The Importance of Early Dental Care

Early dental care helps in promoting a lifetime of beautiful, healthy smile. The latest techniques and technologies help in avoiding decay and the likelihood of discomfort and pain later. Here is some information pertaining to baby teeth care:

The first visit
The child’s first appointment with the dentist must be scheduled somewhere close to his/her first birthday. This visit should be about getting comfortable with the dentist and the staff. A relaxed, pleasant, visit helps build trust and puts the infant at ease for further dental appointments.

Apart from regular doctor appointments, it is also important to adopt certain healthy habits to the child care routine. For instance, most babies are put to bed right after a bottle of milk or juice. These liquids consist of sugar, which might remain inside the mouth and generate bacteria overnight. For such reasons, it is important to feed water at bedtime. In addition, prolonged thumb sucking is also a problem. It can cause the front teeth to stick out, leading to several dental problems in the future. Hence, parents must help their children lose this habit.

Prevention is key between ages six to twelve, when the child’s milk teeth give way to adult teeth. Ask the dentist to suggest a sealant, a resin that can be bonded to the chewing surface of the tooth to prevent bacteria from making grooves. Toothpaste is not important initially, but a very soft baby toothbrush can be used to remove food debris and initial plaque in the mouth. Even using a wet washcloth to wipe the mouth is helpful.

The First Orthodontic Visit:
Around the age of seven, most children undergo orthodontic assessment. Orthodontics is basically about altering jaw growth; recognizing skeletal causes of chipped, crooked teeth early to ensure a beautiful, perfect smile later on.

At this stage children are also trained to get the basics right -- brushing two times a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, reducing snacks high on sugar, and going for regular dental checkups. It is also a good idea to award children with gifts every now and then to keep them motivated to stay healthy.

Getting a child ready for his/her first dental appointment
It is very important to prepare the child for a trip to the dentist. Here are some tips that must be kept in mind:

• Be very brief. Parents have a tendency to over-talk about the upcoming dentist appointment to their children to prepare them, a tactic that normally backfires. It is best to let the child know about the appointment ahead of time and just leave it to that.
• Be very positive. Most parents who have suffered from bad dental treatments often presume that their children will, too. It’s not good to talk about fear as it sets up negative connotation with the dentist and dental treatments.
• Be calm. Several parents keep repeating the directives given to their children by the doctor or tend to meddle with the doctor’s ways during the visits. Hearing numerous voices puzzles the child and hinders a chance for bonding with the dentist.

Preventive care and early examination will ensure minimal problems with the child’s teeth. It is important that parents make the child’s first appointment between six to twelve months. Early cleanings will assist the child in forming good habits and realizing the significance of good oral health. Bear in mind – if a child is facing several dental health problems, sedation dentistry can provide an excellent solution for rectifying all the issues at once. It keeps the child from having problems in undergoing procedures that might seem scary or sitting still for extended periods of time.

Is there a link between Obesity and Gum Disease?

Countries like USA and Mexico are among the highest in obesity levels in both children and adults. Experts believe that about one-third of the American population can be classified as overweight. This increased number has led to the prediction that every two out of three individuals will be obese or overweight by the year 2020- which is a big concern.

Effects of Obesity:
Obesity can negatively affect a person’s overall emotional and physical health, and is connected to a variety of serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancer types. Interestingly, some doctors also indicate that it may play a role in the occurrence of gum diseases. In fact, studies show that obesity can increase risk for gum related disease, due to insulin resistance that the body develops. Gum disease can start with mild gingivitis, wherein gums bleed easily. However, if not treated on time, they can become Periodontitis, wherein bacteria in the plaque irritate the gums and instigate an inflammatory response. It is also believed that people with elevated body mass generate a greater level of inflammatory proteins.

Study:
A study from Harvard School of Public Health also indicated towards a prospective association between periodontal disease and obesity. The height and weight and self-reported periodontal disease data was recorded of several subjects at the beginning of the test, and questionnaires were mailed bi-annually to find out how the subjects were fairing. Measures of obesity were taken by hip and waist circumference. After evaluating thousands of subjects, the team observed drastic association between periodontal disease and obesity when accounting for smoking, age, race, physical activity, dental profession, diabetes status and fruit and vegetable intake.

Unfortunately, gum problems already affect a large percentage of people and can also have a very negative impact on mortality. The habits people develop can impact the condition of their present and future health. For that matter, it is advisable to reset and get back into shape for maintaining excellent health. Here are some oral habits that should be a part of everyone’s oral health regime:

• Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the projections daily.
• Eating a well balanced diet, decreasing the intake of beverages and foods that are high in sugar.
• Visiting a dentist regularly for proper dental treatment.

Dental professionals must be very careful about the patient’s medical history and reevaluate any medical condition that may point to cause obesity. They should then advise patients to see a physician for more evaluation. Their oral health condition should be assessed and treatment should be provided based on the physician’s finding. Emphasis must be given on reducing of the plaque and associated inflammation, both below and above the gum line. Proper home care should also be reinforced, and the patients should be motivated to floss and brush twice a day. When most people resolve to get rid of that excess fat, their main motivation is to fit into those skinny jeans or wear a bathing suit. And while looking good is important, the health benefits of losing a few pounds are enormous. Likewise, the health concerns for the heavy weight are often scary, as this epidemic is spreading across the nation, leading to several deaths. Doctors have associated numerous conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, type II diabetes, and some types of cancer. Bodies of obese individuals also relentlessly generate cytokines, proteins that have inflammatory properties. Such cytokines can directly reduce blood flow or harm the gum tissue, consequentially promoting the growth of gum disease. Perhaps it’s time to switch one’s motivation from looking great on the outside, to taking proper care of the bodies from the inside, as being obese can not only cost people their self-esteem, but also their lives.