Dental and Mouth Health, Care and Information

We have all heard the routine. Maybe last night was the last time you heard or were involved. It time for bed and the parent/s are at the usual bedtime routine.

“Have you brushed your teeth, Billy?”, comes the irritated parental voice. A kind of pregnant silence follows. The question comes again but this time there is more irritation.

“Billy, did you hear me?? Have you brushed your teeth, yet??”

“No.., not yet, Mum” come the muffled, yet noticeably exasperated reply.

“Well, get to it, - straight away. I will be checking so don’t try to skive off”

“O…K Mum!”, Billy’s voice is resigned.

Ten minutes have passed and the voice from below stairs breaks the silence. “Have you got your teeth done, Billy?”

“Just doing it now, Mum”, calls back Billy with a ‘sounding busy’ air, as he flicks the TV channel with the remote control.

“Well hurry up about it, I want you in bed in ten minutes, right?”

“Right, Mum…” Billy throws the remote on the bed and drags himself toward the bathroom. “Stupid bloody teeth… so boring…who cares anyway…” mutters Billy as he mindlessly goes through the motions with toothpaste and brush.

The shocked reaction

When I tell Mums and Dads to STOP telling their children to brush their teeth, they look at me as though I had just committed perjury. Some give me a quizzical look with a half smile waiting for me to admit that I was only joking. Others begin to laugh assuming that it is a joke. When I tell them that I could not be more serious, they are shocked and disbelieving that a dentist could speak these ‘crazy’ words.

“And whose going to tell them?” some ask mockingly.

“What kind of a parent would I be if I don’t do my duty?” one very caring mother asked me. “Don’t you think that that is a very irresponsible attitude for a dentist to have?”

These are all very understandable reactions because my advice seems to go against all understanding and reason. Surely it is the solemn duty of all parents to make sure that their children are looking after their teeth. Parents are responsible for the care of their children. Parents who do not take this responsibility seriously are not behaving as good parents.

The simple explanation

The explanation for all of this is very simple. What I have said seems to make no sense and indeed many would call it insane. Yet if we are prepared to look in simple honesty, we will see that it is society’s idea of how to teach and care for the children’s health that is actually ‘insane‘. Let me be very clear, I totally agree that it is a parents responsibility to teach their children to care for their teeth. It is on the question of how to achieve that noble goal that I differ from society. All methods are evaluated on how well they can achieve the stated goal. We ask then what it is we want to achieve and then whether or not we are achieving it. If we are not achieving what we set out to achieve, it makes sense that we then re-evaluate our methods.

When we examine the exchange between Billy and his Mum, we can gain enormous understanding of what goes wrong, why it goes wrong and how it goes wrong!

First of all, Billy doesn’t want to brush his teeth and ‘has’ to be forced by his Mum. Why is that? Why does he not want to do it? Most people assume that this behaviour is typical of a child. They believe that all children are just like that and that it something in the make up of the child. It is true to say that the behaviour is common and scenes like this one occur in most homes up and down the country. It is worthwhile noting that this applies not only to tooth-brushing but to many other things as well. How many could relate to similar problems at the table with food. Do conflicts begin at the table with a parent saying something like -

“Come on now, Lucy, eat up all your dinner. How do you hope to be healthy unless you eat properly?”

Most people know these routines and are part of them in their lives one way or another. They believe that it’s just the way things are. Its one of the difficulties that parents just have to deal with. It’s not pleasant, it’s not easy but it must be done. Many of these conflicts then spill over into conflict between the parents with one parent saying to leave the child alone and the other insisting that the teeth have to be brushed, dinner has to be eaten. Now the conflict often deepens as each parent feels unsupported by the partner and begins to hold a grievance against the other.

The Gentle Light of Understanding

This is the term that I always use to describe the way in which conflict is resolved by a deep understanding of the nature of the problem. It is through this gentle light that we can release ourselves from difficulty and bring resolution and peace. So how do we solve the problem?

