Abfraction lesions on teeth are small notches caused by stress (forces) on your teeth. Biting, chewing, clenching and grinding put pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure can cause cracks and splits in the outer layer of your teeth near the gum line. Such lesions are fairly common in adults. Older adults are especially likely to have them. They occur more often in the back teeth, called premolars and molars. But they can occur in the front teeth as well and appear as V-shaped or wedge-shaped notches. Abfraction lesions don’t usually hurt but if the deeper layers of the tooth are involved, sensitivity might occur. These lesions do not heal over time. Some may worsen, and if left untreated, can cause the tooth to fracture. In order to prevent this, your dentist might recommend fillings of these lesions. This will not only strengthen the tooth, but also decrease the sensitivity if present.

What are the symptoms of abfraction?

You might first become aware of abfraction when you get food stuck in the wedge or when you flash a big smile. You might even be able to feel it with your tongue.

Abfraction is usually painless, but tooth sensitivity can become a problem, especially where heat and cold are concerned.

You may never develop other signs or symptoms, but if the damage continues, it could lead to:

• worn and shiny facets on the tooth, known as translucency
• chipping of the tooth surface
• loss of enamel or exposed dentin

What causes abfraction?

Abfraction is caused by long-term stress on the teeth. This can happen in a variety of ways, such as:

• bruxing, also known as teeth grinding
• misalignment of the teeth, also called malocculusion
• mineral loss due to acidic or abrasive factors

How is abfraction treated?

The diagnosis can usually be made on clinical examination. Tell your dentist about any health conditions or habits that can affect the teeth. Some examples of this are:

• habitually clenching or grinding your teeth
• eating disorders
• a highly acidic diet
• wrong brushing techniques
• medications that cause dry mouth

Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the severity of your symptoms and whether you have co-existing dental problems. You might also want to consider how it affects your smile and ability to keep your teeth clean.

The damage can’t be reversed, but you can ease tooth sensitivity, improve appearance, and help prevent future damage. Some treatment options are:

• Fillings.
• Nightguard.
• Toothpaste.
• Orthodontics.

Have you lost a tooth?

• Does it make you feel embarrassed or self-conscious about your smile?
• Does it feel awkward when chewing and eating?
• Do you wish you had better, more natural chewing function and the ability to enjoy all foods?

So, DENTAL IMPLANTS is the answer to all your problems.

 Dental implants can change all of that.Dental implants perform and look just like natural teeth; no one will ever know you are having permanent dental implants. It increases comfort, function and confidence while speaking, eating and smiling.

 What are dental implants?

Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them.

Procedures involved in placing dental implant

• Placement of the implant.
• Abutment Placement.
• Placement of final crown which will replace the
• Missing tooth crown.

IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURE:-

Implant supported denture have many advantages over regular dentures, such as added stability and ability to chew foods. Implant-supported dentures also make it easier to talk. And just as importantly, you won’t worry about your denture falling out of your mouth when you chew your food.

Oral Care Tips For Implants

Most dental implants are successful, and there are a few steps you can take to help ensure success and make your implant last :

• Practice good oral hygiene – brush twice a day and floss once daily. Using interdental brushes, brushes that slide between teeth, can help clean the hard to reach areas around your implant.
• Quit smoking – smoking can weaken the bone structure and can contribute to implant failure.
• Visit your dentist – cleanings and exams every six months can help ensure your implant is in good condition, and that it stays that way.
• Avoid chewing on hard foods – don’t chew on hard items such as ice and hard candy because they can break the crown and your natural teeth.

A  community welfare dental checkup-cum-awareness camp was organised in sector 17   BUS STAND. The camp was attended by more than 150 people including local vendors, Auto-Rickshaw pullers, Shopkeepers and  Taxi Drivers.

Dr.Vijita Mehta and their team of Doctors Dr. Neeraj Goyal and Dr. Shivali Rai spread the awareness regarding oral hygiene and educated them about various oral health issues related to smoking and Tobacco chewing.

The event was also graced by the DSP Ram Gopal, SHO Maninder Singh and the team of police officers.

Bad breath or halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems.

All the food eaten begins to be broken down in your Mouth.

If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing — even mouthwash helps to get rid of the odor temporarily.

The odor doesn’t go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

If you don’t brush and floss teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath.

How to Prevent bad breath??

1. Practice good oral hygiene.
2. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque.
3. Brush teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch).
4. Don’t forget to brush the tongue.
5. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after an illness.
6. Use floss or an inter dental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day.
7. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day.
8. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
9. See your dentist regularly — at least twice a year for oral examination and professional teeth cleaning and  detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
10. Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products.
11. Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist.
12. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.
13. Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think they may be causing bad breath, bring the log to your dentist to review.
14. Make a list of the medications you take as drugs cause bad breath.

Orthodontics – the word comes from the Greek ‘orthos’, meaning “straight, perfect or proper”, and ‘dontos’, which means “teeth”.

An orthodontist helps in-

• Closing wide gaps between the teeth
• Making sure the tips of the teeth are aligned
• Straightening crooked/ crowded teeth
• Improving speech or eating (oral function)
• Improving the long-term health of gums and teeth
• Preventing long-term excessive wear or trauma (of the teeth)
• Treating an improper bite

Orthodontic treatment commencement-

Treatment starts mostly about 12 or 13 years old when the adult teeth have fully erupted.

Good oral hygiene is important before any orthodontic work starts.

The treatment may last from few months to number of years depending on the case.

 Different forms of orthodontic treatment include-

1.Fixed space maintainers

If the child loses a milk tooth, a space maintainer stops the two adjacent teeth from moving into it till the adult tooth comes.

2. Metal braces/Traditional braces

These are made of metal brackets and wires. This is the first thing which come into people’s mind when they hear the word “braces.”

