Clean tongue is crucial to fresh breath

Your bad breath problem (halitosis) could be because of not cleaning the tongue……

The irregular surface of your tongue harbors bacteria and contributes to your bad breath because of the byproducts that they release. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, it's important to clean the tongue and insides of your cheek. Scraping the tongue can significantly reduce the number of those bacteria

But what's the best way to clean the tongue?

An article in a recent issue of General Dentistry found that tongue scrapers are effective at reducing halitosis, at least short-term. But a toothbrush can work just as well as long as you remember to brush the tongue's middle and back, where microbe populations can be especially high. Toothbrush heads are provided with special rubber devices to clean the tongue and cheeks efficiently.

If you find that brushing or scraping your tongue makes you gag, it is recommended to hold the tongue with the free hand, stabilize it and easily scrape or brush the surface.

While brushing the tongue doesn't have a long-lasting effect on bad breath, it is an important step in keeping your entire mouth healthy. However, bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder, such as a respiratory tract infection, chronic sinusitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, liver or kidney ailment.

If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your family doctor or a specialist to determine the cause of bad breath.

Dental Decay And Ways To Prevent It

Dr. Poonam Agarwal

Dental decay or cavities is the most common cause of loss of teeth affecting majority of the population. Still, most people tend to ignore dental decay till it reaches the stage, where the pain becomes unbearable causing infection of the tooth and the underlying bone.

How does dental decay happen?

Bacteria are constantly present in the mouth. Certain types of bacteria can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that cover the teeth. If they're not removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms. Proteins that are present in the saliva also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish film plaque on the tooth. These bacteria feed on sugars and starches from the food like chocolates, sticky sweets, ice cream, milk, cakes, and even fruits, vegetables and juices, producing acid as a byproduct. This acid then eats into the tooth enamel (the outer hard layer of the tooth) gradually dissolving the tooth & a cavity is formed causing a hole in the tooth structure. If not taken care of at this stage, it further reaches the dentin {inner sensitive second layer} where it spreads more quickly. If still ignored, in some time, the decay spreads to the nerves and blood vessels in the centre of the tooth leading to tooth abscess.

Unfortunately, the bacterial attack is so gradual that there may be no pain or sensitivity until the cavity becomes quite large.

Causes of Tooth Decay

1. Lack of correct oral hygiene habits.
2. Baby Bottle Decay (Nursing Bottle Decay) happens in infants taking a bottle that contains milk or juices to bed with them .These liquids contain sugars that pool around the teeth and can cause decay.
3. Root cavities can happen in advanced age as the gums recede, leaving parts of the tooth root exposed. Since there is no enamel covering the tooth roots, these areas can easily decay.
4. Repeated decay – can happen around existing fillings and crowns because these areas are not as smooth as a natural tooth surface.
5. Cavities due to dry mouth or decreased salivation.

Ways to Prevent Dental Decay……….

The key to preventing decay is removing plaque and bacteria before acid can eat away the tooth. This can be achieved by :

Good oral hygiene habits : brushing carefully (inside, outside and between your teeth) at least twice a day, flossing daily, using fluoridated toothpaste. Food habits : cutting down on sweets and between meal snacks, replacing fast food with raw vegetables and fruits in your diet. Regular dental checkups : Visiting your dentist at least every six months for checkups. Your dentist can help you in following ways :

• May recommend fluoride gels, mouth rinses, or dietary fluoride supplements if required.
• May use professional anti-cavity varnish, or sealants (thin plastic coatings) providing an extra barrier against food and debris.
• Can repair the gaps or smooth the rough edges in existing fillings that could be areas for bacteria to grow.
• Can detect early decay on x-rays & prevent it from spreading further.
• Can teach you the right way of brushing & flossing.

Oral health reflects a person’s overall health. You can achieve good oral health by taking appropriate care of your teeth & oral cavity everyday and say goodbye to dental decay forever……..!!!

Dental phobia and fear of the dentist

Dental phobia affects a large proportion of the population .Many people are so fearful or anxious about visiting the dentist that as a result,they let their oral health suffer. Since they avoid visiting a dentist unless ’pain ‘ sets in, it is observed that they have problems with their gums and chronic gum disease has set in as a result of neglect. It is important to see a dentist regularly so that they can assess and deal with problems before they worsen and become irreversible (gum disease), painful (dental abscesses) or expensive.

With modern dentistry, there are many techniques and methods to help overcome your anxieties and make your dental experience comfortable and even enjoyable!

Why are people phobic or why do they fear dentist?

