New studies show that dental diseases like gingivitis may pose danger to an unborn baby’s health. Evidences have been found that pregnant women who have severe gum disease are seven times more like to have premature delivery compared to women who have health gums.

The risk level of premature delivery caused by gingivitis can now be compared to that of heavy drinking and a little higher compared to smoking. It’s given that you should brush and floss your teeth regularly pregnant or not. However, you should visit your dentist at least once during pregnancy to clean your teeth.

And make sure you inform your dentist about your pregnancy. The second trimester is the perfect time to visit your dentist unless emergency.

Original Source: Your Dental Care Tips

You cannot be taught to play tennis or golf by reading about them. You must be instructed, and you must practice. Similarly, you should learn the right way of brushing under the strict supervision of your dentist.

The tooth has five surfaces – front, back, the two sides and the chewing surface. Brush the top and bottom teeth separately. Most dentists agree that the bristle tips should be applied at 45 degrees to the gum area just above where the teeth emerge and should concentrate on the gum margins (where most people miss). The bristles are moved back and forth with a gentle circular scrubbing motion and short strokes. Do not forget the teeth right at the back of the mouth and also the inside surface of the teeth. Finally brush all the biting surfaces. It often takes three or four visits to teach someone to brush effectively!

Tips on Brushing

-Do not put too much toothpaste on the brush, it will foam up and make you want to spit and rinse too soon. Studies show that once people get to the spit and rinse stage they stop brushing even though some teeth have not been brushed.

-Do not wet your brush before applying the paste or before starting to brush. It alters the action of the bristles and prevents them removing plaque effectively.

Original Source: Oral Care India.com

As a general rule, parents are responsible for teaching their children many different things as they grow and mature. In these developmental years, one of the most basic but essential lessons is teaching the children how to take proper care of their teeth. This is fundamental information that is needed when children receive their first set of teeth and it also helps them with maintenance throughout their adulthood. For those who listen to and follow their parent’s advice, many are able to avoid a variety of different dental problems including severe tooth pain. Sometimes, however, tooth pain cannot be avoided because the causes of the pain can come from many different underlying conditions. Some of these causes include cavities, abscesses, injury to the mouth or the jaw, sinusitis or it can be a symptom of an early heart attack in women.

Cavities

As stated above, one cause of severe tooth pain is cavities. Cavities can be described as small holes or decay in the teeth. These small holes and decay can come from eating different kinds of foods with carbohydrates (i.e. candy, cakes, sodas, pastas and other types of carbohydrates). These foods do not have to be avoided completely however, they should not be eaten if the person does not brush their teeth after every meal or snack.

Additionally, one of the best ways to avoid cavities is to visit the dentist on a regularly scheduled basis. For instance, According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should visit their dentist for a check-up at least twice a year. In some cases, the dentist may recommend additional visits if the child is at a higher risk of tooth decay.

Abscesses

Severe tooth pain can also come from having an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth can be described as a tooth that has infection at its roots. An abscessed tooth is normally caused by teeth that have not been treated properly. These are teeth that have been broken or cracked. Anyone who has had an abscessed tooth can attest to the intense and excruciating pain that is caused. In these cases, the individual should contact their dentist as soon as possible. The role of the dentist is to remove the infection before it spreads into other surrounding areas (i.e. the bone).

Injury to the Jaw or the Mouth

Sustaining an injury to the jaw or the mouth is also one of the reasons for experiencing severe tooth pain. For instance, children and adults who are involved in contact sports are normally at a higher risk than others. Many have had injuries to their jaws and mouth and as a result they have had teeth broken or knocked out.

Sinusitis

In some cases, severe tooth pain is not caused by problems with the individual’s teeth. Sometimes the source of the pain comes from sinusitis. Unfortunately, in these situations, many find it hard to determine the difference between the two. This is one of the main reasons why it is best to talk with a dentist. The dentist can evaluate both the sinus symptoms and take X-rays of the affected teeth before making a final determination. An accurate diagnosis from a dentist can help with getting the proper treatment for the condition. For instance, if the tooth pain is caused by sinusitis instead of a bad gum infection, the dentist can refer the patient to an ear, nose and throat specialist. This specialist can make their evaluation and prescribe medications that will get rid of the infection and the pain.

