Electric toothbrushes have been around for a while now but what are the advantages and are they any better than the standard manual toothbrush?
The bristles move a lot faster on an electric toothbrush compared to an ordinary manual toothbrush. Therefore it is better at removing plaque and brushing between ones teeth. You do not need to brush so hard with an electric toothbrush, just guide it effortlessly around your mouth, you will be doing less work whilst getting a better result, cleaner whiter teeth.
With a standard toothbrush, if you are in a hurry, say in the morning before work, or of an evening before going out, you can rush brushing. This could mean three things.
You will not brush as thoroughly, this can then lead to build up of plaque and bacteria. This of course could lead to bad breath, gum disease or tooth decay.
Secondly you may cause your gums to bleed and damage the gum tissue, gum tissue does not grow back.
Thirdly you can strip the enamel off your teeth, which leads to them becoming sensitive. So cold items like ice cream and hot items like tea lose their appeal because they can cause you discomfort due to your now sensitive teeth.
If you are an arthritis sufferer electric toothbrushes are much easier to use, because as mentioned above you need not work so hard. This could be said with people with arm or shoulder injuries also.
Using an electric toothbrush can give you the feeling of a dentist like clean and they are great at removing stains. Cigarettes and coffee are the most common things that cause staining to your teeth. If you are a smoker and have been using a manual toothbrush then changing to an electric toothbrush has to be a very positive action, as you could have been hiding a very nice set of teeth underneath all them tobacco stains.
Bacteria build up in your mouth leads to bad breath, a very unwelcome but common problem. Bacteria can be found in places where a standard manual toothbrush can not reach. In general you would not know it is there, but if you do have a build up of it, your family and friends would know because as mentioned your bad breath. Electric brushes can reach and therefore remove this bacteria leading to a cleaner mouth and fresher breath.
Most electric toothbrushes if not all are rechargeable and some have features such as timers and pressure sensors.
Timers allow you to spend either a certain amount of time in each part of your mouth cleaning or to let you know to finish brushing after a certain time period, usually two minutes.
The pressure sensor enables you to brush gently whilst still having an excellent clean with the aim of protecting your gums from excessive brushing.
As mentioned electric toothbrushes can give your teeth a real thorough clean, although you do still need to visit the dentist regularly for check ups. But an electric toothbrush is a good starting point for improving your dental hygiene and at a fraction of the cost of having them cleaned professionally.
In general buy an electric toothbrush that is right for you, there are many on the market to choose from, and then you are on course to have much healthier and cleaner teeth and gums.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Things to Consider Before Cosmetic Dentistry
By Brian May
Cosmetic dentistry is increasing in popularity as people are becoming aware of its possibilities and availability. Cosmetic dentistry benefits these people by increasing their confidence level and helping them to attain a smile that dazzles others, as important first impressions are made by smiles. It is a common belief that a person's smile says a lot about him or her, so people are going to great lengths to get that perfect smile, as it could change their lives. This change in attitude has totally changed the way people look at dentistry or orthodontists, as it is no longer about fillings, extractions and capping, but about changing the way you look and feel about yourself.
You can choose from a plethora of options to attain that picture perfect smile that you have always wanted. However merely choosing an option is not enough and you will need to refer to a dentist as to its viability for your individual requirements on the basis of cost and effectiveness. However here are a few common options, which you can talk about with your dentist.
Often teeth have a tendency to get stained from tobacco smoking, excess coffee or tea drinking or even excess red wine consumption or even having food with too much turmeric in it. A lot of people are also born with teeth of a darker color than others. Teeth whitening methods are useful in changing the color of your teeth to a lighter shade and the latest techniques, instead of acting in an abrasive manner, use laser beams, which are shone on your teeth covered with whitening chemicals. This process eliminates the abrasive method of whitening your teeth which also damages the tooth enamel. The laser based technique can whiten your teeth by up to six shades.
Often teeth with cavities are not extracted, but filled up with dental cement, when the holes are not too big or too deep and the tooth can be saved. Earlier fillings were done using materials which did not match the tooth color, but filling of late have advanced in technology, using porcelain based white composite fillings. Many people often opt to get their older fillings replaced by fillings which are tooth colored.
Crowns are porcelain or metallic toot caps used to cover teeth which have been damaged extensively. Crowns have multiple uses and you need to discuss it with your dentist if you need one.
Bridges are a popular option where if you just have one or two teeth missing, you can merely crown the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth and then attach a false tooth in between.
There are other similar procedures for making your teeth look better, like braces, bite correction, veneers, and even implanting jewelry on your teeth. However before opting for any such procedure you should always discuss it with your dentist, and ensure that it is the correct choice for you and for the health of your teeth. After all you just have one set, and teeth can't be grown again during your adult life.
This article was written by Brian May of Small Business Local which is a performance based marketing agency does Columbus Search Engine Optimization for it's clients. Some of the clients that Small Business local has worked with are dentist Columbus Ohio [http://www.dentistcolumbusohio.com]
Cosmetic dentistry is increasing in popularity as people are becoming aware of its possibilities and availability. Cosmetic dentistry benefits these people by increasing their confidence level and helping them to attain a smile that dazzles others, as important first impressions are made by smiles. It is a common belief that a person's smile says a lot about him or her, so people are going to great lengths to get that perfect smile, as it could change their lives. This change in attitude has totally changed the way people look at dentistry or orthodontists, as it is no longer about fillings, extractions and capping, but about changing the way you look and feel about yourself.
You can choose from a plethora of options to attain that picture perfect smile that you have always wanted. However merely choosing an option is not enough and you will need to refer to a dentist as to its viability for your individual requirements on the basis of cost and effectiveness. However here are a few common options, which you can talk about with your dentist.