There are several reasons why people are anxious about visiting the dentist. It may be something as simple as the clinical smell of a dental practice. Other reasons could be as under:

Previous negative experience – you may have had a bad experience in the past that has put you off. This may be a painful procedure, a phobia of needles, or even a personality conflict with a dentist or dental staff. You may have had an experience with a dentist who was not sympathetic to your needs and concerns! A previous bad experience could scar an individual for life.

Embarrassed about your existing oral health situation gums – Neglect over the years can cause severe gum problems. You may be embarrassed about visiting your dentist for fear of what they might think or say to you. Many people fear that their dentist will ridicule them.

You may be sensitive to dental instruments being placed in your mouth. This may trigger a gag reflex or cause an anxious feeling where you find it difficult to breathe.
Fear of the unknown-You may have a fear due to the negative experiences shared by friends and family. If you haven’t been to a dentist before, it may simply be a fear of the unknown.

You may fall into one of the categories above or have several reasons for your dental phobia, but the first step you can make in overcoming this fear is to recognize it and address it. There are several ways in which many dentists will try to help you overcome your anxieties, and many things that you yourself can do. These include:

Communicating your fears and concerns –It is important that you can talk about your fears and concerns with your dentist openly and comfortably. If you find that the dentist or the staff is not sympathetic towards your concerns, you should seek a dentist that is.

A full explanation of the procedures involved – often something as simple as your dentist explaining how the procedure will be carried out step by step, or giving you the opportunity to ask questions, will relieve that fear of the unknown. It is important that your dentist explains things in non-technical, easy-to-understand language.

Try to be open and honest with your dentist if you feel embarrassed about the condition of your teeth or your lack of previous dental care. Most dentists will have seen many cases of dental neglect - they will probably have seen teeth that are in a much worse state than yours!

Using a pain-free injection technique – before giving an injection, your dentist can apply a numbing gel (topical anaesthetic) to your gums. Giving the injection slowly reduces the pressure and causes less pain. Some dentists use a local anaesthetic delivery system called “The Wand” which delivers the local anaesthetic slowly via a computerised system and doesn’t look like a syringe. Some dentists will talk to you whilst giving the injection to distract you from the anxiety of having an injection.

Sedation, both oral and intravenous, can be used to put you in a relaxed, dream-like state of mind. Sedation is an effective treatment for very anxious patients if every other mean fail.

Diabetes And Oral Health

Dr. Manali Thakker, Smile Care, Bandra

Diabetes is a predominant health problem today. It is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar resulting from insufficient levels of the hormone insulin. The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production, excessive thirst and increased fluid intake, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss and lethargy. Diabetes can hit at any age, be it a young child or an adult. If not checked regularly, it may be very dangerous. So consultation with the specialist is very important to treat diabetes.

Diabetes can cause not just heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and eye damage but also it can lead to oral health complications associated. Dental problems in people with diabetes are so rampant that oral problems deserve attention and treatment to avoid larger complications.

Oral health problems associated with diabetes

• Tooth decay.
• Periodontal (gum) disease; bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity,recession of gums, bad breath(halitosis), swollen gums, itchy gums,and loose teeth.
• Salivary gland dysfunction (dry mouth ).
• Fungal infections.
• Lichen planus and lichenoid reactions (inflammatory skin disease).
• Infection and delayed healing.
• Taste impairment.
• Denture-sore mouth, and
• Changes in the tongue (such as chronic fissured tongue).
• Delayed wound healing
• Altered immune and inflammatory responses.
• Oral neuropathies : burning mouth syndrome, burning tongue, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (tmd), depapillation and fissuring of the tongue.

To do list

• Check the blood sugar level regularly.
• Take the medicines regularly as prescribed.
• Visit the dentist every 6 months.
• The dentist will advice appropriate gum treatment or saliva substitutes if required as diabetics tend to have a dry mouth.
• Diabetics need to take more care of their teeth then others as they are more prone to decay and infection.

Effect of smoking on gums

General Medications Can Have Oral Side Effects

Many medications are known to have side effects which can affect the oral health.

Oral Cancer - Are you at risk??

Oral cancer can have potentially disfiguring effects on patients, seriously compromising their quality of life.  Oral cancer is far too often detected in late stage development -- the primary reason for the high death rate.  Early detection of abnormalities can make a large difference in life expectancy; oral cancer is 90% curable when found early. Unfortunately, 70% of oral cancers are diagnosed in the late stages, and 43% of those diagnosed will die within five years.

