Here are two handy guides to help you determine if your child’s teeth are erupting according to schedule. A good time for your child to make his or her first dental visit is 1 year of age, or 6 months after the first tooth erupts in the mouth.
Cavities on crowned teeth
Can you still get cavities after you crown a tooth? Unfortunately, yes you can. An artificial crown covers a tooth only upto a certain point, and anything below the crown (usually the root surface of the tooth) is still susceptible to cavities. This is why a proper diet, brushing and flossing are critical even after getting a tooth crowned.
Why you must floss
A lot of our patients have been asking us about the recent article by the Associated Press that essentially states that flossing does not help your oral health. Plaque and food accumulated on teeth have been shown to cause cavities without a shadow of doubt. Flossing helps get rid of these deposits and will thereby reduce cavities. This has been difficult to prove with high quality studies due to the fact that many variables will have to be controlled with regard to diet, flossing technique, flossing frequency and brushing technique. However, we at Acharya Dental still continue to strongly recommend flossing for your gum and teeth health, because we see the benefits for ourselves and our patients everyday.
Transforming smiles
Smaller cavities can be filled with simple filling material, but larger defects of the teeth frequently need crowns or veneers to re-position them for a pleasing smile. We completed Suresh’s* treatment several years ago in two short visits with a few simple crowns that immediately transformed his smile from embarrassing to confident.
* Name changed.
Spreading Smiles
Justin* walked into Acharya Dental with a question. Why, he asked, does my smile does not look right? He had been to a dentist recently who gave him a composite bonded filling, but he was still not happy. After doing a Smile Analysis we found that Justin had ended up with a smile curve that was in reverse, i.e the 2 central incisors were shorter than the lateral incisors. The colour of his bonded teeth were also mismatched . We went to work and gave Justin a very pleasing smile with his teeth in a golden proportion where the central incisors were longer and in line with his canines. Ceramic veneers were placed to give him self confidence. Now, Justin has a smile for everyone!
*Name Changed.
Brush your teeth the right way.
Many people employ the wrong brushing technique and end up causing damage to their gums and teeth. This simple video briefly explains how to brush your teeth effectively. Acharya Dental always recommends you use a soft-medium tooth brush.
Mouthwash Vs Brushing
Can using a mouthwash completely replace tooth brushing? Unfortunately, it cannot. The physical act of tooth brushing provides mechanical removal of plaque and tartar from the tooth, and also helps stimulate the gums. Mouthwash, at best, is a supplement to good brushing and flossing technique.
Get wise about Wisdom Teeth
Learn everything there is to know about wisdom teeth with one simple video by the American Dental Association.
Sugarfree gum- Defence against Acid attack
The process of chewing sugar-free gum helps the mouth to produce more saliva – the mouth’s natural defence against acid; it usually takes our saliva about an hour to replace the minerals that the enamel has lost after eating. But chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking increases the flow of saliva, and helps replace the minerals more quickly. Brushing for two minutes twice a day is still the best way to keep teeth clean and healthy, chewing sugar-free gum during the day can be effective in neutralising harmful plaque acids and reducing the risk of decay.
Source: Oral Health Foundation
Effect of Sports drinks on your teeth
Most of us know that soft drinks are bad for your teeth, but did you also know that sports drinks can be very harmful too? Sports drinks are acidic by nature and contain sugar, a deadly combination that can rapidly destroy the enamel of your teeth, causing cavities and sensitivity. If you must have these drinks, it is recommended that you rinse your mouth or chew sugar free gum afterward to lessen the potential harm they can cause to your teeth.