Dental Care: Proactive Prevention is the Way to Go!

March 11, 2015


A healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy body. A sparkling smile radiates confidence and a sense of general well-being. Conversely, problems in the oral cavity can be symptomatic of underlying systemic diseases. Therefore, good oral health is not only desirable, but essential. 

In this article, let’s look briefly at how to achieve optimum oral health, both at home and through professional means.

Contrary to popular perception, it is not difficult to have a healthy mouth, and neither are visits to the dentist as painful and stressful as they used to be even a few years ago.


Why should you take care of your mouth?

• The mouth is a mirror to overall health; a healthy mouth indicates general good health.

• Inadequate oral hygiene is linked to systemic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

• To prevent tooth decay, which in turn leads to sensitivity and pain.

• To prevent gum problems which cause unsightly tartar accumulation and a receding gum line, leading to the person looking ‘long in the tooth’.

• To prevent bad breath.

• To enable proper and complete chewing of food, which in turn helps in proper digestion and nutrient absorption.

• To have a beautiful and healthy smile.

The focus of dentistry has shifted from treating dental problems when they arise to preventing them occurring in the first place. Hence it is imperative to know the key aspects of Preventive vs Reactive dental care.


Preventive: What can you do to have a healthy mouth?

Brush twice a day: The best time to brush is after breakfast and after dinner. Ensure that you do not eat or drink after brushing at night, and use the correct brush.

Use fluoridated toothpaste: Fluoride helps make enamel more resistant to acid attack by bacteria and therefore reduces your risk of decay.

Floss daily: Flossing is an important and very effective way to clean BETWEEN teeth where brush bristles do not reach. Use a gentle sawing motion, and always floss while looking in the mirror. Different types of flosses are available so choose the one that is right for you after talking to your dentist .

Change your toothbrush every 3 months: To ensure that your toothbrush is cleaning your teeth effectively, you need to change it every three months, even though there may be no outward sign of wear.

Quit smoking: Smoking leaves unsightly stains on your teeth, increases your chances of gum disease and of developing cancer of the mouth.

Protect your teeth from injury: Wear custom-made protective mouth-guards while playing contact sports like football, hockey, wrestling or boxing.

Food: Avoiding snacking, reducing your sugar intake, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding carbonated soft drinks, and rinsing after eating or drinking something are some of the eating habits that helps to maintain dental health. Processed foods have an adverse effect on your teeth.

General: Brushing your tongue, changing your tooth brush once in 3- 6 months, using your teeth only for chewing food and protecting your teeth from injury are some of the general rules worth following to ensure optimum oral health.

Visit your dentist every 6 months: Schedule a dental appointment every 6 months, irrespective of the condition of your dentition. That way, your dentist will be able to examine your teeth thoroughly and nip any problems in the bud, and also undertake professional cleaning of yor teeth at regular intervals.


Reactive care: How do you correct what’s damaged, replace what’s lost?

God-given teeth are intended to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, years of neglect can take their toll and the resultant cavities and gum diseases cause discomfort and loss of aesthetics and function.

Thankfully, cutting-edge dentistry has made life-like replacements possible. Be it broken down teeth, decayed teeth or missing teeth, new-age dentistry offers a range of corrective options.

When you are in pain or experiencing any dental issues, visit your dentist as soon as possible. Treatment options are generally focussed on how a tooth can be healed and saved, and extraction is always the last resort. Some of the common dental treatments cover:

Tooth filling: Nanocomposites are used to create fillings that are indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Tooth replacements: Metal-free ceramic crowns and bridges allow dentists to produce replacements for missing teeth that look and feel exactly like natural teeth.

Implants: Implants are used to replace missing teeth without involving adjacent teeth.

Implant-supported dentures allow patients who’ve lost all their teeth to have a fixed set of artificial teeth that do not have to be taken out of the mouth at night unlike conventional dentures.

Teeth whitening systems (dental bleaching) transform yellowing teeth or teeth with unsightly stains into gleaming pearly whites.


Dentistry today has evolved to the point where the vast majority of problems in the mouth can be fixed, and runs the gamut from restoration to replacement. The good news is that no matter where you stand on the dental wellness scale, you can achieve the optimum level of oral health and beauty by a combination of judicious home preventive care and regular professional consultation and care! As you can see from this article “Prevention is better than cure!”.

 

Dr Bennet Anchan can be reached at docben2000@yahoo.com and at +91 934 335 1611.

