Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Teething troubles SAY CHEESE!
|
Want a million dollar smile? W. SREELALITHA tells you how
|
For that brilliant smile Visit the dentist regularly
An uber smart commercial on television screams about how you can make your teeth a blinding white. However, you get wiser with a trip to the dentist.
S. Seetharaman of Aaress Orthodontic and Ceramic Dental Care, lets you inspect different shades of artificial teeth (the experience is close to browsing through a shade card of nail paints!). There are over 15 shades of teeth, from the brightest, which has a whisper of yellow to the darkest, which is palpably brown. And, none even a tad close to off-white, much less ‘blinding white’!
Won’t change
Laughing at the baffled reporter, Dr. Seetharaman says: “Just as no cream can change your skin colour, nothing can change the colour of the teeth. Any whitening that happens to your teeth is fleeting, and is bound to wear off sooner or later. And, worse, the chemicals used in bleaching damage the teeth.”
His message: teeth care must begin even before the milk teeth sprout. “Parents must clean the gums using infant brushes. And, if discolouration or difference in texture is detected, the child must be taken to the dentist.”
Ashok Dhoble, Honorary Secretary General of Indian Dentists’ Association, Mumbai says that dental decay and inflammation of the gums are the most common problems in both adults and children, and poor oral hygiene is one of the primary causes.
The dentists insist that brushing for at least two minutes twice daily is mandatory. “Many mothers put infants off to sleep right after feeding, and this a sure way of damaging the teeth,” cautions Dr. Seetharaman.
Continuous accumulation of plaque and tartar could result in the degeneration of supporting structures such as gums and bones, and eventually lead to loss of teeth, says Dr. Dhoble. In addition to regular brushing, the manner of brushing and the bristles of the toothbrush are also important, he adds.
The types of brushes depend on the hardness of the bristles: hard, medium, soft and ultra soft. The dentists recommend the medium ones, as they are aggressive on the sediments but not on the teeth. And, when the bristles stand in all directions, you know its place is in the trash can, says Dr. Dhoble.
Dr. Seetharaman says toothpastes in the form of gel should be avoided, for they could stain the teeth.
Further, toothpaste a little bigger than the size of a peanut would suffice for brushing.
Says Dr. Dhoble: “Don’t worry if you consume a tiny bit of the toothpaste. Any product for the mouth is bound to get ingested inadvertently, so such products adhere to safety rules.” As for bad odour, he says cleaning the tongue and rinsing the mouth after eating are essential. However, tongue cleaning must not be overtly aggressive.
Flossing, optional
Flossing is optional, but no poking or probing with pin or sharp instruments, warns Dr. Seetharaman.
This could lead to infection, he says. Though there is no special recipe for healthy teeth and gums, eating healthy helps.
Dr. Dhoble asserts that a visit to the dentist is compulsory at least once in six months to prevent or detect complications in the teeth.
The visit specifically gains prominence because of what Dr. Seetharaman has to say. “Oral cavity is the camera to other problems in the body. It helps in the assessment of hypertension, leukaemia, hormonal problems, and even HIV.”
* * *
SAY CHEESE!
Brush twice daily
Use medium bristles
No bleaching, please!
Rinse mouth well after each meal
Visit the dentist every six months
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
