Month: April 2021

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a natural mineral that is essential to keep teeth strong and cavity-free. Fluoride supports healthy tooth enamel and fights off harmful bacteria. The significance of fluoride heightens when a person is at a greater risk of developing dental caries. Caries of cavities occurs when bacteria build up on teeth and gums and form a sticky layer of plaque. Dental plaque produces an acid that erodes teeth and gum tissues. If the plaque can break down the enamel, bacteria can infect and attack the nerves and blood at the nucleus of each tooth.

Topical fluoride is a unique treatment prescribed by dentists. Professional fluoride treatments are available in a highly concentrated rinse, foam, gel or varnish. You may apply the treatment with a brush, swab, tray or mouthwash. The fluoride content in professional fluoride treatments is much higher than that of usual tubes of toothpaste. The Treatments are easy to apply, and the dentist may ask you to avoid consuming food for at least 30 minutes post-treatment so that the fluoride can fully absorb.

Importance of topical fluoride treatment

Topical fluoride treatment helps prevent cavities, tooth decay and gum diseases. Fluoride treatment is also effective in decreasing painful tooth sensitivity.

Can topical fluoride treatment prevent tooth decay in your child?

Infancy to early childhood is the most active period for developing teeth, jaws, gums and jaw structure. One of the major concerns during this monumental stage is to protect your child from tooth decay. Contrary to popular belief, it is vital to safeguard even the baby teeth from decay as a premature loss of teeth due to decay could cause the incoming permanent teeth to erupt at improper positions. Thus, using topical fluoride is an optimal solution to prevent tooth decay in your child. Although fluoride remains essential throughout a person’s life, its significance is paramount during the early period of a child’s growth.

The typical way of receiving fluoride is through toothpaste or drinking water, wherein it first passes through the digestive system, then to the bloodstream and finally reaching the teeth. A topical fluoride treatment is direct and allows more excellent absorption of the vital mineral into the enamel.

Now, the inevitable question is whether topical fluoride treatment has any side effects? Like everything else in the world, a fluoride treatment also has some side effects, albeit temporary. On account of the much higher fluoride dose, the child may experience transient vomiting, headache or even stomach pain he or she accidentally swallows the gel. Hence, extra precautions such as a mouth tray to catch the excess solution are necessary.

But, the fact remains that the benefits of topical fluoride treatment far outweigh the risk, especially among children who are six years or older. Studies have shown that young patients who have received fluoride applicant show an average 28 per cent reduction in tooth decay, tooth loss and so forth.

In case you are interested in opting for topical fluoride treatment for your child, consult your dentist.

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

What does gnashing your teeth mean?

Teeth gnashing, also known as bruxism, is a medical condition wherein a person has the habit of grinding, grating or clenching their teeth. Bruxism involves any forceful contact between the teeth, whether it is silent or loud. Research reveals that 50 to 95 per cent of adults suffer from bruxism, and approximately 15 per cent of all children are also diagnosed with the condition. Although the exact causes of the problem are unknown, experts believe that bruxism occurs due to psychological stress. There are two types of bruxism – awake bruxism – when the person unconsciously clenches their teeth while awake; sleep bruxism – when the person grinds or gnashes their teeth while asleep. People who grasp or gnash their teeth during sleep are more likely to develop sleeping disorders like snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea). Mild bruxism may not mandate any medical assistance. However, in some instances, when bruxism is frequent and severe, the patient may develop jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other issues.

Causes of bruxism

Bruxism comes as an accompaniment to certain sleep disorders. Also, drinking alcohol and taking certain medications may worsen the condition of teeth gnashing. Misaligned teeth may also play a causative role and determine the severity of bruxism. Many a time, children develop bruxism as a response to colds or other infections. Studies show that people with compulsive, controlling or aggressive personalities have an increased probability of suffering from bruxism. 

Symptoms of teeth-gnashing

To properly understand the dental care related to bruxism, it becomes crucial to understand the symptoms first.

• Grinding or clenching of teeth is the primary symptom of bruxism. Mostly, the gnashing sounds are loud enough to wake the person sleeping beside you.
• Flat, fractured, loose or chipped teeth are other signs of bruxism.
• You may experience enhanced pain in the teeth or sensitivity.
• Fatigued and tight jaw muscles or a locked jaw are telling signs of bruxism.
• Jaw and neck pain or soreness is another symptom of teeth gnashing.
• Sleep disruption 

Complications

Although complications from bruxism are rare, severe bruxism can result in extreme facial and jaw pains and tension-type headaches. Teeth, crown and gums may also experience damage due to severe bruxism. Sometimes, it can also cause temporomandibular joints disorders that occur in front of the ears, wherein the person may hear a clicking sound while closing or opening their mouth.

Teeth gnashing and dental care

In case you feel that you may be suffering from bruxism, consult your dentist immediately. Furthermore, if the symptoms are unpleasant, don’t waste time. Some of the treatment of bruxism involves behaviour modification such as stress management or relaxation therapy. Often, dentists use mechanical devices like mouth guards to protect the teeth if grinding and clenching. Alternative treatments like hypnosis and biofeedback therapies have also shown positive results while dealing with bruxism.

Please visit your nearest dentist at the earliest if you are feeling discomfort in your teeth or gums.

