Manohar Dental Care Vizag: January 2019

Monday, January 7, 2019

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Ask about any sensitivity or pain you’ve experienced

If you’ve been feeling any sensitivity or pain anywhere in your mouth, even if it is very minute, is extremely important as it may be early signs of a larger issue. Gingivitis, cavities, teeth grinding, and jaw clenching can all cause sensitivity and pain in the jaw, neck, teeth, and gum line. If you notice any sensitivities, be sure to alert both your dentist and dental hygienist so they can inspect the area specifically for any abnormalities or signs of decay and damage. 

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Ask about your mouth feeling dry or having a strange odour

A dry feeling mouth can point to issues with saliva glands, can be a symptom caused from medication, or could possibly be a sign of diabetes. There can many different reasons for smelly breath and other oral odours, including infection, bacterial or otherwise. For these reasons, you should be telling your dentist about these concerns even if you are sure that there is nothing to worry about. Having a professional double check any symptoms or suspicions is the only way to either make sure that there is nothing to worry about or to find out what the issue is so a solution can be found. 

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Do I have any bleeding, bumps, or sores in or around my mouth?

Bleeding gums when brushing, flossing, or any other time is usually a sign of gingivitis which can quickly lead to gum disease. Bumps and/or sores in or around the mouth area can be signs of infection, oral cancer, or another issue altogether. Again, alerting your dentist to anything abnormal is essential in making sure that it is addressed during your next checkup and may help them to pinpoint an issue that isn’t visible but you can feel.

Read more: Why are your gums bleeding and what to do about it?

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Is there anything I should tell my family doctor about?

Your oral health affects your overall health and if there is a major issue happening in your mouth, your family doctor should be aware of it. If you are pregnant or have a medical condition that otherwise weakens your immune system, you are more vulnerable to bacterial infection that can stem from gingivitis and gum disease. Asking your dentist if you should inform your family doctor about any oral health issue is a good way to make sure that everyone monitoring your general health is on the same page and can care for you efficiently and to the best of their ability. 

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Are my medications up to date in my chart?

It’s sometimes easy to forget to tell your dentist and hygienist about any medication changes you may have had since your last visit so to be sure that your chart is as accurate as possible, be sure to mention any and all medication you are on every time you visit. Ensuring that your dental professionals have as much information as possible about your health means that they can provide you with the best possible care and avoid possible procedure complications. It is great practice to write down the medications you are taking, have changed, or have stopped taking prior to your appointments so that you can double check that it matches with your dental chart. 

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Questions you should ask your hygienist

Whether you are looking for a new dental practitioner or have been regularly visiting the same dental office for years, there are a few questions you should be asking both yourself and your dentist each time you go. These questions will ensure that you are as informed as possible when it comes to your dental health, up to date with the latest in dental care advancements, and not ignoring any potential issues in your own mouth. Read on to discover what you should be asking every time you visit your dentist for a regular checkup.

Read more: What Happens During a Routine Dental Checkup?

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How can I prevent enamel loss?

Flossing and brushing twice every single day with fluoridated toothpaste is the easiest and most effective daily prevention method to combat and prevent enamel loss. Using a mouthwash that fights against enamel loss can also be a great addition to this routine, and will provide extra protection throughout your day. And, of course, visiting your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning is a key step in ensuring that your entire mouth gets a regular cleaning, by targeting hard to reach areas where destructive bacteria can dwell. 

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What happens if my enamel is gone?

Without enamel, the sensitive part of your teeth is exposed and vulnerable to destructive substances, much more susceptible to breakages, and can become extremely sensitive and painful. Because the enamel protects the inner part of the tooth, without it, teeth would deteriorate and decay very quickly, resulting in oral pain, tooth loss, infection, and likely gum disease. For mouths with advanced enamel loss, artificial teeth may be installed as a solution to ward off further decay from teeth, gums, and the overall jaw structure. 

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How can I replace my lost enamel?

As mentioned before, once enamel is lost it cannot be replaced. But weakened enamel can be salvaged through a process called remineralization, which replaces lost minerals in the enamel, making it strong once again. Products with fluoride, like fluoridated toothpaste and foods high in calcium, are great for aiding in remineralization. Fluoride acts as a barrier between your teeth and destructive substances like sugars, starches, and acids, protecting the weakened enamel and your teeth. For specific advice based on your enamel loss, make sure to speak to your dentist about the best solution for you and your teeth. 

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How To Brush Your Child’s Teeth

Regardless of the age of your baby or toddler, practicing good oral hygiene and establishing a thorough dental care routines is essential in preparing your child for a future of great oral health

At every age, the dental needs of your child will change, and so we’ve created an easy guide which will help ensure that you are taking care of your child’s teeth the best way you can as they grow.

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The easiest way to keep your dental health in check

The most important thing to do when caring for your family’s oral health is to make frequent visits to your dentist. Professional teeth cleanings are essential in keeping your dental health in check as dental professionals are able to see and reach areas of your mouth that you cannot. Allowing these areas to go unchecked for too long can have destructive effects. Having regular checkups ensures that both you and your dentist are aware of what’s going on in your mouth and, if an issue does arise, you can find a solution as quickly as possible. 

