According to an online poll of 289 general dentist and consumers confirms that men are less likely to visit the dentist then women. That nearly 45 percent of respondents felt that men do not see a need to go to the dentist. About 30 percent polled reported that men may be afraid or embarrassed to go to the dentist. Around 18 percent revealed that men just do not have the time for a dental visit, and about 5 percent felt that men don’t even have a regular dentist.
1) Carbohydrates: Chips, bread, pasta, or crackers can be as harmful to the teeth as candy.
2) Sticky, chewy foods: Raisins, granola bars, jelly beans, caramel, honey and syrup stick to teeth and make it difficult to wash the sugar away
3) Sugary snacks: Cookies, cakes or other desserts contain a high amount of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.
4) Gum and candy: When chewing gum and eating candy, the sugar coats teeth, which can lead to cavities.
5) Carbonated soft drinks: Regular and diet sodas contain phosphorous and carbonation, which wears away the enamel on teeth.
6) Fruit or vegetable juices: These beverages tend to be high in sugar, which can damage tooth enamel and lead to decay.
With moderation and proper dental care you reduce the harmful effects this types of foods can have on your teeth
By now many studies are showing that poor oral health care can effect your over all health. However studies are showing that poor nutrition and affect the entire immune system, increasing susceptibility to many common disorders. People with lowered immune systems have been shown to be at higher risk for gum disease (periodontal disease). Additionally, research shows a link between oral health and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Food and drinks such as soft drink, fruit juices, fresh fruit and yogurt as well as pickles and lemons can lead to irreversible dental erosion if not consumed in moderation. According to the Academy of General Dentistry’s dental erosion is the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth. Dental enamel is the thin, outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth’s structure and shape while protecting it from decay.
With health concerns about fat and cholesterol many people are having more of a vegetarian life style. However there can sometimes be nutritional deficiencies that may reveal themselves during a dental exam. Many adults vegetarians are very knowledgeable about their nutrition and are able to maintain their diets in a proper fashion. However, children and teenagers who put themselves on vegetarian diets without knowing enough about their nutritional needs, have a higher risk of potential for deficiencies.
Teeth grinding or bruxism can be a bad habit that both kids and adults may have. Stopping such a habit right away is important in protecting your teeth. Grinding your teeth can wear your teeth down over time. Teeth grinding can also cause your teeth to crack and brake. Most often teeth grinding can be caused by stress and sleeping habits. If your child is grinding their teeth in their sleep it can be harder to control. However there are dental night guard that can prevent grinding while sleeping. Talk to your dentist if you or your child grind your teeth.
As trendy as having your tongue pierced may be, they are not always kind to your teeth. Accidentally biting down on the metal stud can crack or even brake your tooth. Lip piercing can also damage your teeth and gums when the metal rubs against your gums it can cause gum damage which can lead to tooth loss.
Tongue piercing also raises the risk of infections and sores. Know the dental risks before having these types of piercing and if you have them make sure you see a dentist regularly to keep good dental health and to help lower the risk of damage to your teeth and gums.
Regard of the type of contact sport your child may be in it is important that they wear a mouth guard in order to protect their teeth from accidental damage. A mouth guard is a piece of molded plastic that protect the upper and row of teeth. If your child plays a sport such as football, hockey, baseball, etc, they are at risk of mouth injury. Wearing a mouth guard helps to reduce the risk of teeth getting chipped, cracked or even knocked out while playing.
There can be several reasons to premature tooth loss, however the primary reasons for premature loss of a child’s baby tooth is typically due to tooth decay, injury or lack of jaw space. When tooth loss happen before the permanent teeth emerge, nearby teeth can tip or shift into the space now unoccupied.
Therefore when the permanent tooth does try to emerge into it place there may not be enough room. The new tooth may emerge tilted, crooked, or misaligned, which can cause a new range of problems from interfering with proper chewing to causing TMJ issues. If your child loses a tooth prematurely see a dentist right away. Your dentist may advise a space maintainer which will hold open the space left by the missing tooth.
