By Chris T.
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws, this commonly occurs to people while they are under stress or during sleep. It is well known that around 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from bruxism during sleep, but as well as about 50% of children are likely to suffer from bruxism. This disorder is very serious since it wears down teeth enough that their enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth (dentin) which will make your teeth more sensitive. It is very common for children to suffer from bruxism, but it is known for them to be over it when they hit adolescence, but can also get over bruxism as early as the age of 10 years.
Common symptoms of bruxism are:
Grinding sounds at night which disturbs the sleep of nearby people - may also wake up "bruxer"
Waking up to Headaches
Jaw muscles feel tight and/or painful - especially when waking up
facial pain
Teeth are damaged
Some of the Causes include:
Emotional Stress
Allergies
Injuries to the Jaw, head or neck
Anti-Depressants such as Prozac, paxil, celexa, etc.
Drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has been reported to cause teeth grinding
Damage
The damage bruxism causes is very severe and has some long term effects. The two most common damage bruxism does is the jaw feeling sore and wearing down teeth, wearing down of the teeth will cause some long term damage if teeth has been worn down too much. The damage teeth grinding causes is likely to damage teeth and molars, which is likely to affect the neuro-muscular system (i.e. Headaches). If the damage caused is very severe and pain feels very harsh, the jaw would then may require surgery.
Treatment
Treatment for bruxism varies depending on what caused it. Treatment for children is not necessary since they will loose their baby teeth, but treatment is recommended if the child is complaining about the pain it is causing, but teeth grinding does not affect children as much as it affects adults. If bruxism was caused by stress, your dentist would recommend some professional counseling, psychotherapy, etc. to help you relax. If bruxism was caused by Anti-Depressants, you physician would prescribe you with different Anti-Depressants.
Are you A sufferer of Bruxism? Visit http://squidoo.com/stop-grinding-teeth for information on teeth grinding and remedies.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Broken Teeth - What to Do With Them
By Justin Morgan Tuttle
Have you ever wondered what it's like living without your teeth? Well, the teeth are an important part of the human body. It is responsible for the first stage of digestion- mastication. Without it, we would be living on water, which in reality lacks the nutrition we need.
A child is born without any teeth. Slowly, he will develop 20 teeth. This set is referred to as milk teeth or baby teeth. These set of teeth will be replaced one by one by a permanent set of teeth as the child reaches the later stages. The new set of teeth is normally composed of 32 irreplaceable teeth. Sometimes the number varies since some people may not have "wisdom teeth" while others may develop supernumerary teeth. While the person gets older, the teeth are exposed to different microorganisms causing cavities and dental infections. This would lead to broken teeth.
Broken teeth are pretty common especially for active people. During workouts, their teeth are exposed to the risk of getting hit; thus, getting damaged. There various types of damages which depends on its extent.
The teeth have layers: the enamel, the dentin, the pulp, and the cementum. Below this is already the nerve. When the damage is only within the enamel, pain is usually not felt. However, if the damage goes deep into the teeth, a stabbing pain is felt. Usually, when the broken teeth can no longer be fixed externally, a root canal is needed. However, there are many other types of treatments for disparate types of damages.
A minor crack is a fracture on the surface of the teeth. In this type of damage, treatments are not required. Next are chips. Chips also do not require treatment. But some maybe advised to find a cure since the damage may get worse and eventually lead to removal of the teeth. Then, there are cusp fractures. These are fractures on the surface of the teeth. Normally, it affects one's chewing that is why dental crowns are placed. Also there are serious fractures. This type of damage already reaches the nerves. Serious fractures may lead to infection. Medical attention must be sought as soon as possible. These are just a few of common types of broken teeth.
There are various types of treatments for broken teeth. For minor fractures, fillings are sufficed. However, for more serious fractures, dental crowns are applied to the broken teeth. It is very seldom that fillings would work for severe fractures. For severe fractures, the dentist will not only apply a crown, but he will also conduct an operation. The exposed or damaged nerve and vessel must be removed in order to prevent infection. In some cases, periodontal surgery is required. This type of treatment does not only depend on the severity of the damage, it also depends on the compatibility of the cure to the patient. This is because the structure and arrangement of every person's teeth may be different.
Before you see a dentist for your tooth problems, be sure to read what Justin has to say about a http://toothpainguide.com/broken-tooth/ broken tooth and http://toothpainguide.com/ how to fix a broken tooth.
Have you ever wondered what it's like living without your teeth? Well, the teeth are an important part of the human body. It is responsible for the first stage of digestion- mastication. Without it, we would be living on water, which in reality lacks the nutrition we need.
