Dr. Swaminathan

It's a myth that since a child's milk teeth are bound to fall off, they don't require any special care or dental treatment. Several researches and studies have proved that any decay or damage to a child's milk teeth leads to problems that affect the permanent teeth as well. Also, a mother's improper dental hygiene during pregnancy proves to be harmful for the developing baby. Here are some useful tips if you're planning a baby or if you already are a proud mother of one!

• Your dental health also contributes to your overall health. Just like you pay regular visits to your Gynaecologist during pregnancy, make sure you also find yourself a friendly, neighbourhood dentist to take care of yours and your child's teeth.
• The hormonal upsurge during pregnancy casts its effects on your gum health too. This leads to increased inflammation and plaque build-up in your oral cavity resulting in gazillions of bacteria in your mouth. What goes in your mouth, goes inside your body too. All these bacteria are transferred through the blood stream to your baby resulting in the following ill effects:

1. Preterm babies with low birth weight
2. Increased risk of premature delivery
3. Gum bleeding

• Do not defer your dental treatment. Most dental treatments can be safely done during the second trimester. Any emergency dental problem can be taken care of after obtaining a consent from your gynaecologist. 
• First visit, first tooth. The first milk tooh appears at 6 months of age and that's when you need to schedule your baby's first appointment with the dentist. Keep your kid's gum pads clean by wiping them with a clean wet gauze pad or wash cloth after every feeding. Start brushing your child's teeth with a kid-sized toothbrush when milk teeth begin to erupt. Don't let your child sleep with sweetened milk bottle or pacifier in the mouth.
• Be a role model. Overcome your own apprehensions related to dentistry and inspire your children to take care of their oral health. Good dental habits need to be taught at an early age. Monitor your kid's toothbrushing till 8-9 years of age. Teach them the importance of regular dental visits.

Follow these useful tips and pass on a healthy legacy to your child. A mother always wants to give the best of everything to her children and what's better than a healthy smile.

‘Smoking is injurious to health’, is a caption that is flashed on all cigarette packets. However, what is not told about is their adverse effects on the mouth.  The mouth with the lips, teeth, and gums are not just the first points of contact for a cigarette but also one of the majorly affected parts.

Listed below are how smoking affects the teeth and the mouth at large.

1. Bad breath (halitosis)

2. Tooth discoloration (brown to black spotting)

3. Tobacco deposits on the teeth leading to irritation of the gums

4. Increased formation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, leading to significant gum disease

5. Gum disease leads to tooth loss

6. Increased jaw bone loss

7. Lower success rate of dental implant procedures

8. Delayed healing after any oral procedure including extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery

9. Increased risk of leukoplakia, white patches inside the mouth, which is a precursor to oral cancer

10. Increased risk of developing oral cancer

11. Reduces blood flow to the gums, thereby affecting healing

The tiny tobacco deposits sit on the tooth surface and with time, produce brownish stains. These are a constant source of irritation for the gums, causing gum disease. Unlike the regular plaque caused by food, this is much harder and more abrasive on the gums. This leads to damage of the periodontal tissue, which are connecting fibers between the teeth and the gums.  This leads to gradual tooth mobility and eventually loss.

Correlation:  If you are a smoker,

1. You are at risk for gum disease twice compared to a nonsmoker.

2. More cigarettes you smoke, greater the risk for gum disease.

3. More number of years you smoke, greater the risk for gum disease.

4. Poor response to regular treatment for gum disease.

Management:  The gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss.  Therefore, the gums need to be protected at all cost to maintain oral health.  Some things to do are listed below, starting from the seemingly innocuous to the severe infections.

1. Regular cleanings at your dentist's office once in 6 months

2. Daily brushing and flossing to manage early gum disease

3. Deep cleaning below the gum line and prescription mouth rinses if there is already existing gum inflammation

4. Surgery to remove deeply seated plaque and tartar.

5. Surgery with bone graft to replace the bone lost to periodontitis.

6. Most important of all, quitting smoking.  This will produce remarkable benefits when the above are followed.

However, if the above are done with continued smoking, the effects will not last long.

Cigarette smoking is one habit, which has way too many effects on way too many working’s of the body and therefore kicking the habit is the best way to manage, not just your teeth, but your overall health.

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease which occurs because of the inflammation of the gums. It can easily be reversed with daily brushing and flossing and getting dental cleaning done regularly.