National Children’s Dental Health Month: Tips And Tricks To Improve Their Dental Health

We all know that February is the month of love, but did you know that it is also the month of National Children’s Dental Health? NCDHM is a month-long national health awareness campaign sponsored by the American Dental Association that brings together thousands of devoted professionals, health care providers, and educators to promote the advantages of good oral health to children, caregivers, teachers, and others.

Brush, Floss, Smile! is the theme for National Children’s Dental Health Month 2023. When such an essential cause is at talk, how can we not help you with tips to improve your child’s dental health when the theme is this? So, read the blog below to guarantee that your child’s dental health is in good hands.

ncdhm

Tips To Boost Dental Health

Children adore chocolate and ice cream, and we are powerless to stop them! However, keep in mind that cavities are the most frequent chronic disease in children. Cavities that go untreated can cause pain and infections, which can interfere with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Check out all the advice and vacations listed below to improve their dental health.

Tips for Maintaining Your Child’s Oral Health

Our doctors take satisfaction in treating patients throughout such critical early childhood years. They have further training beyond dentistry school to work exclusively with babies and children in monitoring early oral development as paediatric dentists. We propose the following oral health tips to get your children started on the path to a lifetime of healthy smiles. Check the thoughtful list we have curated to ensure you are on the right track.

For Babies

  • Wipe gums with a soft, clean cloth twice a day, after the first meal and right before bed, to remove germs and carbohydrates that can form cavities.
  • Begin brushing twice a day with a soft, small bristled toothbrush and plain water as soon as your teeth appear.
  • To detect problems early, take your baby to the dentist before his or her first birthday.
  • Discuss with your dentist or doctor the application of fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth develops.

For Children

  • Brush their teeth with light fluid toothpaste twice a day.
  • Brush your child’s teeth with them until they have adequate brushing skills.
  • If your child is under the age of six, keep an eye on how they wash their teeth. Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and spit it out instead of swallowing it. You can also begin flossing in between your child’s teeth once they touch.
  • When necessary, request that your child’s dentist apply dental sealants.
  • Fluoride-containing tap water should be consumed.
  • Every three to four months, replace your child’s toothbrush.
  • Maintain their hydration! Avoid sugary drinks in favour of plain old water. Water aids in the removal of any sugar or particles that may cause cavities.
  • Schedule regular check-ups. If your child hasn’t seen a dentist in more than six months, make an appointment as soon as possible.

When to take your kids to a dentist?

First Tooth, First Birthday, First Dental Visit. “When should my child first see a dentist?” Is one of the new parents’ frequent inquiries. It is never too early to begin thinking about your child’s oral health!

The American Association of Pediatric Dentists suggests that parents establish a dental home for their kid by the time their child gets their first teeth or turns one. At the main visit, parents/guardians will be able to ask questions and address any dental concerns, and the dentist will gently swab the child’s mouth to check their gums and any erupted teeth. As your child begins to teeth, the dentist will be able to monitor their progress and apply preventative treatments for any issues with their teeth.

Are all dentists suitable for a child’s dental care?

The mouth of a youngster is substantially different from the mouth of an adult and provides distinct issues. Baby teeth are not the same as adult teeth and must be treated accordingly. When a cavity develops in a baby tooth, treatment choices may differ from those used to treat a cavity in an adult tooth. As a result, parents should constantly have their children examined by a paediatric dental specialist.

We hope that this information helps you keep your child’s dental health intact and for more information on dental subjects don’t forget to pop into our websites. Furthermore, if you are a dental aspirant looking to pursue a dental course check the details at Rajarajeswari Dental College & Hospital.

Why Eating Right Does Matter – Even To Your Teeth

Well if you have been thinking is eating right is all about weight and heart then read on to find out how eating right is related to your teeth health as well. Nutrition apparently plays a significant role in dental health. People who lack nutritious food get dental health conditions faster than those who indulge in health eating.

good food for teeth

Eating two or three meals a day does not harm much as eating in between meals does. So if you have the urge to snacking try doing it smartly. The frequency of eating in between snacking determines the health of your teeth. So if you are eating frequently in between meals slow down and stick to fruits that do not cause harm like candy, rather go for nutritious foods like fruits and yogurt. If you have the habit of snacking frequently a good idea is to brush your teeth after snacking too. Foods that are good for oral health include the following –

Vitamin C rich foods – Vitamin C is good for gum health and hence intake of citrus fruits like tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, spinach and potatoes is a good idea.

