YOUR BITE: WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

A person's bite, or the way the top and bottom teeth come together, is a crucial aspect in the way a person speaks, eats, and swallows. The muscles of the face and jaw, the positioning of the teeth and the bite, the joints of the jaw, and the muscles of the head and neck, play a significant role in a person's well-being.

When we look good, we naturally feel good about ourselves. Conversely, if our appearance is not appealing, that may affect our self-esteem. Of the entire body, no other body part can compare with our face when it comes to considerations about one’s physical appearance. 

Having an over-bite/under-bite as a result of a protruding jaw line not only looks undesirable, but such a jaw shape may also affect our speech and eating habits.

What is under-bite?

An under-bite is referred to as a type of malocclusion, which is protrusion of the lower jaw due to misalignment, or having a bad bite. 

                                                         

Sufferers often experience irregular wearing of the teeth, causing the lower teeth to grow or extend past the upper front teeth. 

The risk for developing serious jaw problems and conditions for one to ignore the under-bite is higher. TMJ Disorder is a very popular condition that an under-bite will lead to.

Others symptoms include difficulty in chewing, speech and breathing problems. In general, about five percent of the population experiences this, and it is interesting to note that this ailment is high among Asians.

 

What is overbite?

Overbite is the opposite of under-bite where the upper jaw protrudes more than the lower jaw, causing the upper teeth to ‘overhang’. The upper and lower teeth do not coincide properly in overbite, causing the sufferer to experience the same set of problems.

 

Both conditions could also lead to temporo-mandibular joint disorder (TMD), where the misalignment causes excess pressure on the jaw point. TMD could lead to the limitation of the range of motion of the jaw point and pain in the area. Undergoing corrective surgery may prevent further complications.

“Having a good set of teeth means much more than just having the ability to flush a nice, warm smile.”

RISK FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE EXPRESSION OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Healthy Mouth = Healthy Body

Untreated periodontal disease in effect “seeds”
the bloodstream with disease - causing bacteria.

• SMOKING – Smoking increases the risk of getting gum disease by 4x more than nonsmokers. It is responsible for more than half of the adult gum disease.

• DIABETES MELLITUS – Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in U>S> Almost one-third of individuals with diabetes have severe periodontal disease.

• OSTEOPOROSIS – Periodontal disease caused a 4x higher frequency of height loss in the jaw.

• PRETERM BIRTH - Gums infected with periodontal disease are toxic reservoirs of disease causing bacteria. The toxins produced by the bacteria attack the gums, ligaments, and bone surrounding the teeth to produce infected pockets that are similar to large infected wounds in your mouth. The infected pockets provide access to your bloodstream allowing bacteria to travel throughout your body.Women with periodontal disease are 3-5 times greater risk of a preterm birth than those who have no gum disease.

• HEART DISEASE - One potential risk factor for heart disease is advanced gum disease.Thus periodontal disease increases severity and risk of heart disease and stroke. Periodontal bacteria ( C-reactive protein CPR ) gains entry into the systemic circulation with bactermia causing changes in blood vessel walls and exacerbated atherosclerotic plaque. The connection between gum disease and heart attacks is higher than the connection between high cholesterol and heart attacks?

• STROKE - Risk for stroke is 2.8 times greater for individual with gum disease than those without periodontal disease.

• PULMONARY INFECTION AND ORAL DISEASES   -Inhaling harmful bacteria from the infection in your gums into your lungs which can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

CROWNS AND BRIDGES

WHAT IS A CROWN?

A crown is commonly called a cap. It may be thought of as a ‘cover’ as it covers, or replaces, that part of the tooth seen in the mouth.

WHY DO A CROWN?

A crown can be done for many reasons. Most often, it is done when a tooth is

·       Badly decayed or chipped

·       Discoloured or mis-shaped

chipped and discoloured teeth

 

HOW IS A CROWN DONE?

To put it simply, the tooth is trimmed to make space for the final crown. Moulds are then taken of this tooth for a custom-made crown to be made in a laboratory according to your dentist’s instructions. When the crown is ready, it is slipped over the tooth and firmly cemented in place.

 

WHAT IS A BRIDGE?

A bridge is a special kind of denture when the artificial tooth is fixed to natural teeth next to it (often by means of crowns). A bridge is compact and feels like natural teeth but it can only be done in specially selected cases.

WHAT IS A CROWN MADE OF?

It can be made of porcelain or metal or combinations of gold alloys and porcelain. Special types of glass and plastics can also be used. Your dentist will choose the material best suited for your case.

porcelain crown

metal crown

HOW DO I CARE FOR MY CROWN?

Carefully daily brushing and flossing are essential to keep the gums around the crown healthy. Also don’t crack ice, bones etc. as this may chip the porcelain. Regular check-ups by your dentist are also necessary. Remember, crowns and bridges are only as good as they are maintained.

