The Effect of Zinc Deficiency on Oral Health – A Sneak Peek

Many of us aren’t aware of the significance of Zinc on oral health. A trace mineral, zinc is apparently naturally found in our saliva and helps us fight bacteria as well as plaque that are responsible for cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.

ROLE OF ZINC

The role of zinc is similar to that of flourides. It helps in demineralization and remineralization of your teeth, further reducing cavities as well as tooth decay. It also protects your teeth against diseases like gingivitis, mild periodontal issues and other gum diseases.

Zinc and Gum bleeding

Another important property of zinc with respect to our oral health is that it aids in healing our oral wounds. There has been a lot of research that reveals the importance of having zinc in our diet because it helps in keeping periodontal health in place. It is zinc, that is your main defense against the plaque that forms around your teeth. Hence, is your body is deficient of zinc it automatically means that your oral health is at risk already. Your bleeding gums would not heal faster if your body is deprived of zinc because without zinc your body cannot transport the Vitamin A that your gums need in order to heal naturally.

And if that’s not enough here’s how zinc offers helps your body in many ways than one –

  1. Fights inflammation

  2. Improves immunity

  3. Improves Skin health

  4. Slows aging

  5. Enhances metabolism

  6. Fights viruses and cold

  7. Regulates blood flow

  8. Avoids blood clot

  9. Enhances fertility

  10. Improves skin health

Having said that, excess could also be a problem and could cause what is known as zinc toxicity. If your body has excess of zinc it could show symptoms like Epigastric pain, Lethargy, Fatigue and vomiting, etc. If you are deficient of zinc then its better to consult a physician before taking any dietary supplements so that you do not get it in excess.

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Speed Braces – All You Need To Know

We all know how braces have always been a useful way to straighten teeth at in a comfortable manner. As far as speed braces are concerned the term itself is self explanatory. Well, yes they speed up the process due to their make which includes attachment to a wireless an elastic tie allowing teeth to move at speed and with less friction.

Speed Braces

Also known as self litigating brackets they are primarily available in two different types –

Active – These come with a thicker wire for putting more pressure on the teeth

Passive – These come with a smaller archwire and are used in the starting phase of treatment.

There are various different brands across the world that manufacture these brackets and some of the international names include in-ovation and Damon to name a few.

As per reports if the depending upon the type of malocclusion addressed, these braces have the ability to reduce the treatment life span by up to six months as compared to the conventional braces.

The material used in the speed braces is same as that of the conventional ones but with 1/3rd the size of the traditional brackets. Due to the smaller size the speed brackets are more convenient to use because cleaning and maintenance becomes easier thus aiding oral hygiene. Even aesthetically they look better than the conventional ones.

Moreover, speed braces fit on your teeth properly making you feel comfortable and ensure that the movement is smooth and without more of friction. The best part it like the conventional ones cannot maintain force levels properly and have to be replaced within a few weeks duration, speed braces can be used for longer periods because of their ability to maintain forces.
*Sourced from Internet

 

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Highly Prone to Oral Disease Inspite of Brushing Twice – Elite Athletes

A recent study has revealed that Inspite of brushing twice elite athletes are highly prone to oral disease. Published in the British Dental Journal, the study involved a survey of 352 Olympics as well as professional athletes across 11 sports like swimming, football, hockey, rugby, athletes and sailing. The study also highlighted that the athletes seemed quite interested in working around the improvement of their dental health.

Dental Oral Care - Elite Atheletes

The study involved a dental checkup and questions around how the athletes kept their teeth, mouth as well as gums healthy. The study showed that 94% of the athletes brushed their teeth minimum two times a day and 44% flossed their teeth on a regular basis. They study also found that the athletes did show higher figures in terms of dental care compared to the general populace.

Researcher for the study Dr Julie Gallagher (UCL Eastman Dental Institute Center for Oral Health and Performance found that most of the athletes maintained good oral hygiene. But, they did mention the use of energy gels, sports drinks as well as bars on a frequent basis during training and competition. These products are high on sugar and raise the risk of decay of teeth and erosion due to rise in acidity.

The study is a further to the research carried out by Professor Ian Needleman of London 2012 Olympics. The earlier findings revealed that the athletes suffered from dry mouth issues while training and even were at a higher risk of oral conditions.

As per Dr. Gallagher, the athletes wanted to work towards improvement of their oral health and were ready to use mouthwash based fluoride additionally and also visit the dentist on a regular basis. The team further plans to devise an oral care plan for them and publish the results of it too.

