Baby teeth probably start to erupt from around the age of 6 months, and while attaining 3 years of age, most children will have a complete set of baby teeth.

 It is normal for people to believe that decay of baby teeth is not an issue as adult teeth can replace them. But baby teeth are vital, they ‘re the structure the adult teeth will grow around.

Decayed baby teeth can lead to pain, inflammation, eating problems, and even sleep. In most babies, the first baby tooth will not fall out until 6 or 7 years of age, and the final baby tooth will not fall out till early teens are too young to suffer from toothache or pain.

For several factors, infant teeth or “milk teeth” play a crucial role in the physical, mental, and social growth of a child. Unfortunately, many parents have the misconception that taking care of baby teeth isn’t important because they finally fall out.

Here are some factors why baby teeth mean a lot to your child:

Overall Nutrition and Health:

Healthy teeth are necessary for chewing; poor decayed teeth can develop a deficiency in nutrition. Non-treated, carious teeth can result in a severe infection that can rapidly spread to other regions of the body like the neck and the brain, where hospitalization is required at that time.

Position and alignment of permanent teeth:

Baby teeth are storage savers that keep space in their proper place and direct the adult teeth. If it is lost prematurely, next to teeth can shift in the open space, creating insufficient room for adult teeth to erupt, leading to impaction or crowding.

Stimulating natural facial bone growth and muscle development:

The permanent tooth bud is also partially responsible for the growth of healthy adult teeth and is close to the baby teeth. If babies with dental caries are left unchecked, the decay expands rapidly in the course of inflammation to the emerging adult tooth and causes permanent damage.

Development of speech:

Presence of baby teeth and correct placement help in the development of correct pronunciation.

Self Esteem:

A missing tooth or decayed teeth may cause a lack of social interaction and confidence.

By avoiding these problems, you can help keep your child’s mouth safe.

• Postponing a ‘well-baby checkup’ or not giving it a priority.

• Allowing kids with a bottle to bed. 

• Giving the quantity of a diet rich in sugar.

• Not utilizing X-rays, dental X-rays are a useful tool for identifying dental disorders.

• Shortage of brushing or fail to watch their poor oral habits.

Schedule for regular dental appointments after your first dental visit:

Children should visit their dentist every six months, much like adult regular appointments, unless otherwise advised. 

In addition to oral inspection, cleaning, and treatment with fluoride, X-rays may be prescribed based on the high cavity risk. X-rays pose very little risk, as lead protection and digital high-speed films are used to guarantee security and reduce the possibility of radiation to the child. 

To minimize your child’s fear about visiting a  dentist, educate your child by talking positively, learning, or showing videos regarding the dental visit a few days before the appointment, which will help them be less anxious and more optimistic.

This abnormality is caused by the combination of environmental and genetic factors, resulting in a reduced quality of life. Managing this irregularity involves a team that includes a speech therapist, cleft surgeon, orthodontist, dentist, etc. This study includes reviewing the different orofacial clefts literature, discussing genetic-based problems, related syndromes, and managing them. Prospective mother counseling should be encouraged to ensure that the early signs of the abnormality are prevented. To build awareness about its preventive steps, information on orofacial clefts must be promoted. More research needs to be placed on cleft genetics studies to determine possible risk factors that may predispose individuals to the disorder.

 Three variants of this disorder can be found:

1. Cleft lip
2. Cleft palate
3. Cleft lip and palate

Cleft lip

The lip develops during the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy. During pregnancy, as a baby grows, special cells and body tissue and from each part of the head develop towards the middle of the face and come together to form the face. This tissue joining makes facial features, such as the mouth and the lips. If the tissue that forms the lip doesn’t fully join before birth, a cleft lip occurs. This results in the upper lip opening. The gap in the lip may be a tiny slit, or it can be a wide gap that goes into the nose via the lip. A cleft lip will be on one or even both sides of the lip, or in the center of the lip, very rarely occurring. Children with a cleft lip may have a cleft palate too.

Cleft palate

The mouth roof (palate) is developed during the six to nine weeks of pregnancy. A cleft palate occurs during pregnancy when the tissue that forms the mouth ‘s roof doesn’t completely fit together. In certain babies, the front and back sections of the palate are free. Just a portion of the palate is open to other babies.

Cleft lip and palate

Cleft lips and cleft palates together are also known as orofacial cleft. This is a group of disorders that comprises cleft palate, cleft lip, and both together.

Causes and Risk Factors

The reasons for the orofacial clefts are undetermined among most infants. Some kids get a cleft lip or cleft palate due to changes in their genes. Cleft lip and cleft palate are probably caused by a set of genes and several other factors, such as factors the mother interacts within her environment, or the things she eats or drinks, or some of the medicines she uses during pregnancy.

1. Women smoking during pregnancy period are more likely to have an orofacial cleft on their baby than women who don’t smoke.
2. Women diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy have a higher chance of raising a child with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate compared with women without diabetes. 
3. Women who have used certain medicines for the treatment of epilepsy, such as valproic acid or topiramate, have an increased risk of having a baby with cleft lip with or without cleft palate during the first 3 months of pregnancy compared with women who did not take these medicines.

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis includes the following:

1. Ultrasounds
2. MRI
3. Amniocentesis to test for abnormalities in the chromosome.

Administration and Treatment

Typically, surgery to correct a cleft lip happens during the first few months of life and is prescribed during the first 12 months. Surgery is recommended for fixing a cleft palate within the first 18 months of life, or sooner if possible. As many children grow older, they will need additional surgical procedures. Surgical repair will enhance a child’s face look and appearance, and may also improve the breathing ability, speech, hearing, and language.