A child is born without any teeth. Slowly, he will develop 20 teeth. This set is referred to as milk teeth or baby teeth. These set of teeth will be replaced one by one by a permanent set of teeth as the child reaches the later stages. The new set of teeth is normally composed of 32 irreplaceable teeth. Sometimes the number varies since some people may not have "wisdom teeth" while others may develop supernumerary teeth. While the person gets older, the teeth are exposed to different microorganisms causing cavities and dental infections. This would lead to broken teeth.
Broken teeth are pretty common especially for active people. During workouts, their teeth are exposed to the risk of getting hit; thus, getting damaged. There various types of damages which depends on its extent.
The teeth have layers: the enamel, the dentin, the pulp, and the cementum. Below this is already the nerve. When the damage is only within the enamel, pain is usually not felt. However, if the damage goes deep into the teeth, a stabbing pain is felt. Usually, when the broken teeth can no longer be fixed externally, a root canal is needed. However, there are many other types of treatments for disparate types of damages.
A minor crack is a fracture on the surface of the teeth. In this type of damage, treatments are not required. Next are chips. Chips also do not require treatment. But some maybe advised to find a cure since the damage may get worse and eventually lead to removal of the teeth. Then, there are cusp fractures. These are fractures on the surface of the teeth. Normally, it affects one's chewing that is why dental crowns are placed. Also there are serious fractures. This type of damage already reaches the nerves. Serious fractures may lead to infection. Medical attention must be sought as soon as possible. These are just a few of common types of broken teeth.
There are various types of treatments for broken teeth. For minor fractures, fillings are sufficed. However, for more serious fractures, dental crowns are applied to the broken teeth. It is very seldom that fillings would work for severe fractures. For severe fractures, the dentist will not only apply a crown, but he will also conduct an operation. The exposed or damaged nerve and vessel must be removed in order to prevent infection. In some cases, periodontal surgery is required. This type of treatment does not only depend on the severity of the damage, it also depends on the compatibility of the cure to the patient. This is because the structure and arrangement of every person's teeth may be different.
Before you see a dentist for your tooth problems, be sure to read what Justin has to say about a http://toothpainguide.com/broken-tooth/ broken tooth and http://toothpainguide.com/ how to fix a broken tooth.
The Pros and Cons of Teeth Bleaching
By Darren Blair
Many conditions caused teeth to be discoloured. The causes of discoloration include chemicals injury to the baby teeth the that can harm developing permanent teeth, too much fluoride in the first years of life. Drugs taken in early childhood diseases, metallic fillings giving colour to the teeth and all stains caused by food and drink.
People with discoloured teeth have these these options:
1) Thorough cleaning of the teeth by a dentist.
2) Bleaching.
3) Microabrasion.
I will be discussing some of the advantages and disadvantages of bleaching discoloured teeth.
The main advantage is that the colour change can be made without having to alter the tooth structure for placement of any fillings and the teeth remained relatively unchanged except for colour. Brown, Orange and Yellow stains bleach very well.
The cost of bleaching away from the dentists office is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other alternatives in change to the teeth colour. The disadvantages is mainly the time commitment necessary to bleach and of course the small cost involved. A few types of stains such as grey and blue do not have predictable bleaching patterns and may not bleach very well.
However the disadvantages of getting your teeth bleached are minor compared to the advantages. There is some minor side effects when bleaching teeth. These include a sensitivity to cold foods and drinks for a short period of time after the bleaching. Also, you may experience minor irritation of the gums for a short period of time.
Sometimes if you bleach yourself the jaw joints may become sore or tired if the bleaching trays are used to much. In summary many millions of people have used bleaching without any major side-effects.
Are you tired of seeing your stained teeth in the mirror. For a celebrity white smile visit http://www.bestteethwhitenernow.com/ which will show you the best teeth whitener
Many conditions caused teeth to be discoloured. The causes of discoloration include chemicals injury to the baby teeth the that can harm developing permanent teeth, too much fluoride in the first years of life. Drugs taken in early childhood diseases, metallic fillings giving colour to the teeth and all stains caused by food and drink.
People with discoloured teeth have these these options:
1) Thorough cleaning of the teeth by a dentist.
2) Bleaching.
3) Microabrasion.
I will be discussing some of the advantages and disadvantages of bleaching discoloured teeth.
The main advantage is that the colour change can be made without having to alter the tooth structure for placement of any fillings and the teeth remained relatively unchanged except for colour. Brown, Orange and Yellow stains bleach very well.
The cost of bleaching away from the dentists office is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other alternatives in change to the teeth colour. The disadvantages is mainly the time commitment necessary to bleach and of course the small cost involved. A few types of stains such as grey and blue do not have predictable bleaching patterns and may not bleach very well.
However the disadvantages of getting your teeth bleached are minor compared to the advantages. There is some minor side effects when bleaching teeth. These include a sensitivity to cold foods and drinks for a short period of time after the bleaching. Also, you may experience minor irritation of the gums for a short period of time.
