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LAZY BRUSHER? HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD TRY CHEWING GUM!

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

CHEW ON THIS!!

The habit of eating chewing gum has been under debate, while some people assume it’s a useless habit and reflects poorly on social etiquette many others believe chewing gum could increase brain function, overall cognitive thinking as well as suppress appetite. Now, there is an even better reason why we should all be chewing it.

Researchers in Netherland have proven and published that sugarfree chewing gum can remove almost as much intra-oral bacteria as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly.The researchers stated that the gum is most effective in the first 30 seconds of chewing

Flossing does remove these bacteria in different areas of the mouth than chewing gum, but one stick of gum can remove up to 100 million bacteria in 10 minutes! That is roughly 10% of the total salivary load. These bacteria are the ones that cause dental caries, and once you remove the gum, the bacteria are eliminated from the field.

The gum does have to be sugarless or contain artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, mannitol & xylitolto also works(Sugared gum can actually feed the Intra-Oral bacteria that cause tooth decay). Chewing gum manufacturers constantly claim benefits such as remineralization of enamel, decrease in tooth decay, and reduction of plaque and gingivitis which can be trusted to an extent in the light of this recent study.

****We dont endorse any particular brand of chewing gum*** This study does show that chewing gum could possibly have the same advantage as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly. However, this should not replace vital procedures like brushing and flossing but yes it can supplement oral hygiene measures especially in people with a greater tendency towards decay. The recommended oral hygiene routine still is brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque from the tooth surface and flossing regularly to remove these bacteria from between the teeth. In addition chewing gum can be chewed post sweet or sticky meals to reduce bacterial load and act as a cleanser reducing the risk of decay.

There maybe some relief in the thought that if you skipped your night time brushing routine at least be sure to pop in a sugar free gum for a few minutes and the job may just be done!

5 HABITS THAT MAKE LIVING WITH BRACES EASIER

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

So you’ve decided to straighten your teeth and get a great smile that too naturally but the road to a brilliant smile comes with a guide map and here are some of the key stops.

Keep Them Clean

While braces are a great tool that work on natural teeth with no side effects, caring for braces is extremely essential in order to ensure that you don’t end up with any post orthodontic dental work. Braces be it metal or ceramic tend to accumulate food and in turn cause cavities or stains.a lot of people suffer from post braces unnecessary treatments only because they couldn’t keep them clean.

Know What Foods to Avoid

Wherever you are in your braces journey remember when you started you were warned about a bunch of things you have to stop eating and drinking. That memory maybe fading away but the truth is the dietary restrictions need to be followed atleast to a certain extent if you want the braces off on schedule. Foods like pizzas, sticky candies or biting into anything from your front teeth is a strict no as it’ll cause the front braces to come off and besides interrupting the treatment you may also end up hurting yourself. Sodas should be avoided as they cause the braces glue to dissolve and they come off your teeth earlier than we would want.

Bracket Breaks

The system of braces is basically individual brackets that are placed on your teeth to move them and a wire that engages all these brackets together. A common occurrence with braces is the brackets come off or break if you’re not careful.When this happens it’s like a derailing a machine everything comes to a standstill and its very important to get this fixed at the earliest for the treatment to continue efficiently. Bracket breakage can be prevented by maintaining dietary precautions,efficient brushing and avoiding trauma to the face.

Be on The Lookout for Pain or Blisters

Although less common now there’s an occasional chance of slight pain or ulceration after braces are placed in the mouth for the first time.Our body is getting used to a large foreign object and it may react by rejecting the areas that hurt and forming an ulcer which may last a few days and settle. The pain sensation of tightness and tooth movement can be eased with a mild anti inflammatory or pain killer on the first appointment if need be.

Don’t miss appointments

Missing your regular dental appointment is bad enough but your orthodontic (braces) appointment is the most important day of the month for you.Skipping or missing this appointment disrupts the schedule of tooth movement and you may delay an already prolonged treatment procedure. So if you want that brilliant smile be as soon as possible follow the steps above and you will breeze through your orthodontics treatment without a snag!

