ARE THUMB SUCKING AND PACIFIER HABITS BADLY AFFECT MY CHILD’S TEETH?

Thumb sucking is most common in children. Not all thumb-sucking results in damage to teeth/mouth. Thumb sucking exposes children to dirt, bacteria, and viruses. Persistent thumb sucking can sometimes cause misalignment of your child’s permanent teeth and affect the jaw.

As dentists, we are often asked, “should I be concerned about my child’s thumb sucking habit?” so we decided to answer this question for you.

What is thumb sucking habit?

Babies have natural sucking reflexes, that can cause them to place their thumbs or fingers into their mouths — sometimes even before birth.
Because thumb sucking makes babies feel secure, some babies may eventually develop a habit of thumb sucking when they are in want of soothing or going to sleep.
How does this habit develop?
As children grow, they begin experimenting with the basic functions of the mouth, like sucking, speaking, etc. This eventually develops into a thumb/digit-sucking habit.
For most children, this lasts for a few years only. If the habit doesn’t resolve within a few years, it then leads to dental problems as the child grows.
These habits are self-soothing and your child begins to develop them when he/she is upset, confused or frustrated. If your child has a regular habit of thumb/pacifier sucking,
it is better to wean the habit as early as possible.
What happens if the habit is left unattended?
1. Open Bite
The most serious permanent side effect of thumb sucking habit is dental malocclusion or misalignment that is visible when the mouth is closed.
Open bite occurs when the top and bottom front teeth become directed outward.
This means that there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth, even when the mouth is closed completely.

An open bite may require orthodontic correction in the future or might complicate alternative dental misalignment that necessitate orthodontic treatment.
2. Overbite
In this misalignment, the upper front teeth become very forwardly placed. Overbite malocclusion can affect the shape of the face and smile.
Individuals with extreme overbites may need extensive orthodontic treatment to correct the issue.
3. Skin Problems
Children who suck their thumbs over the years could experience uncomfortable or serious skin problems on their most preferred thumb.
When exposed to the moisture of the mouth, the skin can become vulnerable to other injuries. In some cases, the skin could crack or bleed, making your child’s hands unsafe to infection.
The thumb may begin to look calloused.
4. Speech Impediment
Because thumb sucking affects the development of the teeth, jaw, and palate, the habit can also change how your child eats and speaks.
Thumb sucking might cause lisping and other speech impediments, including an inability to pronounce hard consonant appears like “D” and “T.”
5. Social Issues
Even before your child’s thumb-sucking becomes a true and present threat to your child’s dental development, the habit may cause social problems.
Children who suck their thumbs in public may become the target of contempt. While thumb sucking is a normal childhood habit, the older your kid gets,
the more other people may judge him/her for continuing the habit.

What can you do to help your child?
It is better to start the process of weaning the habit early on before it causes permanent damage. This is how you can help
• Try to use positive rewards for good behaviour instead of negativity or intimidating behaviour.
• Talk openly with your child about the inherent dangers of a thumb-sucking habit.
• Help your child notice other productive things to do with the hands as a method of distraction. Playing a game, for example, might be a great diversion.
• Support and encourage your child while he or she is attempting to interrupt the habit.
As children develop, they need several things to learn and to think about. By understanding a few simple facts regarding thumb sucking,
you can facilitate your child to develop in a healthy and positive approach.

Worried about your child’s thumb-sucking??
The best way to resolve this problem is by contacting a good dental clinic and to seek information from patients and ask them about the employees and quality of services.

 

Smile makeover before the wedding.

Smile makeover before the wedding

A once in a lifetime affair but the most awaited and priceless one too! A wedding calls for a lot if preparation and running around but don’t let it come in your way of looking stunning, it’s your wedding after all.

All the preparations are made, everything else tied up perfectly and for all the other things you have your loved one’s to take care. All you have to do on your wedding day is stand on the stage a flash that million dollar smile of yours!

Chisel Dental Clinic helps you whiten and brighten your breathtaking smile to match to the perfection of everything else.

Here are some treatments you can go for to smile your way through the love of your life along with everyone else present:

Cleaning: Sometimes all you need is a little brushing up before the big day. The cleaning done a few days prior to your wedding by expert professionals at Chisel Dental Clinic will make you ready for the day without much ado.

Whitening: Going for a professional teeth whitening is also a great idea. It also helps in hiding basic crooked, overlapped or spaced teeth issues quite effectively.

Tooth contouring: This is a great option for people with minute problems in their teeth like uneven teeth, chipped tooth or the like. Tooth contouring process is just like filing your nails wherein there is no pain involved but you know something is being done to them. The teeth are basically evened to perfection.

Porcelain veneers: If your problem is a little graver than you can go for porcelain veneers. It covers all the cracked, chipped and stained teeth very smartly. All you have to do then is flash out that beautiful smoke all the way.

Invisalign: This process requires time. It is a wire free and braces free way to straightened teeth. These are invisible aligners that can be easily removed every time you want to nibble. Also, lose a few kilos with these aligners as laziness to remove them to eat will surely make you avoid untimely munching.

With a gorgeous smile, you’ll not only bag loads of compliments that day but will certainly get queries till much later.