Pregnancy And Tooth Care

Dr. Kavita Mahesh, Smile Care, Bandra

Pregnancy is a time of great joy! You have seen your gynecologist, confirmed the good news, geared yourself up maternity clothes, planned and applied for your maternity leave, clothes for the little one etc. You have even purchased a book with 1001 baby names. So, what could you be missing out on?

Nobody would have told you about the frequent trips to the bathroom, how to deal with advice from others and how important it is to have a good oral hygiene during pregnancy.

About 80% percent of pregnant women suffer from dental problems highest among them being toothache and bad gums. Dental care needs to be given to them keeping in mind the needs of the little one. With moms-to-be having to balance home, baby and even job, the last thing she needs is a toothache.

The pregnant patient has unique needs in that dental therapy has to be provided to her without undue side effects on the mother or the fetus.

Some Do's and Don'ts for good oral health during pregnancy.

Don'ts

1. First of all toothaches do not subside without professional intervention! So, do not take any painkillers or antibiotics for toothache without your doctor's consent.
2. Elective dental procedures, which includes cosmetic dentistry are preferably not done during pregnancy. It is usually postponed until after delivery.
3. Do not ignore hygiene procedures like brushing, flossing and rinsing regularly. It is common to indulge in food cravings during this time putting moms to be at a higher risk of dental problems. Simple measures, such as to avoid in between sugary intakes, can lead to satisfactory results.
4. Most dentists do not recommend routine radiographs during pregnancy. Of course, minimal radiographs may be necessary during pregnancy to treat dental emergencies with adequate radiation protection measures such as lead aprons and thyroid collars.

Do's

1. If you are planning for a new member in your family, do keep a regular dental check-up on the list, since it will reduce your risk of a dental emergency during pregnancy.
2. There is a 50% increase in the blood volume during pregnancy, hence it is often necessary to take calcium and iron tablets to keep up with the increased metabolism and blood volume. Also teeth start forming when the child is in the mother’s womb. Calcium tablets at this time have a very positive effect on the baby’s tooth formation. It is however very essential that these supplements should be taken strictly under physicians guidance.
3. Poor oral hygiene along with change in hormonal levels can cause pregnancy gingivitis. This is an uncomfortable swelling in the gums accompanied by pain and bleeding of gums. Therapy would involve cleaning of teeth by a dentist to remove tartar, maintenance of good oral hygiene and use of antiseptic mouth rinses under dentist’s supervision. If it persists after delivery the swelling might have to be removed surgically.
4. Only minimal radiographs need to be taken to treat dental emergencies. The radiation exposure encountered in this procedure is 40 times less than the exposure from cosmic sunrays during the day. However sufficient protection to the mother and foetus is given by using lead aprons and thyroid collars.
5. If the mother-to-be is experiencing severe toothache, emergency treatment is necessary irrespective of the gestation stage. Oral infections should be treated immediately because they may rapidly spread and systemic infections can adversely affect the foetus.
6. Dental treatment is kept at a minimum during the last trimester mainly for the comfort of the expectant mother. Lying back in the dental chair during the late stages of pregnancy can be uncomfortable. If treatment is to be taken at this time, a shifting in the mother's position must be allowed every 3-7 minutes or short duration appointments are advised.
7. Prevention is always the best form of any therapeutic approach to a disease.
   a. Visits to the dentist should be an integral part of checkups during pregnancy.
   b. Healthy teeth for the unborn baby! In the WHO Bulletin "Health for all in the year 2000", pregnant women are advised to avoid/ minimise the intake of sugar from the 4th month of pregnancy on, so that their fetus does not develop an exaggerated attraction for sugar in the future, and thus will be less susceptible to caries. The rationale being taste buds form between the 12th and 14th week of pregnancy and by the 18th week all papillae are formed.

So sit back and enjoy a healthy pregnancy with a great smile on your face and a twinkle in your eye as you think about your bundle of joy !

Smile Makeover - Gives you the confidence!

Are you unhappy with your smile? Do you want to change your smile to improve the colour, shape or length of your teeth? Or change the appearance of your gums or lips to give your overall smile a more appealing look?

A recent survey revealed that: 

Over 75% of people don’t feel confident to smile in a photograph. 
Over 40% of people make judgments about people by the look of their smile. 
Over 65% of people think that a beautiful smile helps people psychologically. 

What is a smile makeover? 

A smile makeover involves one or more dental cosmetic procedures to improve the aesthetics of your smile. A smile makeover to one person could mean something completely different to another, and it is a very individual choice. A Smile makeover may involve a simple improvement, such as the replacement of amalgam fillings with composite and teeth whitening or extensive treatment with ceramic veneers and gum surgery.

