Dental Caries: The Role of Food We Eat In Their Development

As long as we have teeth inside our mouth, we can't escape the vicious caries that. Dental caries is caused by a multitude and diverse ecosystem of bacteria inside our mouth. These bacteria eat up the sugar we eat. They thrive into our oral cavity and are able to survive because of these foods that are considered trophic for them. By trophic, this means that the food we eat is just as important for them just as it is important for our survival.

The acid these bacteria produce as a result of the metabolism (conversion) of sugar is responsible for causing the cavities on our teeth. These may either lead to re-construction of the weakened, cavitated tooth, or may progress into caries. Once caries is initiated, the tooth is even more susceptible to even more serious scenario.

It is very important to maintain good oral hygiene if we want to prevent destruction of our teeth by caries. The food we eat, particularly the sugar we eat contributes greatly to the progression of caries.

You might hear people tell you, "Don't eat chocolates as these will DEFINITELY give you dental caries." This is however only partly true. Dental caries per se is not solely dependent on the sweetness of the food or the amount of sugar that is contained in that food stuff.

Whether it is a loaf of bread, a piece of chocolate or a slice of chocolate, it does not really matter as long as you brush your teeth immediately after eating those cariogenic food. Note that cariogenic is different from carcinogenic food. Cariogenic foods are foods which are likely to cause caries and carcinogenic foods are those which predisposes a person to cancer when that person eats that certain food.

These bacteria would like it much more if its host eats more frequent without brushing after. That is why it is very advisable to brush your teeth after a eating cariogenic foods as this is very critical for the prevention of progression of dental caries.

The Pros and Cons of Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are becoming a hit today!
First there were the metal braces that are complete with a full head gear.
Then there were the much simpler metal braces.
Next are the porcelain brackets.

And finally invisible braces. Invisible braces can fix misaligned teeth for as quick as one month. Because it's the latest hip in the orthodontic world, I doubt this will cost less here in the Philippines.

The Pros

Unlike conventional metal braces, these are actually plastic trays which are custom-made to allow perfect fit. These "aligners" replace metals and wires. The plastic tray is responsible for the tension and compression which is necessary to move and align your teeth.

This is very advantageous for the wearer since this is fully removable and it sort of eliminates the pain (but not completely) in contrast with the conventional braces.

Well, it is undetectable by others since the tray is really thin. The term "invisible" is actually a misnomer since it functions as the conventional. So, if you don't want the unwanted "Betty" look, then this is your option.

The Cons

The concept of invisible braces is actually present since the 1940s but it was only now when it attracted ortho patients. So, new means that it would cost a lot. We are not paying for the materials per se, but the concept itself. So if you are thinking of getting yourself one of these, make sure you are financially-able!

Invisible braces are designed only for misaligned teeth or slightly crooked teeth. If your problem is your jaws or anything related to the bone, this wouldn't do you good. Try the conventional one instead.

The tray, since it is removable, is very easy to lose. So be really vigilant with these.

If you want the braces worn by Miley Cyrus (yeap She has one!), you can try lingual braces

Regular Dental Check-Up: A Way To Get Ahead Of Dental Caries

For most of us, we seldom visit our dentists for regular check up or even for a dental treatment. We only do so if we experience something different, maybe something painful, with our teeth. That is the only time when we consult the professional for dental treatment. But for mild sensitivities, we would rather prescribe ourselves with a pain-reliever than pay huge amounts when we go to the dentist.

Oftentimes, we compromise our teeth. Without the regular dental check up and dental treatment, our teeth are more prone to cavitations and bacterial infections. We will only realize our mistake when there is no choice but to extract it. In other words, we realize that we chose the wrong decisions in the end when it is already too late.

Thankfully, dentistry has evolved from a mere pain-relieving practice to a preventive one. Most of the dental treatment today deals with preventing the root cause of these dental diseases. Preventive dentistry is thus responsible for managing the disease before it progresses into a more serious condition.

For example, that chalky appearance on your tooth may not be that serious but if you underestimate that it could lead to demineralization! This means that your tooth's mineral components will be more susceptible to acid attacks and therefore rendering them weaker. The result? Dental caries!

If you think a preventive dental treatment is painful, think again. For example, fissure sealant treatment usually seals off your tooth making it less susceptible to acid attacks, hence attack by dental caries. This treatment involves grinding a little of enamel on your tooth and applying sealant on it and that's it!

From here, you'll see that we cannot just neglect the small changes in our oral cavity. It is very important for us to be vigilant with taking care of our teeth. Our teeth provide us a lot of functions. That is why it is very important to get ahead of dental caries by seeking professional help and receiving the proper dental treatment that you need.

Dental Instruments: They're Not Getting Any Cheaper

For those who are planning to take Dentistry as a course in college, please prepare yourself for a financial torture.

Yes! Dentistry is a really expensive course. Unlike other medical courses, Dentists and student dentists are required to buy the not-so-cheap instruments. Dental instruments are like dentists' "bestfriend" and students are trained to familiarize themselves with these instruments. This is the very reason why they are expected to buy these.

Most of the instruments, both manual and automatic, really cost a fortune. If you are not careful with your dental instruments, you will end up losing them. This is true especially for dental students. Dental students, because they have to juggle between education and clinical practice, would always fight over lost instruments. This kind of situation would not only lose you money but may also cause emotional trauma. A sample scenario: Student A lost a very expensive instrument and he accused Student B of stealing it. Student B would be really agitated especially if the accusation is not true. So, the result? A friendship broken and wasted money because of a lost instrument.

Parents should be fully aware of the expenses that are associated with the dentistry course. Parents should help their future dentists in making the right decisions when choosing the right dental instruments. I know parents would not want to settle for anything less so you always choose the one with excellent quality. However, you have to keep in mind that not all instruments need to be expensive for it to function excellently. The key here is the proper knowledge of the uses of the instrument and the skill to handle it well.

In spite of all these, dental students can really benefit from the durability of these instruments. Some of these really last a lifetime - and I mean this literally! All it takes is your tender-loving care.