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Essential Oral Care Tips for the Rainy Season

May 5, 2024 dev.abrar No Comments

The rainy season brings relief from scorching heat, rejuvenates the surroundings, and turns everything lush green. However, this beautiful season also brings along its fair share of challenges, and maintaining good oral health is one of them. The rainy season can significantly affect our oral hygiene if we do not take proper care. In this article, we will explore some essential oral care tips to help you maintain a healthy smile during the rainy season.

Brush Regularly and Effectively:

During the rainy season, humidity levels increase, leading to the growth of bacteria in our mouth. To combat this, it is crucial to maintain a regular brushing routine. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste. Pay extra attention to your gum line and tongue, as they are prone to bacterial buildup.

Use a Mouthwash:

To further enhance your oral hygiene routine, incorporate a good-quality mouthwash into your daily regimen. Mouthwash helps kill bacteria, freshens your breath, and prevents gum problems. Choose an alcohol-free mouthwash for the rainy season, as excessive alcohol can contribute to dry mouth, leading to a higher risk of dental issues.

Stay Hydrated:

Drinking sufficient water is highly essential, regardless of the season. During the rainy season, people often tend to decrease their water intake due to the cooler weather. However, staying hydrated keeps your mouth moist, prevents dry mouth, and flushes away food particles, reducing bacteria growth.

Avoid Snacking on Rainy Season Favorites:

The rainy season often tempts us with an array of snacks like pakoras, samosas, and hot beverages. While indulging in these treats is fine occasionally, it’s essential to consume them in moderation. These snacks are often high in sugar and carbohydrates, promoting the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth. After enjoying such snacks, rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth to reduce the chances of tooth decay.

Care for Your Toothbrush:

During the rainy season, the dampness in the air can make your toothbrush moist and an ideal environment for bacterial growth. To prevent this, keep your toothbrush in a well-ventilated area, away from bathroom condensation. Store it upright in a holder to allow proper drying between uses. Regularly inspect your toothbrush for any signs of wear or damage, and replace it every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly:

Regular dental check-ups are crucial irrespective of the season. However, during the rainy season, it becomes even more important to visit your dentist for preventive care. Dental professionals can detect any early signs of decay, gum problems, or other oral issues that may worsen with neglect. Additionally, a professional cleaning will help remove any plaque or tartar buildup that your regular brushing might have missed.

Conclusion:

Oral care during the rainy season is crucial to prevent dental problems and maintain a healthy smile. By following these essential tips and incorporating them into your daily routine, you can keep your oral health in optimal condition. Remember to brush regularly, use a mouthwash, stay hydrated, be mindful of your snacking habits, take care of your toothbrush, and visit your dentist regularly. With these simple yet effective measures, you can ensure that your smile remains bright and healthy, even during the rainy season.

Book an appointment today if you are facing an issue with Essential Oral care Tips for the Rainy Season

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Pediatric Dentistry

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay and How Do I Prevent it?

June 15, 2023 dev.abrar No Comments

Often heard of a term called baby bottle tooth decay by your dentist? Yes it’s a very common form of tooth decay which occurs in children. This develops when baby teeth have frequent and prolonged contact with lots of sugar. This is commonly seen in babies who are put to bed with a milk bottle, when a bottle is used as a pacifier or if the baby is using a bottle or sippy cup for an extended period of time. Milk also contains natural sweetness and if this stays on teeth for long period of time, bacteria start to grow , multiply and produce acid leading to cavitation in teeth

Signs and Symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay

Decay caused by baby bottle tooth decay can generally form in any of baby teeth, but they might commonly occur on upper front teeth. These can be seen as uncharacteristic white, brown or dark brown spots on teeth. Teeth are prone to breakage and they chip off easily leading to unpleasing smile

Detriments Of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Decay in infants can become a point of concern as if it’s left untreated, there can occur pain and infection. There can occur tooth loss or irregular space between teeth as teeth are brittle and easily chip off. This can lead to deficient eating habits, speech problems and can also harm the permanent tooth bud present inside. Overall dental pain, misaligned teeth, pain on chewing, serious infections are all the potential complications which can occur because of baby bottle tooth decay. If the infection is severe enough, there are high chances dentist might have to remove baby teeth prematurely which is generally not recommended

Can Sippy Cups Hurt My Child’s Teeth?

Yes, similar to baby bottles, sippy cups are also responsible for tooth decay. This is to be noted when your child is making a switch from bottle to sippy cup around 1 year of age. Always try for a spill proof cup with a spout which resembles a bottle which can be easily used by the little ones. If this doesn’t work try an alternative, but never give up.

