. Tooth decay is a slow process where the decay penetrates the enamel of the tooth and rupturing the dentin leaving the nerves are exposed. In a case like the dentist performs a root canal surgery.
A complete inspection is performed to check the nerve exposed and the cause of it by taking an x-ray. Then a local anesthetic is given to numb the tooth and area where the root canal is performed. Once done the dentist then removes the decay completely and use chemical to disinfect the tooth. Then a rubber pad is kept inside to prevent anything to go inside your mouth. Next the dentist will drill hole inside the tooth to reach the pulp chamber and a specially designed file is used to remove the nerve completely and infected tissue. Care must be taken to remove the nerve completely to avoid further infection after the surgery. When completely removed dentist will fill the canal with Gutta percha which is kind of rubbery material to cover the tooth. Later the tooth is covered with a cap or crown.

Filed Under: Cure, Dental care Tagged With: Canal, Dental caries, Dentistry, Health, Nerve, Pulp (tooth), Root canal, tooth