The Wisdom Tooth

   Always trust your gut! For that, you must have a healthy one. And probiotics are one of the many ways to get there. Though probiotics are having their moment only now, we have known them for thousands of years in the name of yogurt, wine, cheese, etc.    In the light of gut health being the key to overall health, we are here to discuss more about probiotics. ABCs of Probiotics:-    ‘Pro’- promoting, ‘biotic’- life; Probiotics are beneficial food supplement which improves the intestinal microbial balance. Our body has both good and bad bacteria. Maintaining balance between these is necessary for optimal health.        Prebiotics- a non-digestible carbohydrate that nourishes the probiotics & bacteria in the gut. This selectively stimulates the growth of good bacteria. Prebiotics include banana, barley, onion, garlic, rye, soya beans, sugar beet, tomato, whole wheat, asparagus, and artichoke.     Even prior to our first bre...

   In the wilderness of life, you can never be too prepared. A  child can do more in one unsupervised minute than most people can do all day. Brace yourself for every possible situation you might encounter. Here we are giving our thoughts on one such situation.  What is avulsion?    Avulsion is a kind of tooth injury in which the tooth falls out mouth as a whole. Upper front teeth are often involved around the age of 8-12 years. Why you should know about it?    Believe it or not, an avulsed tooth can be placed back into its original position. There are many factors that influence the success of this process. Among which two things are under your control, The period of time the tooth is out of your child's mouth The storage medium while the tooth is out     The success of the treatment depends on the timely measures taken at the place of accident. Your knowledge on such emergency situations can save your child from years of ...

  By Guest author,   Dr. Abhinaya. J   Have you ever been in a situation where you just thought you were out of trouble but it comes back and bites you!     Yes, I am talking about the sensitivity that you feel after the dental filling (post-operative sensitivity).    I t’s easy to blame your dentist when you develop sensitivity soon after the filling.  But it’s not just our misdeed. Want to know how and why?     Do you know what a dental filling is and what actually makes it stay in your previous cavity?    The decayed portion of the tooth is removed and made clean, devoid of bacteria that was eating away your tooth slowly and filled with a bio-compatible (not toxic/ injurious to living tissue) material.    Does the dentist choose the filling material or the patient? - We, the dentist normally explain both the benefits and the not so beneficial effects of the material. Later, the patient is all...

    Myth is nothing more than ancient gossip! Some of the dental myths have existed for years and are being passed down to generations. It's high time that we decipher the truth behind these myths. Root canal treatment is painful & horrifying.         Untreated decayed tooth is more painful than root canal treatment itself. The treatment is usually done under local anaesthesia and you can be at ease once the treatment is completed. Like my great grandfather, I'm going to brush my teeth using neem sticks!    This is nothing but a folk tale. Neem branch only does more harm than good. It can easily wear off your enamel causing sensitivity. The same goes for tooth powder. I do oil pulling regularly, I won't have any teeth problems.   Oil pulling is only an adjunct to your regular oral care ( brushing & flossing ). Though oil pulling can reduce bacteria, it is only up to 20%. Also, already existing cavities and hard deposit...

  All that glitters are not gold! Same way all your white teeth are not healthy and vice versa. Moreover a healthy adult tooth is yellowish white in color. So before you want to whiten your teeth, think twice. If your answer is still yes...glance through! Know about the stains in your teeth!   Stains in your teeth can be external or internal. External stain due to beverages   External stains can be due to plaque build-up, tobacco, beverages (tea, coffee) Internal stain- fluorosis   Internal stains are hard to remove. They can be due to fluorosis, any defects in development of teeth (dentinogenesis imperfecta, amelogenesis imperfecta), dental decay or trauma. How to remove these stains?   As in any process, the first step would be to decide the cause. This can be done by taking proper history and evaluation of teeth.   Usually whitening of lower teeth is not required. Because they are covered by lower lip while speaking.   Teeth whit...

     Mouthwash has become an essential in millennial's households. But do you really think you need it? Do you know the benefits and downsides in using mouthwash everyday? Read on! Know what is in your mouthwash!      Mouthwash contains 18-26% alcohol except the non-alcoholic ones (duh!),       Chlorhexidine- antimicrobial which also inhibits plaque,      Cetylpyridinium chloride- antibacterial,      Essential oils- for flavor and fragrance,      Medicated mouthwashes contain fluoride and other antibiotics which the dentist prescribe for specific purpose. Perks:       As we all know, mouthwash can give fresh breathe in no time. It also inhibits plaque (bacteria) build up.  Downside:       Extensive use of it can cause teeth staining due to the chlorhexidine in it.      Alcohol causes dehydration of mouth.  Also it is let...

      By Guest author,       Dr. Abhinaya. J      Nothing is more memorable than a smell!  Do you all know what Halitosis is? Wondering what it could be?  Everybody likes a pleasant smell, so we use various products for our clothes, rooms, closets, hair, body, and also our mouth if needed.  But do we all know how our mouth smells like?  Is it pleasant or bad? Guessed it yet? Most of us have the problem of bad breathe which is   called HALITOSIS- causing social anxiety.  Don't we all want to know what causes it or Why we have it? How to smell good, not just by using products but by treating what may cause the bad odour. Reasons why we may have it? It could be anything,      -The food we eat,   -Tobacco,      -Poor dental hygiene,   -Dry mouth,   -Any infection   -Medications we take   -Gum problems   -Faulty resto...