 

By Dr Bennet Anchan, BDS
Dr Bennet Anchan graduated from the renowned Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karanataka, and after working in hospitals in Goa and Pune, set up his practice in Mangalore where he has been beautifying smiles since 2004.
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Comment on this article

  • eugen, Romania

    Thu, Sep 24 2015

    Manipal Hospital, Goa is efficiently run by a highly qualified team of doctors and supported by paramedic and nursing staff trained at various other Manipal Hospitals. The hospital offers specialities in the fields of Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Oncology, Urology, ENT, Dental, Paediatrics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Physiotherapy and many more.

  • Dr Bennet Anchan, Mangalore

    Fri, Mar 20 2015

    @ Evelyn D'silva: a full mouth (upper and lower) implant supported denture ranges from 1,00,000-4,00,000, and will take between 15 days to 3 months from start to end, depending on the option you choose. If you could email me at docben2000@yahoo.com, I'd be happy to give you a detailed explanation.

  • Evelyn D Silva, Borivali Mumbai

    Fri, Mar 20 2015

    please let me know how much it cost for supportive implant dentures and for implant and how many days it will take to complete the procedure cos I am in Mumbai only for this I have to come to Mangalore

  • Dr. Bennet Anchan, Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 18 2015

    @ Diya: Yes, there are definite treatments to get rid of bad breath permanently. The main dental causes for bad breath are plaque and tartar accumulation at and under the gum line, and decayed teeth. If you can in at my clinic I'd be happy to help you get rid of your bad breath once and for all.
    @ Francis: There are definite protocols on how to care for your teeth after radiation & chemo if you could email me at docben2000@yahoo.com, I'd be happy to provide you a detailed regimen of how best to care for your teeth.

  • Francis M., Mangalore

    Wed, Mar 18 2015

    Dear Dr. Anchan,

    Thank you so much for your valauble and informative article 'Dental Care: Proactive Prevention is the Way to Go!

    I had tongue carcinoma in the year 2008 and had 31 radiations and five chemotherpies. As a result of which, all my teeth are very bad and very weak. I request your valauble advise and suggestions to take care of my teeth please.

  • DIYA, MANGALORE/DUBAI

    Wed, Mar 18 2015

    Dear Dr. thank you for your informative article. I have one question, I feel that I am having bad breath. Is there any treatment or test doing in your clinic? kinly reply. if yes, I want to come down to mangalore, your clinic. GOD Bless you.

  • Elizabeth D'Souza, Mudarangady/Dubai

    Tue, Mar 17 2015

    Thank you so much Dr.Bennet for providing information about your Grace Clinic. Surely I will visit you when am in Mangalore on vacation.
    May God Bless You..

  • Dr Bennet Anchan, Mangalore

    Tue, Mar 17 2015

    Thank you everyone for your kind comments.
    @ Elizabeth: When you're in town, please get in touch with me via email or my mobile number so I can schedule an appointment for you. I practice at Grace Dental Clinic, 1st floor, Nethravathi building, Balmatta.

    @ Dev: Thank you for your comment and detailed explanation on fluoride: yes, the usefulness of fluoride in drinking water has been questioned. It is now widely recognized that fluoride’s only justifiable benefit comes from topical contact with teeth (toothpastes &/or mouth rinses) which even the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged.

  • Dev, Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 16 2015

    Article that everyone needs to read to take care of their smile!
    But doctor the myth of Fluoride is now busted, it causes the yellow teeth & its "TOXIC" to the whole system if swallowed. It has been found to retard brain & bones become brittle contrary to the false claim of strengthening them.
    Many US states were adding this Industrial toxin to the drinking water have now stopped.
    New research has debunked unproven false claim of the Industries who produce these toxic waste as bye product, who need to spend huge amount to dispose them found easy way of disposing into the water supply & get paid for doing that instead of getting penalized according to their own Environmental Specifications.

  • Elizabeth,

    Sun, Mar 15 2015

    Thanks Dr. Bennet for your good and informative article about how to take dental care..
    Surely when I come on vacation, I would come and visit your dental clinic or hospital. I would like to know your address in Mangalore.

    All the Best...

  • Santosh Kumar, Managlore/ Kuwait

    Thu, Mar 12 2015

    A very good and informative article on preventive vs reactive dental care. Hope we all can learn key aspects from this advice and focus on preventive dental care.

  • Anonymous , Mangalore/UAE

    Wed, Mar 11 2015

    Must say one of the best Dentists with a Million $ smile.. 😄 Glad to see this article... Have been a patient of his since 2010 and he has fixed one major issue with my teeth which I thought would never be possible... One doctor who is totally service minded.. He will make sure your teeth is totally fixed before you leave his clinic.. All the best for the new patients Dr. Ben.. God bless!!

  • Kiran, Indian

    Wed, Mar 11 2015

    Dr.Bennet himself an example for maintaining his teeth healthy and looking more smarter and handsome and hot... :)


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