DAILY HABITS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGING YOUR TEETH!

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

USING TOOTH PICKS

The worst habit you could possibly have when you have food lodgement in the mouth is using a tooth pick to get rid of it. We often try and use this as an acceptable habit even socially but few things are grosser than watching people pick out food bits after meals. If you have a cavity get it fixed. We have numerous cases where the toothpicks have either injured the gums and caused a larger infection or even worse broken in the cavity and triggered of even more pain. So stay safe from dental emergencies do not use tooth picks! While it’s important to prevent food lodgement in the mouth and keep your mouth clean use things like brushes interdental brushes and floss sticks or dentists to help you do the same without harming you!

USING A HARD OR MEDIUM BRUSH

The oldest myth we have seen is brushing your teeth with a hard or medium brush.Please terminate this habit right away ensure you switch to a soft brush at the earliest. We do not need more teeth ruined or worn off due to overzealous brushing. We see cases with the entire left side worn down and sensitive and I can tell the person is a right handed vigorous brusher. The softer the brush the better it bends and cleans between teeth as well. The gums also recede due to repeated trauma from the hard bristles so save your mouth from these constant attacks in the name of cleaning.

SCRUBBING YOUR TEETH

The same principle applies when u switch from a hard to soft or extra soft brush don’t apply so much pressure that the teeth and gums are still braving the injury. You need to brush gently as though cleaning glass the force being minimum the reach and coverage being maximum! So scrubbing is a habit we need to stop.

NOT BRUSHING AT NIGHT

One of the best things we can do to avoid the dentist or any dental troubles is brushing at night. When it comes to cleaning your teeth frequency matters more than force. Ensuring you clean every 12 hours makes bacterial attacks that cause decay inactive so whenever we skip brushing at night we may not realise but it’s definitely costing us.

POPPING PAINKILLERS

The first sign of dental pain and we instinctively choose to ignore it hoping it will go away and if it doesn’t we want to go ahead and pop a painkiller till it does. Masking the problem will actually make it bigger – while we all know this we prefer to accept the instant relief the medication provides over the tedious dental visit that may end with bad news. But imagine if we had gone at the very first sign of trouble most likely we would get away with a dental cleaning -the later we go the more often we need to go for extensive treatments. Let’s try and muster the courage to nip these problems in the bud – a habit to develop show up at the very first sign of trouble.

DO IT YOURSELF DENTISTRY (DIY) AT HOME

We have all been our own dentists at some point ! From self medication to oral applications and home remedies when all else fails we make an appointment. A few things are harmful and should be used with care when attempting our own dental care. We recommend mild things like oral rinses or applications which relieve pain but do not use aspirin or any other pain killer to crush and put in the site, that can cause burns.

Also clove oil is a safe remedy but not cloves which can be sharp and hurt your cheek.

Do not try to remove shaking teeth or attempt any procedures the bleeding can be profuse and the damage severe . In case of trauma ice to freeze the blows and water to clean the wound will work best. In the age of technology and information let’s not fall prey to easily avoidable dental habits that harm you more than they help you. Write to us or call us at 9209200024, if you have any queries.

YOUR EMERGENCY GUIDE FOR TOOTHACHE

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

It’s 3 a.m. and you’ve had 3 Crocins but your heads still blasting and your cheek feels like it’s going to blow up! Nothing seems to control this severe throbbing, mind numbing pain. How many of us have found ourselves in this situation where we are stranded without help and wish we had not ignored that nagging toothache? If you don’t want to live with the looming fear of a tooth ache, the best prevention is a dental visit, but for the weak-hearted there is always hope. Dental pain or Toothaches can arise without reason and cripple you at any point whether in the middle of the night, in a different country, in transit or in a position where dental care is not accessible immediately. So here are a few quick tips to ensure that you keep that dental pain away! Take down your list of dental must haves for those bad Toothaches:

Pain medication – The first thing that will strike you when your teeth are aching is to pop in a pain killer, although its important to use one which is more specific to teeth. While Paracetamol is the popular drug of choice we recommend you stock up on Diclofenac derivatives more targeted to toothache, ensuring that there’s no allergy for this medication is something that must be done.