WHY ARE CROWNS & BRIDGES EXPENSIVE?

Crowns & bridges are long-term restorations. Making them requires the considerable skill and time of your dentist and a technician working in a specially equipped laboratory. The crown itself is often made of precious metals. When you pay for your crown, you’re paying for all these.

WOMEN & PERIODONTAL DISEASE

A WOMAN’S NEEDS

A woman’s body undergoes changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. The hormonal changes that occur at these stages may affect the gums and increase the woman’s risk to periodontal (gum) disease.

WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

Periodontal disease or gum disease is caused by bacteria and toxins (poisons) found in dental plaque. Dental plaque is the sticky, colourless layer that forms on teeth constantly. The bacteria and toxins cause the gums to swell slightly, turn red and bleed easily. Depending on where this occurs, you may not be able to detect this. This stage is known as gingivitis. There is little or no pain. The most common complaint at this time is “My gums bleed when I brush my teeth”.

As the disease continues, the bacteria and toxins then invade the gums and destroy the bone supporting the teeth. The teeth become loose and may be lost. This stage is periodontitis. Most of this time, pain occurs at the later stages of the disease.

If you don’t know the state of your periodontal (gum) health, ask at your next dental visit. Hormonal changes can be a contributing factor in increasing your chances of getting gum disease or make an existing gum problem worse.

Healthy gums

Gum disease (Periodontitis)

PUBERTY AND MENSTRUATION

During puberty, there is an increased level of hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen. These hormones may cause an increase in the gums’ sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to food particles and plaque present. The gums become swollen turn red and may feel painful to the touch.

Gum swellings between teeth

Some women experience similar symptoms 3 to 4 days prior to their period. Others may experience menstruation gingivitis which is characterized by bleeding gums, a bright red swelling of the gums between teeth and sores or ulcers in the mouth. This usually clears up once her period starts.

It’s important to keep good oral hygiene during these hormonal changes so that the bone and gums surrounding the teeth are not affected.

PREGNANCY

Pregnancy epuli

Women can experience pregnancy gingivitis beginning in the second or third month. It may increase in severity throughout the pregnancy. The gums become swollen, red, may be painful and may bleed. In some cases, the gums react strongly to food particles and plaque to form swellings, the swellings are called pregnancy epuli and are usually painless. Some of them disappear after pregnancy but some remain and may require removal by a dentist.

The best way to avoid these gum problems during pregnancy is to begin with healthy gums. If you are thinking of getting pregnant, visit your dentist for a dental check-up. Ask your dentist to check on the condition of your gums and how well you are brushing your teeth.

If you are pregnant, you need to know that your oral health can affect the health of your baby.

Early reports show that infection during pregnancy, including periodontal (gum) infection, may pose a risk for delivering a premature, low birth weight baby. Include dental health check-ups in your prenatal care. Preventive dental care will go a long way in ensuring a trouble-free dental status during your pregnancy.

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

If you are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills or hormonal supplements), you may also be prone to similar gum conditions experienced by pregnant women. This is because the synthetic hormones in these pills copy the hormones in pregnancy. You will also need to know that certain antibiotics can interact with the oral contraceptives and lesson their effectiveness. As such, it is important to mention all medications that you are taking to your medical and dental care providers.

MENOPAUSE

Menopausal or post-menopausal women may experience discomfort on the mouth including pain and burning sensations in the gums tissue, altered taste and dry mouth. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may relieve these symptoms but a consultation with a doctor is always required assess the risk and benefits of each woman first. “Saliva substitutes ” are available in the form of rinses and gels to lessen the effects of a  dry mouth and burning sensation if necessary.

CONCLUSION

Each phase of a woman’s life brings with it many changes. Your oral health at these times are important to your overall health and well-being. Careful attention to home dental care and regular professional check-ups will ensure healthy gums and teeth for a lifetime.

BRIGHTER SMILE JUST IN 30 MINUTES

 Are you happy with the way your teeth look? Are you unwilling to smile because your teeth are less pearly white? Are you worried that your teeth are discolored by coffee, tea or smoking? Do you lack of self-confidence because your teeth are stained by tetracycline? Are you angry that you bought whitening toothpaste and it hasn’t improved the color of your teeth?

Now, the cold-light tooth whitening will solve all these problems. In just 30 minutes you can have beautiful white teeth.

Every child starts off with beautiful white teeth, but colored foods and drinks like coffee and soy sauce can discolor the surface of your teeth. After the time these stains penetrate deep inside the teeth. Just like white clothes which have picked up dyes and can never regain their original brightness, stained teeth are very difficult to whiten with conventional methods.

