Regular Dental Visits Can Save You Money

Regular Dental Visits Can Save You Money

Regular Dental Visits Can Save You Money

Why do I have to visit the dentist for checkups if nothing hurts? Because you can’t see what the dentist sees. Shimla dentist uses magnification for every examination he does. And with a special camera, he can show you cavities, leaking fillings, gum disease, tooth wear, or even oral cancer that you would never know existed. Dr. Goma can prevent small problems from developing into larger health concerns that will cost you considerably more time and money to fix in the future.

* Gum Disease – What’s the most common disease? What accounts for 70% of all tooth loss? Gum disease. Recent studies show that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to develop heart disease or diabetes. Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums, jeopardizing your whole-body health. Signs of gum disease may include bleeding gums and pockets between the teeth, but you may not have any symptoms at all. Dr. Goma treats early and advanced periodontal problems, but early treatment is always easier and more successful.

* Tooth Decay - If the dentist finds a cavity, he simply removes it and replaces it with a white filling. Problem solved. However, if your cavity gets below the gum line, into the root canal area, or underneath the tooth cusp, you may need crowns, implants or more advanced, costly care. Dr. Goma can help you prevent cavities with regular checkups and cleanings.

* Oral Cancer – Oral cancer is one of India’s deadliest cancers, claiming the lives many every year. Risk factors include tobacco, alcohol consumption, cheek or lip biting, and poorly fitting dentures. However, 25% of oral cancers occur in people who have NO risk factors at all. During your regular dental checkup, Dr. Goma screens your head and neck while checking your mouth with magnification. When caught in its early stages, oral cancer has an 80 to 90% cure rate.

Regular visits to the dentist’s office may not only save you money, they may also save your life.

What's tooth decay???

What's tooth decay???

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel. It occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as milk, pop, raisins, cakes or candy are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

How Do I Prevent Tooth Decay?

You can help prevent tooth decay by following these tips:

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner.
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination.

Aren't Cavities Just Kid's Stuff?

No. Changes that occur with aging make cavities an adult problem, too. Recession of the gums away from the teeth, combined with an increased incidence of periodontal (gum) disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque. Tooth roots are covered with cementum, a softer tissue than enamel. They are susceptible to decay and are more sensitive to touch and to hot and cold. The majority of people over age 50 have tooth-root decay.

Decay around the edges, or margins, of fillings is also common to older adults. Because many older adults lacked benefits of fluoride and modern preventive dental care when they were growing up, they often have a number of dental fillings. Over the years, these fillings may weaken and tend to fracture and leak around the edges. Bacteria accumulate in these tiny crevices causing acid to build up which leads to decay.

Tooth decay - early childhood

Tooth decay - early childhood

Baby bottle tooth decay is a dental condition characterized by massive decay of an infant's teeth, particularly the upper and lower incisors.

Tooth decay - early childhood

Tooth decay in early childhood occurs most often in the upper and lower front teeth (incisors) and can be a serious problem.

Information

Your child needs strong, healthy baby teeth. These teeth help your child chew food, speak, and have enough space in his or her jaw for the adult teeth to grow in straight.

Tooth decay can happen when your child's teeth come in contact with too much sugar. This sugar helps bacteria grow. Acids that the bacteria make cause the teeth to decay.

Many of the liquids that your child drinks contain sugar, including milk, formula, and fruit juices. Eating snacks with sugar also places more sugar on your child's teeth.

How often your child drinks liquids containing sugar, and how long the sugar stays in the mouth are also important. When children sleep or walk around with a bottle or sippy cup in their mouth, sugar coats their teeth for longer periods of time, causing teeth to decay more quickly.

Breast milk by itself is the healthiest food for babies’ teeth. It tends to slow bacterial growth and acid production. However, when breast milk is alternated with sugary foods or drinks, the rate of tooth decay can be faster than with sugar alone.

Prevention

Feeding tips to prevent tooth decay:

DO NOT fill your child's bottle with fluids that are high in sugar, such as punch, gelatin, or soft drinks.

Put your child to bed with a bottle of water only -- not juice, milk, or other drinks.

Give children ages 6 - 12 months only formula to drink in bottles.

Remove the bottle or stop nursing when your child has fallen asleep.

Avoid letting your child walk around using a bottle of juice or milk as a pacifier. Avoid prolonged use of pacifiers and DO NOT dip the pacifier in honey, sugar, or syrup.

Begin teaching your child to drink from a cup at around 6 months of age. Try to stop using a bottle by age 12 - 14 months.

Limit juice to fewer than 6 ounces per day during meals.

Tips for caring for your child's teeth:

After each feeding, gently wipe your child's teeth and gums with a clean washcloth or gauze to remove plaque.