*Sourced from Internet

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Headaches Could Be A Result Of An Underlying Dental Problem

None of us can think of visiting a dentist when having a prolonged or recurrent headaches, ain’t it? Obviously, because considering headache to be a result of teeth conditions is far from anyone’s thinking really. One reason is that it is extremely rare and there could be many more reasons for headaches and a dental problem is the least thought off. Here’s a case study where a 45 year old lady was having recurrent headache for a long period of time. She paid many visits to physicians, ENT specialists as well as Neurosurgeons and even underwent many diagnostic tests like EEF, MRI and CT Scans but with no success in diagnosis about the reason. She was then suggested by Neurosurgeons to go for an open surgery of 2 lacs cost. She was already distraught about not known the reason behind the suffering.

Amidst all this chaos her daughter found out through her on research and judgement that it could be a dental condition. She then visited one of the popular dental clinic chains in Bangalore and the doctors immediately diagnosed it as a dental condition. The headache was because the lady was having unevenly aligned teeth in a small jaw. As a result of improper placement and crowding, it was triggering headache.

The doctors then created a treatment plan of action for here which was short, simple and even painless to an extent. After the orthodontic treatment was done, not only did she get rid of her headache but also got her beautiful smile.

This only throws out one question, if only had she not heard to her daughters suggestion and went ahead with the open surgery, the results could have been unimaginable. Additionally, it could have cost her a bomb that too on a surgery that wasn’t needed at all.

Well, this also brings to light the fact around lack of awareness or ignorance of dental problems and issues in the country. Dental health is equally important and ignoring it is not a good idea, and awareness around it can always help.

*Sourced from Internet

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Smile For Life And – The Dental Theme Of The Year And Present Scenario

World Oral health day was celebrate on March 20, 2019 with the theme – Smile for life. Well, if we consider India there has be significant advancement of technology in dentistry domain and development too. Yet, statistics tell a different story which says that a major chunk of Indian population are not able to have access to dental facilities and its benefits due to various different reasons.

The National Oral Health Program of India shows startling statistics around dental health and facilities in India. As per its report around 95% of Indians suffer from gum disease, 70% of the children under 15 years of age have dental issues and 50% of the population of India don’t even use a toothbrush for that matter.

A report titles Utilization of dental care- An India outlook published in the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine shows an awful dentist patient ratio difference in Urban and Rural Areas. While in urban areas the ratio is 1:10,000 its 1:150000 in rural areas. People in rural areas as compared to urban areas do not have access to even basic dental care due to reasons like lack of infrastructure, behavioral, socio-economic, demographic as well as epidemiological factors. People in rural areas still fear dental treatment and there is a lack of awareness in them about the importance of oral health as well.

This only means that there is not only a need to have basic dental health facilities in the remote rural areas of India but also simultaneously have awareness initiatives and programs about importance of oral health and the need for dental checkups and on time treatment and programs to take the fear out of the community around dental procedures. People need to be aware that oral health is equally important as general health and provide dental care services that are at par with facilities in urban areas. The IDA has already calculated the growth rate of dental industry by 30% and has to meet the same presently has 290 dental colleges that churns out 25,000 graduates every year. India has housed almost 2 lac dental professionals including 5000 labs and 35000 specialists. As per the World health organization, India still needs to setup 2500 dental clinics every year to meet such a high demand. India is already a huge market for dentistry particularly with growing incomes and awareness for dental care in urban but it’s the rural areas of India where the focus needs to be more and the role of the government here is a big one for sure. Even Dentists can join the movement by education consumers. Nowadays, branded dental chains and networks are beginning to spread their wings. A welcome move, this can certainly help in propagating the message around dental care and treatment and achieve the goals of –smile for life.

*Sourced from Internet

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Sealants – An Overview

Cavities are one of the most common dental problems in India. While, the basic solution to this problem is brushing and flossing on a daily basis, still many a times you cannot reach every nook and corner. The molars that we use to chew are of uneven shape and rough and it’s possible that even after cleaning bacteria can still remain back. But, fret not, there is a solution to protect them too and it is known as sealants.

Sealants before and after

Sealants

Sealants are like protection shields for the teeth. There is a thin coating made from plastic or similar dental material and stick to the surface of your back teeth. These sealants are known to be highly effective and have an ability to reduce tooth decay by almost 80% in molars. Outside India and as per the reports of Center of Disease control (CDC) around 43% of the children who do not use sealants are at three times higher risk of getting cavities.