Heart Trouble

Although there are many different reasons for having severe tooth pain, it is important to know the source of the pain could be early warning signs of a heart attack. According to recent studies (conducted in Sweden and Uruguay), tooth pain or jaw pain can be an early warning sign of heart disease, specifically in women. While the signs in men have been identified and are distinct, the signs in women are not as prominent. With these new studies, however, severe tooth pain and jaw pain are some of the common symptoms known and they are linked to heart disease.

Original Source: EzineArticles.com

The terminology “dental veneers” refers to a thin ceramic shell or layer that is placed over the surface of a tooth. They are made from restorative materials that are used for aesthetic purposes as well as protecting the surface area of a damaged tooth. They are basically used to help an individual have better looking teeth and a nicer smile, hence the fact that they are used by many cosmetic dentists. Additionally, the process of applying dental veneers is not as complex as the process of getting crowns but more complex than bonding.

Veneers are most commonly used to restore damaged, discolored, fractured, or gaped teeth. The material is usually about a millimeter in thickness and is typically placed on the surface of a tooth that is still healthy and intact. Unlike the application of a crown, a tooth does not have to be filed down or shaped in any way to apply dental veneers. They can be used to lengthen teeth or widen them while being available in about 25 different shades. As they are a protective layer, veneers can reduce the sensitivity to cold, heat, and sweets.

Different types of dental veneers

There are basically 4 different types of dental veneers that are being used by cosmetic dentists today. These include:

Composite veneers – these can usually be fitted in only one trip to the dentist. They have been polished and are smoothed in order to look like normal teeth but are not as strong as porcelain veneers. These are prone to fracturing when eating crunchy or hard foods but they can be easily repaired.

Palatal veneers – these are dental veneers that are usually constructed out of gold, but they can also be manufactured out of composite materials or porcelain. These veneers are used on the palate side (inside) of a person’s upper teeth specifically for the management and treatment of tooth wear.

Porcelain veneers – thin ceramic shells that get bonded on the front side of one’s teeth. Dental veneers have no metal in the material they are made from unlike the typical dental crown. It usually takes to visits to the dentist to have porcelain dental veneers completed. The dentist will take an impression of your teeth and apply a temporary veneer made from plastic on your first visit. The temporary veneers are removed and replaced with your permanent veneers on the second visit.

Non-permanent veneers – made from a flexible type of resin material, non-permanent veneers are available and can be easily removed as needed. There are even kits available for making your own non-permanent veneers at home.

Additional considerations

In most cases, a portion of the tooth’s enamel is removed prior to applying dental veneers. However, the tooth is not usually filed down or reshaped like it is done with crowns. As a result, you may experience some temporary sensitivities to cold or hot beverages and food. Additionally, certain individuals are not the best candidates for receiving dental veneers due to overall poor dental health.

Original Source: Ezine Articles.com

So you’ve just gone to the doctor and he or she told you that don’t in fact have chapped lips and instead you have something called angular cheilitis. Now, the first thing that probably popped in your head was what is angular cheilitis and how did I get it? Well hopefully this article will tell you exactly what angular cheilitis is and will give you an idea of how you got it as well.

Angular cheilitis is the scientific name for the corners of your mouth splitting open and becoming open wounds. If you break down the words angular means mouth corner and cheilitis means open wound. So you can see now how that makes sense.
You’re probably wondering how you got it though. Well, you should know by now that human mouths are fairly dirty and contain a large amount of bacteria. You see, when we sleep or eat we have some of this nasty bacteria seep out of the corners of our mouths onto our lips. Most of the time our body can fight off this bacterium, but if we are under a lot of stress or have a weakened immune system our body cannot fight it off as effectively. When this happens, the bacteria gets into the tiny skin folds in our lips and reproduces. When this happens our body attacks the bacteria which causes swelling and eventually the corners of your mouth to crack and split open.

