Your Child's First Trip To The Dentist

It is generally recommended that an infant be seen by a dentist by the age of 1 or within 6 months after his or her first tooth comes in.

The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. This visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. Some dentists may ask the parent to sit in the dental chair and hold their child during the examination. The parent may also be asked to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and your dentist.

During the exam, your dentist will check all of your child's existing teeth for decay, examine your child's bite, and look for any potential problems with the gums, jaw, and oral tissues. If indicated, the dentist or hygienist will clean any teeth and assess the need for fluoride. He or she will also educate parents about oral health care basics for children and discuss dental developmental issues and answer any questions.

Topics your dentist may discuss with you might include:

Good oral hygiene practices for your child's teeth and gums and cavity prevention

Fluoride needs

Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking)

Developmental milestones

Teething

Proper nutrition

Schedule of dental checkups. Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child's comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth, and promptly treat any developing problems.

Call 1300 764 537 or click here to make an appointment today with you local 1300SMILES dentist today.

Teeth Brushing 101

Brushing our teeth is an everyday activity for all of us. Yet, the majority of adults do not know the correct method to properly brush their teeth. This can lead to oral concerns in the long run including but not limited to; plaque, calculus, bleeding gums, bad breath, gum diseases, caries and tooth discolouration.

Most of these dental problems do not evoke any symptoms or pain until they have progressed to a relatively advanced stage. In fact, many people search the internet on “how to brush my dogs teeth” when they should be searching for “how to brush my teeth”.

There have been various tooth brushing techniques suggested by dentists but the most accepted brushing technique is The Bass Method.

Listed below is a step by step the strategy for effectively brushing your teeth keeping dental problems at bay.

• Always use a soft bristled tooth brush. Hard bristles can damage your gums leading to gingival recession
• Wet your toothbrush first and then put a pea sized amount of toothpaste on to the brush
• Hold the tooth brush tilted at an angle of 45 degrees towards your gums. The upper teeth should be cleaned first. Begin at the frontal aspect of the most back teeth and clean the teeth 3 at a time
• Use short back and forth motions without exerting too much pressure on your teeth. Concentrate on the part of tooth which is nearer to the gums as improper cleaning of this part is most often responsible for gum diseases
• First clean the frontal surface of teeth, then the chewing surface and lastly the inner surfaces. If you find the head of the brush too large to maintain the 45 degree angle while cleaning the inner surface of teeth, use the brush vertically
• Lift the brush and move to the next 3 teeth and repeat the same process cleaning the outer, chewing and inner surfaces
• Continue along the arch until you reach the end of it and then shift to the lower teeth and clean them in a similar way
• Brush gently along the gum line of your tooth as this effectively dislodges any accumulated food debris (on which bacteria grows)
• Brush your tongue too which will keep bad breath away

Article Source Dentalhealth.com

Dentistry - Interesting??

I bet you didn't think it was possible, but here are a few dental fun facts that may find you saying "Wow, I didn't know that!"

Each person's set of teeth is unique - much like their fingerprints - even in identical twins.

Some cheeses are have been found to protect teeth from decay.

The Mexican version of the Tooth Fairy is known as the Tooth Mouse, which takes the tooth and leaves treasures in its place.

If you're right handed, you will chew your food on your right side. If you're left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.

The major causes of tooth loss in people under age 35 are sports, accidents and fights.

George Washington's dentures were made from walrus, hippopotamus, and cows' teeth, as well as elephant tusks.

The most valuable tooth was one a nobleman purchased - belonging to the famous scientists Isaac Newton - for $4,560. It was set in a ring.

In 200 AD, the Romans used a mixture of bones, eggshells, oyster shells and honey to clean their teeth.

Queen Elizabeth I's teeth were noticeably discolored. A German traveler, Paul Henter, speculated that the discoloration was due to the Queen's excessive consumption of sugar, making the first recorded association between sugar and tooth decay.

The Importance of Flossing

Many people don’t realize the importance of flossing. Flossing in between your teeth is essential for avoiding periodontal disease as well as preventing tooth decay. Periodontal disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults and can be easily prevented by flossing. Studies have even shown that flossing can also help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Tooth decay is caused by plaque, which is the sticky substance that forms on and in between the teeth. If the plaque isn’t removed, it combines with the sugars and / or starches of the foods that we eat to produce an acid that attacks tooth enamel. Brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, but only flossing can remove plaque that accumulates in between the teeth.

Plaque can also irritate the gums. When the gums are irritated, they bleed easily and become red and tender. If the plaque is not removed from in between the teeth with dental floss, the gums can eventually start to pull away from the teeth. When this happens, bacteria and pus-filled pockets can form and the bone that supports the teeth can be destroyed. Once the bone is destroyed, the teeth will loosen or have to be removed. Flossing your teeth is essential in preventing gum disease.