How can a smile makeover improve my smile ?

Whatever the reasons for your dissatisfaction with your smile, there are many different ways in which you can improve your smile using modern cosmetic dentistry:

Crooked teeth can be straightened with tooth coloured conventional orthodontics. They can also be covered with porcelain veneers for a faster solution.

Gaps between your teeth can be closed to give your smile a more even look. This can be achieved instantly with porcelain veneers or thineers. Orthodontics can also be used to move the teeth and close the gaps between them. 

Chipped, broken teeth can be repaired – the treatment will depend on the extent of damage, but the options include cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.

Missing teeth can be replaced –Solutions include dental implants, a dental bridge or a denture.

If you have a gummy smile, this can easily be attended to by surgical or laser gum contouring.

If you are not satisfied with the colour of your teeth, or if you have badly stained teeth, they can be brightened by professional teeth whitening. 

The end result of a smile makeover for many people is a smile to be proud of, one that is straight, white and perfectly aligned.

Stress and its effect on oral health

 In today’s fast paced lifestyle, stress is an inevitable part. Stress can affect the mind and the body of an individual, including oral health, if it is not identified and treated.

Teeth And Gum Care

Dr. Tanvee Singh, Smile Care, Bandra 2

Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years. No matter how old you are, you need to take care of your teeth and mouth. You will not just feel better about smiling, talking, and laughing but also eat better.

Cavities, bad breath, bleeding gums and dental caries are almost household names due to poor oral hygiene practiced by most people. But there are ways to improve a person's dental condition, which can be followed by anyone in a relatively easy manner. Teeth and gum care involves four activities, which are brushing, flossing, eating the right kind of food and paying regular visits to the dentist.

Brushing is the simplest way of ensuring proper oral hygiene, and should be done at least twice a day. If possible, the frequency of brushing can also be increased to every time a meal is had, however small it may be. Brushing teeth helps remove plaque, which is a thin coating of calcium compounds on the teeth. Plaque by itself does not harm the teeth in any way, but it is the bacteria residing within the plaque that pose threat towards teeth. These bacteria cause cavities by producing acids by reacting with food items. Brushing removes plaque and keeps the enamel clean.

Flossing is another important activity for ensuring proper dental hygiene. Flossing helps remove food and plaque that accumulates between teeth where toothbrushes cannot reach. This plaque, if allowed to remain there will harden into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist using special equipment. Flossing should be done gently to avoid damage to the gums and instructions printed on the pack should be strictly followed.

Sugar and starch intake should be lowered to ensure good dental health. Starchy food like potato chips and sugary food like candies stick to the teeth and assist the bacteria in producing acids. Most of the problems can be avoided, however, if a person brushes the teeth after having food of these kinds.

Regular visits to the dentist can help a person keep the teeth in top shape. These visits ensure that the dentist can spot any problem with the patient's teeth at the onset of it. This can cure many ailments before they develop into serious problems.

Lastly, there is no substitute for maintaining proper oral hygiene. Healthy teeth and gums are every person's dream and it is attainable easily too. All that it takes is a little more effort and sensibility.

The Mouth and Body Connection

Among other interdependent elements, the mind and body connection is well known. However, a far lesser known and talked about factor which has great significance is the mouth and body connection. To many people, a dental visit is about getting their teeth cleaned, having a tooth pulled, or getting a filling done. But, a dental visit is not just about teeth- it is also about your overall health. What goes on in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. What goes on in your body also can have an effect on your mouth.

The effect of Diabetes on teeth and soft tissues of the mouth

Oral health problems can be more serious when you have diabetes. Excessive tooth decay; gum disease; infection and delayed healing; salivary gland dysfunction; fungal infections; taste impairment; could be related to the fact that you have been diagnosed positive for diabetes.

High glucose levels in your saliva can help bacteria thrive and hence it is important to brush and floss regularly. Once plaque has accumulated on your teeth and gum line, it can cause chronic inflammation and infection in your mouth, so regular cleanings and checkups is a must.

Visit your dentist if you notice that your gums bleed easily, are swollen, tender or red, are pulling away from your teeth; if there is pus between your teeth and gums or if you have persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth; if you have permanent teeth that are loose or separating or if there is a change in your bite or the way your dentures fit.

