Do you know that Coffee stains the teeth? Find out ways to prevent Teeth stains.

Tobacco, coffee, tea, red wine, kola nut(African) and chlorhexidine mouthwash are major culprits when it comes to teeth stains.

The following are ways to prevent these culprits from staining your teeth.

1. Quit tobacco: aside from the fact that smokers are liable to die young, tobacco also causes embarrassing teeth stains. Whether you chew or smoke tobacco, it leaves unsightly stains on your teeth. 
2. Make use of a straw when taking colored drinks.
3. Drink water/rinse your mouth after taking coffee or tea.
4. Brush your teeth twice daily. Brushing after food will also help prevent stains. However, you may have to delay brushing for 30mins after taking acidic foods to prevent your teeth from wearing off. 
5. Use chlorhexidine mouthwash only for the time your dentist recommends. Avoid prolonged use of chlorhexidine as it is known to stain the teeth. You could use other mouthwashes.
6. Floss regularly: stains tend to gather in areas not easily accessible to brushing such as in between the teeth. Flossing helps prevent buildup of stains.
7. Lastly, go for regular scaling and polishing (professional teeth cleaning) to prevent accumulation of dirts and stains.

The good thing about these stains is that they are external, hence they can be easily removed by the professional cleaning of the teeth done by dentists.

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7 Reasons why you should not grind your Teeth

Teeth grinding is a habit many engage in when they are anxious/stressed or during sleep. It is also known as Bruxism. The sound produced when a person clenches and grinds could be quite disturbing. Teeth grinding is seen in children and adults; however, it is commoner in adults. Children who grind their teeth later outgrow it.

While under stress people who grind their teeth use it as a means to release tension. Some who grind while sleeping may not know they grind their teeth unless they are told by family members. Waking up with jaw pain and headache is a pointer to night grinding.

Regular teeth grinding may lead to the following:

1. Jaw pain
2. Wearing down of the teeth: an obvious reduction in the length of teeth.
3. Teeth sensitivity: results from the wearing down of the teeth. The topmost layer of the teeth(enamel)is worn down exposing the sensitive yellowish inner layer(dentin).
4. Tooth loss
5. Jaw joint pain/TMJ pain
6. Headaches.
7. Swollen cheek muscles.

Treatment for teeth grinding include

1. Reduce stress: individuals may benefit from attending counseling sessions to help reduce stress.
2. Muscle relaxation exercises
3. Use of medication to relax the muscles (muscle relaxants)
4. Mouth guards: if grinding persists after stress reduction or muscle relaxation, your dentist can help make a mouth guard similar to those used in sports such as boxing to prevent the upper and lower teeth from making contact.

Although mouth guards are available for purchase, they may not fit readily like the one your dentist will make.

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Electric toothbrushes: A smart way of cleaning your teeth

Electric toothbrushes are powered toothbrushes which can either be rechargeable or non rechargeable. When switched on, they produce vibrations that are effective in removing plaque(whitish substances) from the teeth and prevent gum disease.

It is important to state that you can achieve a good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth with a medium textured manual toothbrush if you use the appropriate brushing methods. It is however proven that Electric/powered toothbrushes help clean the teeth better than the manual toothbrushes.

There are various power toothbrush designs available ranging from those with simple designs to more complex ones. There are also designs with plain bristles to round bristles which rotate and apply deep cleaning action to areas not easily accessible in the mouth.

Selling points:

1. Can be used by children, adults and the elderly. It is especially recommended for people who have 'special needs' i.e they are not able to clean their teeth by themselves.
2. Most power toothbrushes come with spare heads/bristles which can be changed after 3 months.
3. Some have indicators which tell you how long you've brushed for or cautions you if you are brushing too hard.
4. They help reach and clean non easily accessible areas in the mouth.
5. Most are quite easy to operate: put on the button and move the brush around the surfaces of the teeth for the required brushing time -2mins.

Though the electric toothbrushes are more expensive, they produce greater results than the manual ones. For people who rush through their Toothbrushing routine so as not to be late for work, the electric toothbrush will help achieve a clean mouth with less stress and produce more results.

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5 Fun ways to Spice up your Child's Toothbrushing.

Getting a child to brush can sometimes be a tough job. From a crying child to one who runs away whenever it is time to brush. For the very young ones, they may simply not understand why mummy has to stick something into their mouth and move it around.

