I have come across many parents who don’t feel the need to treat their children’s ‘milk’ or primary teeth… This is because they are temporary and will be replaced by permanent ones! Lack of awareness & ignorance of the parent, results in painful experiences for their children…

Often parents approach a doctor of medicine, instead of a dentist to treat a painful tooth without realizing that medicines provide only temporary relief but not long term benefits. In my opinion parents should keep a regular check on the progress of their children’s teeth as they rarely complain of a problem unless its really painful. And by that time, the tooth has decayed to a great extent!

Infants cannot clean their own teeth.. and one cannot use a tooth brush on such infants with recently erupted teeth. Hence parents should use a soft cloth and clean such teeth after feeding them. Later on once the child grows up and starts brushing on their own.. parents should keep a regular check on the brushing technique used by the child and visit the dentist at least every six months..

If the decayed tooth isn’t treated on time, not only is it painful for the child, but it also has serious consequences in the long run.. If the tooth reaches a stage where it cannot be restored, it may have to be removed. Primary teeth act as natural space maintainers for the permanent successors i.e they prevent faulty eruption of the permanent teeth which leads to crowding and malalignment of the teeth. Not only does the faulty arrangement of teeth affect the aesthetics of the child, but it also hampers the masticatory function i.e. the chewing of the food. Malalignment can lead to food lodgement and make their teeth more prone to development of cavities! Also, everyone knows that having a good smile always helps build a person’s self confidence….

 If such a situation does arise where the teeth need to be extracted, the child needs to be given artificial space maintainers that help maintain that space. All this and more can be taken care off by the dentist, only if the parents show some concern and make sure their child visits the dentist regularly! 

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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“Today i shall definitely quit smoking!!… umm… or maybe tomorrow…next week… errr..mom’s birthday … next new years resolution??!!” I am sure if you are a smoker and you are reading this, the above statements sound familiar.. Most smokers keep planning in their heads the so called D-day when they will kick the cigarette butt a final goodbye! But the problem is that they do not know the right path to take…

Surveys have proved that most people who depend only on their will power to quit smoking, rarely succeed.. and even if they do.. in the long run, do not last for very long! Will power is definitely required but its not the only way to go about.. One needs to take help from others..& here are a few suggestions that i would like to give..

If you have a group of friends who are smokers too.. try to convince them into quitting.. and work on it together.. Encourage each other when someone falls pray to temptation.. Its not easy.. but as they say.. friends always make it easier.. especially when the going gets tough!

Seek help from information and counselling that is available.. there are lots of people out there who are willing to help you. All the information is easily available on various websites, tapes, videos etc. There are a lot of group activities conducted.. in which people come and share their experiences and problems. Believe it or not.. it works wonders! Just call up on the help line numbers available on the web.. and try it out!

Nicotine substitutes like patches, gums, sprays and medicines are easily available. They make the whole process of quitting smoking a lot more smoother.. Some people don’t prefer to take medications, but this is one of the better options! These substitutes help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and cravings that many smokers experience on quitting. Though they work in different ways, they all affect the regions in the brain that are implicated in addiction.

For those who don’t want to take medications.. hypnosis is another option, but there is no guarantee of the success rate of this method! Although it has proved to work for some people.. with few, if-any side effects!

At the end its for you to decide which method will work best for you ….and give it a shot! You may not succeed in the first attempt.. but in the end you will emerge as a winner.. and kick some butt!

(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Normally it all starts with a severe tooth ache.. staring in the mirror for hours at the blackened tooth, trying to remove the food lodged in it..followed by lots of sleepless nights.. which ultimately leads to a forced visit to the dentist! The dentist examines the tooth.. while you shake in the chair.. fearing what he is going to do next with his weapon .. read “the drilling machine!”.. Finally when the dentist has finished his job and gives you the permission to go home.. phew!!  you are at peace! You are relieved its all over and now you don’t need to worry about the tooth.. That is where you go wrong!   

You need to be careful and take utmost care of the restored tooth too.. Getting the carious tooth or in common language.. the cavity filled or restored, does not permanently solve your problem. Especially if you are not going to take care of it. The restorative dental materials used, cannot match the superior strength of natural enamel and dentin.. Hence the restored tooth needs to be given extra attention and oral hygiene must be maintained really well..

There is always a possibility of secondary caries, i.e. decay to develop around the already restored tooth due to poor oral hygiene maintained by the patient. That is why a dentist always advises you to take proper care of the restored tooth. It is also important to go for at least a yearly check up to keep track of the progress of such teeth to help detect the problem in its early stages and avoid the painful complications!

There are various dental aids available in the market, that can help you take care of your restored teeth. Apart from cleaning such teeth with a regular tooth brush, it is also necessary for you to floss the area around it really well. Inter dental brushes are also easily available in the market. In case if part of the restoration cracks, chips, or breaks off.. don’t hesitate to visit your dentist. Many people avoid going to the dentist assuming that since its only a small part that has chipped off, they need not bother. Wrong again! You need to take care of it as soon as possible.. because this forms a path for new cavities to develop. Also if there are any sharp edges left behind by the chipped off restoration, it can irritate the surrounding structures and cause lot more problems and not to forget, a lot more pain. Hence one needs to visit a dentist as soon as any such complications arise!

My advice to everyone would be, dont live with the myth that “once restored need not be looked at ever again!” 

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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