Medication and Oral Health

Some medicines can affect oral health due to high levels of sugar. If you are on long-term medication, you may be at greater risk of developing tooth decay due to using sweetened medications.

• The sugar contained in liquid medications, cough drops, vitamins, antacid tablets and anti-fungal agents can lead to tooth decay.
• Inhalers (particularly those containing steroids) can cause erosion of the tooth enamel.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth is a potential side effect of numerous medications (prescribed and over-the-counter). Dry mouth occurs due to the reduction in saliva flow. Without the cleansing effects of saliva, tooth decay and other oral health problems become more common.

Medications that can cause dry mouth include:

• antihistamines
• decongestants
• painkillers
• medications prescribed for high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease
• muscle relaxants
• drugs for urinary incontinence
• anti-depressants and many others.

What you can do

• Check labels to determine whether a sugar-based medication is being taken.
• Discuss medications with a general practitioner, pharmacist or oral health professional.
• Ask your doctor about the sugar content of medications or the effect on saliva flow.
• Limit the use of, or request alternatives to, sugar-based medications when appropriate. Never change medications without speaking to your doctor first.
• If sugar-based medication is used, rinse your mouth with water immediately after taking the medication.

Artice source Dental Health Services Victoria

Avoiding Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Chances are, you're using a bottle to feed your baby. Have you ever heard of "baby bottle tooth decay", or "nursing bottle mouth"? It's one of the common ways your baby can develop cavities, and it can be avoided.

Causes

Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when a child's teeth are frequently exposed to sugary liquids for long periods of time, usually through extended nursing on milk (including breast milk), formula or juice at bedtime or naptime.

How to Avoid It

Never use a feeding bottle as a pacifier.

Try not to put your child to bed with a bottle. If you must, make sure it contains plain water instead of milk, juice or formula.

Don't give a baby a pacifier that has been dipped in honey or sugar.

Caring for Your Baby's Gums

After each feeding, gently brush your baby's gums using water or a baby tooth and gum cleanser on a baby toothbrush that has soft bristles. Or, wipe your baby's gums with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad.

Many people don't know that you don't have to wait until the first tooth appears to begin efforts to prevent tooth decay. Fact is, you need to start providing good oral care for your children right from birth, because from healthy gums come healthy teeth.

Early Dental Care In Infants

New parents have one more reason to pay attention to the oral health of their toothless babies. A recent University of Illinois study confirms the presence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries (ECC) in infant saliva.

ECC is a virulent form of caries, more commonly known as tooth decay or a cavity. Cavities are the most prevalent infectious disease in U.S. children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"By the time a child reaches kindergarten, 40 percent have dental cavities," said Kelly Swanson, lead researcher and U of I professor of animal science. "In addition, populations who are of low socioeconomic status, who consume a diet high in sugar, and whose mothers have low education levels are 32 times more likely to have this disease."

Swanson's novel study focused on infants before teeth erupted, compared to most studies focused on children already in preschool or kindergarten -- after many children already have dental cavities.

"We now recognize that the "window of infectivity," which was thought to occur between 19 and 33 months of age years ago, really occurs at a much younger age," he said. "Minimizing snacks and drinks with fermentable sugars and wiping the gums of babies without teeth, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, are important practices for new parents to follow to help prevent future cavities."

"The soft tissues in the mouth appear to serve as reservoirs for potential pathogens prior to tooth eruption," he said. "We want to characterize the microbial evolution that occurs in the oral cavity between birth and tooth eruption, as teeth erupt, and as dietary changes occur such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, liquid to solid food, and changes in nutrient profile."

Swanson said educating parents-to-be on oral hygiene and dietary habits is the most important strategy for prevention of dental cavities.

Contact your local 1300SMILES dentist or Oral Therapist today on 1300 764 537 if you have any questions or concerns.

Filling without Drilling

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of acid attack and re-builds teeth as new.

The pioneering treatment promises to transform the approach to filling teeth forever.

Tooth decay begins when acid produced by bacteria in plaque dissolves the mineral in the teeth, causing microscopic holes or 'pores' to form. As the decay process progresses these micro-pores increase in size and number.  Eventually the damaged tooth may have to be drilled and filled to prevent toothache, or even removed.

The very thought of drilling puts many people off going to see their dentist, whether or not they actually need treatment. This tendency to miss check-ups and ignore niggling aches and pains means that existing problems get worse and early signs of decay in other teeth are overlooked.

It's a vicious cycle, but one that can be broken, according to researchers at the University of Leeds who have developed a revolutionary new way to treat the first signs of  tooth decay. Their solution is to arm dentists with a peptide-based fluid that is literally painted onto the tooth's surface. The peptide technology is based on knowledge of how the tooth forms in the first place and stimulates regeneration of the tooth defect.

"This may sound too good to be true, but we are essentially helping acid-damaged teeth to regenerate  themselves. It is a totally natural non-surgical repair process and is entirely pain-free too," said Professor Jennifer Kirkham, from the University of Leeds Dental Institute, who has led development of the new technique.

The 'magic' fluid was designed by researchers in the University of Leeds' School of Chemistry, led by Dr Amalia Aggeli. It contains a peptide known as P 11-4 that - under certain conditions - will assemble together into fibres. In practice, this means that when applied to the tooth, the fluid seeps into the micro-pores caused by acid attack and then spontaneously forms a gel. This gel then provides a 'scaffold' or framework that attracts calcium and regenerates the tooth's mineral from within, providing a natural and pain-free repair.

The technique was recently taken out of the laboratory and tested on a small group of adults whose dentist had spotted the initial signs of tooth decay. The results from this small trial have shown that P 11-4 can indeed reverse the damage and regenerate the tooth tissue.

"The results of our tests so far are extremely promising," said Professor Paul Brunton, who is overseeing the patient testing at the University of Leeds Dental Institute. "If these results can be repeated on a larger patient group, then I have no doubt whatsoever that in two to three years time this technique will be available for dentists to use in their daily practice."

"The main reason that people don't go to the dentist regularly is fear. If we can offer a treatment that is completely non-invasive, that doesn't involve a mechanical drill, then we can change that perceived link between dental treatment and pain. This really is more than filling without drilling, this is a novel approach that enables the patients to keep their natural teeth!"

The study is being funded by credentis ag who have licensed the technology and are preparing to introduce P11-4 to dentists worldwide.

Article Source  Leeds University

All About Teeth

What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?

Crown: the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.

Gumline: where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum disease.

Root: the part of the tooth that is embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth and holds the tooth in place.

Enamel: the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body — yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared for properly.

Dentin: the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin — where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.

Pulp: the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.

What Are the Different Types of Teeth?
Every tooth has a specific job or function (Use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

Incisors: the sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.

Canines: sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (or cusps) and are used for tearing food.

Premolars: these teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing.

Molars: used for grinding, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface.

Article Source  Colgate.com.au