MEET YOUR FRIENDLY DENTIST

 Dr. Angel Mhay M. Batingan, DMD

A fresh graduate and a Dentist Licensure Examination Board Passer from her beloved alma mater, Lyceum North-Western University.

                               
COME AND VISIT ME! 

  FLOSS AND GLOSS DENTAL CLINIC
@ 2ND FLOOR DJB. Burgos Street, Dagupan City, Pangasinan.

WHY SHOULD I VISIT MY DENTIST REGULARLY?    

  

A DENTAL CLINIC is a facility where dental services are rendered regular dental visits are important because they can help spot dental health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I VISIT MY DENTIST?

                               

You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months.

Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you can still have dental health problems that only a dentist can diagnose. Regular dental visits will also help prevent problems from developing.

                                                                                

     

COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS (KIDS AND ADULTS) 

                                                                                           TOOTH DECAY

Tooth decay refers to the loss of minerals from tooth structure caused by bacteria. The tooth surfaces are normally covered with dental plaque. The bacteria in the dental plaque will metabolize the sugars in your food and produce acids which will demineralize the tooth surface. Decay usually occurs at enamel of the tooth. Early stage of tooth decay is usually painless and the tooth seems undamaged from naked eye. Therefore, it is difficult to notice the decay.

STAINED TEETH

Your teeth are like your laundry: The right approach will remove many stains. Foods, medications, tobacco, and trauma are some of the things that can discolor your teeth.  You have three options for whitening them. Your dentist can use a whitening agent and a special light in his office. Or you can bleach them at home with a plastic tray and gel from your dentist or a store. The simplest choice, whitening toothpaste, only removes surface stains.

                                                                                      SENSITIVE TO COLD 

 Ice cream should taste good, not make you wince when the cold hits your teeth. The first step is to find the cause. It could be cavities, worn tooth enamel or fillings, gum disease, fractured teeth, or exposed roots. Once your dentist figures out the problem, you might need a filling, a root canal, or treatment of your gums to replace tissue lost at the root. Or you might just need a desensitizing toothpaste or strip, or a fluoride gel.

                                                                                                      CAVITIES

These little holes in your teeth are bad news. You get them when a sticky bacteria, called plaque, builds up on your teeth, slowly destroying the hard outer shell, called enamel. Adults can also have problems with tooth decay at the gum line and around the edges of earlier fillings. To prevent it, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, limit snacks, floss daily, and keep up with your dental appointments. Ask your dentist if you should use a sealant or a fluoride rinse.

HYPERDONTIA (TOO MANY TEETH)

How many teeth are in your mouth? If you’re like most people, you had 20 primary, or “baby,” teeth, and you now have 32 adult teeth.  It's rare, but some people have extra teeth, which is called hyperdontia. People who have it usually also have another condition, such as a cleft palate or Gardner’s Syndrome (which forms tumors that aren't cancer). The treatment is to get the extra teeth removed and use orthodontics to correct the bite.

DR. ANGEL SAYS: 

        Here are some problems usually encountered by my patients. If you're experiencing some of these too, don't hesitate. Come and visit me on my clinic. Have a nice day! :)

KEEPING YOUR TEETH HEALTHY
 
1. Start children early. Despite great strides in decay prevention, one in four young children develops signs of tooth decay before they start school. Half of all children between the ages of 12 and 15 have cavities.  

2. Seal off trouble. Permanent molars come in around age 6. Thin protective coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth can prevent decay in the pits and fissures. 
3. Use enough -- but not too much -- fluoride. The single biggest advance in oral health has been fluoride, which strengthens enamel, making it less likely to decay. Three out of four Americans drink water that is fluoridated. If your water isn’t fluoridated, talk to your dental professional, who may suggest putting a fluoride application on your teeth.  

4. Brush twice a day and floss daily. Gum disease and tooth decay remain big problems -- and not just for older people. Three-fourths of teenagers have gums that bleed, according to the ADHA. Along with the basic advice, remember:

•   Toothbrushes should be changed 3 to 4 times a year.
• Teenagers with braces may need to use special toothbrushes and other oral hygiene tools to brush their teeth. Talk to your dentist or orthodontist.

5. Rinse or chew gum after meals. In addition to brushing and flossing, rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial rinse can help prevent decay and gum problems. Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal can also protect by increasing saliva flow, which naturally washes bacteria away and neutralizes acid.

6. Block blows to teeth. Sports and recreational activities build healthy bodies, but they can pose a threat to teeth. Most school teams now require children to wear mouth guards.  
7. Avoid sugary foods. When bacteria in the mouth break down simple sugars, they produce acids that can erode tooth enamel, opening the door to decay.
 8. Eat smart. At every age, a healthy diet is essential to healthy teeth and gums. A well-balanced dietof whole foods -- including grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables  and dairy products -- will provide all the nutrients you need. Some researchers believe that omega-3 fats, the kind found in fish, may also reduce inflammation, thereby lowering risk of gum disease,

SOURCE: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/healthy-teeth-tips

DENTAL TRIVIA

DID YOU KNOW THAT .....

1. The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva (spit) in a lifetime. That is enough saliva to fill 2 swimming pools!
2. A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 600 mph!
3. Most tooth loss in people under 35 years of age is caused by athletic trauma, fights or accidents.  Most tooth loss in people over age 35 is from Periodontal (Gum) Disease.
4. 
   Children begin to develop their primary teeth 6 weeks after conception while in their mother’s womb.
5. One in every 2,000 babies is born with a tooth.
6. People don’t chew up and down; they chew side to side just like cows chew!
7. If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces.
8. A tooth that has been knocked out starts to die within 15 minutes, but if you put it in milk or hold it in your mouth it will survive longer. See a dentist ASAP!
9. Teeth are the hardest substance in the human body.

10.  Approximately $2 billion a year is spent on dental products a year in the United States. (toothpaste, mouthwash, floss and toothbrushes)
11.  90% of systemic diseases have oral manifestations.
12.  Regular dental cleanings can help prevent heart attacks.
13.  Tooth Decay is the 2nd most common disease in the U.S. after the common cold.
14.  20% percentage of patients wear braces between the ages of twenty and sixty
15.  Certain cheeses including Aged Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack, have been found to protect teeth from decay
16.  Today’s tooth fairy needs a lot more silver than she did in 1900 when she left an average of twelve cents. In 1998, the tooth fairy left an average of one dollar.
17.  Athletes are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth when not wearing a mouth guard during athletic activities
18.  Over three million miles of dental floss is purchased in North America each year
19.  Every person has a unique tooth and tongue print!
20.  It takes 17 muscles to smile J but 43 to frown!


SOURCE: http://www.poshseven.com/fun-dental-trivia.html