Clove oil – An effective home remedy take a ear bud dipped in clove oil to ease off the pain on any open cavity where the nerve is exposed.It also works very well on those stubborn wisdom teeth.

Ice pack – In case of trauma to the teeth, lips or face or if a swelling or bleed is seen placing an ice pack on your cheek is something that will not only ease off the pain but will also reduce the swelling.

Salt rinses- If all else fails and all you have is a bit of salt then just put it in a glass of luke warm water and gargle with it to allay active gum infections.

Gumex gum paint – A common astringent paint is a harmless alternative to reduce bleeding on gums after which a dental clean up can be instituted.

Dental Floss – Tooth ache is often triggered by the lodging of food in open cavities between teeth. To stop this immediate trigger use a dental floss and remove the particle for instant relief.

Sensitivity tooth pastes – Acute sensitivity to extremes of temperature can be reduced temporarily by scrubbing in sensitive tooth paste and leaving it on the tooth for a few minutes rather than brushing and rinsing immediately.

Needless to say a Dental check up every 6 months is the best method of preventing an emergency and to curb the problem in its nascent stages. My advise would be don’t ignore your teething troubles but if you do then we are still there for you, making sure you have what you need when you have those unexpected aches!

5 DENTAL HABITS YOU DON’T WANT YOUR CHILD TO END UP WITH

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

Watch out for these habits to keep your child’s teeth safe. A million questions may plague you as a parent since you don’t know what to make of your child’s dental behaviors and habits. Here’s an easy read to help you watch out for the ones that really matter!

1. THUMB SUCKING

This is the worst of all habits tends to damage the teeth and jaws the most and can impact the permanent teeth most significantly. Thumb sucking is a very obvious habit that most mothers need to be weary of.While it cannot be ignored it shouldn’t make you worried sick some kids go through thumb sucking for a very short and natural period of time but it’s the long term habit that can turn out harmful. The reasons for thumb sucking maybe many but the primary one seems to be a craving for love,affection and security so in addition to trying to train your child to discontinue the habit, supplementing him psychologically plays a great role. Habit breakers such as thumb guards, bitter liquids and a dental consultation to assess any damage to oral tissues are all parts of treating and breaking the habit.

2. TONGUE THRUSTING

While thumb sucking is a voluntary habit tongue thrusting is more or less involuntary. The child tends to start swallowing in this way due to the shape of his oral structures.When we swallow our tongue rests below our lower teeth but in this habit the tongue tends to push the teeth every time the child swallows.You can identify this habit very simply by observing your child’s tongue when he swallows if you can see it come between the teeth in a thrusting motion you may be able to imagine how it will slowly push the upper lower front teeth forward. Making the child conscious of this habit will not help. A simple habit breaking appliance worn in the mouth called the tongue crib can hold the tongue in place and help it acquire a new swallowing position.

3. BOTTLE TO BED

Many children have grown up with the habit of a comforting feed in the night and they do not sleep until they’ve had some sweetened milk in the bottle as well. Some mothers think of it as a harmless continuation but this habit can wreak havoc on the front teeth and cause a disease called baby bottle tooth decay with broken, blackened and decayed front teeth. This may lead to extensive dental work which at a young age may be challenging for the child to have to go through. So the best prevention is to keep the bottle away at night and if you have no other choice follow it up with a drink of water after and ensure wiping of their teeth completely clean so no sugar or milk remains in the mouth.