So basically, angular cheilitis (which is also called angular stomatitis) is when a bacterial or fungal infection occurs at the corners of your mouth causing your lips to split open. Normally, this can heal on its own within a few weeks if you are in good health, but under some circumstances it can get pretty bad and can take several months for it to heal on its own.

Original Source: Dental Advice Journal

The researchers explored whether the sex of an individual could be identified if only the front teeth were considered. This was tested by having participants evaluate 50 images of the anterior oral region of men and women aged between seven and 75. The lip area was not shown. The participants included dentists, dental technicians, dental students and dental professionals, as well as 50 people who had no professional dental background.

The results overall demonstrated that sex could be detected in only about 50 per cent of the images. Although there are anthropological studies that claim to prove measurable morphometric differences, the study proved that those are not even visible to experts’ eyes.

While some tooth positions were correctly assigned by 70 per cent of the participants, others were wrongly assigned by the same number of participants. The assumption that women tend to have rounded teeth and men rather angular ones could not be confirmed by the study. Furthermore, contrary to what was expected by many of the participants, shape, size and colour of the canines were not meaningful indicators of sex.

“In everyday practice, it is relevant whether the restoration fits the patient’s face but not whether the patient is male or female,” Radlanski said. “Recognisable typical male teeth or female teeth do not exist.”
Original Source: Dental Tribune International

Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjögren’s may also cause dysfunction of other organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Patients may also experience extreme fatigue and joint pain and have a higher risk of developing lymphoma.

With upwards of 4,000,000 Americans suffering from Sjögren’s, it is one of the most prevalent autoimmune disorders. Nine out of 10 patients are women.

About half of the time Sjögren’s occurs alone, and the other half it occurs in the presence of another autoimmune connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. When Sjögren’s occurs alone, it is referred to as “Primary Sjögren’s.” When it occurs with another connective tissue disease, it is referred to as “Secondary Sjögren’s.”

All instances of Sjögren’s are systemic, affecting the entire body. Symptoms may remain steady, worsen, or, uncommonly, go into remission. While some people experience mild discomfort, others suffer debilitating symptoms that greatly impair their functioning. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important — they may prevent serious complications and greatly improve a patient’s quality of life.

Since symptoms of Sjögren’s mimic other conditions and diseases, Sjögren’s can often be overlooked or misdiagnosed. On average, it takes nearly seven years to receive a diagnosis of Sjögren’s. Patients need to remember to be pro-active in talking with their physicians and dentists about their symptoms and potential treatment options.

Since the disease was first identified in 1933 by Dr. Henrik Sjögren, it has been proven to affect virtually every racial and ethnic group. General awareness about Sjögren’s is still lacking and increased professional awareness is needed to help expedite new diagnoses and treatment options.

Newly diagnosed patients may find the video Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Place To Begin to be a helpful resource when starting your education on this debilitating disease:

When a person is diagnosed with Sjögren’s, they often don’t know where to begin. This program will introduce you to three Sjögren’s patients who will share their journey with you. In addition, you will hear from Sjögren’s experts about the causes, treatments and manifestations of Sjögren’s. From there, we hope you will have a place to begin as you develop a partnership and treatment plan with your physician.

Original Source: Sjogrens.org

Most of the causes of tooth pain are limited to oral/dental causes.

Oral causes of toothpain

-Tooth Decay or Cavity (being the most common cause of tooth pain): The most common cause of tooth pain is Tooth Decay. Tooth decay is the degradation of the tooth due to harmful acids secreted by bacteria in the oral cavity.

-Gum Disease: The next important causing agent of tooth pain is gum disease. Poor oral hygiene leads to bacterial plaque accumulation and the toxins release from these bacteria damage the gums. The gums become swollen, red and painful (Gingivitis). If gum disease is not controlled early, you are at a risk of losing your tooth.