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

Living with braces is a bit challenging, to say the least. People with braces wait excitedly for the removal of braces after a couple of years to get a transformed smile. But then comes the surprise- the doctor advises the use of retainers, another orthodontic wear. While a lot of people may get disappointed for having to wait a little longer for their teeth to be completely free, what they do not realize is how important this step is.

Wearing retainers is just as crucial as the first part of the aligning process. The entire result of the treatment can turn out to be futile if you do not wear retainers after getting your braces removed.

Why does this happen?
The new smile that you hope to get after getting braces can be reversed. This is because the periodontal ligament which holds the teeth in place is elastic. This property is targeted by braces that move the teeth in the desired direction or alignment. The same process can be reversed after the braces are removed due to the muscle memory of where the teeth used to be. Therefore, it is advised to wear orthodontic retainers for some time after the removal of braces to stabilize the teeth.

Types of retainers
Now that you have realized why it is important to wear retainers after getting your new smile, you need to choose the retainer that would suit you the best. There are two types of retainers that you can choose from, including:

1. Removable retainers
2. Permanent or bonded retainers

Removable retainers
Removable retainers can be removed at times, such as when cleaning the teeth. The duration of wearing the retainer can be reduced as time progresses. Initially, they have to be worn all through the day but can be worn only at night after the passage of some time. The drawback to this type of retainers is since they are removable, they require higher maintenance to prevent breaking or losing.

Bonded retainers
On the other hand, bonded or permanent retainers have to be worn at all times and cannot be removed at the person’s will. This is best suited for people who would not be able to take care of the removable retainers and would end up breaking or losing them frequently. People with bonded retainers have to learn how to floss the retainer to maintain oral hygiene. The retainers can later be replaced by removable ones if the wearer desires.

Which retainer would suit you more depends on the complexity of your problem and other factors such as age and the ability to take responsibility for belongings. The best way to find out the type of retainer that can protect your smile effectively is to get in touch with a dentist. They can prescribe the most appropriate type based on your specific requirements. The dentist can also provide consultation on how to properly care for the retainers and ways to keep up your oral hygiene. \

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

Cheilitis is a severely painful and uncomfortable condition. But, you may ask what cheilitis is. It refers to the condition of ‘inflammable lips.’ The disease or problem manifests in dry, red, chapped, blistered, and itchy lips. The various symptoms of cheilitis include – redness, cracking, bleeding, pain and swelling. The two main causative factors of cheilitis are – external and internal factors. The condition’s external causes include allergic reactions to cosmetics or drugs and exposure to extreme heat or cold or the sun.

This type of cheilitis can be termed contact cheilitis. The internal causes of cheilitis include oral infection, autoimmune disorders, vitamin deficiencies, and age-related factors. You must be mindful of the ingredients you put on our lips and inside our mouths. Patch testing lipsticks and other makeup products become crucial. But, another generally overlooked product that often comes in contact with our lips is toothpaste. So, the looming question is – can toothpaste cause cheilitis?

Toothpaste – a cause of Cheilitis?

Allergy to oral hygiene products like dental floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc., may be rare, but they exist. Research has identified approximately 30 allergens in toothpaste, and they are common in most of the tubes available in the market. Research shows that toothpaste is the second most typical cause of contact cheilitis after lipsticks. On the contrary, it is the commonest cause of cheilitis among males.

The flavoring agents in toothpaste are the most common reason that causes contact allergy or cheilitis. The most common flavoring allergens you can derive from the mint plant are spearmint, peppermint, menthol, and carvone. Other allergy-inducing ingredients in toothpaste include –

• Propolis – It is an antiseptic agent
• Hexylresorcinol – It is a plaque controller found in toothpaste
• Azulene – is an anti-inflammatory ingredient
• Dipentene – It is the solvent used in cleaning products
• Fluoride salts
• Preservatives

Toothpaste contains a common surfactant and detergent called Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), which aids in toothpaste’s foaming. This ingredient may aggravate and sensitize the cheilitis that you are suffering from.

Other oral hygiene products that may cause Cheilitis

Apart from toothpaste, other oral hygiene products can also be the cause of cheilitis. Dental floss has an allergen called colophony which may cause cheilitis. Mouthwashes have allergens that are similar to toothpaste tubes. Although denture cleaners rarely cause cheilitis, those with an ingredient called ammonium persulphate can cause contact cheilitis among people.

Methods to treat contact Cheilitis

1. The best way to treat contact cheilitis is avoidance of the product and allergen if identified.
2. Changing the toothpaste becomes one method to treat contact cheilitis.
3. A lip product with sunscreen is preferable.
4. You can also apply a topical antibacterial or antifungal treatment.
5. Regular application of moisturizing lip balm may help in treating cheilitis.

Ways to prevent Cheilitis

Precaution is better than cure. So, it is better to be aware and follow necessary steps to avoid the occurrence of cheilitis in the first place. You should pick or bite your lips. In case this is a habit, you must get rid of it. You should avoid the prolonged use of lipsticks and lip liners. Eating vegetables and fruits abundant in vitamin A, vitamin B12, and zinc is necessary. Oral hygiene is a very important part of our overall health.

Hence, being cautious of the products you use is crucial and do visit a dentist if necessary.

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