The cold-light whitening advance technology cleans both the surface and the internal structure of the teeth. The whole whitening process takes only 30 minutes. Over a million Americans have used this method. Using low temperature, cold light avoids irritation of the nerves of the teeth. It is a one-time treatment with no side effects, whitening the teeth for up to two years. It is recognized as the safest and most effective way of whitening the teeth currently available.

Frequently asked questions

1.    Q: Are my teeth suitable for cold-light whitening?

A: In fact, cold-light whitening gives magical results for anyone who wants to whiten their teeth. This includes people with teeth which have been stained by smoking or by substances like coffee or tea. It also whitens teeth stained by tetracycline, speckled by fluoride or yellowed by medicines or hereditary discoloration.

2.    Q: How white could my teeth be?

A: Test proved that, after whitening the teeth score from 5 to 14 points higher on the VITA scale. The results depend on how discolored the teeth were originally, but the end result will be white, shiny teeth.

3.     Q: How long will the whitening last?

A: This varies from person to person and depends on your diet, but the effect should usually last for two years.

4.    Q: What is the difference between cold-light whitening and other method of whitening?

A: This technique whitens your teeth right away and has no side effects. It does not damage your teeth, and gives the best possible results.

5.    Q: How long does treatment take with cold-light whitening?

A: in only 30 to 40 minutes, discoloration which has built up over the years will magically disappear. It takes no longer than the time it would for you to have a haircut or a manicure, or have a cup of coffee-it’s that simple!

6.    Q: How safe is cold-light whitening?

A: The cold whitening technique is absolutely safe. Because cold light at low temperature, it cannot irritate the nerves of your teeth. Also, the whitening fluid is water based and does not come into contact with your gums, and will not damage your teeth or tooth enamel.

7.    Q: After the treatment, how do I care for my white smile?

A: for the first 24 hours after the cold light whitening , avoid smoking, drinking coffee, tea, cola, red wine and other dark-colored drinks or foods. Also avoid using colored mouthwash or toothpaste.

    SHOW YOUR SMILE TO THE WORLD!

牙周疾病对健康的危害

牙周疾病对健康的危害

医学界报道：严重牙周病能夺人性命！！！

以往人们错误的认为只有到老年才会受到牙周病的困扰，其实从5岁开始，牙周病就开始“腐蚀”我 们的健康了。牙周病的早期症状不易引起重视，八成以上市民患有牙周病，研究证实：引起牙周病的牙周感染，可导致心脑血管疾病。牙周细菌产生的酶能促使体内 血栓形成，导致心脏病或中风。牙周病的患者发生冠心病的几率是正常人的1.5倍，中风的几率是正常人的2.1倍，老年肺炎与牙周病有密切关系。

牙周病与全身健康的关系

1、糖尿病


研究表明，口腔细菌可能加速血糖代谢不良，血糖代谢不良反过来又会加重口腔疾病，形成恶性循环。牙周感染所引起的慢性炎症会降低胰岛素的敏感性，出现胰岛素抵抗。因此牙周炎作为患病率很高的炎症性疾病，很可能潜在的威胁着宿主的全身健康。

2、心脑血管病

专家们在对急性心肌梗死患者进行全身检查时发现，患者大多存在不同程度的口腔疾病， 这些细菌可产生内毒素并侵入血液，引起凝血机制的改变和血小板的变性，还可直接刺激血管，导致小动脉痉挛。如果冠状动脉受累，发生收缩痉挛，再加上微小血 栓的作用，就会引起中风、急性心肌梗塞的发生。约8％的感染性心内膜炎与牙周病和牙病有关。

3、呼吸道疾病

研究发现，老年人所患肺炎与牙周疾病关系密切。口腔内的大量细菌可以被吸入肺部，导致肺炎。牙 菌斑尤其是牙周炎患者的菌斑可能是呼吸道致病菌的寄居地。口腔卫生差者慢性呼吸道疾病的发病率是口腔卫生良好者的1.77倍。研究发现，牙槽骨吸收增多使 慢性阻塞性肺病的危险性增加。

4、婴儿健康

如果孕妇患有严重的牙周病，那么出现早产、新生儿体重过低的几率比健康孕妇高7倍早产低体重儿与母亲患牙周炎有关。一些研究者在羊水和羊膜中检出口腔微生物。来自口腔的暂时性菌血症通过血液传播和胎盘感染羊水。口腔机遇性致病菌和/或炎症产物可以通过血液对早产起作用。

5、消化道疾病

幽门螺杆菌是慢性胃炎、胃溃疡甚至胃癌的致病菌。且牙周病的菌斑中幽门螺杆菌的检出率高于牙周健康者，龈下菌斑Hp的检出率亦较治疗前显着下降，从而降低胃病发生的可能性。

