When
Should I Take My Child to the Dentist for the First Time?
Children should visit a pediatric dentist when their first
tooth comes in or no later than their first birthday.
What
Do I Do When My Baby Teeths?
Most babies will start to get their baby teeth between 6 and
10 months of age. Watch for your baby's first teeth to show
up in the lower front of his mouth. When this starts to happen,
your baby may have some discomfort, the gums may be swollen
and tender, and your baby may want to chew things. The two
upper front teeth will probably be the next teeth to come
in. The rest of his teeth will come in slowly. In time, there
will be a total of 20 baby teeth. Teething sometimes causes
a temperature. If your baby has a temperature of 100 degrees
or more, call your doctor or clini as your baby may be sick
and need treatment. Gently rubbing your baby's gums with a
clean finger, cool spoon or wet cloth can be soothing. You
can also give your baby a teething ring or pacifier to chew
on. Some teething rings are made to be chilled. This cool
object against the gums may feel good. You don't need to put
any kind of pain reliever on the gums. These wash away quickly
and don't help much.
How
Often Should I See the Dentist for a Check Up and Cleaning?
Most children and adults should see their dentist for a regular
cleaning and check up every six months. People at a greater
risk for oral diseases should have dental check ups more than
twice a year.
How
Often Should I Brush My Teeth?
You should brush your teeth twice a day. Brushing your teeth
helps to remove plaque which causes tooth decay and can lead
to gum disease.
Guidlines for proper
brushing.
What
Causes Bad Breath?
According to dental studies, about 85% of people with persistent
bad breath (also known as halitosis) have a dental condition
that is to blame. These conditions could be one or more of
the following: gum disease, cavities, poor oral hygiene, oral
cancer, dry mouth (xerostomia), bacteria on the tongue.
How
Do I Prevent Bad Breath?
Regular dental checkups & cleanings, flossing daily, and
brushing your teeth & tongue twice a day can greatly reduce
and possibly eliminate bad breath. If bad breath is the cause
of a dental condition, mouthwash will only mask the odor and
not cure it.
What is a crown and why do we use them?
A crown is used to restore teeth using materials (gold or ceramic) which are cemented into place. It can cap or completely cover a tooth. A crown is used when decay is detected and their is not enough remaining solid tooth available for filling after the decay removal. Onlays can also be used. An advantage of crowning a tooth over restoring the tooth is that crowns provide much more protection against future fracture or recurrent decay.
What is root canal treatment and why...and what to expect?
The root canal is part of a natural tooth. These canals run through the center of a tooth's root - like pencil lead runs through a pencil. The tooth receives nutrition through the blood vessels and nerves that run through these canals. Inflammation of the tissue may occur due to cavities and tooth fractures that allow bacteria to enter the canals. If left untreated, a serious infection can result.
Bleaching and veneers for cosmetic options:
Cosmetic dentistry is a discipline with a focus in the modification of appearance of a patient's oral structure. Through cosmetic dentistry, the appearance of the mouth can be altered to more closely match the patient's subjective concept of what is visually pleasing. Whitening, or "tooth bleaching", is the most commonly prescribed cosmetic dental procedure, which lightens discolored teeth. In addition, Veneers can be used to closely mimic the appearance of a natural tooth. Made up of porcelain and composite materials, veneers are bonded to the underlying tooth with resin adhesives. Unlike silver fillings, they are entirely free of mercury and offer a natural look.
Gums...the foundation for your teeth.
Gums, like your teeth, also need to be cared for. Gums are the foundation of your teeth and are susceptible to bacteria that can cause disease, bad breath, pain and tooth loss. Teens, smokers, people that wear braces and people that eat unhealthy are more prone to gum disease. Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque, an invisible sticky layer of germs that forms naturally on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums. Hundreds of types of bacteria live in the mouth, so reducing plaque is a constant battle. That's why brushing and flossing every day - and regular trips to the dentist - are so important.
Signs you are developing gum problems are:
* Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing,
* Discoloration of the gums (healthy gums look pink and firm, not red, swollen, or tender),
* Bad breath that won't go away,
* Loose teeth
