Month: May 2020

Every parent is excited when it comes to encountering their child’s first tooth. Well, the interesting fact is teeth start to develop in the womb itself but are visible months after the birth. The first pair of primary teeth appear at the age of 6 months and stay as the only couple of teeth present till the child turns two, followed by the eruption of other baby teeth.

Tooth eruption timeline covers the complete chronology of the eruption of a child’s teeth from the first tooth to the permanent molars.

When do primary and permanent teeth erupt and fall out?

Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, start appearing six months after birth. They are 20 in number, and the first teeth to emerge are the lower central incisors, which appear between 6-10 months of age. Now, the timing of eruption may vary from child to child. Still, the general timeline for the eruption is given below:

• Upper central incisors- 6 to 12 months
• Upper lateral incisors- 9 to 13 months
• Upper canine- 16 to 22 months
• Upper first molar- 13 to 19 months
• Upper second molar- 25 to 33 months
• Lower second molar-21 to 31 months
• Lower first molar- 14 to 18 months
• Lower canine – 17 to 23 months
• Lower lateral incisors- 10 to 16 months
• Lower central incisors- 6 to 10 months

These primary teeth fall out between six to twelve years of age, and then the permanent teeth erupt. Plus, the thumb rule is that for every six months, approx. Four teeth erupt.

Note- The above list shows that:

The upper teeth tend to appear earlier than the lower teeth. However, lower central and second molars are an exception.

All the primary teeth appear between 3 years of age to 7 years of age.

Now coming to the permanent teeth, also called adult teeth, they are 32 in number. The timeline of their eruption is:

• Upper central incisors- 7 to 8 years
• Upper lateral incisors- 8 to 9 years
• Upper canines- 11 to 12 years
• Upper first premolars- 10 to 11 years
• Upper second premolars- 10 to 12 years
• Upper first premolars- 6 to 7 years
• Upper second molars- 12 to 13 years
• Upper third molars( wisdom teeth) – 17 to 21 years
• Lower central incisors- 6 to 7 years
• Lower lateral incisors- 7 to 8 years
• Lower canines- 9 to 10 years
• Lower first premolars- 10 to 12 years
• Lower second premolars- 11 to 12 years
• Lower first molars- 6 to 7 years
• Lower second molars- 11 to 13 years
• Lower third molars( wisdom teeth)- 17 to 21 years

Now, many people think that baby teeth exist only for a short period, so why is caring for them necessary? Well, the answer to this query can be concluded with knowing the purpose that these 20 baby teeth serve:

• They assist in creating an appearance.
• They reserve spaces for the permanent teeth.
• Their health is the base for the health of the permanent teeth.
• They assist in developing a clear speech of the child.

Though the eruption time may have variations of 3-4months from person to person, you can use the above-mentioned general eruption chart to have an idea and make the necessary preparations for the desired care of the teeth appearing shortly after the baby is born.

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It is suggested to do a handful of things to keep your dental health at its best. From following the basic oral hygiene to new ways you look for to improve your oral health, you came across many products that promise you improved teeth and enamel, but how much do you trust them?

What are mouthwash and its use?

Mouthwash, also known as an oral rinse, is a liquid carrying antiseptic property to kill bacteria’s living between your tongue and teeth. It is not a replacement to brushing and flossing, but a step that will enhance your hygienic dental procedure. Now, the intention behind using this mouthwash varies from person to person. A few use it to remove bad breath and introduce the desired scent in the mouth while others take it as a trusted solution for tooth decay and cavities.

As there are different types of mouthwash, thereby varying ingredients. So, even if you know the benefits, have complete knowledge about your actual requirements, the purpose of using the liquid, different types, ingredients, and the appropriate method to use.

Benefits of using a mouthwash

With promises of the positive effects of using a mouthwash, let us have a quick look at the list of the benefits it will serve:

• It reaches the corners where our brush can’t reach and thus clear the debris and plaque that are left behind.
• Therapeutic mouthwash helps to remove the bacteria in the mouth and thus fights the issues like gingivitis and demineralization when taken regularly.
• They can even whiten your teeth with time.
• They are considered to be a reliable partner when it comes to resolving the lousy breath problem.