Sometimes if you bleach yourself the jaw joints may become sore or tired if the bleaching trays are used to much. In summary many millions of people have used bleaching without any major side-effects.
Are you tired of seeing your stained teeth in the mirror. For a celebrity white smile visit http://www.bestteethwhitenernow.com/ which will show you the best teeth whitener
Tips For Taking Care of Baby Teeth
By Shen-Li Lee
There is a tendency for parents to treat baby teeth as being dispensable since we all know there will be a second set of adult teeth replacing them anyway. However, baby teeth (also known as the deciduous teeth or the primary dentition) are important and are necessary to serve several functions. This is why we need to take care of them and make sure they last until the adult teeth (permanent teeth or secondary dentition) are ready to come through.
The first of the permanent teeth do not appear in the mouth until a child is about 6 years old and the last permanent teeth (not including the wisdom teeth) will appear by about 12-13 years. Therefore a child's primary teeth need to last anywhere between 5-12 years. To ensure that they last, parents need to help children look after their teeth and inculcate good oral hygiene practices from young.
The Functions of Baby Teeth
1. Biting and Chewing
The most obvious function of the primary teeth is obviously for biting and chewing food.
2. Nutrition
Children need to eat a wide variety of food to gain a well-balanced diet.
A child with limited teeth or one who is experiencing discomfort from tooth decay may refuse foods or limit food intake to those that can be consumed easily or with minimum discomfort. Chewing a variety of textures also stimulates the oral environment and exercises the jaw muscles.
The ability to bite and chew also helps to break up food into more easily digestible pieces and allow for better digestion of food. As the food is being broken up by the teeth, it is also mixed with saliva containing enzymes that begin the digestive process. A child that swallows too rapidly without chewing the food adequately will prolong the digestive process.
3. Speech
Teeth are necessary for the articulation of certain sounds. Young children who are still learning how to speak properly need their teeth to help them form words and speak clearly.
4. Development of the Jaw Bones and Facial Muscles
The presence or absence of teeth will affect the way in which the jaw bones and facial muscles develop. The growth of the jaw bones are affected by the facial muscles. Teeth and the chewing function help to exercise the facial muscles and facilitate the development of the jaw bones.
5. Place Holder
The primary teeth are place holders for the permanent teeth. They are intended to hold a space in the jaws until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. When the permanent tooth is ready, it will push out from under the primary tooth, causing the roots of the primary tooth to break down. Therefore, the primary teeth also serve as a guide for the permanent teeth to erupt into its proper position.
When primary teeth are loss prematurely, the permanent teeth have no guide to follow. Additionally, the adjacent teeth tend to close the gap of the missing tooth, meaning there will be no space for the permanent tooth to erupt into. This can lead to crowding of the permanent teeth.
6. Aesthetics
A child without teeth or with missing teeth may look cute, but she will not agree when the premature loss of her baby teeth leads to the growth of crooked permanent teeth.
Looking after Baby Teeth
From the moment the first baby tooth appears in the mouth, parents need to take the responsibility to begin cleaning it. Initially, all that is necessary will be to take a damp cloth or piece of gauze and to wipe the tooth. Once more teeth begin to appear, you can use finger brushes that are worn over your index finger and use them to brush your baby's teeth.
When your baby is about 18 months to about 2 years old, you can purchase a child toothbrush and begin cleaning your child's teeth at least once a day. Initially, it is not necessary to use fluoridated toothpaste, especially if the drink water in your area is already fluoridated.
Remember, young children have trouble spitting out and usually end up swallowing the toothpaste, fluoride and all. This may expose your child to unnecessarily high levels of fluoride which can lead to fluorosis. Fluorosis, while not harmful, first appears as white spots on the teeth. In more severe cases, it can make the teeth appear brown and mottled. Although it is not harmful to the teeth, it is aesthetically unsightly.
If you are concerned about tooth decay, there is a new range of children's toothpaste with xylitol as an active ingredient. Xylitol also serves to prevent tooth decay.
You can encourage your child to get into the healthy practice of brushing by offering the toothbrush to your child but make sure that you perform at least one brushing for your child a day. Children have poor manual dexterity and will not brush adequately without your help. At most, they will chew on the brush and make a few cursory attempts to swipe the teeth if they are older.
As your child grows older, you can begin to teach him (or her) how to brush by guiding his (or her) hand. Once your child has mastered the art of tooth brushing, you can hand over the responsibility to your child to continue brushing, however, you may still need to keep an eye on your child to ensure the job is done properly. Tooth brushing is a task many children quickly get bored of and try to sneak out of. Some may comply with the task but do a poor job of cleaning.