The following are sure ways to get your child interested in toothbrushing:

1. Colourful toothbrushes with their favorite cartoon character: toothbrush manufacturers have been able to make toothbrushes for children with various cartoon characters. Characters such as Barbie, and Spider-man are examples of those toothbrushes. You can take them shopping and allow them pick their toothbrush.
2. Toothbrushes with tunes: some toothbrushes have tunes/songs which comes on when a button is pressed. The tune might be one he/she dances to while brushing.
3. Toothbrushing songs and apps: you can download a Toothbrushing song which plays for 2 mins(the required brushing time). There are also brushing games and apps which can be downloaded for free.
4. Toothpaste flavours: many children do not like the mint flavour in some toothpastes, they prefer flavours like strawberry so be sure to get them a nice flavour.
5. Brushing together: You can schedule your Toothbrushing time to that of your child; brushing your teeth and showing him/her how to brush. 

Avoid the stress, make Toothbrushing fun for your child today. 

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Secrets to having painless Dental procedures

The mere thought of going through pain can trigger fear in an individual and affect his/her decision to visit the Dentist.

A relaxed and cooperative patient is every dentists joy as this will help him/her conclude treatments on time and be able to attend to other patients. The dentist therefore aims towards achieving a painless procedure by administering anaesthesia to make the area he/she wants to work on numb(deprived of sensation).

Procedures that require numbing include deep cleaning, fillings, removal of a tooth etc

Various numbing methods

1. Topical anaesthesia: this can either be anaesthetic gel or spray applied to the surface of soft tissues (the gum or cheek) to achieve some degree of numbing. It is usually used before the introduction of the needle to minimize the pain caused by the needle prick. Its numbing effect is usually short. Anesthetic Sprays cover a wider area than topical gels; they can be used for a number of simple procedures such as removing very mobile baby tooth or getting out a piece of fish bone/popcorn chaff stuck between the teeth. The effect wears off within minutes.
2. Anaesthetic solution: this is administered with the aid of a dental syringe and needle. Do not be alarmed at the sight of the syringe as the size is to enable the solution cartridge fit in. The numbness usually wears off within 3 to 4 hours so care should be taken not to accidentally bite the lip or cheek before the numbness wears off as this may result in a deep bite injury.

Other forms of anaesthesia not commonly administered include

• Sedation: sometimes, your dentist may decide to give you additional medication to help you relax and take pain away; this is known as sedation. This can be done by a dentist who is trained in administering sedation.
• General anaesthesia: rarely, the patient might need to be put to sleep to complete treatment. Such treatment may include repairing an extensive jaw fracture or removing a jaw growth.

Secrets: BE RELAXED. It is important to differentiate between pain and pressure as some patients wrongly interpret pressure as pain. 

If after your dentist has given you anaesthesia to make your tooth numb you still feel pain, please raise your left hand to call the dentists attention and inform him/her you still feel pain. This is the most important secret to having a painless dental treatment.

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Check out the Materials used to fill holes in the Teeth

Holes created by tooth decay or fracture are usually filled/restored to stop pain and the progression of the decay. Filling the tooth also helps restore the tooth back to function and aesthetics.
There are basically 2 types of filling materials; temporary and permanent.

1. Temporary filling materials: as the name implies are materials placed temporarily on the tooth with the intention of replacing it with a permanent one at a later date. They are not as strong as permanent materials and are easier to remove.
2. Permanent filling materials: are placed permanently and can stay as long as 10-15 years or more without needing replacement. 

Amalgam filling:

Permanent Filling materials your Dentist will often use include

• Amalgam: a silver coloured material. It is strong and inexpensive. It is mainly used for filling the back teeth(areas not readily visible when you talk or laugh).
• Composite: is a white material that matches the colour of the tooth. A light is usually shone on it during the filling process. This is to make it hard enough to withstand forces of chewing. They often absorb stains(such as coffee and tobacco) with time. They can be used for both front and back teeth. 
• GIC(Glass Ionomer Cement): is also a white filling that blends with the colour of the tooth. It can be used for both adults and children. It is the preferred filling material in children because it has the ability to release fluoride which prevents tooth decay. It also forms a good bond to the tooth(sticks to the tooth). 

White filling

White fillings are generally preferred to silver fillings because they blend with the tooth colour and are not easily noticed.

The choice of filling material is largely determined by your dentist who knows what material will work best for you depending on the size of the hole and the area affected.

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Important things to note about the Baby/Milk teeth

Humans have two sets of teeth; the baby/milk teeth(which is temporary) and the adult teeth(which is permanent).

