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Your Child's Teeth

Children's Oral Health Habits today will have an impact on their health as an adult.

Preventative Dental care has dramitically improved the oral health of many American children.  However, tooth deacy remains a serious public health problem and is the most common chronic disease that needs treatment to resolve.

Here are some simple steps to help your child enjoy a lifetime of beautiful smiles-

Prenatal care:
A balanced diet is critical for the proper development of an unborn child.  Teeth begin to form in the 2nd month of pregnancy and harden between the third and sixth month.  Adequate amounts of Vitamins A,C and D, protein, Calcium and Phosphorous help develop healthy teeth.

Birth to Six-
Primary(baby) teeth erupt during the first 3 years and are important in normal development for chewing, speaking, appearance  and hold the space in the jaws for the permanant teeth.  As the child grows, the jaws grow and make room for the larger permanant teeth that begin to erupt at age six.

-After each feeding, wipe baby's gums with a clean wet gauze or wash cloth
-Brush and floss your child's teeth until the child has developed the necessary skills
-Set a good example by cleaning your teeth every day.
-Set up a first dental visit within six months after the first tooth erupts for a well baby dental check up to assess child's risk of developing decay, evaluate and optimize floride exposure, assess growth and development of teeeth and jaws, assess oral habits, provide dietary conseling and clean teeth.

Six to Twelve-
At this stage, children begin to shed their 20 baby teeth to make room for the 32 permanent teeth.  The 1st permanent molars usually erupt at age six and are often called the six-year molars. They are specially important beacuse they help determine the shape of the lower face and also affect the health and position of the other teeth.
Professional Dental visits at this stage usually involve, application of sealants, assessing need for braces, hygeine and floride treatments. Often intervention at this stage can offset need for extensive dental treatment.

Optimal Oral health is an essential part of healthy living.

WWW.CHINOSMILES.COM  an oral health resource!!
 

Good Functioning Dentures

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Dental Care for Special People

The oral needs of people with special conditions like stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, mental retardation, Down syndrome, genetic disorders, Alzheimer's disease or Arthritis are just as critical, if not more; to maintain Healthy Mouths and Healthy Lives says Dr. Cherukuri.

A healthy mouth is an important part of total health. Healthy, strong teeth allow us to eat and chew, to speak clearly and to feel good about ourselves.

Prevention is Key to a Healthy Mouth-

Daily toothbrushing and flossing remove plaque and food particles
Flouride strengthens teeth against decay.
Sealants to protect chewing surfaces of back teeth
A Healthy, Balanced diet
Regular Dental Visits to detect early signs of disease

When assisting a child or a loved one with oral hygeine, choose a well lit location that's convenient for you.

If  the person is uncooperative or uncontrollable, try to calm him by explaining what you are about to do or schedule the task at a time of day when the person is well rested or receptive.

Some people are sensitive to having their mouth and head touched.  Try to move in a calm, slow, reassuring manner so as not to startle the person.  In addition, give verbal praise, reinforce independent attempts and take the opportunity for one on one interraction.

Consult with the dentist and physician to determine the best position to use. Not all positions are safe for all people and conditions.   Whatever position you find works best, remember to support the person's head.  Take special care to prevent them from choking or gagging when the head is tilted back.  If a person is unable or unwilling to keep their mouth open, a mouth prop will be helpful.

All denture wearers should continue regular dental visits.  Besides checking the dentures, the dentist will check for signs of oral cancer and examine the gum ridges, tongue and jaw joints.

Conditions that require use of long term medications can cause different problems like dry mouth, enlarged and bleeding gums that requires ongoing dental oversight.

For more information, visit www.chinosmiles.com

Dental Implant anyone?

Smokeless Tobacco!

Smokeless tobacco, also called chewing tobacco, spit, dip,snuff or chew contains cancer causing, addictive substances.

Smokeless does not mean Harmless!

In fact, smokeless tobacco users experience a significant amount of nicotine and other chemicals that can cause cancer exposure, even though they don't "light up". The nicotine is swallowed or absorbed through the blood vessels in the mouth.  Holding an average sized dip in the mouth for 30 minutes gives as much nicotine as smoking three cigarettes. 