 How to FlossImage supplied by dreamstime.com 

Take 12 to 18 inches of floss and grasp it so that you have a couple inches of floss taut between your hands.

Slip floss between teeth and into the area between your teeth and gums as far as it will go.

Floss with 8 to 10 vertical strokes to dislodge food and plaque.

Try to floss at least once a day. The most important time to floss is before going to bed.

Floss before or after brushing ' either is fine.

Dental Health and Pregnancy

Pregnancy does not automatically damage your teeth. The old wives’ tale that warns a woman to expect a lost tooth for every baby is false. If the mother’s intake of calcium is inadequate during pregnancy, her bones – not her teeth – will provide the calcium her growing baby needs. This calcium loss is quickly made up after breastfeeding is stopped.

However, the demands of pregnancy can lead to particular dental problems in some women. With proper hygiene at home and professional help from your dentist, your teeth should remain healthy throughout the pregnancy.

Your dental health can affect your baby
Research has found a link between gum disease in pregnant women and premature birth. Babies who are born prematurely may risk a range of health conditions including cerebral palsy and problems with eyesight and hearing.

Estimates suggest that about 18 out of every 100 premature births may be triggered by periodontal disease, which is a chronic infection of the gums. Appropriate dental treatment for the expectant mother can reduce the risk of premature birth by more than 80 per cent, according to one study.

Pre-pregnancy dental health
You are less likely to have dental problems during pregnancy if you already have good oral hygiene habits. Suggestions include:

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Floss between your teeth.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

If you are planning on getting pregnant, see your dentist. It may be more convenient to have elective procedures (or procedures that involve the use of x-rays) done before you conceive. For example, new dental amalgam fillings or the replacement of old fillings may need to wait until after the first trimester.

Inform your dentist
Tell your dentist if you are pregnant. Pregnancy may affect your dental care. For example, the dentist may defer x-rays until after the birth. If dental x-rays are unavoidable, the dentist can take extra precautions to ensure your baby’s safety. If your dental condition requires general anaesthesia or drugs, see your obstetrician for advice.

Common causes of dental health problems
Common causes of dental health problems during pregnancy can include:

• Gum problems
• Vomiting
• Cravings for sugary foods
• Retching while brushing teeth.

Gum problems
The hormones associated with pregnancy can make some women susceptible to gum problems including:

• Gingivitis (gum inflammation) – this is more likely to occur during the second trimester. Symptoms include swelling of the gums and bleeding particularly during brushing and flossing between teeth.
• Undiagnosed or untreated periodontal disease – pregnancy may exacerbate this chronic gum infection, which is caused by untreated gingivitis and can lead to tooth loss. This can manifest as gingival swellings, know as pregnancy epulis, which may or may not resolve once your baby is born.

During pregnancy, the gum problems that occur are not due to increased plaque but an exacerbated response to plaque as a consequence of the increased hormone levels.

Tell your dentist about any gum problems that you might have. Switch to a softer toothbrush and brush your teeth regularly, at least twice every day. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride (if you’re not already) to help strengthen your teeth against decay.

If you had gum problems during pregnancy, it is important to get your gums checked by a dentist after you have given birth. While most types of gum problems caused by pregnancy hormones resolve after birth, a small number of women may have developed a deeper level of gum disease that will need treatment to resolve.

Vomiting
Pregnancy hormones soften the ring of muscle that keeps food inside the stomach. Gastric reflux (regurgitating food or drink) or the vomiting associated with morning sickness can coat your teeth with strong stomach acids. Repeated reflux and vomiting can damage tooth enamel and increase the risk of decay.

Suggestions include:

• Don’t brush your teeth immediately after vomiting. While the teeth are covered in stomach acids, the vigorous action of the toothbrush may scratch the tooth enamel.
• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water.
• Follow up with a fluoridated mouthwash.
• If you don’t have a fluoridated mouthwash, put a dab of fluoridated toothpaste on your finger and smear it over your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water.
• Brush your teeth at least an hour after vomiting.

Retching while brushing teeth
Some pregnant women find that brushing their teeth, particularly the molars, provokes retching. However, you risk tooth decay if you don’t brush regularly. Suggestions include:

• Use a brush with a small head, such as a brush made for toddlers.
• Take your time. Slow down your brushing action.
• It may help to close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
• Try other distractions, such as listening to music.
• If the taste of the toothpaste seems to provoke your gag reflex, switch to another brand. Alternatively, brush your teeth with water and follow up with a fluoridated mouthwash. Go back to brushing with fluoridated toothpaste as soon as you can.

source: 

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Dental_Health_and_Pregnancy

Image supplied by 

http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/blog/tag/prenatal-massage/