We need to firstly acknowledge that our assumptions about the situation may be wrong. Secondly, we might then acknowledge that it would be better if we were wrong. By this I simply mean that if we are correct in our assumptions then things cannot change and the conflict is inevitable, whereas if we are mistaken in our assumptions then change can happen and with it the possibility for the resolution of the conflict.

The solution is to realise that the problem is not caused by the child but by the method that is employed by the adult. Essentially, it is the use of pressure, criticism or force. By getting on to the children to do something in this way, you engender negativity in the child and a desire not to want to do it. In the simplest terms the human tendency is to resist being pushed. If someone pushes you, you will tend to react by pushing back This is true of adults as much as children. If a child feels put upon or pushed he/she will resist. Therefore if we want our children to brush their teeth, we must stop getting on (pushing) to them to do it.

What should we do?

Simply allow the child to see that you brush your teeth and comment on how nice it feels to have clean teeth. They will soon want to experience it themselves and if the experience is positive they will want to make a habit of it. By being gentle with them and with your own brushing, teach them to be gentle. When they try, always encourage them even if they do not do well at first (nobody gets it right first time). Never comment negatively on their effort or criticise them no matter what! Say how nice they look with their teeth sparkling and I promise that you will have difficulty stopping them from brushing.

Suggest, help and praise but please, no force, push or criticism

Be gentle and fun but please not harsh or hard

Find always ways to praise the good and completely overlook the error

Remember:

Children don’t do what you tell them, they do what do!!

The latest advancement in laser whitening gel is used with an in-office laser that results in a very fast and effective bleaching system. The gel is applied to the teeth after appropriate gum and mouth soft tissue protection is placed. Then, a laser light is used to activate the chemical in the gel that has been especially designed to absorb energy from the light and quickly penetrate tooth surfaces. This technique results in a very fast laser whitening effect.

The ZOOM teeth whitening system is an example of this type of system. The length of time needed for full color restoration of course depends on the amount and type of tooth enamel discoloration apparent. Although very fast, many dentists are wary of this process due to the potential of gum and soft tissue discoloration.

The cost of this very fast laser whitening can vary based on your location with many of the larger cities being more expensive than other areas. Laser teeth whitening process in a professional dental office can be expected to cost between 250 and 500 dollars on average for the full treatment.

Generally speaking, the price of teeth whitening increases with the number of in-office treatments required. So the more discolored the teeth, the more visits are required and the potential of a higher total cost. Dental insurance typically does not cover laser whitening as it’s considered cosmetic.

Remember though that once the dentist has you in the office, they will want to do a complete exam to check for general dental health. Few if any dentists will do a whitening treatment on teeth that need corrective dental work done. That is, a good cleaning, cavities filled, etc.

Dentists, like all professionals, will push to get all the business they can from you. It’s in your best interest though to carefully consider the importance of good dental health. So if it comes to a choice between teeth whitening and good dental health, your best interests are served by having a solid set of teeth even if they may not be as white as desired. This means that if you want whiter teeth from a dentist office, plan on a full commitment to total tooth care and mouth health.

Laser teeth whitening treatments though are not more effective on whitening teeth than many quality custom tray home products. Though much faster results are available, you run the risk of gum and tissue damage due to the aggressiveness of the products used in laser whitening. Teeth sensitivity can also be an issue.

So the results are in. Much faster and expensive laser teeth whitening or a slower though probably safer home teeth whitening solution, the choice is yours.

Our smile is one of the biggest beauty factor for guys and girls. White teeth and a clean smile will make you more attractive and hygenic. So making sure our teeth stays white should be one of our most important task in life. However, the discolorisation of our teeth is very hard to avoid as there are many factors that cause them. From smoking to the types of food and drinks we consume. Irregular brushing of our teeth is also to blame.