Smokeless tobacco is known to cause cancers of the mouth, lip, tongue and pancreas.  Users may also be at a risk for cancer of the larynx (voice box), oesophagus, colon and bladder because they swallow some of the toxins in the juice  created by using smokeless tobacco..

The risk of developing cardio vasular disease may also be increased.

Tobacco is costly and not pretty!

.There are strong reasons to avoid tobacco.  If health concern alone is not convincing, consider the expense!
Also consider the  negative consequences of smokeless tobacco on your appearance!

• Bad breath
• Brown stained teeth
• Drooling saliva

Each year, more than 28,000 new cases of mouth and throat cancer are diagnosed. Only half of those diagnosed will live five years or more.

Leathery white patches, called leukoplakia and red sores are common in dippers and chewers and can turn into cancer.  A user's gums pull away from their teeth where the tobacco is held- when this happens, the gums usually do not grow back.

Mouth cancers are among the toughest cancers to treat.

 Early detection is the key.

Most routine dental recare visits include the benefit of an oral cancer screening.  It's usually not " just a cleaning"  says Dr. Cherukuri

 For questions or comments on this blog, please call 909 627 6699, email us at lovemydentist@gmail.com or visit our website at  www.chinosmiles.com/Contact.aspx. and send us your comments.



 

Smile Forever!

Radiation Treatment and your Mouth

While radiaton helps treat cancer, it also causes some harmful side effects.

Radiation is used to kill cancer cells but it can also harm normal cells causing problems with the soft lining of the mouth, glands that make saliva (spit) and the jaw bones.  These side effects can hurt and make it hard to swallow, eat or talk. Infections are likely that may require scaling back or even  suspending cancer treatment says Dr. Cherukuri.

Radiation causes:

Dry mouth resulting in rampant decay

Loss of taste

Sore mouth and gums making swallowing, eating and talking difficult

Infections

Jaw stiffness

Jaw bone changes

Seeing your dentist ahead of the start of radiation can help prevent serious mouth problems. Most side effects in the mouth following radiation happen because a person's mouth is not healthy.  You need to see the dentist at least 2 weeks before the first radiation treatment.

• Keep the mouth moist-

                 Drink a lot of water
                 Suck ice chips
                 Use sugarless gum
                 Use saliva substitutes

• Brush teeth, gums and tongue with extra soft bristled tooth brush to avoid any injury
• Use fluoride tooth paste and other fluoride supplements
• Avoid mouthwashes with any alcohol content.
• Have ill fitting dentures adjusted.
• Choose soft, easy to swallow foods
• Take small bites and sip liquids with your meal.
• Avoid crunchy, spicy, sugary and highly acidic foods that can aggravate your mouth.
• Avoid tobacco products
• Avoid alcoholic drinks.

For questions of this blog or for  a complimentary office consult,  call 909 627-6699 or visit our website www.chinosmiles.com


 

Chemotherapy and your mouth!

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. These drugs kill cancer cells as well as harm normal cells, including cells in the mouth.

Mouth problems resulting from Chemotherapy include-

Painful mouth and gums
Dry mouth
Burning, peeling or swelling of tongue
Infection
Change in taste

A patient should see a dentist atleast two weeks prior to start of chemotherapy to check teeth, take the needed X rays and review oral hygeine practices to keep mouth healthy.

Once treatment starts-

 Do a self examinationation of the mouth every day.
Drink a lot of water
Suck ice chips
Use sugarless gum or sugar-free hard candy
Use a saliva substitute to misten mouth.
Brush teeth, gums and tongue with an extra soft toothbrush.
Use fluoride toothpaste
Floss gently
Regularly check ill fitting dentures
Choose easy to chew foods
Take small bites, chew slowly and sip liquids with your meals.
Avoid tobacco products
Avoid Alcoholic drinks

Side effects in the mouth can be serious. Call your dentist or Oncologist (cancer doctor)  if you notice any mouth problems.

For more information, visit www.chinosmiles.com