All toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal. Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains only and do not contain bleach; over-the-counter and professional whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching substance) that helps remove stains on the tooth surface as well as stains deep in the tooth. None of the home use whitening toothpastes can come even close to producing the bleaching effect you get from your dentist’s office through chair-side bleaching or power bleaching. Whitening toothpastes can lighten your tooth’s color by about one shade. In contrast, light-activated whitening conducted in your dentist’s office can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter.
ental sealants are a plastic coating painted on the grooved, hard-to-reach surfaces of the back teeth. Pits and fissures on these surfaces are particularly susceptible to tooth decay. Dental sealants can be used to seal out cavity-causing bacteria from damaging the teeth.
A filling is a substance that dentists use to replace a decayed or broken portion of a tooth. Commonly used substances for fillings include metal, alloy, plastic, porcelain, or a combination of materials (composite).
Composite resins are made from plastic materials (glass and resin) and are usually similar to tooth color. They are often used on the front teeth where a natural appearance is important. Composite resins can sometimes also be used on the back teeth.
By the time your child is 6 months of age, your doctor should assess the likelihood of your child having future dental problems. If he or she thinks your child will have dental problems, be sure your child sees a dentist before his or her first birthday or 6 months after the first primary teeth appear, whichever comes first. After your first visit, schedule regular visits every 6 months or as your dentist recommends.
Experts recommend that your child’s dental care start at 12 months of age. If your baby has dental problems caused by injury, disease, or a developmental problem, see your pediatric dentist right away.
Basic dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products.
Practicing basic dental care:
-Prevents tooth decay.
-Prevents gum (periodontal) disease, which can damage gum tissue and the bones that support teeth, and in the long term can lead to the loss of teeth.
-Shortens time with the dentist and dental hygienist, and makes the trip more pleasant.
-Saves money. By preventing tooth decay and gum disease, you can reduce the need for fillings and other costly procedures.
-Helps prevent bad breath. Brushing and flossing rid your mouth of the bacteria that cause bad breath.
-Helps keep teeth white by preventing staining from food, drinks, and tobacco.
-Improves overall health.
-Makes it possible for your teeth to last a lifetime.
Excessive tooth wear caused by bruxism is not the same as normal tooth wear. These are the symptoms:
-The teeth will be worn down, and become shorter. The dental term for this toothwear is attrition.
-The teeth will become flattened, and the creamy/yellow dentine will be visible.
-If bruxism is not treated, the teeth may be worn down to the level of the gums.
-Teeth have a tendency to chip as a result of the grinding.
-Tenderness and pain may be felt in the muscles and jaw joints on waking in the morning.
-Eating may become painful because of restricted jaw movement.
-Teeth can become sensitive, painful and loose, after they have been worn down or cracked by the grinding.
-Extensive tooth wear can cause the jaws to close down too far, resulting in facial changes.
-Unsightly creasing at the corners of the mouth will be evident.
-Bruxism may also cause the development of prominent jaw muscles.
-The sound of grinding teeth can disturb other people.
1. Foods and drinks that have a high sugar content, and those that are acidic, are bad for teeth.
2. Reducing the amount of sugar in the diet is very important for the reduction of tooth decay in children.
3. The major dietary causes of plaque formation and tooth decay are:
Soft fizzy drinks including diet drinks. It is the sugar and/or acid content of soft fizzy drinks that cause the damage.
Table sugar
Added sugars in food
Sweets
Carbohydrate-rich pastries
Chocolate snacks
1. When is an injection necessary?
A. When a filling is needed and the amount of decay is very small, there is often no need for an injection. This applies particularly to fillings in baby teeth.
B. If a local injection is needed, a topical anaesthetic paste or gel can first be applied to the gum.
It is rubbed into the gum and left for about two minutes.
It numbs the gum to a depth of 3 millimetres, and makes the injection more comfortable for the child.
C. It is a routine procedure to inject a local anaesthetic into the gum near the affected tooth.
The treatment can then be pain-free.
2. What are the side-effects or after-effects of the injection?
There are a few side effects of a local injection:
The lips, cheek and tongue may feel swollen, despite not being swollen.
Because the area is numbed it is possible to bite the lip, tongue or cheek without feeling any pain.
This can cause a minor injury which only becomes apparent when the injection wears off.
3. What pain control can be used for a very anxious child?
A child’s oral health will suffer if extreme fear of the dentist prevents dental treatment. Sedation may be an option.
Sedation can be administered in the form of a nitrous oxide inhalation, also known as “happy gas” or “relative anaesthesia”.
* The gas is inhaled through a small rubber cover that fits over the nose.
The inhalation helps the child to feel relaxed and accepting of the situation.
It is a safe method of pain control.
Sedation can be supplemented with a local anaesthetic if necessary.
There are no unpleasant side effects or after-effects.
A pedodontist is a specialist in treating children.
Anxious children can benefit by being treated by a pedodontist
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque cause tooth decay and gum disease if they are not removed regularly through brushing and flossing.
When you eat, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars in your food to produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. Repeated attacks cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in a cavity (or hole) in the tooth surface.
Plaque that is not removed daily by brushing and flossing between teeth can eventually harden into tartar. Brushing and flossing become more difficult as tartar collects at the gum line. As the tartar, plaque and bacteria continue to increase, the gum tissue can become red, swollen and possibly bleed when you brush your teeth. This is called gingivitis, an early stage of gum (periodontal) disease.
Gingivitis is reversible with good oral hygiene and professional treatment; however, if left untreated, gingivitis can advance into periodontitis. Periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease, occurs when bacterial infection causes your gums and the bone supporting the teeth to break down. Your gums may begin to recede, pulling back from the teeth. In the worst cases, the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed and can lead to tooth loss.
The chewing surface with its grooves and pits is usually the first to decay.This is because dental plaque and bacteria accumulate in these areas.
The areas between teeth are also common places for decay to start.
Tooth decay can start around and under old fillings that have cracked, chipped or broken down.
Decay can also occur at the necks of teeth, at the gum line.