The decreased salivary flow and increased salivary glucose levels make patients with diabetes susceptible to fungal infections in the mouth. If you smoke, have high blood glucose levels or take antibiotics, you are even more prone to fungal infections. Visit your dentist if you have red or white patches in your mouth or on your tongue that are sore or ulcerated. Patients may complain of a burning sensation in the mouth or difficulty in swallowing or tasting. 

Tooth decay in childhood

Early Childhood tooth decay is a serious disease that can destroy your child's teeth. It is sometimes called Nursing Bottle Tooth Decay

Causes of tooth decay in childhood are as under

•    Letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle. When your baby is asleep, the liquids that contain sugar pool around the teeth and can cause decay. Even breast milk and formula contain sugar and can cause decay.
•    Allowing your infant to walk around with a bottle.

Effects of Early Childhood tooth decay

•    Tooth loss
•    Ear and speech problems
•    Crooked permanent teeth
•    Severe pain
•    Poor self-image

How can Early Childhood tooth decay be prevented?

•    Get into the habit of putting your baby to bed without a bottle.
•    Never put the baby to bed with a bottle filled with formula, milk, juice or sugar water. If your baby must have a bottle to go to sleep, fill it with water.
•    Do not let your infant walk around with a bottle.
•    Start teaching your infant to use a cup between 6-12 months.
•    Check with your doctor or dentist to make sure your child is getting enough fluoride each day.
 

Toothpaste – what's in there and what do you need ?

What is a tooth paste?

Tooth paste is a mixture of different ingredients that together form a paste or gel which when used with toothbrush, aids in cleaning teeth and gums.

What is a tooth paste made of?

Toothpaste has a few basic ingredients like :

• Abrasive agent: forms bulk of toothpaste. Helps to polish tooth by eliminating tartar and soft deposits as well as food particles stuck on tooth and external stains.
• Humectant: the substance that prevents drying of toothpaste and maintains wetness.
• Sweetening agent: added to make the paste suitable for use in mouth.
• Flavoring agent: nullifies any obnoxious taste or smell due to other ingredients. Commonly used flavor is mint due to its refreshing taste, but nowadays a variety of other flavors are available.
• Binding agent: binds all ingredients of the paste to a single mass.
• Antiseptic agent: eliminates plaque forming microbes. Triclosan is an example of antiseptic agent that kills germs.
• Surfactant: these agents help reduce surface tension and increase ability of the paste to spread, increasing the cleaning of tooth surfaces. Also, lathering property of the paste is attributed to these agents. Researchers have observed that some of these agents cause oral ulcers or allergies and hence replaced by other group of compounds.
• Sequestering agent: a tartar control agent, also acts as buffer and emulsifier.
• Titanium dioxide/ hydrated silica/food colors: titanium dioxide gives characteristic white color to the opaque pastes. Gel toothpastes have hydrated silica giving the ‘gel’ consistency. Food colors give array of colors we see in colorful pastes/gels.

For specific use, depending on individual needs a few other ingredients may be added:

• Fluorides: compounds of fluoride are known to strengthen enamel by remineralization and making teeth more resistant to acids produced by bacteria. Stannous fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate are commonly used fluoride compounds.
• Potassium nitrate: used as desensitizing agent that blocks unpleasant sensations from reaching dental pulp.
• Sodium carbonate peroxide/ Hydrogen peroxide: toothpastes claiming to whiten your teeth usually have this ingredient.
• Sodium bicarbonate: this is added to enhance taste and increase foam.
• Herbal ingredients: these ingredients claim to be hypoallergenic due to presence of natural ingredients instead of chemicals.

What you actually need in a tooth paste is a combination of the basic ingredients used in moderation. Depending on your dental condition, you may use toothpastes with different active ingredients. Some individuals are allergic to or develop oral ulcers due to tooth paste ingredients. They should consult an oral health care provider immediately. Pastes for therapeutic purposes should be used under supervision only. Never swallow tooth pastes, and use a small pea sized quantity for brushing. Choosing the right tooth paste and using optimal quantity with a correct brushing technique will give you an enhanced, long lasting bright smile.

What Causes Bad Breath?

Why should you have your wisdom teeth removed ?

Dr. Jaideep James, Smile care, Vashi. What are wisdom teeth ?

Wisdom teeth in dental parlance known as the Third molars generally are present between 18-25 years of age, there have been cases where these wisdom teeth are not present at all, and in some of the cases they do erupt fully. The presence or absence of the third molar is relative to the jaw size as there is generally a lack of accommodating space, due to smaller jaw or larger size of the teeth

Why should wisdom teeth be removed?

