Let’s change our perception towards dental health.

 “The best medicine of all is to teach people how not to need it” -   Hippocrates

The eyes may be the gateway to your soul, but oral health is a window into overall health. "Good dental health not only protects against gum disease, gum inflammation, and tooth loss, but also can protect against many other age-related diseases,"."A healthy mouth really can lead to a healthier body."

A healthy smile

Poor oral health can have severe consequences. Research has shown that gum inflammation (gingivitis) raises the risk for lung disease, heart disease, blood vessel blockage, and strokes.

Tooth loss from gum disease (periodontitis) may raise your risk of dementia.

Poor dental health also can affect your social life. Insecurities about your smile can make you feel less attractive and less likely to socialize, which can increase isolation.

Rinse, brush, floss

Like other aspects of health care, prevention is the best medicine when it comes to your teeth and gums. Investing in proper dental care and upkeep is relatively inexpensive. Dental treatments are where it can get costly.

We recommend seeing your dentist every six months for check-ups, x-rays as needed, and cleanings. In between, you should follow a daily dental hygiene routine to reduce plaque buildup, gingivitis, and cavities. There are three basic steps: rinsing, brushing, and flossing.

Do you feel pain or clicking sound while opening or closing the mouth?

 Do you know about the temporomandibular joint pain?

Temporomandibular disorders are problems affecting the jaw joint and the muscles and other tissues around the jaw joint. These disorders usually cause pain or reduced movement of the jaw, and sometimes sounds such as clicking or grating of the jaw joint. There are various causes but generally temporomandibular disorders are not serious and often improve with simple treatments.

Understanding the jaw joint

A joint is the place where two bones meet. Joints allow movement and flexibility between two bones. The jaw joint allows movement between the jawbone (mandible) and the skull. Muscles attached to the skull and jawbone cause the jawbone to move as the mouth is opened and closed.

Inside the jaw joint, there is a smooth material called cartilage, covering part of the bones. There is also a cartilage disc within the joint. The joint is lubricated by fluid called synovial fluid.

The muscles used for chewing (mastication) are mainly responsible for movement of the jaw.

Symptoms of TMD

• Pain in the joint area or nearby. 
• Jaw movements may be reduced. 
• Clicks or noises can sometimes be heard coming from the jaw joint when you chew or move your mouth. 
• Because the ear is very close to the jaw joint, some people develop ear symptoms such as:
• Noise in the ear.
• Sensitivity to sound.
• Dizziness (vertigo)

TMD treatment

Most problems in the jaw joint can be helped with simple treatments such as painkillers and advice on how to rest the joint. If you think you have TMD then don’tsee your dentist for advice. 

Do you get scare of going to a dental clinic ?

 Are you afraid to go to a dental clinic or dentist?

If you're afraid to go to the dentist, you're not alone. This is a serious situation. It makes people nervous and scared. It leads people to the realisation that fear is completely irrational, but unable to do much about it. They are reluctant, meaning they will do everything possible to avoid going to the dentist. Such people usually visit the dentist only when they do not get relief from the extreme pain. They have trouble sleeping the night before going to the clinic. There is nervousness while waiting in the dental clinic. The thought of going to the dentist makes you cry or feel physically ill. Acute discomfort at the thought of going to the clinic, or getting objects in your mouth during treatment, or suddenly feeling that it becomes difficult to breathe.

What is the reason for this fear?

Some common causes include:

Fear of pain. Fear of pain is a very common reason to avoid treatment. This fear usually starts with a bad old experience or stories of bad experiences told by others. There has been a lot of progress in dental treatment in the last few years, today's treatments are much less painful or even pain-free.

Fear or fear of injection will not work. Many people are afraid of needles, especially when inserted into their mouths. Beyond this fear, others fear that the anaesthesia has not yet taken effect or that there was not enough of a large amount to eliminate any pain before treatment began.

Fear of anaesthesia. Some people fear the potential side effects of anaesthesia such as dizziness (feeling unconscious), or vomiting. Others don't like the numbness associated with local anaesthetics.

Feelings of helplessness and loss of control. It's common for people to feel these feelings given the situation – sitting in a dental chair with their mouth open, unable to see what's going on.

