Teeth and Digestion

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive system. It is at this point where the first stages of food breakdown for digestion begins.

When food enters the mouth, saliva is excreted in order to start the breakdown of foods. The tongue and the muscular walls of the mouth are used to move the food around in the mouth so that it can be chewed properly and following that, for the shaping of the food into a moist ball which is then pushed the back of the mouth to be swallowed.

Teeth are an integral part of digestion and it is essential to digestion to keep them in good shape. Partially chewed and then swallowed food (due to sensitive teeth or lacking teeth altogether) can result in your food being only partially digested and thus nutrients don't make it into the body. Insufficient nutrients digested that promote healthy teeth and gums can then cause further damage to one's teeth and gums and a vicious cycle (catch 22) is created.

There is a way out and that is to take care of one's teeth, which starts with seeing a dental professional.

A dentist is someone who is a professional at caring for teeth. He knows the role your teeth play and the importance of them.

The permanent teeth of an adult consist of the incisors, canines, premolars and molars, including the wisdom teeth which may not erupt until 25 years of ago, if at all. By the age of 25 years old, the adult should have a total of 32 teeth.

Each type of tooth has a specific function in dealing with food, in reducing it into conveniently sized pieces so they can be easily swallowed and digested.

The four front sharp teeth, both at the bottom and top, are called incisors. They are used to bite, tear and cut food - like when you bite into an apple.

The sharp corner teeth are called canines, which are used to bite and tear food.

Premolars, the next two teeth in line which are larger but still have sharp ridges, are used to crush food.

The molars, the big, less ridgy teeth at the back of the mouth, crush and grind food to pulp, so it is fine enough to be swallowed and easily digested.

Leading a healthy life starts with taking care of one's teeth.

This articles was provided Courtesy of Greenway Dental Group, MA, The Greenbelt Dentist

Wisdom Teeth

What are wisdom teeth? The word originates from the fact that they appear much later than the other teeth; when you are supposedly "wiser" than when they other teeth erupted.

Normally they appear between the ages of 17 to 25 years old. You will get 4 (one at each end) however some people have had more.

So, what's so special about wisdom teeth? The main thing you hear about them is that they have to be removed and the pain involved. However, this is not a regular occurrence and most people don't need anything done.

There's a several ways that a wisdom tooth can give you trouble and I have outlined some of the main ones here.

In dental terminology, an 'impacted' wisdom tooth is wedged sideways underneath the gum ie. it has not erupted out of the gum. Now what does this mean? Impacted wisdom teeth describes a tooth that is wedged sideways against a barrier - usually the root of another tooth and thus unable to break through the gum.

This happens in these varieties (with most common on top):

• The tooth is angled forward - ie toward the front of the mouth
• The tooth is angled backward - ie the back of the mouth
• The tooth is growing 90 degrees sideways directly into the molar next to it

The other issue is partial eruption; this is when the molar only partially comes out of the gum. The main problem is that the gum is only attached to the base of the tooth, so the rest of the tooth is covered by 'loose' gum, which turns into something like a flap, also known as an operculum. What happens is that food can easily get stuck in there, a toothbrush is hard to get in there and it's likely to either get infected or the tooth can decay (or both). An infection/abscess is usually marked by a swelling and redness of the gum around the wisdom tooth, difficulty in opening the mouth, a bad odor or taste in the mouth, or a pain in the jaw which can run down the neck.

Now, even if something like the above happens to your wisdom teeth, it gives no reason to remove them, unless your dentist believes it is going to cause more harm than good by keeping them in. Also, the loose gum (operculum) can also be sliced off but this operation is prohibited due to possible nerve problems after the operation in the cheek or tongue.

Now, some reasons to remove wisdom teeth though are:

• They can cause pain due to rubbing against cheek or tongue
• They can be infection prone - major discomfort or worse
• They can push your teeth out of place - crowding
• And they can just cause severe pain and medical problem

The actual surgery involved is very tricky and is usually quite an operation. Since the wisdom tooth is a large molar and usually very embedded in the gum (and sometimes still stuck to the bone of the jaw), extreme care is taken to ensure the entire tooth is removed. There are various techniques used to ensure it all goes well. There are several nerves that are in the immediate area of the wisdom teeth which serve the tongue and cheek and extreme precaution is taken not to disturb these whatsoever as permanent damage could be done. But nevertheless, if it's got to be done, it's got to be done.

Following surgery, after-care instructions are given and must be followed in order to prevent future problems.

Usually the bleeding doesn't stop until 2-3 days. The bleeding should slow down with time though, the blood flow reduces after the first day. It is recommended not to rinse the mouth as this will hinder the clotting and healing process. Gauze pads are usually supplied, however a wet tea bag can be used to replace the pads - this is due to Tannin present in the tea helps reduce the bleeding.