-Root Sensitivity: Root sensitivity (commonly termed as tooth sensitivity) is when the roots of the teeth become exposed due to recession of the gums. The roots are very sensitive and respond with pain to reasonably hot or cold foods.

-Cracked teeth: A painful accidental blow or extreme biting force can cause the tooth fracture which can become a source of intense pain whenever the fractured tooth is even touched.

-Temporomandibular joint(TMJ) Disorder: TMJ disorder is an inflammatory reaction at the sight of the lodgment of the lower jaw at the skull. Various factors such as Bruxism (Night grinding or teeth grinding), arthritis can cause TMJ disorders.

-Wisdom tooth eruption or impaction: The eruption of Wisdom tooth often causes pain due to its misalignement. It can become impacted (does not erupt) and require surgical extraction.

-Fillings: People who have undergone fillings can get severe toothache suddenly. This might be because of the spread of the decay to the pulp and you will need to undergo root canal treatment for that. It can also occur due to accumulation of fluid with organic debris and bacteria between the filling and your teeth often termed as microleakage in dental jargon.

Prevention of toothpain

There is no magic trick to prevent tooth pain from occurring. All you need to do is maintain a good oral hygiene which you can do by following the 10 Commandments for healthy teeth.
Home remedies for toothpain

There isn’t a fixed time for toothpain to occur. You can’t drive to your dentist at 3 am at night. However, you can surf the net looking for home remedies. Although, these should not be substituted for a visit to the dentist, they can provide temporary relief from the agonizing pain.

I have not tried any of them and do not suggest their use either. They are listed here for informational purposes only

1. Sensodyne Therapy: Works for tooth cavities: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Put max strength sensodyne toothpaste on the cavity.
You can feel the pain relief after few minutes.

The effect will decrease when you drink water or other liquids after putting the sensodyne.

2. The Whiskey BC Mix: Works for nearly all tooth pains and is quite effective. Note that this can be nasty when you try it. Add teaspoon of baking soda in a shot of Whiskey. Dissolve a packet of BC pain relief powder in the above mix. Swish around the affected tooth for two minutes.

Try this if you have unmanageable tooth pain and you cant get health care right away.

3. Nyquil therapy: Lots of people swear by this fast and effective trick. It works very well indeed and I have quite a few people thanking me for this one. Take half a teaspoon of Nyquil or Kroger Nitetime (cold/flu syrups) and swish around the affected area.

Treatment for Tooth Pain

The treatments for toothpain vary greatly. They treat the actual cause of your tooth pain. For example If you have tooth decay, you will have to undergo a filling procedure. If the tooth decay has reached your pulp, you would have to undergo a RCT procedure. If you have impacted Wisdom tooth, they need to be extracted. Your dentist will determine the best treatment option for you after examining you.

Original Source: Dental Health Site

La consolidación de Costa Rica como uno de los más importantes destinos latinoamericanos para los llamados turistas médicos reta al país en la búsqueda de más y novedosos servicios de valor agregado.

Por ejemplo, en áreas como la prestación de tratamientos para paliar males como el párkinson, el alcoholismo o la drogadicción así como el estrés, no solo mediante medicina convencional, sino también con terapias holísticas. Esto, sin embargo, camina de la mano de los esfuerzos para que los diferentes grupos que conforman este cluster, tales como hoteleros, hospitales, clínicas, centros de recuperación y hasta operadores turísticos, mantengan y hasta eleven sus estándares de calidad.

Así lo reconocen representantes del sector y de las autoridades turísticas, quienes no dudan en reconocer el trayecto recorrido por el país y su buen nombre. Esto ocurre en momentos en que países como México y Brasil buscan quedarse con una mayor tajada del pastel de los turistas médicos que visitan Latinoamérica y que, en su mayoría, provienen de Estados Unidos y Canadá.

Datos aportados por el Consejo para la Promoción Internacional de la Medicina en Costa Rica (Promed), estiman que en el 2010 –último dato disponible– llegaron a Costa Rica 40.000 personas que buscaron diferentes servicios.