Often teeth have a tendency to get stained from tobacco smoking, excess coffee or tea drinking or even excess red wine consumption or even having food with too much turmeric in it. A lot of people are also born with teeth of a darker color than others. Teeth whitening methods are useful in changing the color of your teeth to a lighter shade and the latest techniques, instead of acting in an abrasive manner, use laser beams, which are shone on your teeth covered with whitening chemicals. This process eliminates the abrasive method of whitening your teeth which also damages the tooth enamel. The laser based technique can whiten your teeth by up to six shades.
Often teeth with cavities are not extracted, but filled up with dental cement, when the holes are not too big or too deep and the tooth can be saved. Earlier fillings were done using materials which did not match the tooth color, but filling of late have advanced in technology, using porcelain based white composite fillings. Many people often opt to get their older fillings replaced by fillings which are tooth colored.
Crowns are porcelain or metallic toot caps used to cover teeth which have been damaged extensively. Crowns have multiple uses and you need to discuss it with your dentist if you need one.
Bridges are a popular option where if you just have one or two teeth missing, you can merely crown the two teeth on either side of the missing tooth and then attach a false tooth in between.
There are other similar procedures for making your teeth look better, like braces, bite correction, veneers, and even implanting jewelry on your teeth. However before opting for any such procedure you should always discuss it with your dentist, and ensure that it is the correct choice for you and for the health of your teeth. After all you just have one set, and teeth can't be grown again during your adult life.
This article was written by Brian May of Small Business Local which is a performance based marketing agency does Columbus Search Engine Optimization for it's clients. Some of the clients that Small Business local has worked with are dentist Columbus Ohio [http://www.dentistcolumbusohio.com]
You Need To More Than Brush
Just brushing your teeth is not enough to keep your mouth and teeth clean and healthy. There are many things that can harm your teeth but there are also many ways to improve your dental hygiene rather than just brushing, spend that extra time not the extra money.
To improve dental hygiene we should floss once every day. Dental floss reaches the areas that a toothbrush can't get to and gets rid of harmful plaque between the teeth and by the gums.
Use mouthwashes as well as brushing your teeth, not on there own. Simply gargling mouthwash will not clean your mouth thoroughly, I know in these hectic busy days, it is a lot quicker, but in the long run it will just be more painful and expensive.
Smoking can seriously affect your dental health. As well as staining your teeth (because of the high tar and nicotine content) and causing bad breath, smoking can also affect the health of your gums, which can lead to gum disease.
In a non smokers mouth, one sign of gum disease would be the gums bleeding, if this was the case you would have to go the dentist. But if you do smoke, it can affect the circulation and gum disease could be present without you even being aware, because your gums would not necessarily bleed. Untreated gum disease could be costly in many ways, not just financial terms but general health terms.
You do still need to visit the dentist regularly, at least twice a year as they check for cavities and gum disease. They can help you achieve the white teeth that you are after and will inform you of the correct way of brushing your teeth and flossing. I am sure they will even demonstrate this.
As well as brushing advice they would give you information on the types of food and drink that have a negative affect on your teeth. Chocolate, cakes and fizzy drinks and any other sugary item(s) can attract plaque. If you truly want healthy teeth then eating fruit and vegetables will be much better for them.
In general a person who does not clean there teeth regularly will suffer at some point from bad breath, now there are many mouth sprays that are on sale to help with bad breath, but these are a temporary fix in relation to mouth and teeth hygiene. The best way to cure this, is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The sprays as mentioned only mask the odour and do not rid your mouth of food stuck between your teeth which left to build up can cause problems.
If you want nice white teeth, without the toothaches and bad breath then spend that extra few minutes a day brushing and looking after them.
To improve dental hygiene we should floss once every day. Dental floss reaches the areas that a toothbrush can't get to and gets rid of harmful plaque between the teeth and by the gums.
Use mouthwashes as well as brushing your teeth, not on there own. Simply gargling mouthwash will not clean your mouth thoroughly, I know in these hectic busy days, it is a lot quicker, but in the long run it will just be more painful and expensive.
Smoking can seriously affect your dental health. As well as staining your teeth (because of the high tar and nicotine content) and causing bad breath, smoking can also affect the health of your gums, which can lead to gum disease.
In a non smokers mouth, one sign of gum disease would be the gums bleeding, if this was the case you would have to go the dentist. But if you do smoke, it can affect the circulation and gum disease could be present without you even being aware, because your gums would not necessarily bleed. Untreated gum disease could be costly in many ways, not just financial terms but general health terms.
You do still need to visit the dentist regularly, at least twice a year as they check for cavities and gum disease. They can help you achieve the white teeth that you are after and will inform you of the correct way of brushing your teeth and flossing. I am sure they will even demonstrate this.
As well as brushing advice they would give you information on the types of food and drink that have a negative affect on your teeth. Chocolate, cakes and fizzy drinks and any other sugary item(s) can attract plaque. If you truly want healthy teeth then eating fruit and vegetables will be much better for them.
In general a person who does not clean there teeth regularly will suffer at some point from bad breath, now there are many mouth sprays that are on sale to help with bad breath, but these are a temporary fix in relation to mouth and teeth hygiene. The best way to cure this, is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The sprays as mentioned only mask the odour and do not rid your mouth of food stuck between your teeth which left to build up can cause problems.
If you want nice white teeth, without the toothaches and bad breath then spend that extra few minutes a day brushing and looking after them.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Bruxism - Everything You Need To Know About Teeth Grinding
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.
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.
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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