A dentist could be your most important doctor!

The Checkup That Can Save Your Life- A Dental Checkup!

Your mouth is a window of your overall health . A timely dental checkup can detect undetected or undiagnosed systemic/oral diseases which can be life threatening if goes undiagnosed. A few to name are oral tumors(cancers), Cysts etc.,.......

Regular Dental checkups can pay off in other ways too. Dentists can spot signs of diabetes and heart disease, along with a variety of skin and autoimmune diseases. It can mean early diagnosis and early treatment- vital, especially if it's cancer. All of which means that your dentist can do much more than save your teeth and gums. He/She can save your life.
"Oral cancer is extremely dangerous and disfiguring. Its incidence in India is relatively high." WHY......?
"Most Indians haven't ever been to a dentist. People go to one only in pain".
"Only two decades ago, Indians had fewer dental caries than we do today".

Myth No.4

Myth No.4 - Oral Health Doesn't Affect Overall health !
Fact - When the gums are infected, bacterial by-products can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs causing other problems. Research suggests that this may contribute to a number of undesirable conditions including heart diseases such as rheumatic fever and creating life threatening infections in previously damaged heart valves. What's more, scientists believe the resulting inflammation releases infection-fighting compounds that can inadvertently damage
other tissues. The arteries may be the most common target. People with periodontitis were twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to die from a stroke according to a study that examined 18 years of medical histories.
Pregnant women with serious periodontal disease have about four times the risk of delievering preterm babies , and they face an increased risk of preeclampsia, in which blood pressure climbs sky-high after the 20th week, threatening the lives of both mother and foetus. Researchers found treating seriously infected gums reduces preterm births five folds. In pregnant women , even the mildest form of periodontitis can flare up and become a big problem later on.

Myth No.3

Myth : Upper teeth extraction affects the eyes !
Fact : There are numerous reasons for this perception mainly because pain and swelling of an upper tooth radiates towards the cheek bones and lower portion of the eyes; therefore the correlation. The teeth are normally extracted in middle/old age when the eyesight is in any case getting weaker.

Myth No. 2

Myth No. 2 : Wisdom tooth should be saved under any circumstances !
Fact : The wisdom tooth or last molar is so called because they erupt at an age which we relate with maturity. If these teeth are erupting in a straight pattern then we definitely don't extract them but if these teeth erupt in wayward places or positions, they may start creating a problem for the adjoining bone and teeth and are best removed.

Myths - Busted !

Myth NO. 1 : Teeth get loose after professional teeth cleaning.
Fact : Regular cleaning like bathing is a must, one cannot clean all the surfaces of a tooth effectively hence professional cleaning is an important adjunct to home aids. Proper cleaning does not damage the teeth enamel which is the hardest substance in the body ; on the contrary scaling strengthens gums by removing hard food deposits i.e., tartar which is responsible for the loss of bone resulting in tooth loss eventually. Thus regular cleaning helps in maintaining good oral health plus also controls inflammatory systemic disorders like respiratory disorders.
Look forward for more myths to be busted............

A perfect smile- makes the first impression......contd.

• To maximise the benefits of chewing gum, chew after meals or after eating something sweet , especially when you can't brush like after lunch !
• Chewing gum cannot be a substitute for brushing but can be an adjunct.
• Visit your dentist every six months for routine cleaning and check ups to ensure oral health.

A perfect smile - makes first impression at yr. workplace!

• Avoid sticky foods and drinks like colas & coffee.
• Flossing is as important as brushing.
• clean your tongue regularly.
• Use mouthwash after every meal.
• Chewing sugar-free gum can help teeth by stimulating saliva. To be contd.......