Wisdom teeth as a rule of thumb should almost always be removed, unless they can be well maintained and also help in chewing.

The reasons for wisdom teeth removal could be varying from impaction, cavities, pain and crowding of the other teeth, which are typical tooth growth characteristics.

Majority of people have their wisdom teeth partially covered with gums, this leads to a lot of bacterial invasion, and in most cases becomes mechanically Impossible to keep it hygienically viable, this almost every time leads to a decay, pain or swelling.

The angulated position of the wisdom tooth sometimes can put unnatural, continuous force on the adjacent tooth thereby could lead to a post orthodontic crowding of the teeth.

When should wisdom teeth be removed?

It’s always better to get wisdom tooth extracted after evaluation by the dentist. In some cases it may be indicated for extraction and in some instances it will be extracted after observation.

Women And Dental Care

Dr. Rupali Jakhade, Smile Care, Nashik.

It is always said that good oral health leads to good health. Generally women are more conscious about their oral hygiene than men but they have more dental problems. It is due to the hormonal changes occurring in various stages of their life such as in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. These hormonal changes makes the gums more sensitive to local irritants like plaque and increases the risk of periodontal disease, generally known as “gum disease”. It is a ‘silent disease’ that means it does not cause any pain in initial stages so women generally do not aware of having any problem in their mouth. It is recognized only when it goes to its advanced stage. Hence extra care and attention is required to maintain the health of gum and teeth.

Puberty

Prior to puberty, the incident of gum disease is very low in girls. During puberty, there is rise in oestrogen and progesterone level causing gum swelling and inflammation and also there is alteration in immune function. In rare cases at this stage girls may be affected by ‘Juvenile periodontitis’ which is rare condition causing rapid bone loss adjacent to some teeth.The regular dental checkup is recommended.

Menstruation

Some women may find swollen and bleeding gums or cold sore or canker sore, swollen salivary glands prior to the menstruation.Generally these symptoms disappear once periods start. Dentist may prescribe special cleaning gum treatment or topical anesthetics to ease any discomfort.

Oral contraceptives

Inflamed gums are one of the most common side effects of the Oral contraceptives.

Inform your dentist that you are on the contraceptives. Some medications prescribed by dentist like antibiotics can lessen the effect of contraceptives.

Pregnancy

In pregnancy the maternal health and nutrition affects the oral health of the unborn child. Vitamin A and Vitamin D deficiencies may result in disturbances in baby’s tooth development and these teeth further may be prone to childhood decay.

In pregnancy, especially in second to eighth months, inflamed gums are the most common finding. Due to the increased hormonal levels, the reaction of gums to the local irritants like plaque increases causing red, puffy, tender gums.
Occasionally, tissue overgrowth may appear on gums called ‘pregnancy tumor’ in second trimester. They can be surgically removed after the baby is born.

Other problems like bad breath may also occur. Cavities related to the acidic environment due to morning sickness also can be seen.

Follow these steps to take better care of oral health.

• Get the dental check up done. Get the teeth cleaned and all the dental work required should be done.
• Brushing at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste by keeping the bristles at the junction of tooth and gums as here the disease starts.
• Floss daily to remove the interdental debris as tooth brush does not reach there.
• Limit the number of times you eat sweet or starchy snacks each day to reduce the acid attacks. Sugar and soda intake may cause cavities. Eat more fruits and vegetables.Follow the advice of your health care professional.
• The need for calcium is more for baby’s teeth and bones. Calcium can be found in milk, cheese, dried beans and leafy green vegetables.

Menopause

Many physical changes can be seen in mouth after menopause like burning sensation, altered taste sensation (mostly to salty, peppery or sour food), dry mouth due to decreased salivary flow and greater sensitivity to hot and cold.

Osteoporosis also known as ‘porous bones’ can be seen after menopause. If the jaw bone is affected sever bone loss can be seen.

Salivary substitutes may be helpful to reduce dryness. As well as vitamin C and B complex supplements can be given.

Care of baby’s teeth

Women as a mother should take care of baby’s oral health.Check out for fluoride contain of water as fluoride makes teeth more strong and resistant to caries.Avoid putting baby to bed with bottle as any fluid other than water (milk, Juices) can cause caries.

Take care of your own oral health as you can pass on cavity causing germs to the baby’s teeth. This can happen by sharing and/or tasting baby’s food or letting baby stick her fingers in your mouth, the unfilled cavities may pass the germs to baby.

Start cleaning baby’s teeth since the single tooth emerges in mouth. Brushing should be done at least twice a day.

Regular dental check up is necessary.