About Teeth & Its Health
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Throughout your life, you will have two sets of teeth: primary (milk) teeth & secondary (permanent) teeth. At age 6-8 months, the primary teeth appear;
all 20 are in place by age 3.
Permanent teeth will begin to grow around age 6, & except for wisdom teeth, are all present between ages 12 & 14. The next teeth to grow in are the 12-year molars & finally the wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth typically begin breaking through from age 17 & on. The total number of permanent teeth is 32, though few people have room for all 32 teeth. This is why wisdom teeth are usually removed.
Your front teeth are called incisors. The sharp “fang-like” teeth are canines. The next side teeth are referred to as pre-molars or bicuspids, & the back teeth are molars. Your permanent teeth are the ones you keep for life, so it is vital that they are brushed & flossed regularly & that periodic check-ups by a dentist are followed.
In recent years, bacterial inflammation involved in gum disease has been linked to chronic health problems like stroke, coronary artery disease, & premature low birth weight babies. Dr. Swati Agarwal take great care to identify & treat gum disease early to keep you & your mouth healthy.
Oral Hygiene
- Brushing & Flossing
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Use a toothbrush with soft bristles & a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach
food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle & brush slowly & carefully, covering all areas between teeth & the surface
of each tooth. For a full set of teeth, you should take two minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper
teeth & the outside, inside & chewing surface of all of your front & back teeth.
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch or right after school
- After dinner
- At bedtime
Brush your tongue & the roof of your mouth before you rinse. Brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles & plaque:
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles & plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed or unwaxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line & clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your teeth every day.
Pull an adequate length of floss from the dispenser. Most "new flossers" do not take a long enough piece of floss. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque away from the gums. You do not want to push debris into the gums. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let your dentist know at your next appointment.
- Tooth Decay Prevention
- Tooth decay is a progressive disease resulting from the interaction of bacteria that naturally occur on teeth & sugars in our everyday diet. Bacteria digest
or "eat" sugars & produce acids that break down the mineral in teeth, forming a cavity. We can fight decay in three ways. We can limit the bacteria in the
mouth through good oral hygiene at home & professional hygiene in our office. We can limit the amount of sugar that we eat with a healthy diet. And we can
strenghten teeth throught the use of sealants & flourides. When decay does occur dentists remove the decay and fill the tooth using a variety of fillings,
restoring the tooth to a healthy state. Severe decay may require a crown. A crown is like a thimble that covers a tooth,making it stronger. Avoiding
unnecessary decay simply requires strict adherence to a dental hygiene regimen brushing & flossing twice a day, regular dental checkups, diet control &
fluoride treatment. Practicing good hygiene avoids unhealthy teeth & costly treatment.
- Sealants
- The grooves & depressions that form the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are extremely difficult (if not impossible) to clean of bacteria and food. As
the bacteria reacts with the food, acids form & break down the tooth enamel, causing cavities. Recent studies indicate that 88 percent of total cavities in
American school children are caused this way.
Tooth sealants protect these susceptible areas by sealing the grooves & depressions, preventing bacteria & food particles from residing in these areas. Sealant material is a resin typically applied to the back teeth, molars & premolars & areas prone to cavities. It lasts for several years but needs to be checked during regular appointments.
- Fluoride
- In toothpaste flouride kills bacteria on teeth. Fluoride in drinking water becomes incorporated in developing teeth & bones making them stronger &
resistant to decay. Regularly drinking water treated with fluoride & brushing & flossing regularly ensures significantly lower cavities. Drinking water in Jaipur is
fluoridated naturally. Children under the age of 12 without flouridated drinking water should take flouride supplements either
prescribed by their pediatrician or Dr. Swati Agarwal.
Common Problems
- Crooked Teeth
- Crooked teeth are common among adults who didn’t have orthodontic treatment as a child or as a result of other developing problems later in life. We offer
solution for crooked teeth using orthodontic treatment. We may also provide advanced porcelain veneers to give you the beautiful, straight smile you’ve always wanted.
- Gaps Between Teeth
- Having gaps between teeth is often a reason people seek cosmetic dentistry. Porcelain veneers & dental bonding procedures can be used to eliminate gaps
between teeth leaving you with a more beautiful, attractive smile.
- Cracks and Chips
- Cracks & chips in teeth can occur for various reasons, including eating sticky candy or hard foods, suffering from trauma or an injury to a tooth, teeth
grinding, or even as a result of a large restoration (filling, crown, etc.) that has weakened an adjacent tooth. We offer a number of solutions to enhance your
smile if you have chipped or cracked teeth. Some of the services available include porcelain veneers, bonded fillings or porcelain inlays & onlays.