4. SWEET SNACKING AND NO RINSING

While kids tend to put everything in their mouth at a particular age and refuse to eat square meals it remains our responsibility as their parents to teach them right from wrong.While frequent snacking may not be bad for your child but the food sticking to their teeth for numerous hours can leave them susceptible to decay or gum problems. Teaching your child to rinse after every meal is probably one of the best oral habits you can pass on that stays through adulthood as well and takes the least amount of effort.

5. BAD BRUSHING AND EATING TOOTH PASTE

Kids will be kids and brushing maybe an acquired skill for them that develops independently only after years of coaxing. We recommend making brushing fun for kids by playing songs to time their brushing, making them watch brushing cartoons or apps which give them directions and rewards for the right way of brushing. A word of caution for kids who tend to swallow or eat toothpaste it can be quite a harmless habit which they eventually grow out of , but a parent or caregiver must monitor these children and not leave them alone to swallow sizeable quantities and ensure you are using a kids toothpaste for their age or the ingredients maybe toxic for them.

Pen and Pencil chewing, Lip and nail biting are some of the other common habits children tend to develop but they are relatively harmless and transient.

It’s important to know which habits are harmful and which are natural and harmless part of the growing process. As parents we need not be over concerned but ignoring or missing training kids at a young age can prove to be expensive giving them dental troubles lifelong in the future.

5 WAYS TO FIGHT BAD BREATH

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

Is bad breath ruining your love life? Of all the things that can ruin your chances with a person -be it at work, romancing or even talking to your best friend -bad breath can be the worst. We see (smell) people suffering with bad breath almost everyday and it takes a huge hit on their self confidence. A massive source of embarrassment we have all experienced bad breath at some point and while some of us know how to deal with it a large multitude are clueless. So here’s your simple guide to never have to worry about bad breath or “halitosis” as it is scientifically called.

1. IT’S ALL IN THE FOOD

We have often heard foods like onions, garlic and excessively seasoned preparations can make your breath smell,this is absolutely true and easy to experience with our Indian diets. While we can’t avoid what we love to eat a simple and easy solution is to rinse and use a mild mouthwash after a meal like that.

2. HYDRATE

One of the reasons why breath can be unpleasant is if we don’t drink any liquids for a prolonged period of time. This causes the mouth and throat to dry up leading to a peculiar dry mouth smell typical of dehydration. Easiest solution to adopt is have frequent sips of water or keep event phone reminders for hydrating. The benefits of drinking enough water are innumerable besides fresh breath.

3. ADOPT THE TONGUE CLEANING HABIT

All of us may have seen and heard of tongue cleaning right from school but somewhere in our busy schedules this has dropped away from our routine oral hygiene habits. A large majority of food deposits liquids and foul smelling substances accumulate on the small projections of our tongue and over the days cause a smell that doesn’t leave you no matter what you do. If using those cumbersome metal tongue cleaners doesn’t suit your style you can use your brush itself provided it has soft or extra soft bristles, some brushes come with a rubber tongue cleaner at the back of the head which also works well.

4. DENTAL CLEANUP

When you’ve tried everything else and somehow your bad breath still persists you’re at your wits end then don’t trouble yourself go visit a dentist. A simple dental clean up removes deposits in between teeth and helps clean out areas that you may not reach with manual techniques. The dental visit will also take care of any cavities or gum disease that may be contributing to your issue.

5. SYSTEM CHECK

At times the oral cavity is the wrong place to be checking as some of us maybe very diligent about our oral care but the bad breath maybe a result of a systemic or bodily disease – for example gastric disturbances tend to give you several oral effects from acidity to bad breath. If your body is unable to metabolise certain food stuffs it can give out objectionable odours unrelated to your mouth. If all else fails getting a gastric or general body check up may work as well.

