Specialist Dental Group wishes all readers, patients and friends a healthy and happy start to the New Year in 2013.
It is always a good practice to start the new year with a fresh slate… just as spring cleaning is done on your home for the new year, it’s also time to spring clean your teeth, so that pre-existing dental problems that were ignored in 2012, are addressed early on in 2013.
Consider the following reasons for cleaning up existing dental issues this new year:
- Pre-existing dental problems that are ignored, such as cavities, will not get better. They will only get more severe and more expensive to treat as time passes.
- Some dental problems and the severity of such problems may not be detectable to the untrained eye. For example, gum disease is usually painless in the early stages. Your dentist, with the aid of an x-ray, would be able to assess your dental condition and extent of the problem
- Dental emergencies usually present themselves at the most inopportune times, e.g. during public holidays, a long weekend or some special occasion. This is not an ideal time to scramble around to find an available dentist.
The Specialist Dental Group team encountered an interesting case during the recent New Year’s holiday when a 4-year-old girl with a dental decay developed an abscess on the lower left side of her mouth. She was in so much pain and was down with a fever because of oral neglect. Needless to say, dental emergency treatment for this situation was needed, resulting in a less than pleasant celebratory mood for the child and
her mother.
The little girl actually saw a dentist a few months ago but did not go through with her follow up appointment because her mother had a misconception brushing her teeth regularly would solve existing dental problems. This, the problem was not addressed effectively at all, resulting in the emergency situation during the new year holiday.
Here are some tips on how to start 2013 with a fresh breath:
- Smokers – quit smoking. Smoking affects the success rate of dental treatment including dental implants and gum treatment, in addition to being detrimental your body and the health of those around you.
- Visit the dentist regularly – it is never too late to do so, even if you haven’t stepped near a dental clinic for many years
- Cut or reduce acidic drinks intake – carbonated drinks or citrus fruit juices can cause tooth erosion. When dentine is exposed, it potentially exposes the nerve – either sensitive teeth or shorter teeth. Using a straw may help slightly but the teeth are still exposed to acidic content
- Brush and floss regularly. Toothpicks are a recognized cleaning aid but if there is a choice, flossing would be a better option as there are some issues regarding toothpick use.
- Remember, Prevention is always better than Cure. Keep the “Three Rules of Two” in mind:
- Brush 2 times a day
- At least 2 minutes each time
- Visit your dentist 2 times a year
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