Myth: It’s none of the dentist’s concern whether a woman is pregnant.

Fact: It’s important for your dentist and hygienist to know that you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. You may be at risk for certain dental conditions, and your pregnancy may limit the treatment options available.

Myth: Being pregnant doesn’t affect your mouth.

Fact: Pregnant women are at greater risk for certain oral health conditions. These conditions include gum disease, also known as “pregnancy gingivitis,” and growths within the mouth, called “pregnancy tum ours.

Myth: Your oral health doesn’t affect your baby.

Fact: If you have moderate to severe gum disease, you may be at higher risk for delivering a per-term , low-birth weight baby.

Myth: Pregnant women should avoid dental work.

Fact: Everyone — and especially pregnant women — should visit the dentist. If you’re pregnant, you face a higher risk for gum disease, so make sure to visit your dentist for regular cleanings, exams and any other treatment needed.

What about anesthesia?

You should avoid procedure in which anesthesia is needed. If you need treatment requiring anesthesia, your dentist may recommend postponing the procedure until the second trimester.

Myth: Never get a dental x-ray while pregnant.

Fact: Dental x-rays are now considered safe during pregnancy. X-rays can be essential in detecting serious problems, such as hidden decay, bone loss and inflamed tooth pulp.. If you have any concerns, talk to your dentist, who can help evaluate your case and decide whether x-rays can be postponed.

Myth: Morning sickness is unpleasant but harmless for teeth.

Fact: Repeated vomiting can cause serious damage to your teeth. Exposure to stomach acid dissolves tooth enamel, weakening your teeth . If you suffer from morning sickness, talk to your dentist about ways to reduce the harm, such as using a mouth guard or rinsing with baking soda.

• What is sterilisation?

Sterilisation is the process of removing all traces of bacteria and other germs. It is an extremely important process, which helps to reduce the risk of infection or cross contamination and prevents the spread of infections and illnesses not only from one patient to another, but also from the patient to the doctor or  staff or vice versa.

• Why is sterilisation important?

Sterilizing medical equipment is the most importance in the medical field. Thousands of patients die every year or are infected with disease because medical equipment was not properly sterilized. Complications surface in many surgeries due to improper sterilization.

• How sterilization of instruments aids in treatment?

Prevents the Growth of Diseases:

Used instrument gets contaminated with bacteria. If left unchecked or not disinfected properly, then it is highly likely that bacteria will grow.

Prevents the Spread of Diseases:

If surgical equipment is not properly sterilized, there are chances that the next patient being treated with the same tools can be exposed to a disease the previous patient had.

• What protocol must be followed by a dental clinic to ensure proper sterilisation?

All instruments that need to be sterilised, should first be scrubbed and washed with detergent and water. This should then be followed by placing the instruments in an ultrasonic cleaner which effectively removes debris or dried blood stains etc that may adhere to the dental instruments in spite of washing. Once the instruments are clean and dry, they are then placed and sealed in specially pouches. To maintain the sterilization, ideally sterilised instruments should be stored in a UV chamber for future use.

• Does the dentist need to change his/her gloves for every patient?

Every dental care provider should use new gloves for each and every patient. For procedures that are likely to involve splash or spatter, including the dental team.

• Why it is necessary for dental care provider to wear mask?

To avoid cross contamination from doctor to patient or patient to doctor including auxiliary staff, the doctor as well as assisting staff should preferably wear masks while working on patient.

• Disposable instruments like syringe, needles etc can be used reused in other patients?

Unless the instruments can be sterilised it should not be reused. Especially disposable instruments are supposed to be disposed off as soon as its use on one patient is over.

• Where are the instruments sterilised in dental operatory? Ideally there should be a separate room or zone in the dental office that is completely dedicated to the disinfection of instruments.
• I’m not sure if the dental clinic I go to follows the protocol regarding safety and sterilisation. How can I find out?

Just ask!! If you have any doubts or questions regarding your treatment or the protocols followed by the clinic, you have every right to ask your dentist about it and even see the equipment that is used. If you know that the proper equipment is being used and the procedure is being followed, you can put your mind at ease and rest assured that all the instruments being used on you are sterilised.

• Does sterilisation is a costly affair?

Yes, if proper protocol for sterilisation is followed then it does cost, but not more than the protection we get from the risk of exposure to secondary infection. So pay attention that the health care provider you are visiting is following optimum sterilisation protocol and don’t mind paying for the same.

• Do sterilisation by boiling is sufficient?

The ideal temperature for killing the micro organisms is 121^o-132°C under pressure. A general cycle is 20 minutes at 121 °C at 15 psi. Boiling is not the ideal process for sterilization as it gives a limited sterilization against Micro-organisms & Spores.

• So what is the ideal method for sterilization?

There are many methods of sterilization that are used in dentistry but the optimum sterilization is achieved by Class B autoclaves which can sterilize any kind of object / instrument.

Your body is a complex machine. The foods you choose and how often you eat them can affect your general health and the health of your teeth and gums, too. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, but the good news is that it is entirely preventable.

Tooth decay happens when plaque come into contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth.

Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. To control the amount of sugar you eat, read the nutrition facts and ingredient labels on foods and beverages and choose options that are lowest in sugar. Common sources of sugar in the diet include soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries.. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, it may be more difficult for tissues in your mouth to resist infection. This may contribute to gum disease. Severe gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is potentially more severe in people with poor nutrition.

Wise choices

For healthy living and for healthy teeth and gums, think before you eat and drink. It’s not only what you eat but when you eat that can affect your dental health. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. If you are on a special diet, keep your physician’s advice in mind when choosing foods.

For good dental health, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups, including:
  • whole grains
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • lean souces of protein such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish; dry beans, peas and other legumes
  • low-fat and fat-free dairy foods

Limit the number of snacks you eat. If you do snack, choose something that is healthy like fruit or vegetables or a piece of cheese. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth than eating lots of snacks throughout the day, because more saliva is released during a meal. Saliva helps wash foods from the mouth and lessens the effects of acids, which can harm teeth and cause cavities.

For good dental health, always remember to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste , floss daily and visit your dentist regularly. With regular dental care, your dentist can help prevent oral problems from occurring in the first place and catch those that do occur in the early stages, while they are easy to treat.

1. Myth : Scaling is not good for teeth

Fact: Scaling removes tartar and keeps teeth and gums healthy. Scaling and deep cleaning of gums prevent the problem of bad breath and bleeding gums. Thus, scaling is beneficial for teeth and gums. One should get professional cleaning done by a dentist with a proper ultrasonic scaler.

2. Myth : Only sugar causes cavities

Fact: Cavities occur when bacteria produce acids in the mouth. The process can begin by any carbohydrate that you consume. That includes sugar, fruits, vegetables, rice and bread. To reduce chances of tooth decay, one should not only practice good dental care but also limit the intake of acidic products.