OUR OPINION ON SUGAR FREE GUMS, STRIPS AND SPRAYS

Almost all of us use these at some point to mask our bad breath, while these products have their space in the market it is important to ensure that we are using them to enhance our breath or feel a good taste rather than to hide a problem that we are not willing to deal with. We do recommend the use of sugar free gum to stimulate saliva production and as a good exercise for the jaws, strips have their role in keeping your taste and breath fresh after a meal you would have rather avoided and sprays give you an instant and handy result when in meetings or at work. Occasional use is validated but excessive dependency on these products is unnecessary if you have dealt with the steps above.

10 THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE YOU LAST VISITED THE DENTAL OFFICE PT 1

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

Most of us will only visit a dentist when push comes to shove and when all other home remedies have failed.Why are we all prone to this universal behavior whether we are young or old,man or woman,child or adult,educated or not no matter where we come from the fear of the dentist unites us. But let me tell you like most things that we do with a herd mentality get us nowhere let’s try an break away from this primitive trend and embrace what the new dental experience has to offer us. Maybe our last dental visit dated back to the premillennial era and taking a look at the latest that dentistry has to offer in the new age maybe worthwhile and eventually inevitable.

THE AMBIENCE

The last time we went to a “regular” dentist we only remember being in a small dingy cubicle with bright lights in our eyes. A no frills place established in the prehistoric era with no attention to how it made you feel.The growing number of new dental offices are ensuring that they cater to a warm friendly ambience that puts you at ease. Remember those gory pictures of teeth and jaws that made your anxiety mount as you waited your turn,thankfully they’ve been left behind for the prehistoric era. You can now look forward to a chic interior with welcoming staff and a place that could double up as just about anything from a salon to a corporate office – focus being putting you at ease and making you feel comforted.

BRACES

Those terrible metal braces used to be like barbed wires earlier, used to leave us looking like robots and feeling sore and blistered,are now smooth precise and sophisticated tiny machines with biophysics to precisely work on the teeth and not damage any other tissues. More esthetic options have arrived with people not even realising you are wearing braces.The ceramic ones are tooth coloured looking camouflaged on your tooth structure, the clear aligners can be removed and barely seen as they fit snugly on and the lingual ones go at the back of your teeth. Contrary to popular belief that braces are only for kids they’re actually meant for people at all ages.

INJECTION

The fear of needles has led to the development of technology that have either changed the way injections are given – like the digital anesthetic making the needle almost undetectable or even completely needle free injection which are like pressure jets used to numb the area. Numerous efforts have been made to ensure that needles and injections are absolutely painless now.

DRILLS

The other most dreaded machine is the dental drill.The drill is on its evolutionary extinction in the dental office as lasers have arrived.Currently drills and lasers are used intermittently but eventually research proves they will be used solely.The drills now even come with buttons that can stop the drill when you please. Remember the time when your dentist said just raise your hand when you want me to stop well no need you have the button and you can stop the dentist when you like.

SURGERY

Going under the knife can seem scary to the bravest of us.What if that concept changed and we could now just go under a laser light – well it has-a light that heals or reshapes the tissue vs a knife that cuts off the tissue is what we have now.So be it a gum infection or even lightening dark gums can be as easy as ever.

Tune in to hear about more developments at your dental clinic in our next article. Why would you want to miss out on that wonderful smooth & fresh smile that you can only get after a visiting the dentist? Call us at 9209200024 to book your appointment.

10 THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE YOU LAST VISITED THE DENTAL OFFICE PT 2

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA
Dentist

There have been unanswered calls, deleted voice mails, ignored texts & friendly reminders that never make it out of the envelope. We both know it’s been a while since you visited the dentist. Having to visit the dentist every six months may not be the appointment that everyone looks forward to, but it is one of the most important ones to keep. If you are fearful, our previous article high lighted some of the changes in dentistry to change your perception of a dental clinic and the treatments.

DENTURES

You don’t have to live with handicapping dentures any more as most dentists can now provide fixed solutions when you lose teeth. The idea of getting a denture at a young or old age can spell doom for anyone! The fear of people knowing or it falling out at an awkward moment can be intimidating. But thankfully we now have implants and other fixed options which means you never have to live with removable teeth again and losing a tooth is something you can live with and survive.