此外，牙周疾病作为感染病灶，还能引起如风湿性或类风湿性关节炎、肾小球肾炎、虹膜睫状体炎等。牙周细菌还可以通过唾液传染，尤其是父母与小孩、配偶之间频繁接触。

世界卫生组织制定的口腔健康标准是：“牙齿清洁；无龋齿；无疼痛感；牙龈颜色正常，无出血现 象”，按该标准，龋齿只是四个标准之一，而“无疼痛感；牙龈颜色正常，无出血现象”两个标准则指向牙齿的“土壤环境”——牙周的健康。而不是一提到“爱 牙”就是指预防虫牙。专家介绍，牙周炎可以影响心脏、肺脏、肾脏等重要脏器的功能，牙周炎患者发生冠心病、糖尿病和脑血管病的概率远远高于牙周健康人群。

引起牙周病的主要因素是牙菌斑和牙石，牙菌斑和牙石引起牙周组织发炎，破坏牙周纤维，使牙齿松动甚至自行脱落。

女性和牙床疾病

女性的需要

当一位女性经过生命不同的阶段时，他的健康需要也会随着改变。荷尔蒙也会在成长不同的阶段，比如成熟期、怀孕期、停经期及月经期等等，而随着调整和改变。这些改变会影响牙床及增加牙床疾病的可能性。

什么是牙床疾病？

牙床疾病是因细菌和在牙床里的有毒物体所造成的。牙石是一种常在牙齿上所形成无色和有粘性的物体。这些细菌和有毒物体会使牙龈发炎及容易流血。有时你可能无法察觉到这些症状。这是早期的牙床疾病。这时期牙龈不会感觉到疼痛或许仅有点疼痛。最常听到的埋怨是：“我在刷牙时，牙龈会流血。”

如果这症状持续，这些细菌和有毒物体便会侵犯牙龈和毁坏支撑牙齿的骨骼。牙齿就会变松，也可能会掉落。这是中期的牙床疾病。通常，牙龈会在疾病的后期才会感到疼痛。

如果你不知道你目前的牙床健康，你可以在下次牙诊时，询问牙医。增加牙床疾病的可能性的其中一个因素是荷尔蒙的改变。你目前牙龈的问题也可能随着荷尔蒙的改变而变得更严重。

成熟期和月经期

在成熟时期，荷尔蒙的数量有一定的增加。这便会增加牙床的敏感性而因此使食物和牙石对牙龈带来更大的负面影响。牙龈会发炎，变得红肿，被触摸到时也会感到疼痛。同样的有些女性在月经期的前三至四天会体验到这些症状。有些则会体验到较严重的症状，比如牙龈流血、牙龈红肿及口里长水泡。通常在月经开始后，这些症状就会消失。

怀孕期

有些女性可能在怀孕的第二和第三个月里体验到孕期牙床疾病。病情可能随着孕期而渐渐的严重。牙龈会发炎、变得红肿、疼痛，甚至流血。有时，牙龈可能对食物及牙石有强烈的反应而变得红肿，也会在口里起泡。这些在口里隆起的泡通常是无痛的。有些可能在孕期后会消失，但有些却需要牙医去除。

在怀孕时，要避免这些牙龈问题最好的防范措施就是保持牙床的健康。你应当在计划怀孕时，去找牙医做一次全面的牙齿和牙床检查。

如果你已经怀孕，你应当了解你口腔的健康会直接影响到胎儿的健康。许多早期的报告都察觉到孕妇在孕期受到的感染，包括牙床感染，都可能造成胎儿早产及影响婴儿的体重。因此产期前的健康照顾应该包括牙床保健。所以说，日常的牙齿和牙龈照顾能在孕期时避免许多不必要的牙床烦恼。

口饮避孕法

如果你在服用避孕丸或是荷尔蒙补充丸，你可能与孕妇一样，比较倾向于牙床疾病。这是因为这些补充丸所含有的人造荷尔蒙是依照孕期时的荷尔蒙仿造的。你也必须知道这些人造荷尔蒙会与某些抗生素产生效果而减少抗生素的有效性。因此你必须让你的牙医知道你正在服用的所有药物品。

停经期

停经后的女性可能会体验到种种不同的口腔不适。这包括了牙龈疼痛、牙龈有灼烧感及口感更改。虽然荷尔蒙补充医疗能减轻这些症状。我们还是应该让牙医诊断来衡量医疗对本身的有效性。市场上都有售卖不同的口水代替品，比如漱口剂及润口胶等等。这些都能滋润口腔及减轻牙龈的灼伤感。

总结

女性的健康状况都会随着不同成长的阶段而改变牙齿和牙龈的健康，对成熟不同的阶段都有一定的影响。平日在家里的牙齿保健和固定的专业牙齿检查都能确保终生的牙齿和牙龈健康。