How to use a mouthwash

Well, it is always mentioned in the package, follow the instructions exactly as they are written so that you achieve the best results. In addition to that, follow the tips given below to make the procedure practical:

• If you are using Fluoride toothpaste, wait a while before using mouthwash. Immediate use of mouthwash post-brushing and wash away the necessary Fluoride.
• Use an accurate amount of the liquid, only the amount prescribed.
• Don’t swallow the mouthwash; only rinse with it for the correct time. Taking more amounts of it can be toxic, thus asking your children to do it in your supervision so that you take care they don’t swallow.
• Gargle with the liquid for at least 30 seconds.

Precautions before using mouthwash

A few of the ‘don’ts’ are already discussed in the above list; still you need to be very careful before making a mouthwash the essential part of your daily routine. Before choosing the liquid, consult with your dentist, especially when you are already under medication or open sores in your mouth.

Again, always keep in mind that if you have dental issues like bad breath, cavities, decay, etc., a mouthwash alone cannot cure it, but can undoubtedly contribute effectively to the treatment and improvement. Hence, if you ask the question, “should we use mouthwash or not”? It will be a ‘yes’!

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Is this because you are too worried about your oral health? It is seemingly a simple question but ‘good oral hygiene’ does not demand obsession to brush your teeth all the time. Let’s talk about if your worries are serving any purpose to make your smile pleasant.

All of you, who are obsessed about brushing your teeth more frequently, literally after every single meal, snacks or drinks, are probably making your dentist or your hygienists happy but unknowingly you all are inviting flaws to your smiles by doing that as well.

We are all aware of the long established perception, which states that it is necessary to brush your teeth in the morning to protect your oral health. But practically the frequent usage of brush on the teeth eventually damages the whole purpose of oral hygiene. It is clinically proven and witnessed.

Brushing is important but brushing after every meal is not good oral hygiene. WHY?

Remember those lines from your school textbooks- “The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is the hardest substance in the body – even stronger than the bones and it protects the teeth,”?

A surprising fact is that your mere habit of brushing your teeth after every meal can damage this protective shield called enamel, despite being the hardest substance in the body. HOW?

It is a known fact that brushing one’s teeth helps in getting rid of the food particles and sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferates (Plaque). After you have had your meal or munched on some sugary drink or snack, the bacteria in the plaque is said to produce acids that are likely to damage the tooth enamel to an extent that your enamel may break down or may even build cavities.

In this state, when the protective shield of your teeth is under the effect of acids and are already weak, your toothbrush alone can cause dental abrasion. Abrasion is the progressive loss of the enamel, eventually causing visible notches on your teeth and once the enamel will wear away, the layer of dentin located underneath will be exposed.

According to the medical professionals cum dentists, the dentin is not as hard as enamel and if it gets exposed due to abrasion, the mouth bacteria will lead to tooth decay and there will be no option left other than the extraction.

Does it mean that brushing after every meal should be avoided?

No, brushing your teeth after every meal should not be avoided, because you wait for half-an-hour or a bit more than that to use a brush and avoid vigorous or aggressive brushing. It is suggested that during this half-an-hour time, let your saliva kill the bacteria through its own bacterial enzymes. The saliva washes away those hidden food particles in the teeth.

The significance of brushing usually depends on what you eat. Let’s take an example: If you had a light lunch ending with a salad and some carbonated water, you can go ahead brushing your teeth if you feel the necessity of doing it. However, if you had a lunch with a heavy dessert and a sugary drink, you may have an urge to use the brush but then keep in mind the time gap required between eating and tooth-brushing.

How can you avoid enamel erosion?

• Maintaining a time difference between eating and tooth-brushing as discussed above is the first thing, which can help in preventing enamel erosion. Postpone the brushing at least for 30 minutes after meals.
• Take care of the diet. Avoid brushing after having acidic foods and beverages such as Grapefruit or Orange juice, which may weaken the surface of your teeth.
• Avoid frequent snacking which may continue to produce sticky deposits on teeth.
• Learn the correct ways of brushing from your dentist. Avoid giving a quick scrub to your mouth in the morning or a hurried brushing before sleeping.
• Remember to replace your toothbrush every two-three months or sooner if you find the bristles have become irregular.
• Regularly visit your dentist for check-ups.
• Consume adequate water throughout the day.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.