Call us 0777242476 @ or book an appointment for any orofacial cleft problems

Chipped teeth may happen eventually from biting a piece of ice or hard candy, or if there is an accident or fall. Teeth are coated with very solid enamel, but that does not always secure your teeth from injury.

Accidents, biting hard things, and falls can lead to cracks, particularly on thinner teeth or teeth that are already decayed or injured.

Don’t suffer if you see yourself with a chipped tooth. It’s essential to remain calm and understand that there are several things your dentist can do to rebuild your smile.

Below are some tips on dental care

Caring for a cracked or chipped tooth

Rinse your mouth with hot water to disinfect the area, and put a cold compress to the face to reduce any swelling. Every person with a broken or chipped tooth must consult a dentist immediately to prevent further loss, breakage, or infection. You can contact us at 0777242476 for emergency appointments on the same day.

Handling the pain

Cracked, chipped, and broken teeth can be really painful. Use acetaminophen or some other over-the-counter pain reliever to treat the pain as instructed, and continue to use a cold compress.

Sharp edges

If the damaged tooth has a jagged or sharp point, it can be covered with a slice of sugarless chewing gum or wax paraffin. It is only a temporary patch to prevent it from damaging your tongue or inside the lip or cheek until it can be fixed.

Eating with a cracked tooth

If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, we suggest making an appointment to visit us as quickly as possible. It’s not easy, though, sometimes. If you like to eat, pick only foods that are soft and stop chewing or grinding a broken tooth. Swish your mouth with water and brush if you like to keep the mouth fresh.

Broken teeth treatment

Treatment of a chipped, broken, or missing tooth can change based on how badly it is affected. Tiny pieces of cracked enamel may typically be replaced in a single visit to the office. A more seriously damaged tooth can require a longer procedure. Chipped teeth are commonly patched by curing with a tooth-colored composite resin, but we can suggest other treatments based on the area and extent of the split.

Chipped and broken teeth may be distressing, but they’re quite normal and easy to restore when taken care of immediately. If you’re in pain, please contact us today or book an appointment immediately.

Summer is nearing fast, and it will start in a new period of berries, vegetables, and different foods. Have you thought the summer foods are great for your oral health while you are on the beach, on the road, or at a picnic? 

Below are a few summer foods that are healthy for your teeth.

FRUITS

Lots of new summer fruits will soon consume the grocery store’s section of food. Here are a few good ones that will improve your oral health. Please remember that the mentioned fruits are acidic, and may break down your teeth’s enamel. Wash it with a glass of water while eating on such fruits or consume them with minimal-acid foods, such as a handful of almonds.

Apples

Although most apples are picked in fall, some varieties are grown in summer. 

Yellow Transparent Apples

Earligold Apples

Jersey Mac Apples

Gala Apples

Lodi Apples

Consuming an apple increases saliva production, which acts to wash away bacteria and food particles. Apples have a high content of water, which helps to dissolve the sugar they incorporate. It’s harder texture enhances your gums as well.

Strawberries

Strawberries, high in vitamin C, help minimize inflammation and produce collagen, a protein that aids combat periodontal disease. Strawberries, high in vitamin C, help minimize inflammation and produce collagen, a protein that aids combat periodontal disease.  This fruit contains even calcium, which encourages healthy bones and teeth.

Peaches

This traditional summer fruit holds fluoride, which is an essential dental-health mineral. Fluoride enables the remineralization and reconstruction of enamel while improving your existing enamel. In the end, this helps avoid the development of cavities. Peaches too are filled with vitamin C, which helps to reduce inflammation. They already constitute calcium, which fortifies teeth and bones. Before consuming a peach, please ensure you eliminate the pit, since chewing on a pit will harm your teeth.

LEAFY GREENS

Butter lettuce is a famous leafy green in the summertime. This kind of lettuce comprises vitamin A which produces enamel of the teeth. It too has tiny quantities of calcium, which reinforces your teeth and bones.

CHEESE

There are also seasonal cheeses, like vegetables and fruits. Goats and sheep give milk only in summer and spring, presenting these cheeses the freshest options in season:

Feta Cheese

Goat Cheese

Ricotta

Mozzarella

In cheese, the calcium and protein help to reinforce the teeth and bones. Chewing cheese’s action is often believed to promote the production of saliva, cleaning the bacteria and food particles in your mouth.

FISH & MEATS

Igniting up the grill is a perfect summer activity, but for your oral health, it’s also a smart step. Meats are protein-rich and comprise phosphorus. This assist fortifies the jaw and teeth. To enhance the health advantages of the summer cookout, select lean meats, such as turkey and chicken. Fatty fish comprise Omega-3 fatty acids which were observed to reduce the hazard of developing gum disease in studies.

Eggs/Beans

Another origin of phosphorus is eggs, so go forward and add heavy-boiled or stuffed eggs to your upcoming cookout as a side dish. Make stuffed eggs instead of mayonnaise with Greek yogurt and low-fat cream cheese. Beans are yet another high-fiber food, such as raw vegetables, which takes a lot of chewing, which also enhances saliva.

Many different types of snacks and foods encourage dental health. Eliminate eating sticky foods that are challenging to brush your teeth and don’t binge on sugary snacks all day long.