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Candy

While children are on vacation, it’s common to see them munching on sweets that they wouldn’t normally eat throughout the day. While a piece of candy here and there can be nice, having too much too often can be detrimental to your oral health. There are two kinds of candies that are the worst for teeth and gums: those that are very chewy and sticky and those that are hard and must be constantly sucked on. The first type lodges in between teeth and other difficult to reach areas and can be very hard to remove with just a toothbrush. Because these candies stick so well to teeth, it allows tons of destructive bacteria to eat the tooth enamel in a very concentrated area. Harder candies are left in the mouth for a long time, subjecting teeth to a constant stream of sugar without a break. This means that bacteria is allowed to build up without the mouth having a chance to battle it naturally.

Fresh fruits and veggies are the healthiest alternative to any candies as they hold a fraction of the amount of sugar and can actually help to clean the mouth. Try freezing grapes for a fun fruit alternative that can battle sugar cravings in an instant.

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Sodas and sports drinks

As the weather heats up, more and more people, children and adult alike, reach for a sports drink or pop instead of water to quench their thirst. When this is done more than once throughout the day, teeth become constantly subjected to sugar without a break. Again, this means that, without being properly removed, sugar bred bacteria can wreak havoc on teeth and gums. Sodas are especially destructive as the carbonation can also play a hand in eroding tooth enamel when consumed throughout the day. To put into perspective how much sugar your teeth are subjected to each time you reach for a soda or sports drink over water, consider that in one regular sized can of pop is the equivalent of ten teaspoons of sugar.

To make sure that your child’s teeth don’t suffer from sugary liquids like these, offer them either water or natural fruit juices as an alternative.

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Popsicles, ice cream, and freezies

These frozen confections can be very tempting on a warm summer day, but it’s important to remember that they are packed with sugar. When you eat a popsicle, freezie, or similar treat, your teeth are in constant contact with sugars. These sugars latch onto teeth and gums and breed bacteria that begin to eat away at the enamel of your teeth. If the bacteria is not properly removed quickly, you may see cavities develop very quickly. A single cup of plain vanilla ice cream has the equivalent of over five teaspoons of sugar in it.

As an alternative, keep a bowl of fresh fruit in the fridge to have as a snack. There is much less sugar in natural foods and the cold will help to cool you down on a hot day. If you’re looking for something with more substance, try plain yogurt with fruits and, if you’d prefer, a teaspoon of natural honey mixed in. Again, this will contain less sugar, satisfy any cravings, and the calcium in the plain yogurt is good for teeth.

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Summer snacks that may be hurting your child’s teeth

With summer vacation in full swing and children enjoying days filled with delicious seasonal treats, it’s easy to forget that your child’s oral health may be suffering. Summertime is known as the season of fruit, popsicles, candy, ice cream, soda, and many other fun foods that can actually seriously harm your child’s teeth. We’ve rounded up the most notoriously tooth damaging culprits you’ll likely see this summer to help you identify where a treat alternative might be a better idea in the long-run. 

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If braces are unavoidable, why not upgrade them?

If your child does need traditional metal braces, there are some options that can make them more appealing. No longer do braces come in just plain metal. Now there is an array of fun colours that can be incorporated into the braces, which your child can pick to suit their personality. These colours can be changed every time they visit the dentist and can make the experience much more pleasant. Studies show that over 75% of children who wear metal braces choose to have their favourite colours incorporated into them.

Lingual braces are another great alternative to traditional braces as they are placed behind the teeth. This means that they look and operate like traditional braces but are not visible. This type of alignment appliance can be higher in cost however, so knowing what is most important to you when making decisions about your child’s oral health is what will determine the road you will take.

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Straightening teeth without braces

Sometimes braces are not the best choice for you and your child, depending on the situation and your concerns. There are now teeth straightening options in addition to traditional metal braces that can help correct alignment issues. The Invisalign straightening system is one that has proven to be very popular as it replaces metal wires with transparent plastic trays that gently push teeth into place over time. The teeth straightening trays are practically invisible, eliminating any concerns about the cosmetic appearances associated with braces. Invisalign also allows your child to eat, drink, and clean their teeth as normal, since the straightening trays are easily removable. 

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Dental visits from early on can prevent braces

Your child’s baby teeth will start to descend around the age of seven years old. This means that they will either start to fall out or will shift in preparation for the adult teeth that will be breaking through the gum line in the future. It’s vital that at this age, they regularly see the dentist every six months to have their oral progress monitored. 

If your child will need future alignment correction for an overbite, underbite, misaligned teeth, or teeth with large spaces between them, it is best to find out as early as possible. If an issue is identified, it doesn’t mean that your child will need braces right away. In fact, it is very rare for braces to be put on a child this young. However, there are steps that can be taken as early as seven years old to fix alignment issues that may arise in the future.

For example, if your dentist can see that your child’s adult teeth will need more room to grow in order to prevent teeth from crowding or breaking through the gum line where they shouldn’t, they may recommend that a baby tooth be removed to give the permanent teeth the space they need. Alternatively, leaving baby teeth in place can also prevent future adult teeth from drifting into gaps that they shouldn’t. Taking preventative measures like this means that future braces can be avoided.

Each situation is specific and requires the expertise of a dental professional to determine the best course of action. Making sure that your dentist knows your concerns and preference to avoiding braces will help them to give you the best advice for your situation.

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