If the bleeding continues heavily after the first day, the dental surgery should be alerted immediately so it can be rectified immediately.

You may experience a bad smell from the area for 1-2 weeks. This is normal and should disappear.

A post operative appointment with your surgeon is necessary - seven to ten days after the surgery is recommended, so that the surgeon can ensure the healing process is going well with no complications.

Sockets can get sodden with dirt/food - the surgeon can handle this so it doesn't get infected.

'Dry sockets' can occur, this is actually an inflammation of the bone by the sockets. There are no known reasons why this occurs but speculation suggests that pressure put on the area (through suction or blowing etc) helps bring about this condition. Ibuprofen usually does the job to sort it out; normally within a few weeks.

Swelling does occur and is a natural occurrence However, after a week or so, it should be gone. If for any reason it swells up later again, your surgeon should be urgently informed so it can be sorted out straight away.

Dental Hygiene and Periodontal Disease

What is Hygiene and what is a Periodontal Disease? It is important to define these terms so one can clearly lay out what one is trying to achieve.

Hygiene is defined as: "The preservation of health" or "the practice or principles of cleanliness".

Periodontal is defined as: "in tissues around tooth - more broadly, it is relating to or affecting the tissues that surround the neck and root of a tooth."

A Disease is an "illness, caused by infection or failure of health rather than by accident."

Thereby a Periodontal Disease is an illness of the tissues surrounding the teeth. How can a Dental Hygienist prevent periodontal disease?

• They educate you thoroughly on how to take care of your own teeth - including how to properly floss and brush you teeth. Also, which toothbrushes, including electric ones, are most beneficial to you.
• They check your teeth for any signs of periodontal disease start-up and are able to address any signs of disease on the spot. If not detected at an early stage, severe damage could occur to your teeth or gums.
• They thoroughly clean your teeth with professional equipment using a variety of procedures and methods such as scaling and root cleaning. These procedures are used to get rid of the hardened tartar around the base of the teeth including underneath the gums.

It is recommended you visit your Dentist or Dental Hygienist every three months in order to maintain impeccably healthy teeth.

While the tissues around your teeth (gums) can be maintained perfectly, it is important that a good all-round diet is maintained including regular vitamin, mineral and protein intake. Your tissues are alive and will only remain healthy and firm if they get the required nutrition they require.

There are a number of periodontal diseases with a variety of names and symptoms. While we can go into details of what one or the other does - the basis is that they are not pleasant and can all be easily prevented.

• Keep your teeth as clean as possible at all times at home. This includes avoiding sweet foods.
• Visit your dentist or dental hygienist at regular intervals. Three months is the recommended interval period.
• Maintain a good diet full of nutrition. Taking additional supplements is highly recommended as most foods these days are highly processed with most nutrition stripped from them.

This article was supplied courtesy of Greenway Dental Group, MA.

Toothaches and sensitive teeth can cause major discomfort to your everyday living. Avoiding foods just because they cause sensitivity and pain is no way to live comfortably. That is why, at your local dentist exists, he helps patients with such problems and they are normally dealt with promptly.

There can be numerous causes for toothaches and sensitive teeth - generally the decay of the tooth with the nerve showing or the gum receding to such an extent that hot and cold foods can cause painful sensitivity.

Tooth filling, Root Canals, Crowns, Tooth Sealant, Dental Onlays, and all manner of Dental Hygiene Procedures, etc., are routinely practiced operations carried out by our qualified dentists.

Tooth decay can creep on unexpectedly, and from time to time, when pain strikes, the decay has gone too deep into the tooth - causing major damage and thus requiring major treatment. It is possible that this could have been prevented by having gone to see your local dentist beforehand so that he could spot the decay at an early stage, and deal with it economically and effectively.

We recommend that you see your local dentist routinely to ensure your teeth remain in good condition and do not decay.

As a dentist I recommned and advocate Preventative Dentistry.

What is Preventative Dentistry?

Preventive Dentistry is used to help each of us keep our teeth and gums healthy and so to prevent you from making unnecessary visits to the dentist, for fillings or other operations.

Most consumables in modern society contain sugar, which can cause tooth decay, so it is important that you take the necessary preventative measures for your teeth to stay in optimum condition. Things such as brushing your teeth, using floss, chewing gum, and rinsing your mouth with mouth-wash all help in preventing tooth decay.

Also, with so much sugar on the market, bad breath (halitosis) is a prevalent problem in today's society. Bad breath, in most cases, is caused by food remaining in the mouth - on the teeth, tongue, and gums - that bacteria then feast on. Dead and dying bacterial cells then give your breath an unpleasant odor.

Brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, or chewing some sugar-free gum, after you have eaten, goes a long way in preventing bad breath and tooth decay. Schedule your next preventative visit today or call the dentist for further consultation