Tooth and dental care
Teeth are the most important part of our oral cavity, vital for taking food, speaking or phonation, drinking and cosmetic purposes. Think of yourself without frontal teethvery difficult to accept it. So, we should know about teeth and about their care.
Tooth Glossary
Cementum - a layer of tough, yellowish, bone-like tissue that covers the root of a tooth. It helps hold the tooth in the socket. The cementum contains the periodontal membrane.
Crown - the visible part of a tooth.
Dentin - the hard but porous tissue located under both the enamel and cementum of the tooth. Dentin is harder than bone.
Enamel - the tough, shiny, white outer surface of the tooth.
Gums - the soft tissue that surrounds the base of the teeth.
Nerves - nerves transmit signals (conveying messages like hot, cold, or pain) to and from the brain.
Periodontal membrane/ligament - the fleshy tissue between tooth and the tooth socket; it holds the tooth in place. The fibres of the periodontal membrane are embedded within the cementum.
Pulp - the soft centre of the tooth. The pulp contains blood vessels and nerves; it nourishes the dentin.
Root - the anchor of a tooth that extends into the jawbone. The number of roots ranges from one to four.
Types of Teeth
Humans have two sets of teeth, the baby teeth (also called the primary teeth) and the permanent teeth.
Children have 20 primary teeth; they are replaced by the permanent teeth by about age 13. Adults have 32 permanent teeth.
A) Primary teeth are also called baby teeth, milk teeth, or first teeth. Baby teeth are very important as place holds for permanent teeth. There a couple of simple rules that usually apply to the eruption baby teeth -
- lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth
- girls teeth usually erupt before boys teeth of the same age
- teeth usually erupt in pairs n
By the child is nearly 18 months old, start keeping him from bottles by this age.
Doing so will help prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.
By the time children are three years old, they usually have a full set of 20 primary teeth.
Faulty brushing habits coupled with the consumption of sticky substances are generally responsible for triggering dental decay or dental caries in milk teeth.
B) Permanent teeth usually start to erupt about first grade. A special note here is that often the first molar, or six-year molar, erupts before the front tooth.
Additionally the first molar erupts behind the last baby tooth and does not replace a baby tooth as occurs for front teeth.
Often lower front teeth come in behind, on the tongue side, and give the appearance for a while as if there are two rows of teeth.
If baby teeth are lost too early, the other teeth can drift out of their position and invade the empty space.
This might cause permanent teeth to come out crooked or unable to erupt into the gum, which leads to malocclusion.
Children suck on things because sucking is one of a babys natural reflexes and as infants get older it serves many purposes.
Since thumbsucking is relaxing, it may help induce sleep.
After the permanent teeth come in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth.
It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth.
Nutrition and Tooth
As in other aspects of human growth and development, nutrition has an effect on the developing tooth.
Essential nutrients for a healthy tooth include Calcium, Phosphorus and Vitamin A, C D
Calcium and phosphorus are needed to properly form the hydroxyapatite crystals, and their levels in the blood are maintained by Vitamin D. Vitamin A is necessary for the formation of keratin as Vitamin C is for collagen.
Fluoride is incorporated into the hydroxyapatite crystal of a developing tooth and makes it more resistant to demineralization and subsequent decay.
Dental Care
We should take proper care of our own teeth and our babies. Actually this habit should start from childhood. It is proved that good oral care from childhood prevents most dental problems during adulthood.
Common Dental Problems
Some common problems of poor dental care are as follows-
1. Dental plaque
Material adhering to the teeth, consists of bacterial cells (60-70% the volume of the plaque), salivary polymers, and bacterial extra cellular products.
Plaque is a naturally-constructed bio film, in which the consortia of bacteria may reach a thickness of 300-500 cells on the surfaces of the teeth.
These accumulations subject the teeth and gingival tissues to high concentrations of bacterial metabolites, which result in dental disease.
2. Dental Caries
It is the destruction of the enamel, dentin or cementum of teeth due to bacterial activities.
Caries are initiated by direct demineralization of the enamel of teeth due to lactic acid and other organic acids which accumulate in dental plaque.
Lactic acid bacteria in the plaque produce lactic acid from the fermentation of sugars and other carbohydrates in the diet of the host.
Streptococcus mutants have most consistently been associated with the initiation of dental caries, but other lactic acid bacteria are probably involved as well.
3. Periodontal Diseases
These are bacterial infections that affect the supporting structures of the teeth (gingiva, cementum, periodontal membrane and alveolar bone).
The most common form, gingivitis, is an inflammatory condition of the gums.
It is associated with accumulations of bacterial plaque in the area.
Diseases that are confined to the gum usually do not lead to loss of teeth, but there are other more serious forms of periodontal disease that affect periodontal membrane and alveolar bone resulting in tooth loss.
Oral Health Advice
These will help patients to maintain good oral health and instructs patients on three basic principles:
1. Diet : Understanding the damaging effects sugar can have on your teeth.
Wherever possible:
Stick to unprocessed, unrefined natural foods
Ask for sugar free foods or sugar free sweeteners
Avoid eating between meals
Eat less sugary food and drinks
Brush your teeth after eating
Visit your dentist regularly
2. Good Oral Hygiene- The most effective techniques to help eliminate plaque:
Effective tooth brushing technique to ensure plaque removal twice a day
Interdental cleaning (plaque removal between the teeth) e.g. floss, interdental brushes
Use disclosing agents to help spot those areas which have been missed
3. Dental Attendance-
Visit your dentist regularly for preventative treatment and early diagnosis.
4. Oral health for children-
To help ensure oral health and a lifetime of good oral care habits:
Limit childrens sugar intake
Make sure children get enough fluoride, either through drinking water or as a treatment at the dentists office
Teach children how to brush and floss correctly
Supervise brushing sessions and help with flossing, which can be a challenge for small hands
Parents Duties
A. Babies
Baby bottle tooth decay - Wipe gums with gauze or a clean washcloth and water after feeding. When teeth appear, brush daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste -
Put child to bed at night with a bottle of water, not milk or juice
Thumb sucking - Not a concern until about 4 years of age or when permanent teeth appear; after this time, it could cause dental changes
White spots on teeth - As soon as the first tooth appears (at about 6 months), begin cleaning the childs teeth daily and schedule a dental appointment
B. Toddlers
Fear of the dentist - Hold the child in the parents lap during the exam
Difficulty creating an oral care routine - Involve the whole family - brush together at the same time each day to create a good habit
C. Schoolers
Love of sweets - Give children health snack options, like carrots and other fresh vegetables, plain yogurt, and cheese
Stains from antibiotics - Speak to the paediatrician before any medication is prescribed
D. Teenagers
Braces - Make sure that teens brush well around braces, using a floss threader to remove all food particles
Oral accidents from sports - Encourage children to wear mouthguards during sports.
