Friday, July 22, 2011

TOOTH BRUSHING TECHNIQUE

tooth brushing techniqueApart from being too much health conscious and being aware of health facts, there are people who are still unaware of proper brushing techniques. We generally do brush daily but fail to give attention towards correct brushing technique which is more important than just brushing itself.

The main motto of brushing is to keep our teeth clean and away from bacteria attacking the teeth. No matter how good you brush your teeth there are some bacteria left behind and the bacterial plaque starts growing the moment you stop brushing. Proper tooth brushing technique is very important to reduce the amount of bacteria left in the mouth.

Here is the method for proper tooth brushing:

  • Firstly hold the brush at 45-degree angle, starting along the gum line (it is the point where the teeth and gums meet) moving the brush along 2 or 3 teeth at a time.
  • Then move the bristles of the tooth brush from the gum to the edge of the tooth away from the gum line.
  • Use circular motion to clean the front surface of both upper and lower teeth brushing away from the gums. Never use back and forth motion on teeth as this may damage the gums and the teeth.
  • To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth hold the brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes.
  • To clean the chewing surfaces hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. Assure that the bristles reach the grooves of the teeth.
  • Brushing is never complete without tongue cleaning which many of us neglect. Bacteria are also present on the tongue that can cause tongue infection and bad breath. Gently brush your tongue with back to front stroke to remove the food particles on it. It will freshen your mouth breathe.
  • Thoroughly rinse the mouth with water.
  • Always concentrate more on the back teeth as it is the place where bacteria can hide easily.

Tooth Brushing Tips:

Use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated tooth paste. Fluoridated tooth pastes strengthen the teeth and make them resistant to acid attacks. But fluoridated tooth paste is not advisable for children under 2 years of age.

See that the child spits after brushing and thoroughly rinse the mouth with water.
Always advisable to brush your teeth at least for 3-4 minutes for effective cleaning.

Replace your tooth brush every 3 months or when it begins to show wear or after any illness.

Never use hard bristled brushes and avoid using too much force while brushing. This may abrade the enamel surface and cause tooth sensitivity.

Friday, July 15, 2011

DARK CHOCOLATES AND TEETH


eating dark chocolateFor all those Chocoholics out there, here is great news coming up for you. It is been believed from ages that chocolates are harmful for teeth and they are the main culprits for tooth cavities. As a dental practitioner even I believe in it and am prone to suggest the patients to keep away this tasty treat. But, recent studies have proven that dark chocolates are actually good for teeth and in fact prevent the tooth decay. Unbelievable, isn’t it? But yes, it is true.


Dark chocolates are the chocolates without milk added to it and these are the only real chocolates. They are bitter in taste and this bitterness increases with the cocoa added to it.

Chocolates are rich in cocoa butter, which coats the teeth making it less likely to cause tooth decay. The main culprit for tooth decay is the fermentable carbohydrates that are sugar and starch. Though chocolate contains these fermentable carbohydrates, the cocoa butter present in chocolates will prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the teeth.

 These carbohydrates are broken down into acid by the action of bacteria and this acid dissolves the tooth surface causing cavity. Chocolates also have anti-bacterial property that can fight effectively against dental plaque. Phenols present in the chocolates inhibit the growth of bacteria which are responsible for plaque formation. 

The other health benefits of these phenols are anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. These phenols act as deoxidizing agents and prevent clogging of arteries thus preventing heart attacks. They reduce the levels of bad cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.

Of course, chocolates do contain sugars and they can contribute to cavity formation in tooth. But, these anti-bacterial agents present in chocolates offset its high sugar levels. Moreover the sugars melt quickly in mouth leaving less time for the bacteria to attack the teeth.

However too much eating of chocolates can cause health problems as the cocoa butter contain saturated fat that can increase the cholesterol levels in blood contributing to heart problems and also obesity.

Chocolate candies which are rich in sugars are definitely harmful to teeth. These sugars are the main culprits that stick to the teeth and later lead to tooth decay. It is always advisable to eat chocolates prior to eating food as later when you have food the stickiness will be washed down. It is always better to eat chocolates at one go  and brushing teeth after eating chocolates will clear off the remnants of chocolate stuck to the teeth. So always avoid eating sticky chocolates.

