Month: July 2020

If you have lost a tooth and are left considering some solution for it, then do not worry, there are several options for replacing it. The most commonly used are dentures, bridges and implants. But what is the difference between dentures and bridges? Deciding which method of replacement out of these will suit you the best is the first step in getting a full set of functional teeth. This can depend on several factors like the number of teeth lost, existing dental health, etc.

Why Dealing With Missing Teeth Is Important?
Replacing the missing teeth is crucial for your oral health. Not only is affects the way you look, but there are also several other harmful effects of having a tooth gap:

• The surrounding teeth can rotate into the empty space.
• Biting food is affected.
• It also has an effect on the speech of the person.
• Gives a displeasing look to the face.
• Makes your teeth less functional. The strain on the neighboring teeth increases.
• Food may get accumulated in the gap leading to tooth decay.
• Can be the cause of various diseases such as TMJ and gum diseases.

DENTURES:
Dentures or false teeth are removable replacements. They can be partial or complete spanning over an entire arch. Dentures are attached to the teeth temporarily by clasping them. They have to be taken out while sleeping and can also be removed to clean. They are attached to a plate making the removal easier.

People opt for dentures to have a natural-looking restoration of missing teeth which isn’t permanent. In case there are odds of losing more teeth, later on, dentures are preferred over other methods as they can be removed later.

BRIDGES:
Bridges are usually chosen when a few teeth have to be replaced. They are permanent artificial teeth that are held in place by bonding to the surrounding teeth. The neighboring teeth fitted with crowns help keep the new tooth intact. Bridges are custom made for individuals by measuring the tooth gap.

Various types of bridges such as those made up of metals, alloys and porcelain are available to choose from. Bridges are not preferred when the full set of teeth needs replacement.

What Method Would it be a Good Idea for you to Pick?
Understanding what is the difference between dentures and bridges makes it easier to decide which method is more suitable for an individual. If you are looking for a permanent and hassle-free solution to missing teeth, bridges are better. The drawback of having dentures is that they have to be regularly cleaned by removing them which can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Dentures come into use when the number of teeth needing replacement is high as bridges cannot replace a full set of teeth. Other methods like dental implants which are permanently inserted into the gums can also be used to replace lost teeth.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Thumb sucking is a natural activity that is supposed to help the children, soothe themselves and feel relaxed. It’s also a kind of habitual behavior that teaches the infants to intake the nourishment. So, thumb sucking is familiar to babies, toddlers and infants. However, some continue it even in the school-going age, and that creates a problem.

In some cases, it is the result of the lack of intervention of the parents. While, in others, even continuous intervention doesn’t help. So, there are certainly some significant reasons for the continuation of this habit as mentioned below.

Causes and consequences of thumb sucking in Adults
While most children quit thumb sucking till the age of 5, some continue till adulthood. Not much is known of the actual reasons behind the different tendencies. Still, there are two possibilities for this: first, the children might tend to practice the activity in private, keeping it hidden from the parents. This will off-course prevent any intervention of the parents as they are unaware. Secondly, it may also be a disorder.

Now, thumb sucking is not a significant issue until the child has baby teeth. But, once the permanent teeth have erupted, thumb sucking will cause misalignment of the teeth. Then misalignment may also cause severe orthodontic issues in the long-run.

Besides this, the loss of oral health, drying of the thumb and cracks in it, speech problems, etc. are the other harmful consequences.

Methods to stop the habit of thumb sucking
The thumb sucking habit needs to be stopped to ensure excellent thumb growth and best oral care. There are various methods to break this habit in children, but a few for adults.

For Children:

• Ask a child: As many children may not realise that they are into this activity, so the parents must curiously ask them about the reason for thumb sucking. Does it feel good to them?
• Watch a show together: One unusual method then can be to watch a show which talks about breaking the thumb sucking habit and then discuss it with the child.
• Observe the pattern: To observe and identify the pattern and timing of the thumb sucking will let the parents have the clarity because then the child can be given some other distraction as per the requirement.
• Rewards and incentives: It may not work for everyone but can be tried. If the child is offered a toy for not sucking the thumb, he may gradually get distracted and leave it.

For Adults:
Adults are mature enough to make the correct choice. They will need to have strong will power and determination to stop the habit.

• Working with a therapist can work if anxiety is the reason behind the habit.
• Stress-relieving exercises, mediation and exercises may help.
• Setting reminders not to do so can help to improve.

Thus, thumb sucking tends to become a significant issue, especially in adulthood. So, the child and the parents will have to be careful and seek the appropriate method to get rid of this.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Gummy vitamins are sweet and look like candy. They are extremely popular amongst the parents who give these to their children to meet their vitamin needs. They believe that these gummies can be accepted readily by the children, and thus they can deliver the right nutrients to them. Though these gummies are carrying some amount of vitamins, depending only upon them is not at all a wise idea as they may not be enough.

What are Gummy vitamins?
Gummy vitamins, as per the name, are the chewable candy-like vitamins. They come in a variety of flavors, shapes, and colors. Due to their attractive color and sweet taste, they are appealing to the children, especially to those who do hate the swallowing pills.

These gummy are made up of gelatin, water, corn starch, sugar, and food color, and the popular flavors include raspberry, lemon, orange, and cherry. Coming to the nutrients, they contain vitamins and minerals, specifically calcium and vitamin D. These are readily available online or physically available at the health food stores.

Importance of vitamin D and Calcium
Vitamins and proteins are the necessary minerals for the growth of the body. Amongst all those vitamins, Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps the children develop robust bones and also keeps the adults from Osteoporosis. Thus it makes it necessary for the kids so that they have proper growth. The children must, therefore, have a regular checkup for the amount of vitamin D in the body and then take the diet accordingly.

Well, these days, parents prefer beyond multivitamins, instead of just the vitamins or the proteins. This takes them towards the supplements, serving all in one.

Benefits and side-effects of gummy vitamins
Apart from the sweet taste and easy availability, there are some more benefits of the gummy vitamins:

• are loaded with the required nutrients.
• They are easy to chew and full of flavors.
• Acceptable to the kids.

Besides all these pros, the gummy vitamins have various downsides:

• Gummy vitamins may contain added sugars, colorings, or sugar alcohol.
• They tend to have a lot more nutrients than regular multivitamins, which may pose threats.
• May contain more vitamins than the listed.

Is it right to take them?
Many people prefer to take these gummy vitamins instead of other multivitamins. But one needs to understand that the person having a well-balanced diet does not need these gummy vitamins. However, these gummy vitamins may be beneficial for the population, including those who have nutrition deficiency, or absorption issues.

Gummy vitamins may also be beneficial for the children who do not consume a proper diet as well as who face difficulty swallowing pills. However, it is essential to prevent them from having too many gummy vitamins, as overconsumption may cause mineral toxicants. Thus, it is suggested to keep the gummies out of reach of the children or give them a regulated number. Otherwise, it may adversely affect their health.

So for a safe side, we must be cautious about it!

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.