Dental News

Avoid anything that can stain a white T-shirt, such as red wine, coffee, tea, cola, teriyaki sauce, tomato sauce, etc. Stay bland in color, and also try to have everything closer to room temperature to avoid sensitivity. Within 24 hours from when you completed your last whitening session, the pores of your teeth close, and that fluoride-rich layer will start to build up again protecting the enamel. Once this happens you may have whatever you wish. Remember that stain is cumulative, and the more bland the diet, the longer lasting are the effects before you may require another whitening session.

It is very important to not only create the perfect smile, but also to make certain that the perfect smile is built upon a strong, and healthy foundation. The key to achieving this healthy smile is maintaining proper oral hygiene with regular dental check-ups, and taking nutritional supplements which are specifically geared towards optimum oral health. With all the advances in dental office care and home care, 90 percent of the population is still developing periodontal disease. Nutrient deficiency can become a major contributing factor in periodontal disease by inhibiting the mouth’s ability to resist infection, and by eventually contributing to tooth loss. In other words–your diet does affect your dental health. The future of dentistry lies in the prevention of disease through the consumption of a well-balanced diet and the necessary nutritional supplements. Remember…disease will occur less frequently in a well-nourished body.

Tell your child that the dentist is there to help take care of his/her teeth. Read your child a fun children’s book about going to the dentist. Describe to your child the surroundings of a dental office and role play the job of a dentist. It may be helpful to give your child advanced notice of the dental appointment, so that he or she can mentally prepare and hopefully look forward to the visit. Remember, NEVER use the dentist as a threat for not taking care of their teeth, this will just instill a fear in them that will last well into the future. Speak positively about dental visits, and make it something to look forward to. It is important to establish a positive relationship between your child and the dentist by starting early and continuing to see the dentist for regular check-ups. And don’t forget to share this valuable knowledge with anyone else who may be helping to care for your child.

Parents should take their children to the dentist for their first check-up by the age of 2, unless your doctor recommends an earlier exam. Subsequently, they should go for regular check-ups every 6 months, so your child’s dentist can monitor their oral hygiene, diet and growth patterns. It is best if your child’s first experience occurs at a time before invasive dental work becomes necessary. A ride on the dental chair,  magic tricks with “Mr. Thirsty” and visiting the toy chest should make your child’s visit pleasurable and non-threatening. The first visit should also include the counting of teeth while your child looks at what is happening in a hand help mirror. Remember, early dental check-ups make it easier to build a good rapport between your child and the dentist in order to establish a foundation of trust, and make future visits more comfortable.

If your baby does not want to open for you, place your finger near the mouth, and then it will open slowly as your baby will think that you are trying to offer food. Even if your baby tries to bite down on your finger, be patient, keep trying, and the mouth will soon open up again. Reach inside along the cheek until you get between the upper and lower gums, and your baby will then open more to allow you to wipe the gums in the very back. If you find that one or more ulcers appear in your baby’s mouth, just clean around the ulcer until they are healed (usually within one week). Get your child accustomed to cleaning the mouth regularly and going to bed with a clean mouth.

Babies are very easily agitated by the teething process. Parents should try to distract their children with activities, and allow them to chew on a clean, chilled, liquid-filled teething ring to relieve the discomfort and irritation. Drooling during this time is normal and expected. Just wipe your child’s mouth often to keep it clean and dry. Swollen gums are normal at this time, however if the gum turns blue or red, then bring your child to the dentist to evaluate. Additionally, teething should not cause fever. Since your baby is picking up anything and everything that has germs on it, and putting it in his or her mouth, it is possible that the baby has picked up an infection, which can result in a fever; in which case you  should take your baby to the pediatrician.

Question: What special considerations should be given to the pregnant patient when they undergo dental care?