Lastly, nothing we eat could replace proper brushing and flossing regularly.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

SMOKING AND ORAL CANCER



smoking and oral cancer“Smoking Is Injurious to Health”, a very age old caution that we all have been known through years but had always kept a blind eye on it.

It’s a high time to rethink deeply on this once again. The death rate due to smoking has reached to 5 million per year worldwide. It is estimated that 10 million will die every year due to smoke-related diseases by 2020.


We all know the adverse effects of smoking and tobacco chewing yet never took a step to get rid of it. The most dangerous effect is cancer that can attack you in any form as an oral cancer or lung cancer or larynx cancer, bladder cancer and many to mention. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in our body, also known as malignant cells. Ultimately interfering with the normal functioning of the body and can be fatal. 

Cigarette smoke consists of 4,000 different chemicals that can damage the cells and systems of the human body. Among which there are at least 80 chemicals that can cause cancer and hundreds of poisons like cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide that are considered to be fatal. Nicotine which is the major content of cigarette that is extremely hazardous to health.

What exactly does this nicotine do to our body is our prime concern, nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which means it constricts the flow of blood. This deprives the tissues from oxygen and nutrients and making them vulnerable to bacterial infections. This is the major cause that leads to gum diseases, periodontal diseases, heart diseases, etc. The increased risk of periodontal disease caused due to smoking leads to tooth and bone loss due to complete destruction of the supporting tissues. 

Coming back to oral cancer, Tobacco chewing is equally hazardous to health especially our oral health. Chewing of tobacco leaves hazardous juices on the teeth and lips. These develop extensive white patches on the mucosa termed leukoplakia which is a precancerous condition of oral mucosa.

The most infected area in oral cancer is the tongue and the area below the tongue which slowly spreads into cheeks and throat. Other effects of tobacco are discoloration of lips and lip cancer, burning or loss of sensation of tongue, hairy tongue, difficulty in swallowing, tooth decay, bad breath, etc.
( http://www.tobacco-facts.info/oral_cancer.htm)

The study reveals that non-smokers are also put into risk by exposure to others smoking. It is referred to as passive smoking or secondhand smoking. It is estimated that non-smokers exposed to smoke are at risk of lung cancer. 

Well it is a myth that smoking relieves from stress, it is time for the smokers to realize that nicotine is a stimulant and not a relaxant. Studies revealed that smokers undergo high stress levels than non-smokers and also leads to impotency. 

Let us pass good habits and good health to the generations to come. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                          QUIT SMOKING AND SAVE EARTH!!!!             

Saturday, July 2, 2011

INFANT ORAL HEALTH


infant oral health
Infant is referred to a child from 1 month to 12 months of age.

Oral care of infants is very crucial as the bacteria lodges the oral cavity within few hours after birth.
Oral mucosa is the first in the human body where microorganisms are seen to be established soon after the birth within 6 to 8 hours in an infant.



The primary causative factor responsible in initiation of dental caries is transmitted from mother to the infant. These gather a foothold in the mouth immediately after the eruption of teeth.

Eruption of teeth begins at 6 to 10 months of age and completes by 3 years of age, But even before that the oral cavity should be maintained clean.

Oral hygiene practices to be followed : 
  • Prolonged Breast feeding, especially throughout the night and sometimes day has been associated with nursing caries.   
  • Remove the bottle immediately after feeding.
  • Give water after feeding with the bottle and clean mouth soon after feeding. 
  • The cleaning activity should be performed after every meal or at least once in a day. 
  • The cleaning of gum pads can be started as early as within the first week of birth. Nowadays specially designed for infants tooth brushes, finger cots and wipes are available. 
  •  Clean everyday twice after morning and last feed in the night. 
  •  Spend at least two or three minutes in cleaning.   
  •  Dilute the milk gradually in the bottle and end with plain water. 
  • You can start with semi-solid foods by 5-6 months and reduce use of bottle or breast feeding. 
  •  Avoid extended use of sugared medicines such as syrups.
Importance of mother’s own oral hygiene is equally important as poor oral health of the mother can affect the health of the fetus and the new born.
Poor maternal periodontal health increases the potential for pre-mature low birth weight of babies and high caries level in the mother result in an equally high level in the child.


                  Start it at the earliest to maintain a healthy oral cavity of your child !!!!