Consequences of baby bottle tooth decay

If you see any sign of tooth decay in your child, contact your nearest dentist soon. If these decay are left untreated, it can lead to pain, infection, poor eating habits, speech problems, crowding in teeth and even damage to the permanent teeth. The worst and the last resort in such cases is to remove these teeth at an early age

Ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay

Never share saliva with your baby by sharing feeding spoons or licking the pacifiers
If you are giving a bottle to the child, fill it with only breast milk or formula milk.
Never put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. The sugar present in the liquid will remain on the child’s teeth for hours.
If your child is using a pacifier, provide a clean pacifier. Also don’t dip it in honey or sugar
Wipe the child’s teeth with clean gauze or wash the child’s mouth after feeding. The gum pads need to be clean always
Avoid filling of bottle with any form of sugary drinks or soft drinks
Never let the child walk around with bottle of juice or milk
Begin brushing a child’s teeth as soon as they grow. Initially use a child size toothbrush and small amount of fluoride toothpaste until age of 3 years
Encourage children on healthy eating habits and limit the sugar intake
The bottle can be filled with water or the milk can be diluted and lately the dosage of milk can be tapered
Schedule regular dental visit by your child’s first birthday

How do I know when to take my child to the dentist?

Regular dental visits are generally recommended by a child’s first birthday or when the first tooth can be seen in the oral cavity. If your child’s teeth begin to appear uncharacteristically white, yellow or brown or your child is experiencing pain, they may be facing symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay. Your pediatric dentist can provide you a definite treatment depending on the severity.

Book an appointment today if you are suffering from Tooth Decay and How Do I Prevent!

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General and Preventive Dentistry

Choose the Correct Toothbrush For Your Teeth !

May 31, 2023 dev.abrar No Comments

Good oral health has a major role in maintaining overall health. When we talk about oral hygiene, a toothbrush is of course an essential part , but the question arises which toothbrush to use? When choosing the right toothbrush, it’s always important to consider various aspects of a brush, like brush size, bristle type, overall shape, comfort and quality of a toothbrush.

Also the selection of toothbrushes is dependent on every person’s dental needs. Some people have dental issues like sensitive teeth, or some are facing problems with plaque retention on teeth or on tongue. Although all brushes have universally beneficial features, there are some brushes which are to be used for specific dental concerns. Here is a description which can help you find the correct toothbrush

What should I look for in a toothbrush?

Head size: There are various head sizes in a brush available, but if a small head brush is used, there will be a better access to the last teeth in your mouth which are at times difficult to reach. So small round headed brush are always advisable

Bristle design: More than having the same size of bristles, these days brushes are being manufactured with varying sizes of bristles in a criss cross pattern. This is very useful in getting to deeper gaps between teeth and the locations which are hard to reach.

Bristle firmness: There is always a confusion whether to go for hard bristles or the soft ones. Also there is belief that if we use hard bristles, the brushing efficacy will be more. But that’s not true. Firm bristles can damage your teeth and gums. You should always opt for soft bristles which is effective at cleaning teeth without irritating gums or leading to recession in gum line

Handle grip: Handles with a comfortable and secure grip are recommended as you have to hold the brush for two minutes in a band and move it in mouth in all directions which is possible only with a firm grip. There is variety of brushes available, so just pick the brush which can fit well in your hand

Electronic Vs Manual Toothbrushes

While many manufacturers come up with recommendations about the cleaning power of powered toothbrushes, manual toothbrushes also work equally well. It’s just about our preference, but the effectiveness is the same for both toothbrushes. Powered toothbrushes work well for people who dont brush for as long as thoroughly as they should, especially children. Also people with disabilities, special children may find it helpful using a powered toothbrush as it makes brushing easier and helps remove all the debris and plaque.

Some people don’t like the feel of powered toothbrushes on their teeth. Also cost is another factor to be considered. In Spite of the powered toothbrush being costly, it needs to be replaced every 3 months. If you are not prepared to spend the extra money or you doubt like the feel of brush, just stick to your manual toothbrush

Overall points to remember while choosing a toothbrush

It’s important to choose a brush from a reputable brand. The local toothbrush can at times be tempting, but a proper toothbrush is an investment for maintenance of your good oral hygiene. Low quality toothbrushes may be unsafe, might harm your gums, make teeth rough and not help in effective cleaning. If you are unsure of which toothbrush to buy, your nearest dentist can make a recommendation for you at your next dental visit.

As for the shape of a toothbrush, no standard shape works the best. Whether you choose oval or rectangular, the best choice for you is a brush which fits in your mouth and reaches the back teeth. Same is applicable with the handle of the toothbrush. Make sure you pick a toothbrush that is comfortable to hold and has a firm grip.

Ultimately the best toothbrush for you is the one that you will use regularly and properly. Pick the toothbrush which best suits you using the above recommendations. Just make sure you replace your toothbrush every 3 months as within 3 months the bristles tend to lose their stiffness, might flare out and break.

Along with choosing the right toothbrush, a good brushing technique and Dental Hygiene is equally important which can guide your brush to clean all teeth including the back teeth and especially your tongue.

If you are facing a problem to choose the right Toothbrush, talk to your dentist. Book an appointment today for a dental health check.

Visit Credence Dental today to get more information