Begin toothbrushing as soon as your child has teeth. Brush your teeth together, at least at bedtime. If you have an infant or toddler, place a small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste on a washcloth and rub gently on their teeth. You can switch to fluoridated toothpaste when you are sure that your child spits out all of the toothpaste after brushing. Older children can use a toothbrush with soft, nylon bristles. Use a very small amount of toothpaste (no more than the size of a pea).

Begin flossing children's teeth when all of the primary (baby) teeth have erupted (usually around age 2 1/2).

If your baby is 6 months or older, use fluoridated water or a fluoride supplement if you have well water without fluoride. If you use bottled water, make sure it contains fluoride.

Inspect your child's teeth regularly and begin dental visits when all of the baby teeth have erupted or at age 2 or 3, whichever comes first.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums is called gingivitis. Bacteria in plaque around the teeth release enzymes (collagenases) that can damage and erode the gum tissues. The infected gums swell, bleed easily, recede, and loosen from the teeth. Tooth loss is caused more frequently by gum disease than tooth decay.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque and bacteria accumulation.

GINGIVITIS

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums (gingiva).

Causes

Gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease involves inflammation and infection that destroys the tissues that support the teeth, including the gums, the periodontal ligaments, and the tooth sockets (alveolar bone).

Gingivitis is due to the long-term effects of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth decay. If you do not remove plaque, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar that becomes trapped at the base of the tooth. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums. Bacteria and the toxins they produce cause the gums to become infected, swollen, and tender.

Injury to the gums from any cause, including overly vigorous brushing or flossing of the teeth, can cause gingivitis.

The following raise your risk for developing gingivitis:

General illness

Poor dental hygiene

Pregnancy (hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of the gums)

Uncontrolled diabetes

Misaligned teeth, rough edges of fillings, and ill-fitting or unclean mouth appliances (such as braces, dentures, bridges, and crowns) can irritate the gums and increase the risk of gingivitis.

Medications such as phenytoin and birth control pills, and heavy metals such as lead and bismuth are also associated with gingivitis.

Many people have gingivitis to a varying degree. It usually develops during puberty or early adulthood due to hormonal changes and may persist or recur frequently, depending on the health of your teeth and gums.

Symptoms

Bleeding gums (blood on toothbrush even with gentle brushing of the teeth)

Bright red or red-purple appearance to gums

Gums that are tender when touched, but otherwise painless

Mouth sores

Swollen gums

Shiny appearance to gums

Exams and Tests

The dentist will examine your mouth and teeth and look for soft, swollen, red-purple gums. Deposits of plaque and tartar may be seen at the base of the teeth. The gums are usually painless or mildly tender.

No further testing is usually necessary, although dental x-rays and dental bone measurements may be done to determine whether the inflammation has spread to the supporting structures of the teeth.

See: Periodontitis

Treatment

The goal is to reduce inflammation. The teeth are cleaned thoroughly by the dentist or dental hygienist. This may involve various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.

Careful oral hygiene is necessary after professional tooth cleaning. The dentist or hygienist will show you how to brush and floss. Professional tooth cleaning in addition to brushing and flossing may be recommended twice per year or more frequently for severe cases. Antibacterial mouth rinses or other aids may be recommended in addition to frequent, careful, tooth brushing and flossing.

Repair of misaligned teeth or replacement of dental and orthodontic appliances may be recommended. Any other related illnesses or conditions should be treated.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The removal of plaque from inflamed gums may be uncomfortable. Bleeding and tenderness of the gums should lessen within 1 or 2 weeks after professional cleaning and careful oral hygiene. Warm salt water or antibacterial rinses can reduce the puffiness. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications will ease any discomfort from a rigorous cleaning.

Healthy gums are pink and firm in appearance. Strict oral hygiene must be maintained for your whole life or gingivitis will recur.

Possible Complications

Recurrence of gingivitis

Periodontitis

Infection or abscess of the gingiva or the jaw bones

Trench mouth

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your dentist if symptoms of gingivitis are present, especially if you have not had a routine cleaning and examination in the last 6 months.

Call your health care provider if the dentist recommends medical treatment of underlying conditions that contribute to the development of gingivitis.

Prevention

Good oral hygiene is the best prevention against gingivitis because it removes the plaque that causes the disorder. The teeth should be brushed at least twice daily and flossed gently at least once per day. For people who are prone to gingivitis, brushing and flossing may be recommended after every meal and at bedtime. Consult the dentist or dental hygienist for instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Special appliances or tools may be recommended by the dentist for use by people who are particularly prone to plaque deposits. The use of supplements does not replace thorough brushing and flossing. Appliances and tools may include special toothpicks, toothbrushes, water irrigation, or other devices.

Antiplaque or antitartar toothpastes or mouth rinses may be recommended by the dentist or dental hygienist.

Regular professional tooth cleaning is important to remove plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing. Many dentists recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned at least every 6 months.

Alternative Names

Gum disease; Periodontal disease

Tooth Anatomy