newtonbrookdentistry
Hormones and Your Oral Health: While many things change with age, one thing that doesn’t change is the importance of caring for your teeth. In fact, it might become even more important as we age. So we’re celebrating Older American’s Month by offering some education on elderly dental care to help you or your loved ones manage oral health through the golden years.
Chances are you’ve been learning about the benefits of good oral hygiene since you were first introduced to a toothbrush as a child. We all know brushing our teeth should be a part of our daily routine, but the benefits of good oral hygiene go far beyond fresh breath. Good oral hygiene is the number one way to prevent gum disease, a condition afflicting nearly half of American adults according to a study by the American Academy of Periodontology.
One of the most common things done at a routine dental visit is having x-rays. It’s those x-rays that allow the dentist to take a closer look at the overall health of your teeth to detect damage and disease affecting the roots and bones of your mouth, and to look for any possible cavities – things that aren’t visible during a routine visual exam. Sounds good, right? But then we cover you in a heavy vest and ask pregnant women to forgo x-rays which prompts lots of questions from our patients about dental x-ray safety. So, let’s talk about it!
Is there anything cuter than a child missing their two front teeth? Those missing teeth are a milestone all parents look forward to. But what’s next? Goofy grins, another round of teething and giant looking permanent teeth! Permanent teeth that need to last the rest of their lives. And while you likely have your permanent teeth, you’re likely not a dental professional and don’t know what to expect with this next round of teeth. That’s where a permanent teeth chart and this blog post can help. So let’s talk about permanent teeth!
Baby teeth, technically “primary teeth” start coming in about 6 months old and keep coming in until age 2 or 3. Eventually, those baby teeth are all replaced by permanent tooth – starting around age five and continuing through adulthood when wisdom teeth come in. We are born with a set of 20 primary tooth, which are eventually replaced with 32 adult tooth.
Those baby tooth have a big job – not only do they help our kiddos chew their food, they also hold space in the jaw for the larger permanent tooth to come in. With primary teeth, we have 10 teeth on top and 10 on the bottom. When our adult or permanent tooth come in, they are larger and slightly darker, and we end up with 16 teeth on the top and 16 on the bottom.
Take a look at the permanent teeth chart graphic and you will see that permanent tooth usually erupt in the same order the primary tooth did – front bottom, front top and then back towards molars. Typically, the first tooth to erupt are the first to come loose and fall out, only to be replaced by the permanent tooth. The exception to this, of course, is when there is tooth damage due to poor dental hygiene, medical conditions or trauma (such as an accident) to the mouth, jaw and/or face.
Most children will begin to lose tooth when school starts- about age 5 or 6, and will have the majority of their permanent tooth by age 12 or 13. These teeth include the four front teeth on top and bottom, called central incisors; four lateral incisors, the teeth between the front teeth and canines; four canine teeth; and eight molars. Two of those molars come in without replacing baby teeth.
The last to arrive, if they arrive are the wisdom teeth. Also called “third molars” they may not ever erupt, however, if they do, it is usually between ages 17-21. Your dentist will be able to make recommendations about cleaning them properly and whether or not they should be removed.
As the permanent teeth arrive, good dental care is more important than ever to ensure a healthy, happy smile for the lifetime ahead. If you are looking for a dentist or have questions about your child’s oral health or the permanent tooth chart, contact us today online to get scheduled!
Braces have become a common treatment for both teenagers and adults who want a straighter, more beautiful looking smile. A pretty smile is nice, but there are also medical benefits of braces, some of which may surprise you.
When your tooth is infected or diseased, it may seem like pulling it is the easy choice, especially if you’re in pain. But not so fast! Having that tooth pulled may be the easy choice, but it may not be the best choice. Most people are unaware of the benefits of saving your natural teeth. The choice to pull your tooth or save it is ultimately yours to make, but make sure you know all the facts before making that big decision.
School’s out for summer and if it’s not yet, it’s about to be. And while we think about summer as a time for swimming, camping, baseball and kicking back with the kids, it’s also a good time to tackle those pesky little tasks that are hard to accomplish when kids are in school all day. Think doctor and dentist appointments. If you’re the mom of a kiddo in early elementary school, add a braces consultation to that list.
You’ve likely seen the commercials for at-home teeth whitening, or have seen a new teeth whitening product while scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. You may have even heard of teeth whitening services at your dentist office. No doubt, you’ve looked at your teeth and noticed they may not be as white as you would like them to be. You likely have an idea how to “fix” it, but do you know what causes teeth staining and how to prevent it? Our professional dental team is here to answer these, and more, of your questions about teeth staining.