ROOT CANAL TREATMENTS

As soon as you were diagnosed with a root canal you could be ready for those countless trips to the dentist with pain guaranteed at each of them. These have been replaced by single visit procedures with no pain due to advanced anesthesia and pre medication.

CAPS OR CROWNS

Remember your uncle whose front teeth would always look so obviously capped and fake for as long as u can remember! Well the reason teeth look fake is that the metal in the caps doesn’t let light pass through and makes it look opaque dull and life less. Newer materials let light pass through completely and look so pristine once fixed that they blend perfectly with the adjacent teeth.

SILVER FILLING

Those ugly mercury filled silver fillings are now replaced with tooth coloured ones which match so perfectly that in a few years even your dentist forgets where they were done. You no longer have to live with the badge of shame of having obviously filled teeth.

DOCTORS

Earlier concept used to be to have one doctor do everything for you. We now work with different specialists for different areas of the mouth thus ensuring that the best job is done. The earlier authoritative scary dentist is now a cool tech friendly communicative specialist who(brace yourself pun intended) can actually make you laugh or at least smile!

DIGITAL TRENDS

Gone are the days where you had to believe your dentist when he told you that you had a new cavity or an old filling. Now offices have gone digital so you will be shown on a live sized screen with high tech imaging what your mouth looks like if you need a filling you will see a huge cavity on screen so you know what you’re getting done both before and after.

Write to us if there are any other reasons withholding you from your dental appointment on a regular basis. You have probably heard the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Visiting your dentist twice a year will help make your teeth healthy, but can also save you money and time in the long run. Call us at 9209200024 and book your appointment.

10 HABITS THAT ARE SECRETLY DAMAGING YOUR TEETH

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

Since we are all focused on getting rid of our dental bad habits this week we thought it would be fun to enlist all the things that we do with our teeth knowing full well that’s not really the purpose intended. So here’s a quirky take on our dental habits and maybe a little motivation on giving our poor teeth a little break, they’ve been through a lot (you’ll see.)

1. OPENING BOTTLES WITH TEETH

This one tops our list of ghastly things you can do with your teeth since people regularly do it and miraculously their teeth survive! Its maybe the 100th bottle that finally the tooth gives way and we end up then using the other side! Just to remind you getting a tooth rebuilt would cost many times over in term of pain and money as compared to owning a bottle opener or being a hero.

2. OPENING PACKETS WITH TEETH

People use their front teeth often to open packets of plastic or paper or even other tougher materials -a simple inexpensive scissor or even a sharp object like a car key or pen would do the job sacrificing your teeth. Maybe a bit of an overkill even if the package you’re trying to open contains scrumptious or precious ingredients .

3. NAIL BITING

Needless to say this age old habit proves bad for teeth as well as nails as you have a tendency to develop fungal infections on moist fingers which then may transmit to the mouth as well.

4. PEN/PENCIL CHEWING

People do this thinking it’s very normal while it can actually cause chipping and wearing of teeth. Even the alignment of teeth can be disturbed if the habit is constant at a growing age.

5. CRUSHING ICE CUBES

The sensation of ice breaking in your mouth maybe fun for you but not so much for your teeth. The ice not only hampers the top layer of enamel but also triggers of sensitivity in the deeper layers of the tooth making them susceptible to fractures and severe sensation.

6. CRACKING WALNUTS

Back in the day when walnuts came with shells, our grandparents would probably boast of a habit like this but then again. They don’t have many teeth left to tell us the story. Since we have been fortunate enough to be born in a time where we don’t have to do much to acquire our food -most of it being processed and ready to eat let’s take advantage of it and keep our teeth as long as we can.

7. GRITTING YOUR TEETH

Many people lose their temper and take it out on their teeth, even wrestlers, weight lifters tend to grit their teeth to draw more power. While kin aesthetic studies prove this motion actually produces great results, we need to protect our teeth with plastic sports mouth guards which absorb the shock or force during these activities.