Like you wear raincoats to save yourself from rain, you wear sealants to save your teeth from decay, it is as simple as that. The bacteria responsible for cavities reside in the mouth and with the help of food particles that are left back produce acids that further lead to creation of holes inside the mouth, called cavities. Once the sealants are applied they protect the teeth from decay. The process of application is quite simple and pain free. The dentist cleans your teeth dry and applies an acidic gel on your teeth, in order to roughen up the surface. Once the sealant is applied on this surface it will form a strong bond with the sealant post application. After some time of application of the gel, the dentist rinses the tooth once again and then applies the sealant in the teeth grooves. The dentist makes use of the special blue light to harden the sealant.

Sealants can be used for children above 12 years of age and adults as well. They can be used in areas where decay has just begun so as to avoid further decay. Sealants are transparent in color and hence ensuring the sealant is doing its job is easy for the dentist.

*Sourced from Internet

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Dental Public Health In India – A Concern?

Oral health has been a cause of concern in India. The primary reason is the high level consumption of tobacco and next is unawareness about it particularly in rural areas. Excessive usage of tobacco and added to that lack of oral hygiene amongst Indians more so rural Indians has led to loss of lives due to oral cancers and other life threatening conditions. One example is that of a 42 year old Bareilly resident Mohsin Khan, an embroidery worker who started chewing tobacco on the behest of friends. Recently, he faced issues with concentration while doing embroidery after he returned from a Tobacco Cessation Cell in New Delhi, but it was too late for him as he had been diagnosed with leukoplakia viz. a pre-cancerous lesion. He also mentioned that he wasn’t aware that oral health was so vital and could cause life threatening conditions like Cancer. He also mentioned that he used to clean his teeth using Neem Sticks and Coal Ash.

Dental Public Health In India

As per government statistics over 70% of the school children have cavities and over 90% of the adult population in India does get affected by periodontal condition. Even National Oral Health Policy draft of 2018 does mention that oral diseases in India are rampant and repetitive as well making it a silent epidemic of sorts.

Oral issues within Indian children and adults in India include problems like cavities, periodontal conditions, oro-facial anomalies, temporo-mandibular joint disorders, loss of teeth, dental fluorosis, dental trauma as well as oral cancers as per Consultant Dentist of Columbia Asia Hospital.

Rural Areas it gets worse because there is lack of infrastructure there. Scarcity of dental health professionals in public hospitals is also and added issue. Well, this makes it difficult for the common man as he/ she have to shell out the expenses for oral treatment from their own pockets. As a result the common man opts out of treatment and goes for extraction, which is a cheaper way out.

Well, addictions like alcohol and tobacco do play a vital role in oral health. Additionally people in India ignore dental health issues big time. There has been proven research that managing dental health properly can help prevent many health conditions and even reduces the risk of diabetes, preterm labor and even heart attack as per Praveshh Gaur, Founder, Director of Srauta Wellness Center.

*Sourced from Internet

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Drinking Water Is Good For Dental Health

Drinking Water Is Good For Dental Health

We all are already aware of the enormous health benefits water provides to human beings. Calling it the healthiest drink ever could be an understatement considering the benefits it comes loaded with. From hydrating the body to keeping your skin and other organs of the body healthy, it is a health package with something for every organ of the body, if you may say so. You want to increase your metabolism, drink water. You want to lose weight, drink water, you want a glowing skin free from wrinkles and dark circles, drink water. Water is the ultimate answer to many questions around healthy body. What’s more drinking more water can also help you manage your oral health. Well, most of you might be aware of it already. For shiny healthy teeth along-side brushing, flossing and gargling, drinking a lot of water can actually help keep teeth shining and healthy. As our body is made up of over 60% of water, staying hydrated keeps the nutrients flowing throughout the body and thus providing glow to your skin and elasticity as well. The waste is also discarded and it also helps your muscles. If the water is fluoridated, it’s all the more helpful for health. Drinking water that has fluoride and yes as on day there are only a few countries like USA who ensure that the water has fluoride in it for the health of your teeth. A natural element it helps in prevention of tooth decay by mixing with the tooth enamel. It also helps in prevention plaque deposits on teeth by working with saliva. Drinking water frequently helps keep the mouth clean and avoids wash away the remains of food particles, soda, sugars, etc. that are responsible for formation of bacteria. Water dilutes all the acid present in the mouth and reverse tooth decay.