It is not difficult to look after baby teeth. The challenge lies in teaching your child the process and helping him (or her) develop a healthy, lifetime habit. Knowing how important baby teeth are, it is important to ensure they last. Teaching your child to look after his (or her) primary teeth also sets the stage for healthy oral hygiene habits in future.
Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog http://figur8.net/baby%20Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.
There is a tendency for parents to treat baby teeth as being dispensable since we all know there will be a second set of adult teeth replacing them anyway. However, baby teeth (also known as the deciduous teeth or the primary dentition) are important and are necessary to serve several functions. This is why we need to take care of them and make sure they last until the adult teeth (permanent teeth or secondary dentition) are ready to come through.
The first of the permanent teeth do not appear in the mouth until a child is about 6 years old and the last permanent teeth (not including the wisdom teeth) will appear by about 12-13 years. Therefore a child's primary teeth need to last anywhere between 5-12 years. To ensure that they last, parents need to help children look after their teeth and inculcate good oral hygiene practices from young.
The Functions of Baby Teeth
1. Biting and Chewing
The most obvious function of the primary teeth is obviously for biting and chewing food.
2. Nutrition
Children need to eat a wide variety of food to gain a well-balanced diet.
A child with limited teeth or one who is experiencing discomfort from tooth decay may refuse foods or limit food intake to those that can be consumed easily or with minimum discomfort. Chewing a variety of textures also stimulates the oral environment and exercises the jaw muscles.
The ability to bite and chew also helps to break up food into more easily digestible pieces and allow for better digestion of food. As the food is being broken up by the teeth, it is also mixed with saliva containing enzymes that begin the digestive process. A child that swallows too rapidly without chewing the food adequately will prolong the digestive process.
3. Speech
Teeth are necessary for the articulation of certain sounds. Young children who are still learning how to speak properly need their teeth to help them form words and speak clearly.
4. Development of the Jaw Bones and Facial Muscles
The presence or absence of teeth will affect the way in which the jaw bones and facial muscles develop. The growth of the jaw bones are affected by the facial muscles. Teeth and the chewing function help to exercise the facial muscles and facilitate the development of the jaw bones.
5. Place Holder
The primary teeth are place holders for the permanent teeth. They are intended to hold a space in the jaws until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. When the permanent tooth is ready, it will push out from under the primary tooth, causing the roots of the primary tooth to break down. Therefore, the primary teeth also serve as a guide for the permanent teeth to erupt into its proper position.
When primary teeth are loss prematurely, the permanent teeth have no guide to follow. Additionally, the adjacent teeth tend to close the gap of the missing tooth, meaning there will be no space for the permanent tooth to erupt into. This can lead to crowding of the permanent teeth.
6. Aesthetics
A child without teeth or with missing teeth may look cute, but she will not agree when the premature loss of her baby teeth leads to the growth of crooked permanent teeth.
Looking after Baby Teeth
From the moment the first baby tooth appears in the mouth, parents need to take the responsibility to begin cleaning it. Initially, all that is necessary will be to take a damp cloth or piece of gauze and to wipe the tooth. Once more teeth begin to appear, you can use finger brushes that are worn over your index finger and use them to brush your baby's teeth.
When your baby is about 18 months to about 2 years old, you can purchase a child toothbrush and begin cleaning your child's teeth at least once a day. Initially, it is not necessary to use fluoridated toothpaste, especially if the drink water in your area is already fluoridated.
Remember, young children have trouble spitting out and usually end up swallowing the toothpaste, fluoride and all. This may expose your child to unnecessarily high levels of fluoride which can lead to fluorosis. Fluorosis, while not harmful, first appears as white spots on the teeth. In more severe cases, it can make the teeth appear brown and mottled. Although it is not harmful to the teeth, it is aesthetically unsightly.
If you are concerned about tooth decay, there is a new range of children's toothpaste with xylitol as an active ingredient. Xylitol also serves to prevent tooth decay.
You can encourage your child to get into the healthy practice of brushing by offering the toothbrush to your child but make sure that you perform at least one brushing for your child a day. Children have poor manual dexterity and will not brush adequately without your help. At most, they will chew on the brush and make a few cursory attempts to swipe the teeth if they are older.
As your child grows older, you can begin to teach him (or her) how to brush by guiding his (or her) hand. Once your child has mastered the art of tooth brushing, you can hand over the responsibility to your child to continue brushing, however, you may still need to keep an eye on your child to ensure the job is done properly. Tooth brushing is a task many children quickly get bored of and try to sneak out of. Some may comply with the task but do a poor job of cleaning.
It is not difficult to look after baby teeth. The challenge lies in teaching your child the process and helping him (or her) develop a healthy, lifetime habit. Knowing how important baby teeth are, it is important to ensure they last. Teaching your child to look after his (or her) primary teeth also sets the stage for healthy oral hygiene habits in future.
Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog http://figur8.net/baby%20Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.
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