Many people flock to see their doctors or dentist for cosmetics session. People pay money just to make their teeth shiny new. In view of these demands, many over-the-counter teeth whiteners products are available but usually they cost much. However many people have found that using baking soda can help to whiten your teeth without major risks to your health.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda has been known to be able to help clean kitchen utensils and cleaning coffee, dirt or crayon stains. However, fewer people know that you can use soda to make your teeth whiter. You just need to have this soda particles to rub againts your teeth to help in the whitening process.

Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate, bread soda, bicarbonate soda or bicarbonate of soda. Its most popular use is as a leavening agent in baking. If you would like to save money in cleaning your household or you are wary of the toxic materials available on the cleaning products nowadays, you might want to try baking soda. It’s cheaper and safer.

Instructions

To get the baking soda rub againts your teeth, the best method is to sprinkle the baking soda on top of the paste on your toothbrush and brush normally. The soda will dillute very fast so you might want to sprinkle on your toothbrush again. Rinse your mouth afterwards.

More reading

There is another ingredient in whitening your teeth. That is using 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. It is reported to be stronger than soda but works well when mixed together.

Teething is one of the significant milestones of your baby’s development. Memories of your baby’s first big toothy grin will stay cherished forever. Some babies hardly appear to have any trouble at all and are boasting their first teeth before you know it, but for others it can be a more uncomfortable time, causing distress to both you and your baby.

Just like adults, all babies deal with pain differently. As a result, some will have an easier time with teething than others. However, most babies will have grouchy and irritable periods!

The first signs of teething usually begin a few months before the first tooth appears, so you will need to look for particular symptoms to ensure that the symptoms you notice are truly teething-related. While most parents generally agree that some or all of the symptoms below occurred around the time of teething, it is still recommended that you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms, especially if you’re baby is running a fever (temperature above 39C [102F]) and/ or appears lethargic and unwell.

1. Irritability: As the new tooth rises closer to the surface your baby’s gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to fussiness and crying.

2. Drooling: From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which may be worse with some babies than others.

3. Coughing: The increase in saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. As long as your baby shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever, this is noting to worry about.

4. Chin rash: If your baby is a heavy drooler, the constant contact with saliva may cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. Gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day to help prevent chapped skin and rashes.

5. Biting & gnawing: A teething baby will gnaw and gum down on anything. The counter pressure from biting helps relieve the pressure from under the gums and temporarily numbs the pain. Teething aids designed specifically for babies are safe and effective.

6. Cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Pain in the gums may spread to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection, especially when accompanied by a fever.

7. Diarrhea: Most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. A recent study done by the Children’s Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptom of teething, yet many doctors still disagree and discount diarrhea as a symptom of teething. The most likely cause of diarrhea during teething is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Report any diarrhea that lasts for more than three bowel movements to your doctor.

8. Low-grade fever: A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. Many parents however find their baby gets a low-grade fever while teething. Notify your doctor if the temperature rises above 39C (102F) or if the temperature remains elevated for more than 2 days.

9. Not sleeping well: You may find your child wakes more often at night. Most parents agree that night waking occurs more frequently when the molars are coming in.

10. Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): Some parents find that their baby displays cold-like symptoms when teething. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to be a result of frequent hand-to-mouth movements in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Notify your doctor if cold-like symptoms occur for more than 3 days and do not improve on their own.

The process of teething frequently follows hereditary patterns, so if the mother and father teethed early or late, your baby may follow the same pattern. On average the first tooth comes in during the seventh month, although it can arrive as early as three months, as late as a year, or in rare cases even earlier or later.

In total there are twenty primary (first) teeth. The full, adult set of teeth comprises of thirty-two permanent teeth. Most children have a full set of primary teeth by the time they are around two or three years old. These primary teeth usually last until about the age of six, when the teeth that were first to appear become loose and fall out as the second teeth begin to push through the gums. The primary teeth continue falling out until roughly the age of twelve. Again, these ages mentioned above are only averages and your child may follow an earlier or later pattern.