En primer lugar se encuentran los odontológicos, seguidos por los bariátricos y ortopédicos. Estos visitantes gastan seis veces más de lo que destinan los turistas tradicionales (quienes vienen al país por sus playas o bosques) y tienen un nivel de escolaridad universitaria con ingresos anuales promedios de $99.500, indicó por su parte el Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT).

Costa Rica cuenta con cerca de 300 empresas involucradas en el cluster del turismo médico, las cuales generan 20.000 puestos de trabajo directos e indirectos, indicó Massimo Manzi, director ejecutivo de Promed.

Nuevas oportunidades. Manzi se mostró optimista ante la ventana de oportunidades que representan para la atracción de más turistas médicos servicios adicionales, como terapias contra el estrés, el alcoholismo y la drogadicción. Apuntó que en el país hay algunas iniciativas orientadas a ofrecer estos servicios, sin dejar de lado los estándares de calidad en materia de infraestructura, personal y procedimientos.

Allan Flores, ministro de Turismo, habló del turismo de bienestar como complemento de la oferta del país en materia médica: retiros para practicar yoga y meditación y masajes relajantes con aguas termales. Precisamente, el país venderá toda su oferta en materia de turismo médico y de bienestar en el Congreso Latinoamericano de Turismo Médico, que se realizará en el Hotel Real Intercontinental, del 23 al 25 de este mes.

Habrá representantes de 13 países y 200 compañías, quienes también escucharán charlas y foros del modelo de desarrollo empleado por Costa Rica en esta materia.

Good dental hygiene habits should begin before your child’s first tooth comes in. Wiping your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth after feedings helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria. When teeth appear, start using a soft children’s toothbrush twice a day.

Once your child is preschool-age, start using fluoride toothpaste. Don’t cover the brush with toothpaste; a pea-sized amount is just right (see picture above). Young children tend to swallow most of the toothpaste, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause permanent stains on their teeth.

What about using fluoride tablets?

Fluoride helps make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel. Many cities are required to add fluoride to tap water. If you live in an area where the tap water doesn’t contain fluoride, your doctor may prescribe daily fluoride tablets when your child is about 6 months old. Fluoride is an important part of your child’s dental health, but don’t give him or her more than the directions call for. If you miss a dose, don’t give your child extra fluoride to make up. Just as with swallowed toothpaste, too much oral fluoride can cause stains on your child’s teeth.

What are cavities?

Cavities are holes that are formed when bacteria (germs) in your mouth use the sugar in food to make acid. This acid eats away at the teeth. Cavities are common in children. Good tooth care can keep cavities from happening in your child

Is my child at risk for cavities?

Your child might be at risk for cavities if he or she eats a lot of sugary foods (such as raisins, cookies and candy) and drinks a lot of sweet liquids (such as fruit juice and punch, soda and sweetened drinks). Your child also might be at risk if he or she has any of the following risk factors:

Was born early (prematurely) or weighed very little at birth (low birth weight)
Has ongoing special health care needs
Has white spots or brown areas on any teeth
Does not go to the dentist very often

How can I help stop cavities?

Everyone in your family should take good care of their teeth. Family members with lots of cavities can pass the cavity-causing bacteria to babies and children.

Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day and adults should floss once a day. Everyone should see the dentist twice a year. Have your doctor or dentist show you the right way to brush your child’s teeth.

Does diet affect my child’s teeth?

Yes. Avoiding sweets, sticky foods and between-meal snacks is good advice. To avoid cavities, limit sweet snacks and drinks between meals. Have meals and snacks at regular times. Teeth-friendly snacks include fresh fruits and vegetables, and cheese and crackers.

Baby bottles can create additional problems with your child’s dental health. When liquid from a bottle–like milk and juice–stays in contact with the teeth for a long time, the sugars cause tooth decay. This can create a condition called bottle mouth. Your baby’s teeth can develop cavities and become pitted or discolored. Never put a baby to bed with a bottle. Don’t let your child walk around during the day with a bottle, and teach your child to use a drinking cup around his or her first birthday.

Original Source: FamilyDoctor.org