3. Ceramic Braces

These are of the same size and shape as metal braces, but they are tooth-colored that blend in to teeth.

4. Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are the same as metal braces, but the braces are placed on the inside of teeth.

5. Invisalign/ Clear Aligners

They consist of a series of 18 to 30 removable custom-made, mouth guard-like clear plastic aligners which are to be replaced every 2 weeks.

1. Watch What You Eat

When you wear braces, you need to be more aware of what you eat.

Do’s.  Watching what you eat can promote overall and oral health. Eat a balanced diet that is low in sugary foods to minimize plaque or stain formation around your braces.

• Eat lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and legumes.
• If you eat something sugary, consider brushing your teeth when you’re done.

Don’ts   Eating too many sugary and starchy foods can cause plaque to build up around the brackets, which can cause staining of the teeth, causing cavities or leading to gum disease. You should especially avoid sticky and chewy foods, such as dried fruits, caramel, toffee, corn on the cob and chewing gum, all of which can become stuck and be hard to remove from braces.

Hard foods are another no-no. Foods such as nuts, ice, popcorn and beef jerky can break the wires of the braces and loosen the brackets. Even otherwise healthy foods, such as raw apples and carrots, can be problematic because their hard texture can damage the wires. To eat crunchy foods, cut them into small, bite-size pieces

2. Dental care and cleaning your braces.

Whether you’re wearing Invisalign or standard braces, you need to clean your teeth properly each time. Any food trapped between your teeth or braces has the potential to bring serious dental issues. Clean each tooth using toothpaste and a soft bristle brush. Always use a mirror to have a close look at each gap between your teeth and braces to ensure you’ve done a thorough job. Also, use a gentle mouthwash to give additional protection. If you experience any pain, loosening, or damage to your braces, you’ll need to visit your orthodontist as soon as possible.

Braces can be life changing. If you care for your mouth properly and watch your diet, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful new smile.

3.Brushing and flossing are as important as ever.

You have braces on your teeth to straighten them or correct another type of orthodontic issue, but your braces do not clean your teeth for you.  If you don’t clean them, you may experience tooth decay under your brackets, which can lead to a variety of other issues.  Brush and floss when you wake up, after you eat, and before you go to bed.  Your mouth will feel fresher and cleaner, you won’t have to worry about having food particles stuck in your mouth, and you’ll avoid major dental hygiene problems.

Get a special toothbrush for braces.

Since braces require placing devices on your teeth, use a proper toothbrush or toothbrushes. Purchase a regular brush and consider adding a braces-specific proxabrush to get between brackets

• Get a regular brush with soft bristles.
• Make sure the brush size and shape fit your mouth, which can help reach all areas of your mouth.
• Buy a proxabrush, or “Christmas tree” brush, if you like. This may help you more effectively clean between braces
• Replace any brush with frayed bristles or every 3-4 months.

4.Avoid grinding your teeth. If you clench or grind your teeth, you could damage your teeth or braces. Ask your dentist or orthodontist about using a mouth guard.

• Grinding wears can cause sensitivity and damage such small chips and cracks in your teeth.
• Avoid biting your nails, opening bottles, or holding things in

  your mouth.

5. See your dentist and orthodontist regularly. Regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist are important to maintaining oral health. You should also visit your orthodontist regularly to help correct your teeth. Visit your dentist at least twice a year and your orthodontist as often as they suggest.

Myth: Once you treat a decayed tooth, it will not become decayed again.

Fact: It is possible for other areas of the tooth to become decayed; although proper brushing and flossing will prevent the treated area of the tooth from becoming decayed again. If a filling gets old and begins to break down, there is a possibility that bacteria can become trapped inside and cause tooth decay.

Myth : Brushing your bleeding gums is bad

Fact: Brushing is not only good on teeth, but also on your gums and tongue. Brushing these areas helps get rid of plaque which is what causes inflammation and eventually gum disease. One should not brush too hard if they have sensitive gums. One must not use a hard toothbrush on bleeding gums

Adults and children alike enjoy chewing gum, but while chewing gum can have its advantages, such as freshening breath, it can also have its disadvantages. Being aware of the detrimental effects of gum can help consumers make healthful decisions when next purchasing and planning on chewing gum.

1. Plaque Formation

Plaque is a clear biofilm of buildup on the teeth that can lead to both tooth decay and gum disease. Chewing gum or eating any food can cause plaque to form. After consuming food or chewing gum, plaque can formulate on the teeth within a few hours. The bacteria found in plaque can directly lead to tooth decay. If plaque is not removed from teeth quickly enough through brushing and flossing, bacteria can calcify, turn in to tartar and eventually lead to gingivitis if left untreated.

2. Tooth Decay

Chewing sugared gum can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. The chewing gum literally coats the teeth with sugar and can be especially destructive if you don’t brush your teeth immediately after chewing. Switching to a sugarless brand can alleviate the problem.

3. Unhealthy components of Chewing Gum

Other than sugar, chewing gum has many ingredients in that are not necessarily good for you in the long term. like aspartame and other sweeteners that are known carcinogens (cancer inducing factors) .

4. Stomach issues

Most of the chewing gum contains powerful gastric juice. According gastroenterologists, chewing on an empty stomach can trigger or aggravate gastritis or other stomach troubles. It has been observed that the content of chewing gums which are usually rubber base, sweeteners, combined with fragrances and softeners are obviously not good for health.

5. Tooth and Jaw Issues

Frequent chewing over time can also result in the wearing down of tooth enamel. In individuals who are susceptible to dental caries, a thin enamel can cause the caries to spread even faster, and a sugar – containing chewing gum will only accelerate the decay rate even more.

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away.