The happiness on the money well spent and decision timely taken to go for a smile makeover before your marriage will always make you proud of yourself every time you’ll see your sparkling smile while going through your wedding album.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Dentist.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Dentist

Taking care of your teeth is one of the greatest ways to keep up your overall level of health. Good oral hygiene can keep your smile looking great and it can also safeguard your health. Having a good dentist is important if you want to preserve your teeth. Here are a few things, revealed by the experts of Chisel Dental Clinic, which you should consider before choosing a dentist:

• Reputation: Any dentist that you work with should have a brilliant reputation. Devote some time in reading reviews of local dentists to find the best one.

• Location: Your dentist’s workplace should be conveniently located. If it is too much of a trouble to get to the office, then you may be less likely to keep up with regular appointments. Look for an office that is situated close to your home or office.

• Price: Dental services need to be reasonably priced or else you will be disappointed while going in for appointments. Call some local dentists and ask for their base price on standard procedures such as cleanings, fillings and crowns to compare prices.

• Dental Staff: In the course of your dental visit, you should be treated well by all of the staff members. This includes the front desk staff, as well as any dental assistants or hygienists who work on your teeth.

• Payment Options: It is imperative to make sure that the dental office you choose accepts the category of payment you want to use. For example, if you plan to pay for your dental services with a credit card, make sure that the dentist accepts the type of card that you have.

• Specialties: If you need any exceptional procedures done such as a root canal, extraction or oral surgery, you should make sure that the dentist is up for the job. Not all dentists offer surgical procedures, so it is essential to check beforehand.

What green tea can do for your teeth?

What green tea can do for your teeth?

Tooth is one of the important parts of human body. Human being needs food for gaining energy which is used in doing different activities. Our tooth helps us in eating food properly. Proper chewing can help us in digesting our food easily. But due to various reasons our tooth and gums may damage. To avoid this problem we have to take proper precautions such as proper brushing of tooth, dental checkups on the regular basis, eating proper food etc. Nowadays green tea is in huge demand due to its magical and beneficial properties. It is one of the most appropriate and popular beverage in Asian culture and increasing its prominence in India as well.

Chisel dental clinic provides many health benefits of green tea and specially in protecting tooth and gums from many diseases. There are many tooth problems by which people suffers a lot and are not able to eat their favorite food items. Some of these are bleeding gums, swollen gums, cavity, loss of gum tissues and periodontal pocket depth. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that harms the supporting bones and gum of the teeth. All these can be cured by having a cup of green tea regularly. It helps in reducing symptoms of periodontal disease due to the present of antioxidant Catechin. Antioxidants are able to reduce inflammation in the body and have potential to kill bacteria associated with tooth decay. Green tea helps in promoting periodontal health and protects us from other diseases also.

Green tea also helps in strengthening our teeth and cleanses our gum line. According to a study people who drink green tea have better oral health than compared to the people who don’t. People who drink a cup of green tea regularly have less tooth loss. Sweetener should not be added to green tea as it reverses the health benefits which green tea provides for your teeth. Green tea also helps in decreasing the growth of cancer cells in the body. As it is easily available, so anyone can use it and make their oral health better and can avoid dental problems. So let’s go green for healthy teeth with green tea!

Dental Health Care Tips for Smokers.

Dental Health Care Tips for Smokers

It is a well-known fact that smoking can have massive adverse effects on the health of the smoker and oral health is one such area that gets most negatively affected. Therefore it is extremely important for a smoker to take extra care of his/her dental health. There are a number of ways through which a smoker can minimise the ill effects of smoking on his/her dental health. Read on to know more:

Smoking can cause a lot of serious complications for the teeth. These problems can be further aggravated when proper health care is not followed. Experts from Chisel Dental Clinic say that smokers are at a bigger risk of catching gum disease. Researches show that smokers are four times more likely to get infected by various gum infections in comparison with the non-smokers. Apart from this, smokers are also likely to develop stains and marks on their teeth due to the chemicals present in the cigarettes. They are also at a higher risk for developing leukoplakia, leading to the throat, lung, and oral cancers. Dental experts say that smokers also have a tougher time recovering from dental procedures such as periodontal treatments, dental implants, and tooth extraction.

Smokers must get determined to opt for a proper oral hygiene plan that must include regular brushing, flossing, and use a tongue cleaner and mouthwash. Having the right toothbrush is also very important and as per the suggestion of the dental experts, smokers should use a toothbrush that is soft and gentle.

It is highly recommended that the smokers should not skip regular checkups with their dentists. During these visits, dentists can look out for the initial signs of developing gum disease and oral cancers. Everybody should visit their dentist at least twice a year, but those who smoke on the regular basis should visit their dentist more frequently.

Teach Your Child Good Dental Habits.

Teach Your Child Good Dental Habits

Healthy dental habits can prove to be of immense benefit if taught right from the beginning. Parents should supervise and monitor their kids’ dental habits. Experts from Chisel Dental Clinic say that same rules go for children and adults, as far as dental hygiene is concerned. Parents should teach children to brush and floss at least two times a day. Children below the age of six should be managed and helped by the parents till they learn to do it by themselves properly.