There are still many people who do not know just how important baby teeth are to their children. Many people think that since baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth that dental care for baby teeth is not as important. However that is wrong. While it is true that baby teeth are only in the mouth for a short period of time they do play a vital role.
* Baby teeth help to reserve space for the adult teeth
* Baby teeth are need in order to aid in the development of clear speech.
* Baby teeth give the face it normal appearance.
* Baby teeth are needed in order to chew and eat food.
If baby teeth are not maintain with proper dental care damage can be cause to incoming adult teeth. Dental decay in baby teeth are not only a painful issue for your child but can cause other over all health issues. It is important to know that one should take care of baby teeth just as much as one should take care of their adult teeth. Baby teeth may not last a life time but the role they play in your child development is just as important.
Kids Dental Health, Dental Teeth Chart
Please keep in mind that each child is different and tooth eruption times can vary from child to child. However, this will give you some idea of when your child teeth should be coming in by.
Primary Teeth Development Chart
When tooth emerges When tooth falls out
Upper Teeth
Central incisor 8 to 12 months 6 to 7 years
Lateral incisor 9 to 13 months 7 to 8 years
Canine (cuspid) 16 to 22 months 10 to 12 years
First molar 13 to 19 months 9 to 11 years
Second molar 25 to 33 months 10 to 12 years
Lower Teeth
Second molar 23 to 31 month 10 to 12 years
First molar 14 to 18 months 9 to 11 years
Canine (cuspid) 17 to 23 months 9 to 12 years
Lateral incisor 10 to 16 months 7 to 8 years
Central incisor 6 to 10 months 6 to 7 years
Poor dental health has been linked to an increased risk for dementia. New research shows that in a study of more the 4000 elderly adult in Japan, those who had few teeth and who did not use dentures or see a dentist regularly had a significantly higher risk for dementia onset than the participants who practiced better dental health practices. The study was published in the April issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.
Dental disease is nearly 100 percent preventable yet fewer then 30 percent of people follow their dentist’s advice to brush and floss twice a day. People are dropping the ball with their at home dental care habits. In some state nearly 40 percent of people with dental insurance still do not regularly see their dentist. Early education about oral health care habits are important, and should be reinforced by parents, teachers and the community.
New resources from NIH cut the confusion on dietary supplements.
The new year is a time to set new goals, and for many people this means losing weight and improving fitness. Although these goals are best met with a nutritious diet and regular physical activity, many people may turn to dietary supplements for a boost to their routines. To help cut the confusion, the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health has two new resources to help people understand what is known about the effectiveness and safety of many ingredients in dietary supplements promoted for fitness and weight loss.
Rising tooth decay in young children. The number of preschoolers with serious dental tooth decay is on the rise, across all income levels. Some young children have six to ten cavities. Some of the reasons for the increased rise in tooth decay among young children, is mainly snacking and juices or other sweet drinks t bedtime. But other reasons includes children drinking bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water. As well as parents who have simply grown lax about making their kids have proper dental care habits such as brushing and flossing daily.
Too many American, particularly kids are showing up in emergency rooms with rotten teeth issues. According to surveys done by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 10 state within the past three years, the percentage of third graders with untreated tooth decay running as high as 40 percent in Arizona, to just under 15 percent in Washington State. A study by the Pew Center for the States found that preventable dental conditions were the primary reason for more than 830,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. in 2009, up 16 percent from just three years before.
It is important to keep in mind that by having proper dental care habits at home and seeing a dentist regularly, not only helps to reduces the risk or tooth decay and gum disease, but save you money in the long run. Preventive dental care services such as, office visits, X-rays and cleanings are much more affordable then filling, root canals and crowns. Take into account that even lower cost dental insurance plans offer free to very low cost preventive dental care, it makes no sense not to maintain your dental health. By taking care of your teeth with good dental habits and seeing your dentist you decrease your chances of developing larger more costly dental issues.