- Discolored Teeth
- Our teeth naturally darken as we age. Changes in the color of your teeth can be caused by such factors as the food & beverages consumed (like coffee, tea &
soda). Other known factors for discoloration may include childhood medications or illnesses, tobacco use or improper oral hygiene. Restoring your natural white
smile is a priority for us. We can provide a variety of options for whitening your smile.
- Mercury Fillings
- While traditional metal-mercury amalgam fillings offer a strong, durable solution for filling cavities, their dark, dull appearance is very unattractive.
We offer tooth-colored fillings as a more attractive solution for filling cavities. We are a mercury free office & do not place mercury fillings in our
patients mouths. We can replace mercury fillings with more natural looking tooth-colored fillings.
- Missing Teeth
- Missing teeth are a serious problem, both aesthetically & functionally. A missing tooth causes the whole structure of the mouth to change, resulting in
shifting teeth, periodontal problems & deterioration of the chewing function. We offer dental implants to replace missing teeth. Whether you are missing one,
several, or all of your natural teeth, dental implants are designed to look, feel, & function like your own. Other solutions for missing teeth are fixed
bridgework (bridges) that are cemented onto teeth on either side of the space or partial dentures that come in and out of your mouth.
- Tooth Decay
- Caries or tooth decay is a preventable disease. While caries might not endanger your life, they may negatively impact your quality of life.
When your teeth & gums are consistently exposed to large amounts of starches & sugars, acids may form that begin to eat away at tooth enamel. Carbohydrate-rich
foods such as candy, cookies, soft drinks & even fruit juices leave deposits on your teeth. Those deposits bond with the bacteria that normally survive in
your mouth & form plaque. The combination of deposits & plaque forms acids that can damage the mineral structure of teeth, with tooth decay resulting.
- Sensitive Teeth
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Your teeth expand and contract in reaction to changes in temperature. Hot and cold food and beverages can cause pain or irritation to people with sensitive
teeth. Over time, tooth enamel can be worn down, gums may recede or teeth may develop microscopic cracks, exposing the interior of the tooth and irritating
nerve endings. Just breathing cold air can be painful for those with extremely sensitive teeth.
- Gum Disease
- Gum, or periodontal, disease can cause inflammation, tooth loss and bone damage. Gum disease begins with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. Gums in the
early stage of disease, or gingivitis, can bleed easily and become red and swollen. As the disease progresses to periodontitis, teeth may fall out or need
to be removed by a dentist. Gum disease is highly preventable and can usually be avoided by daily brushing and flossing. One indicator of gum disease is
consistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
- Bad Breath (Halitosis)
- Daily brushing and flossing helps to prevent the buildup of food particles, plaque and bacteria in your mouth. Food particles left in the mouth deteriorate
and cause bad breath. While certain foods, such as garlic or anchovies, may create temporary bad breath, consistent bad breath may be a sign of gum disease
or another dental problem.
- Canker Sores
- Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) are small sores inside the mouth that often recur. Generally lasting one or two weeks, the duration of canker sores can be
reduced by the use of antimicrobial mouthwashes or topical agents. The canker sore has a white or gray base surrounded by a red border.
- Orthodontic Problems
- A bite that does not meet properly (a malocclusion) can be inherited, or some types may be acquired. Some causes of malocclusion include missing or extra
teeth, crowded teeth or misaligned jaws. Accidents or developmental issues, such as finger or thumb sucking over an extended period of time, may cause
malocclusions.
Emergency Information
- Tooth Ache
- Begin by cleaning around the sore tooth meticulously. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES should you use aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain
relief, acetaminophen is recommended. See a dentist as soon as possible.
- Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek
- Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with
pressure or continues after 15 minutes, consult your dentist.
- Broken Braces and Wires
- Remove a broken appliance only if it comes out easily. If it is lodged or painful to remove, cover any protruding edges with wax, cotton balls, gauze or
chewing gum. DO NOT REMOVE any wire caught in the gums, cheek or tongue; see a dentist immediately. Emergency attention is usually not required for loose or
broken appliances that cause no discomfort.
- Broken Tooth
- Rinse the area with warm water. Put a cold compress over the facial area of the injury. Recover any broken tooth fragments. Get immediate dental
attention.
- Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
- Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do
not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the toothin the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or
cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately.
- Possible Broken Jaw
- In the event of jaw injury, tie the mouth closed with a towel, tie or handkerchief. Immediately see your dentist.
- Bleeding After a Baby Tooth Falls Out
- Fold a piece of gauze and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. Bite down on the gauze for 15 minutes; if bleeding continues, see a dentist.
- Cold or Canker Sores
- Over-the-counter medications will usually provide temporary relief. If sores persist, visit your dentist.
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