Embarrassment and loss of personal space. Many people feel uncomfortable about the physical proximity of the dentist on their face. Other people may feel self-conscious about the presence of their teeth possible mouth odour.

The key to facing all these worries is to discuss your fears with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, they will be able to work better with you to determine the best ways to make you less anxious and more comfortable. If your dentist doesn't take your fears seriously, find another dentist.

If a lack of control is one of your main reasons behind your stress, actively participating in discussions with your dentist about your treatment can reduce your stress. Ask your dentist to explain what is happening at each stage of the process. This way you can be mentally prepared for the things to come. Another useful strategy is to establish a signalling — such as raising your hand — when you want the treatment to stop immediately. Use this signal whenever you're uncomfortable, need to rinse your mouth, or just hold your breath.

If you are afraid to go to the clinic that what will happen there. So what happens in a dental clinic is, first of all a dentist takes your history, the reason for your visit, your pain, your medical history - such as if you are already running any other disease and some medicine for it. Then your teeth and mouth are examined, if an X-ray is needed, that is also done. After seeing all of them, you are told and explained the disease and its treatment. And the treatment is started only after your satisfaction.

So remove your fear, because your fear and neglect can only increase  the chances of disease and the work, that will be done with less pain and money spent of your prior visits. Your fear and delay will only increase the chance of your tooth may not survive.

Is Trendy toothpaste safe to use?

 Is charcoal and teeth whitening toothpaste safe for my teeth?

You might have seen a lot of advertisements on TV or Internet regarding charcoal and whitening toothpaste. But have you ever wonder about it’s safety? The adds claims that these toothpaste brightens your teeth, but they never explains how it will do, how much and how long to use.  

Charcoal toothpaste has recently become a trendy tooth-whitening choice, joining the ever-swelling ranks of whitening products lining store shelves. It contains activated charcoal, which is a fine powder composed of coconut shells, wood, and other natural substances oxidised under heat. Since it's abrasive, it can indeed help remove surface stains on teeth, but there's no evidence it works on stains below the enamel — limiting its effectiveness.

While using charcoal on teeth is safe in small doses, you shouldn't use this type of toothpaste every day. It's simply too abrasive for the task, risking damage to tooth enamel, the protective outer covering of the teeth. Charcoal toothpaste may even stain teeth inadvertently when charcoal particles get caught in tiny tooth cracks or leave teeth grey or black around the edges. And lastly, most charcoal toothpastes don't contain fluoride, which protects your teeth against decay. It does this in two ways: First, fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel and reduces the chance of acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by re-mineralising areas where the disease begins.

You're better off opting for a standard, fluoride-containing toothpaste instead of a trendy newer product. 

Be wise and alert before choosing any healthcare products. Always read the composition or ingredients and amount of dose written behind the package. Read about the product reviews given by the people over Internet , or even consult with your trusted doctor before using. Never ever risk or experiment with your health. Yours and your family health is the most important wealth you can achieve. Be safe.

How to brush?

 Are you brushing your teeth properly?

Isn’t feels right ,when your teeth cleaned professionally at dental clinic feels like a dental health reset. Your teeth get scrubbed, scraped, and polished to perfection. Whether they stay that way is up to you. What happens at home can be very different from what happens at the dental clinic. But don't grit your teeth over it. Check out these three tips to boost your tooth-brushing game and improve your health in the process.

1. Understand the incentives.

Every time you eat or drink something, bits of food or residue can stick to your teeth and gums. The debris and its bacteria turn into a sticky film called plaque. If it's left on the teeth too long, it calcifies. The hardened plaque is called calculus, and it can't be removed with a toothbrush.

Inside the calculus are bacteria that release acids that cause cavities, break down your enamel, and tunnel inside the tooth toward the nerve and jaw bone, causing infection if left untreated. From there, bacteria can travel to other parts of your body, including the brain, heart, and lungs.  

2. Select a good toothbrush.

A variety of toothbrush options range from simple plastic sticks with bristles to electric toothbrushes. It's not the toothbrush that matters, it's the technique. You might have a brush that does all the work for you. But if you don't have an excellent brushing technique, you'll miss plaque, even with an electric toothbrush.