As far as children are concerned, a small pea-sized quantity of toothpaste is enough. Too much toothpaste can create a lot of foam, which makes it tough for little children to brush properly. Kids must be told repeatedly that post brushing they should spit out the toothpaste because swallowing it can cause a condition called fluorosis due to which the teeth can be stained permanently. It is advised that parents must encourage the children to develop a habit of brushing twice a day. Parents must also teach the young ones to clean the mouth with water after every meal.

Teach the children to brush gently because a lot of children apply a lot of pressure while brushing. Doing this may cause damage to the teeth in the long run. Tell them that brushing too firmly can push the gums up and cause blisters in the mouth.

Parents should know that teaching children about dental health can be more enjoyable when older siblings of little children help the parents to teach good dental habits to the younger ones. If your child has a brother or sister who already knows about the importance of dental health then ask him or her to help your younger one. Apart from this, you must also educate your child about the ill impact of junk food and sweet food items on the teeth.

Do you know the different types of teeth?

Different types of teeth

We all know that it is important to look after our teeth in order to keep them healthy and strong, but very few of us are actually aware about the different types of teeth. Most of us are not even aware about the functioning of these teeth.  Experts from Chisel Dental Clinic say that there are four kinds of teeth and each of them functions differently from one another. Read on to know more about it:

• Incisors

The eight frontal teeth, four at the top and four at the bottom, are called incisors. These are the teeth that help you to bite into the food you eat. Additionally, these teeth also support the lips and the tongue while speaking.

• Canines

There are total four canines. Each one is located on each side of the upper and lower incisors. These teeth are slightly pointed and are easily the sharpest teeth. These teeth help in biting properly on slightly hard food items such as chicken and sugarcane.

• Premolars

Just behind the canines is another set of teeth known as the premolars. Dentists also refer to them as the bicuspids. There are eight premolars, four at the top and four at the bottom, in a person’s mouth and unlike the incisors and canines, premolars have a flattened top. The main function of these teeth is to chew food.

• Molars

Right next to the premolars is the set of the molars. These are the widest and the flattest teeth in a person’s mouth. In total, there are 12 molars: six at the top and six at the bottom. Just like the premolars, the function of these teeth is also to chew the food properly. However, it requires a bit of effort to clean these teeth in a proper way.

Maintain your dental health during a vacation.

Maintain your dental health during a vacation

A vacation should not be an excuse for you to ignore your dental health.  Dental health experts Chisel Dental Clinic say that when you are out for a vacation then the change in your daily routine and diet makes it even more important to look after your teeth and overall dental health.  Here are a few pointers that would help you to maintain your oral health during your vacation:

1. Visit your dentist for a regular checkup before you go on a vacation

It is a good idea to book an appointment with your dentist before you go out on vacations. This would help in preventing dental issues from ruining your trip by detecting any underlying issues that need immediate attention.

2. Do not forget to take along your dental travel kit

Travel sized dental items are easily available in the market, so make sure that you buy all the essential dental care items that you would need to maintain a good oral hygiene. Don’t forget to pack travel sized mouthwash, toothpaste and a toothbrush before you step out of your house to enjoy your vacations.

3. Protect your toothbrush

Always make it a point to keep your toothbrush in a hygienic condition. Keep it covered if possible or else keep it at some clean and hygienic place. Refrain from keeping your toothbrush inside the washroom. While traveling keep your toothbrush wrapped in tissue paper or towel.

4. Brush regularly

Enjoy your vacations but do not be lazy towards keeping up your dental hygiene. No matter where you go, always make it a point to brush your teeth at least twice daily. Apart from this you must also watch what you eat. Keep yourself away from junk food that has the potential to cause damage to your teeth!

Lemon Juice is harming your teeth!

Lemon Juice is harming your teeth

Researchers have shown that it is certainly possible that regular consumption of lemon juice can eat away at the outer enamel layer of the teeth. It goes without saying that lemon juice is extremely acidic in nature and it is particularly high on citric acid.

The outer enamel layer of our teeth is very much mineralized and the main mineral in our tooth enamel is known as hydroxyapatite. It is a crystal of substance and it is chiefly made up of calcium and phosphorus. The chemical composition of citric acid and calcium is such that at times these substances combine together to form calcium citrate. Experts from Chisel Dental Clinic say that this electrochemical fusion between citric acid and calcium is the chief reason that fruits with high citric acid concentration can wear down the tooth enamel. Maximum of the researchers on this matter have revealed that orange juice is also acidic in nature but it is not as acidic as lemon juice.

Experts explain that a lot of people feel that lemon is a natural bleaching agent and, therefore, they use it to whiten their teeth but it is a wrong practice as regular and frequent consumption of lemon can make your teeth permanently damaged after some time.

Yes, it is true that lemon water is good for digestive system and it has numerous other benefits as well but its effect on the teeth is a cause of concern. So to counter this problem a number of dentists and health experts have suggested it several times that the juice extracted from acidic fruits should be consumed with the help of a straw as it would ensure limited contact with the tooth enamel. Another way to save your teeth from acidic food items is to wash your mouth with plain water after eating them.