Answer: The goal of dental care during pregnancy is to provide the necessary services without causing any adverse effects to the mother or the developing baby. Any extensive or elective treatment should be postponed whenever possible. However, avoiding  necessary treatment would be unwise, and potentially carry greater risk than the risk associated with the procedure. For example, if there is a large area of decay present close to the nerve, this cavity can potentially  cause an infection that could be harmful to you or your baby, it would make sense to address this problem as soon as possible (with clearance from your OBGYN). It is recommended that the pregnant patient have at least one cleaning during their pregnancy to minimize the chance of developing Pregnancy Gingivitis (inflammation, bleeding and swelling of the gyms that are heightened in response to the plaque due to the hormones associated with pregnancy). Fluoride supplementation is recommended starting around the 3rd month of pregnancy, since this is when the baby teeth start to mineralize. It is recommended that X-Rays are avoided during pregnancy, unless it is essential that one be taken to help address a dental emergency. If an X- Ray needs to be taken, a second lead vest should be used to help cover the abdominal area.

Additionally, the dentist should take care to avoid using local anesthetics containing epinephrine (a vasoconstrictor) and drugs that can cross the placental barrier. Tylenol is usually considered to be fine by most OBGYNs for controlling discomfort. Penicillin and Erythromycin are usually considered acceptable antibiotics when the risk of an infection outweighs the risk of taking these medications. Check with your OBGYN first before starting any type of medication. Anxious patients should avoid taking barbiturates, anti-anxiety medications ( such as vallum), and Nitrous Oxide when pregnant.

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Question: Can I use baking soda to brush my teeth instead of toothpaste?

Answer: Baking Soda, sodium bicarbonate, is one of the least abrasive and most effective tooth cleaners on the market today. Date from various clinical and lab studies show that a toothpaste containing baking soda neutralizes acids and odors, removes plaque and deep tooth stain more readily than other leading toothpastes, and leaves your mouth fresh and feeling very clean. Baking soda is a soft mineral that is very soluble in waster, and therefore not very abrasive. In fact it is less abrasive than most other toothpaste cleaning agents that are sold. One can use baking soda to brush their teeth without buying the toothpaste that contains baking soda. It would be more cost effective to do so, however the toothpaste version would be easier to use ( no time wasted dissolving and mixing the powder in water), and it would, most likely, taste better. If you were to use the baking soda version, since it doesn’t contain fluoride, it would be advisable to use an after brushing fluoride rinse to help prevent cavities.

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Question: Why would someone need a bridge?

Answer: Reasons for having a bridge include: maintaining your appearance, your dental health, and proper function of your mouth. The loss of a back tooth can cause your cheeks to sink in as you get older, resulting in a much older appearance. Additionally, when you have an empty space, your dental health and mouth’s function becomes compromised in many ways. Your speech can become compromised when you are missing teeth. The adjacent teeth can drift and tilt, causing tooth decay, spacing, gum pockets, and loss of bone. Opposing teeth will tend to slowly erupt out of its socket in attempt to meet with another tooth. Additionally, if multiple teeth are lost  in the back of the mouth, it causes an additional stress on the other teeth, resulting in the enamel to wear faster. In the case of heavy grinders,  missing teeth in the back can cause front teeth to wear, chip and break causing their bite to collapse, and slowly break down what is seen when smiling. Missing teeth can affect the way you chew, causing an additional strain on your jaw.

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Question: What are bridges?

Answer: Bridges are dental restorations designed to replace the areas where there are one or more missing teeth. There are two basic types of bridges. One is a fixed bridge ( which gets bonded or cemented into place ) and the other is a removable bridge  ( which can be taken our and cleaned after meals). The removable bridges are not secure, and much less desirable then a fixed bridge, although they are much less expensive. Fixed bridges can be made to rest on natural teeth, or on implants, and are usually crowns that are splinted (attached) together. There is also another type of fixed bridge called a “Maryland Bridge,” which does not require the use of crowns, but rather utilizes metal or resin wings that are splinted or bonded to the inside surface of the adjacent teeth.

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