Dry mouth can invite bacteria and due to reduced production of saliva tooth decay could be boosted. Drinking a lot of water ensure that your mouth is not dry and tooth decay is kept at bay. One of the simple solutions against bad breadth is drinking a lot of water. The bad breath particularly when you wake up is a result of dry mouth. If you drink water throughout the day then it can help you wash away all the bacteria causing particles and fight dry mouth that causes bad breadth.

Well, water is calorie free and is loaded with benefits hence making drinking atleast three litres of water as an adult throughout the day can help your oral health and over all body as well. Make drinking water a way of life and see how life smiles at you.

*Sourced from Internet

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Over 500 Teeth Extracted From A Kids Mouth – A Bizzare Dental Story

Yes, as bizarre as it may sound, it is cent percent true. Recently a boy from South Chennai complaining about jaw pain was taken to a hospital for examination. The doctors scanned him and even got an X-ray that confirmed that he had over 500 teeth. The teeth were inside a sac that was embedded in his lower jaw.

Dr Prathibha Ramani, head of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the Saveetha Dental College and Hospital termed them as abnormal teeth. The surgery for removal of the teeth was conducted last month by the team of doctors but before the surgery every tooth was examined on an individual basis. The surgery took around four to five hour’s time to empty the sac and confirm the presence of hundreds of teeth inside the same.

Over 500 Teeth Extracted From A Kids Mouth

The details of the teeth shared by the hospital say that there were 526 teeth in all and the size varied from 0.1 mm to 15 mm. The smallest of all also had root enamel coat as well as a crown implying that it was tooth. The boy had to remain in the hospital for three days after which he was discharge. This condition as per the experts is called ‘compound composite odontoma’ and is extremely rare. The factors responsible for this conditions is not known but could be environmental or genetic.

The parents also stated that their child did have a swelling in the jaw when he was three years old but they could not do much about it as he would not allow them or doctors to touch him and would never still still for physical examination.

The two surgeons who operated the boy explained the procedure saying ‘’Under general anesthesia, we drilled into the jaw from the top. We did not break the bone from the sides, meaning reconstruction surgery was not required. The sac was removed. You can think of it as a kind of balloon with small pieces inside.”

Dr Senthilnathan, one of the two operating surgeons stated that it was vital to pay attention to dental health and stop ignoring dental issues. Early treatment could help a long way. There is still lack of awareness about dental health particularly in rural areas due to affordability and ignorance. But, with this child all went well as per the doctor and he is now all healthy with 21 teeth.

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*Sourced from the Internet

Quackery In Dentistry

Quackery has been in practice in the dental ecosystem for a long time now. A simple reason behind the same being the demand is more than supply, viz. there is a scarcity of qualified dental professionals. The domino effect, gullible people falling to the dupes of quacks, who provide dental treatment apparently backfires.

In India particularly people residing in remote areas, are deprived of affordable oral healthcare services. Quackery, for those who aren’t aware of the term means ‘fraudulent misrepresentation of one’s ability and experience in the treatment and diagnosis of a disease or the effects of the treatment that is provided’.

Even the high court has mentioned a quack as ‘a person who does not have knowledge of a particular system of medicine but practices in that system is a quack and a mere pretender of medical knowledge or skill’.

Quackery

If we go by the statistics, approximately 3000 quacks are already practicing dentistry across India on an illegal basis. Well, there is this huge difference in the allocation of dentists in public and private sector. Again wherever there is some basic oral healthcare facility available the infrastructure is really poor with limited workforce and resources.

Malpractices that the quacks carry out in dentistry include life threatening risks like using the same needle on multiple patients, not using sterilized equipment, no usage of aspepsis while undertaking procedures, using self-curing acrylic for replace a missing teeth. Using an already extracted tooth for replacing a missing one. The aforementioned are just a few examples of unethical practices that people fall prey to due to paucity of oral healthcare professionals. In the name of providing instant and pain-free treatment these quacks fool the people who are not well informed around oral care and are in need of immediate solution to their problems. In contrast, the treatment they receive when they consult such quacks is not only painful but destructive too, at times causing irreversible damage.

This problem too has a solution and the solution lies in providing accessibility to dental services in remote areas alongside stringent polices against unethical practice. Alternatively, spreading awareness amongst people around dental quacks and furthermore training these quacks after absorbing them would certainly help curb these problems to a great extent.

*Sourced from the Internet