The baby teeth is the first set to appear in the mouth and there are 20 teeth in all; 10 in the upper and 10 in the lower jaw. They are generally smaller in size and whiter than the adult teeth. They are also known as the primary/deciduous dentition.

When will my baby's first tooth pop out?
Your baby's first tooth is expected to come out by 6 months, sometimes it could be earlier or later than 6 months. Some babies have their first tooth as early as 4 months while some come in later than 6 months.

The first teeth to appear are the lower front teeth(the incisors) followed the upper front teeth. By the age of 2.5 to 3 years, he/she should have the complete set of 20 teeth.

When will the baby teeth fall off?
By 6years, the lower baby teeth become loose and fall out and are replaced by the adult/permanent teeth. As time goes on, the whole 20 baby teeth will become loose and fall out. It is expected that all the baby teeth will have fallen off by 12years(on rare occasions, a baby tooth may remain until adulthood)

My one year old child doesn't have any tooth, should I be worried?
Some children have their baby teeth quite late. If your child is 1year plus and doesn't have any tooth present in his/her mouth, there might be nothing wrong with him/her; however, you will benefit from a visit to the dentist. The dentist may need to take some X-rays to confirm the presence of the teeth in the bone. This is necessary to allay your fears.

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Dental X-rays: How safe are they?

If you have a hole or a painful tooth, your Dentist will most likely request for a dental X-ray to know the extent of decay/damage and arrive at a diagnosis. This will help show the whole tooth and the surrounding structures.

Dental X-rays are diagnostic as well as preventive. If you are visiting the dentist for the first time, you may be required to take a set of X-rays; this will show the state of your teeth and gums as well as reveal dental conditions you may not be aware of.

Dental X-rays are safe, the amount of radiation released with each session is low and is limited to the area the X-ray cone is placed. The risk of being exposed to radiation is therefore very low.

Your dentist leaves the room every time he/she takes an X-ray because he/she takes X-rays many times a day for several patients. Since you do not take these X-rays everyday you do not have anything to worry about. Despite the safety of dental X-rays, always request to have a Lead apron with each X-ray session. 

Precautions

1. Lead apron & Thyroid collar: these are protective cloths made of lead which prevents the penetration of X-rays. The lead apron is used to cover the chest, abdomen and pelvis(tummy and below) while the thyroid collar covers the neck.
2. Pregnancy status: inform your dentist if you are pregnant as your dentist may decide to postpone the X-rays. If the X-rays are absolutely important for your treatment, he/she will cover your pelvis(your tummy and below) with a lead apron.

X-rays are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers. If you are not sure of your pregnancy status, insist on having a lead apron. 

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What to know about Babies born with teeth

It is rare to see a baby born with teeth. When babies are born, they are not expected to have any teeth in their mouth until the age of 6months(could be earlier). However, due to reasons that can't be explained, a baby may be born with a tooth/teeth in his/her mouth. This is commonly seen in the lower jaw. In the past, such babies were tagged as monsters or abnormal babies and were not allowed to live. In some places, the babies and their mothers were banished from the town.

Babies born with teeth are normal babies said to have a rare occurrence known as 'Natal teeth' while babies who grow teeth within 30days of birth are said to have 'Neonatal' teeth.

Features

• Tooth may be one of the normal series which came earlier than expected or may be an extra tooth. 
• Tooth may be mobile(not firm) posing a serious risk to the baby as it can come off and choke him/her. 

Problems associated with Natal tooth

• It may cause sores on the baby's tongue(underneath)
• If the tooth is not firm, it could come off and may choke the baby.
• Breast feeding may be painful for the mother as the tooth may bruise the mothers nipples or the baby may bite her.

Treatment
The decision to remove tooth or leave depends on the state of the tooth and the parents wishes.

• If the tooth is firm, it can be left in place. The mother may express milk in bottles to feed the baby instead of breast feeding to prevent pain and discomfort.
• The tooth/teeth may be removed if it causes sores on the baby's tongue/lip or if tooth is not firm to prevent the tooth from falling off and choking the baby.

Many times natal teeth have no medical significance. However, further investigation may be done to rule out the presence of some medical conditions.

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Watch your Stress, it can trigger Mouth sores.