8. FREQUENT SNACKING

This habit may affect our physical shape more than our teeth. Snacking or having small meals can prove great for our metabolism but can harm the teeth unless we adopt the habit of rinsing after it. Consumption of food any number of times is not a problem, it is the food sticking to your teeth that needs to be eliminated – so rinse post every snack and stay slim and cavity free.

9. EXCESSIVE AERATED BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION

Sipping diet sodas, energy drinks or even citric juices can impact your teeth and leave them worn out sensitive and due for replacement. Several experiments have shown how a tooth dissolves over time when dipped in a glass of soda. With that mental image we would insist that if you have to consume these beverages make sure the amount is limited to 1-2 a day at most and drinking with a straw will really help limit the harmful exposure to teeth.

10. TOBACCO CHEWING

While other habits that we have mentioned maybe innocent and harmless until they cause damage, this particular habit of tobacco chewing is grave and has taken lives. We believe both smoking and tobacco chewing deserve a detailed mention in the articles to come.

Write to us with any other funny habit that you have seen people with when it comes to their mouth or teeth.

A quick guide to maintaining your childs Dental health

DR. DIKSHA TAHILRAMANI BATRA

Dentist

As a parent it is essential that you condition your kids with healthy dental maintenance habits. Baby teeth play an important role in helping your child bite and chew food, and speak clearly.

ORAL HYGIENE FOR YOUR TODDLER

A toddlers’ dental care regime includes wiping your child’s gums with an infant gum massage, clean damp gauze or a washcloth. Once your child’s teeth come in, brush them twice a day using a soft bristled toothbrush with water.

WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT ?

Underneath your child’s baby teeth, the roots and position of the adult teeth are growing into place. Research shows that children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to develop cavities as an adult, so be sure to get your child to a dentist for a checkup. It is important to keep your child’s baby teeth clean, but once the permanent teeth start to come in you really need to make cleaning them a priority. These teeth will last your child a lifetime.

BRUSHING

At some point, your child will want to brush his or her own teeth. It’s fine to give him a turn. But afterwards, you should always brush your child’s teeth a second time. Most children won’t be able to brush their teeth well on their own until they are about 6-8 years old. Use fluoride toothpaste only when your child is old enough NOT to swallow it.

NUTRITION

While what your child eats is important for healthy teeth, how often a child eats is just as important. Cavities can develop when sugar-containing foods are allowed to stay in the mouth for a long time. Bacteria that live on the teeth feast on these bits of food. They create acid, which eats away at tooth enamel. Between meals or snacks, saliva washes away the acid. If your child is always eating, there may not be time for this acid to get washed away.

1ST DENTAL VISIT

New parents often ask, “When should my child first see a dentist?”

Your child should see a dentist by his or her first birthday.

LOSING BABY TEETH

On average children begin to lose their baby teeth when they are about 6 or 7 years old. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with your child if they lose their teeth before or after this time.

Most children lose their teeth in the same order they came in.

For example, they lose their bottom center teeth first. When a child is about 6 years old their teeth will begin to come loose. Let your child wiggle the tooth until it falls out on its own. This will minimize the pain and bleeding associated with a lost tooth.

A word of caution -Remember!

Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day, or allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps, or at night, can be harmful to the child’s teeth.

SING ALONG THE SMILE ESSENTIALS HEALTHY TEETH RHYME WITH YOUR KIDS!

Dab on some toothpaste on my colourful brush,
There is no hurry and I should not rush,
Slowly and steadily my teeth get clean,
As I brush all over and in between,
This may take a while,
But is very important for a great SMILE!
Many of the same treatment and evaluation options that adults have are also available to kids.
These include x-rays, dental sealants, orthodontic treatment and more.
Let us at Smile Essentials guide you through this process. Book an appointment now!