• Get a toothbrush you like and will use regularly.
• Choose bristles based on your gum health and be gentle to you teeth.
• Replace your toothbrush every few months. It's time for a new brush if the bristles are splayed out and no longer upright, or your teeth don't feel clean after you brush.
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3. Use the right brushing technique.

 Brush with this method twice daily and flossing before or afterward each time:

• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. Divide the time among the upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right teeth — 30 seconds per section.
• Angle the brush. The bristles should be aimed toward the gums where they meet the teeth, a junction where plaque and calculus collect. You don't want the bristles to be perpendicular to your teeth, at a 90-degree angle, but angled, at a 45-degree angle.
• Make circles with the bristles. Rotate the bristles around and around in a gentle sweeping motion to help grab debris at the gum line.
• Be gentle. If you press too hard while brushing, you'll irritate and possibly injure your gums. Brush your tongue, too. It collects loads of bacteria that need to be brushed away.
• Rinse your mouth and your brush. Wash away all traces of toothpaste and food debris.
• Take a peek at your gums. When you finish brushing, pull your lips away from your teeth to see if you left food particles around your teeth. Your gums should not look red or swollen.

A good brush and a bit of technique go surprisingly far to boosting your smile and health.

Ever seen or feel cracks or sensitivity on teeth?? Thought about the reasons??

 DENTAL WEARS 

Dental attrition, abfraction, abrasion, tooth erosion and root resorption are different types of wear on teeth.

 But what exactly are they? What are their causes?

Dental abfraction : is a loss of tooth structure, usually due to continued trauma to the teeth caused by excessive force on them due to a bad bite. When tension zones are generated, microfractures are produced that in the long term can cause the loss of enamel, dentin and cementum.

Tooth abrasion:

Abrasion is a loss of tooth structure due to the contact of the teethwith abrasive elements, such as the use of a toothbrush that is too hard or brushing that is too aggressive.

Tooth attrition:

Attrition is wear of tooth surfaces due to contact between them. This process occurs frequently in bruxist or squeezing patients. 

Tooth erosion:

Erosion is the destruction of the tooth surface caused by external elements, usually chemicals and/or acids, such as those contained in carbonated beverages. An excessive consumption of them can cause the loss of enamel.

Esophageal reflux and bulimia:

In people with gastroesophageal reflux or those who suffer from bulimia, the frequent contact of gastric acids with the surface of the teeth, cause them to progressively erode.

Root resorption:

Root resorptions are defects in a tooth that can affect the enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp, usually caused by trauma, orthodontic treatment, cysts, impacted teeth, systemic, idiopathic or genetic diseases. Resorptions can be external or internal.

Dental Implants! Good or bad??

 Is your dental implant troubling you?? Can implant fail??

Peri implantitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues surrounding a dental implant and that can lead to its loss.

Although implants are not exposed to cavities as normal teeth, they require adequate maintenance as gingival inflammation and even infection and bone loss can occur. If this happens around natural teeth it is called periodontal disease, but if it affects the implants it is called periimplantitis.

The origin of a periimplantitis is usually the accumulation of plaque and calculus around the surface of the implant. This causes the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the implant and the resorption of the bone in which the implant is located. In another cases, the cause may be the wear of an improper bite or a poor implant placement.

In any case, the lack of oral hygiene and tobacco use are risk factors. The proper care and maintenance of dental implants is important for their function and good health.

Your dentist should explain the proper techniques to keep the implants clean and healthy. It is important to have a correct routine brushing and flossing technique. They  can also teach you other tools that can help to keep your teeth and implants clean and healthy, such as interdental brushes and irrigators, among others.

How to treat periimplantitis:

As most times the origin of peri-implantitis is linked to dental hygiene problems, the most common treatment for this problem is to remove the affected tissue and decontaminate the implant.

Once the surface of the implant is completely clean, if possible, the space left by the reabsorbed bone may be filled with biomaterials. In cases where bone filling is not possible, the area will be sutured, leaving part of the surface of the implant exposed to the oral environment, which will require specific hygienic measures.

There are more serious cases in which the progress of peri-implantitis is greater. In these situations, the treatment is the explantation of the implant and placement of a new one, if possible.

Dental implants are not exempt from proper maintenance just like natural teeth, so it is recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice a year.