Teeth Development in Babies

Your baby’s front four teeth are the first to appear and they appear between six months and one year of age. Typically, two teeth appear on the top and two teeth appear on the bottom. This stage, known as teething, is often accompanies by tender gums that appear red or swollen. Ask us on how to relieve your baby’s discomfort. 

At around three years of age, your child will have a complete set of 20 primary teeth. It is crucial that you take care of these first teeth, even though they will be replaced by permanent teeth later on. This is mainly because your child’s primary teeth hold spaces for permanent teeth and if the baby tooth is broken or lost, then permanent tooth will come out crooked.

Around the age of six, your child will start losing primary teeth. The process of permanent teeth replacement goes on till the age of twelve or thirteen. Around the age of sixteen, your child will start getting wisdom teeth and eventually will have a complete set of 32 permanent teeth. In certain children, wisdom teeth eruption is delayed till they are well past their teen age. 

Your Child’s teeth

A healthy set of teeth are key to a happy childhood. Kids need their need for chewing, speaking clearly and for flaunting a bright smile. Technological advances have ensured that today’s children will grow up with strong and healthy teeth. Still, a parent has a big role to play in their child’s dental health because good oral care begins with the parent. Children need to be kept enthusiastic about caring for their teeth. Do remember to set a good example for your children by taking them to a dentist regularly. Always praise your child for clean teeth and a happy smile. 

Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle

To maintain good health and a happy life, it is important for you to keep your mouth and body healthy. Here are a few ways:

1. Carefully manage your blood glucose levels.

2. Smoking worsens your oral problems. If you smoke a lot, ask us about help with reducing or quitting. 

3. Make healthy food choices all the time.

4. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day to prevent build up of plaque on your teeth.

5. Use a dental floss or inter-dental brushes to clean between your teeth. 

6. If you use dentures, remove them overnight to give your gum tissues enough rest. 

7. Keep checking your mouth regularly for signs of problems - bleeding gums, dryness, white patches or a bad taste in the mouth. 

Warning Signs of Gum Disease

We are often asked what are the main signs of gum disease and related problems. To help you understand this better, we have listed some of the most common signs.

1. Gums that have turned red and are swollen. Typically, they will also bleed after brushing your teeth or flossing. 

2. You have bad breath. 

3. There is pus between your teeth and gums. 

4. Your gums have receded and expose the roots of your teeth, thereby making them loose. 

5. Your teeth have moved and have created spaces. 

6. Your teeth look longer than they used to. 

Please note that there could be other symptoms as well. Thus, it is always important for you to have periodic dental examinations. 

Checklist Before You Visit Your Dentist

We have many customers asking us what they need to do before visiting a dentist. Here’s a quick list:

1. Let your dentist know if you have diabetes, and medicines you take to manage your blood glucose levels. 

2. Make sure you have a regular meal before you visit a dentist. Normal blood glucose levels are good for dental work. 

3. If you take medicines, take them before your dental visit unless advised otherwise. 

4. Once your dental work is done, have a normal meal. At times, you will have to eat soft or liquid foods. 

Benefits of Dental Implant Treatments

In our 4 March 2016 post, we discussed how your smile can be enhanced using dental implants that provide root replacements. Today, we will talk of six key advantages of using dental implants.

1. Bone is preserved, and this creates a good appearance.

2. Minimum impact on healthy adjacent teeth. 

3. Improves your ability to eat different types of food. 

4. Easy to maintain, just like natural teeth. 

5. Treatment is long-lasting and reliable. 

6. Cost savings in the long-term. 

If you have one or more teeth missing, a single implant will be used along with a single dental crown. For multiple missing teeth, we will use multiple implants with a dental bridge. If you have all teeth missing, a fixed prosthesis is the ideal method of treatment. 

High Blood Glucose and Oral Health

Having high blood glucose has an adverse effect on all your organs. In this post, we specifically address two problems that are caused in the mouth due to high blood glucose.

1. Fungal infections: High blood glucose increases chances of fungal infections, such as thrush, in your mouth. This is presented as patches of white film or small red dots that are painful. 

2. Dry mouth: High blood glucose increases chances of dry mouth, where the mouth becomes dry due to reduced saliva flow. This condition will make you vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. 

In order to counter these potential problems, we advise you to manage your blood glucose levels by making healthy food choices and by regularly visiting your general health care provider. 

The Value of Your Smile

Your smile is your best and most important asset. A smile that is friendly conveys warmth and openness whereas a beautiful smile shows confidence. 

Teeth play an important part in enhancing the appearance of your smile. If you have missing teeth or poorly finished tooth replacement, you will have inhibitions with your smile. Today, we have dental implants that serve as root replacements for missing teeth and provide a foundation for new teeth. These new teeth will improve your confidence and make you smile again. Do get in touch with us to discuss your options.