Mouth sores result from a break in the lining of the mouth. They are often caused by

1. Trauma from cheek/lip biting or irritation from a chipped tooth, 
2. Allergies to certain foods, 
3. Nutritional deficiencies(iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid) and 
4. Stress: Many tend to develop mouth ulcers around an examination period due to the stress of preparation. 

Major forms of stress that contribute to mouth ulcers include:

• Physical stress: either at work or school during examinations.
• Emotional/Psychological stress: dealing with a struggling relationship, a break up or demise of a loved one.
• A weak immune system caused by an illness/infection.

Mouth sores caused by stress are also known as stress ulcers/sores. They appear as small sores with grayish base and reddish borders. They are painful and tend to reoccur. The sores can occur singly or may be more than one. They can be found on the tongue/under the tongue, on the cheek, lips, gums or the roof of the mouth/palate.

Stress sores are commoner in females than males and are non contagious i.e, they can not be contacted by sharing cutlery.

Presentation
Sores are associated with pain and discomfort when chewing or drinking. The severity depends on the area of the mouth the sore is. Pain could also affect talking or swallowing.

Treatment.
Sores heal within 7-14days without any treatment. However, the following will reduce pain and prevent it from worsening:

• Maintain a good oral hygiene
• Avoid touching/rubbing sores with tongue/fingers
• Avoid peppery/salty food
• Avoid acidic fruits
• Drink fluids
• Use warm water and salt mouth rinse
• Numbing gels sold over the counter can be applied on the surface to reduce pain.
• Pain relieving medications such as paracetamol will reduce pain and discomfort.

If sores do not heal within 3 weeks, please see your Dentist.

For warm water and salt rinse, see  Warm water and salt rinse Benefits

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My front tooth is chipped off, can it be fixed?

The upper front tooth often receives the greatest impact during a fall or accident making it liable to fracture/chip off.

Before and After Repair

If the impact of the fall is not so much, the tooth may chip off without causing any pain or discomfort. However, if the impact of the accident is much, a large part of the tooth may break off causing sensitivity to cold/hot drinks and/or pain.

Treatment

• Minimal fracture/slightly chipped off front tooth with no pain: In this case, the tooth can be restored back to its original shape by using one of the following:

1. A 'tooth colored' filling material known as Composite can be used to build up the tooth. If given this option, you will be told to avoid biting on hard things such as coconut/roasted corn to prevent the filling from separating from the tooth. Also, the filling tends to change color with time so you'll be advised to take your colored drinks with straw to prevent it from absorbing the stains.
2. A Porcelain veneer(a tooth colored shell) can also be used. This does not absorb stains like the filling material. 
3. Porcelain crowns(tooth colored caps) though more expensive are more permanent solutions to the filling falling out or changing color after many years. They are caps worn over the tooth.

• Extensive fracture with pain: This may require having a root canal(a special kind of treatment) first on the tooth to take care of the pain before fixing the porcelain crown(cap).

Implications of not repairing the fractured tooth

• It is not aesthetically pleasing, that is, your looks may be altered.
• The tooth next to it may gradually drift(shift position) making your tooth look scattered.

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Help! Is Chewing Stick bad for my Teeth

Chewing sticks are cheap 'natural toothbrushes' made from tree twigs(small branches). Its use is commonly seen in people who dwell in rural areas where toothbrushes and toothpastes are not readily available. Many of our grandparents make use of chewing sticks to clean their teeth. Some make use of the chewing stick first and then use their toothbrush and paste afterwards.

Some chewing sticks have medicinal properties. Commonly used chewing sticks in Nigeria include Bitter leaf twig, 'Pako Ijebu'/'atu-uhie', 'Orin ayan', Orin Ata etc

Advantages

• It is cheap
• No need to apply toothpaste
• Chewing increases the flow of saliva which helps cleanse the teeth
• Chewing the stick is a good form of exercise for the jaws
• Those who use the chewing stick spend longer time brushing their teeth than those who make use of the toothbrush.

Disadvantages

• The inner surfaces of the teeth(where the tongue rests) might not be easy to reach.
• May cause abrasion(wearing down) of the teeth if the end is not chewed properly before applying on the surfaces of the teeth.

Conclusion
Using the chewing stick is based on preference. If you decide to use it, make sure you chew the end well before applying on the teeth and be sure to clean every surface of your teeth. If you find it difficult to reach every surface of your teeth, you may benefit from using a toothbrush and paste.

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Happy New Year

Happy New year readers.
This year, have a positive attitude towards achieving a good dental health.
Have a beautiful 2016.

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