Calcium rich foods – This is not new. We all know the role of calcium rich products like cheese, yogurt, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables are good for bones and teeth.

Phosphorus rich foods – Even phosphorous rich foods are good for teeth and hence foods like potatoes, spinach, tomatoes rich in phosphorous should be included in daily diet.

Well, besides eating healthy, if you maintain a good oral hygiene that includes brushing atleast twice a day, flossing and drinking water at regular intervals you can keep your smile intact for a long time across your life years. So, eat healthy, eat smart and keep smiling your way to happy dental health.

Got A Gummy Smile? Don’t Bother It Could Be Fixed

Usually when we smile normally 2/3rd to 3/4th part is teeth and rest is gums covered by our lips. A person with a gummy smile though will have more of gums to show when smiling. So, if your smile shows up 2-3 mm of gum as a continuous band then it’s a characteristic of gummy smile. As compared to males, gummy smiles of women seem to be very prominent making them conscious as well. There are various reasons one could have a gummy smile. Here are a few-

  1. Strong upper lip muscles

  2. Uneven teeth

  3. Smaller or Shorter teeth

  4. Small upper lips

  5. Increase in vertical face growth

This could lead to gum display that could affect your smile. Though, it is perfectly okay to have a gummy smile, there are people who experience lack of confidence and psychological issues if they have a gummy smile. So, for those people who have a gummy smile and want to repair the same, there is a solution called ‘Lip Positioning Surgery’ available already.

It is a cosmetic surgery which is used for repositioning your lips in a way that they cover the gums and give you the smile you want. The surgery needs to be carried out by a dentist by giving local anaesthesia to the gums. The dentist then cuts the excess gums display and stitches the gums nearer to the teeth. The surgery usually lasts around 40 minutes giving instant results. Though you need to take precautions so that the stitches remain intact till they dry. So, you need to have a diet plan for two to three days after the surgery. The stitches are removes after one week. The procedure is a safe one and the outcome is generally satisfying and enhances your beauty.

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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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Frailty Among Indian Elderly. Is Poor Dental Health The Culprit?

For those who aren’t aware what frailty is all about, it means vulnerability towards dental health conditions or inability to perform daily routines due to declining health. One of the risk factors of frailty is poor oral health because it effects the abilities like smiling, eating and even speaking, ultimately the quality of life.

A study including 7735 British male participants and published in the American Geriatrics Society Journal does show that frailty and oral hygiene to go hand in hand.

The study started off when the participants were 40-59 years old in 1978 -1980. Then again in 2010-2012 the 1722 participants who were alive then were called for re-examination. At that time their age was 71-92 years. The participants were examined for their physical health, vital statistics as well as weight, walking and grip test as well. A questionnaire explaining their medical history as well as lifestyle was also needed to be answered besides information around social medical and health.

Additionally, there was a dental exam for noting the frailty status of the participants. The confirmation of frailty was done on the basis of three issues – weak grip, slow walking speed, weight loss, exhaustion or low physical activity levels.

Dental examination showed that around more than half viz. 64 percent had less than 21 teeth, over 54 percent were suffering from gum disease, 34 percent of the participants rated their oral health as poor or fair, 29 percent exhibited minimum two symptoms of dry mouth while almost 20 percent were having no teeth at all. 11 percent of the participants had difficulty eating food.

Well, considering this study, there seems to be a direction connection between frailty and oral health. As per an expert Dr. Carter, Chief Executive Oral health Foundation, in UK the people have good longevity but it comes at the cost of significant health problems for people over 65 years of age. Hence, brushing teeth effectively is necessary but due to dexterity and limited mobility, it makes it hard for the elders to do so. Hence, its advisable that elders give priority to their oral health and even the government takes measures in devising a effective oral health system particularly for the elder population.

*Sourced from the Internet

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