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Tooth Decay
What
you need to know about - Tooth
Decay
Simple
Answers To frequently
Asked questions About Tooth Decay
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WHAT
IS TOOTH DECAY?
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Tooth
Decay describes the condition wherein the tooth, under a variety of
harsh conditions, breaks down leading to the formation of a cavity.
It starts with a hole/opening in the enamel. If this is not
treated, it progressively reaches the deeper sections of the tooth,
where the pulp and the nerves are causing the tooth to become sensitive
to a variety of stimuli, a variety of gum problems such as inflammation
and swelling, pain, and ultimately tooth loss.
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Tooth
decay is a common dental ailment that may occur at any time or time or
age. However, since the onset of tooth decay is strongly related
to the unregulated consumption of sweet foods and beverages; it tends to
affect the young and adolescents more than any other age. One form is
diagnosed in nursing infants and is referred to as nursing caries.
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ISITVERY
COMMON?
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 WHAT
IS ‘BABY BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY’?
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A
serious form of tooth decay affects nursing infants and is called
‘Nursing caries’ or ‘Baby bottle tooth decay’. In infants
who are nursed continuously with a bottle/formula milk/ pacifiers; the
milk is retained in the mouth as the child falls asleep with the bottle.
This milk is an excellent nutritive media for a variety of gems present
in the mouth. The milk is broken down by the germs to form harsh
acids which lead to the formation of a cavity on the tooth.
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WHAT
ARE THE CAUSES OF TOOTH DECAY?
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1. POOR
ORAL HYGIENE: Irregular & improper brushing, not flossing between
teeth, not rinsing with water or mouthwash after meals speed up the
process of tooth decay.
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2. UNREGULATED
DIET OF SWEET FOOD AND DRINKS: Periodic snacking on aerated drinks, jam,
marmalade, even potato chips can lead to the formation of acidic by –
products which damage the surface of the tooth enamel. This is the
reason why most young children adolescents suffer from tooth decay.
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3. BAD
OR WORN OUT DENTAL FILLINGS: Tooth decay might develop again from
exposed tooth surfaces.
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WHAT
CAN I DO IF I HAVE TOOTH DECAY?
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If
you have developed black or brown spots of decay on your teeth either in
the fissures or on the smooth surfaces and it is associated with
discomfort and /or sensitivity to hot and cold and / or frank pain, it
is likely that you have tooth decay. Your dentist will evaluate
you comprehensively and based on his clinical and radiographic findings
he will do one of the following:
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1.
Make an opening in the crown and remove
decay, shape the cavity and fill it with a tooth coloured filling or an
amalgam filling. This could also be done under local anaesthesia.
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2.
If the dacay is very deep and the pulp
(never, root canal) is involved in the decay process he will, under
local anaesthesia go deeper into the pulp chamber, remove the pulp and
the nerve, render it free of infection, do a root filling and later put
an amalgam or a tooth coloured filling. Subsequently he will put a
veneer or a crown on the tooth as the case may be.
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PREVENTION
IS THE BEST
CURE
FOR TOOTH DECAY.
Certain
Preventive measures are known to reduce the risk of tooth decay. You must
practice these good dental habits:
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BRUSHING
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Brush
your teeth twice a day. Hold a soft a brush at the gum line at a
45° angle. Brush in a circular motion to massage the gums and an
up-down motion to dislodge plaque. Do this gently on the outer as
well as inner surfaces of teeth.
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Dentists
recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or as soon as it loses it’s
original shape. Once a brush loses its shape, you require more
pressure for the same cleaning action. This extra pressure is
damaging to gums as well as the protective enamel layer.
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CHOOSE
THE RIGHT TOOTH BRUSH
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FLOSS
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Floss
daily to remove plaque from between teeth. Take about 18” of
floss and wrap most of it around your middle finger and the rest around
the middle finger of the other hand, leaving a 2” length between them.
Using your thumb and forefinger, gently scrape the side of each tooth
away from the gum.
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RINSE
Rinse
your mouth with water thoroughly after each meal. Rinse for a minute
everyday with mouthwash.
D I
E T
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Reducing
the frequency of in take of sweets during the day, decreases the number
of ‘acid attack’ by the digestive breakdown of these foods in the
mouth. This prevents further damage to the tooth.
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Expectant
mother must be particularly careful with their diet and must make sure
that it contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins [described
below] since the foundation of a child’s teething is laid early in the
second trimester [3 to 6 moths]
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A
balanced diet that includes all food groups such as fresh fruits,
vegetables, bread, cereals as well as other grain products, Dairy
products such as milk, cheese, yogurt; meat, poultry, fish provides the
essential nutrients required for dental growth.
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Take
this simple quiz
1. Most effective method of
preventing dental decay in general population is:
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Oral
prophylaxis
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Fluorides
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Diet
Counselling
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All
of these
2. Regular visits to the dentist
should be
Scheduled
according to:
3. Difference between a
child’s toothbrush
And
an adult’s is that the child’s toothbrush has
The
Correct answers are
1.
Fluoride
2.
6 months interval
3.
Smaller head size
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