Treatments for Ankyloglossia

If you’re someone that has an infant with issues involving breastfeeding, or if there’s issues with moving the tongue, there is a chance the child might have ankyloglossia. So what is that exactly? Is there a way to fix it? Well, you’re in luck because we’ll walk you through everything, and what you as a parent may expect from this.

What Ankyloglossia is 

This is known by many as being tongue-tied, and is a congenital sort of condition, so it will affect children from the moment they’re born.

In those who have tongue tie, the thin part of the tissue known as the lingual frenulum, which attaches the tongue towards the floor of the child’s mouth is shorter or bigger than usual.

This connection impacts the overall mobility of the baby or child’s tongue, and causes trouble with speech, and breastfeeding.

Only half of the children with this condition have issues with breastfeeding. So what causes this? Well, it may happen when the child’s in the embryonic stage, where they’re fused towards the floor of their mouths, prior to detachments with development.

For those who have tongue tie, the tissue won’t properly thin or recede, not detaching correctly at this stage. 

If you’re worried about this, don’t fret. There isn’t a way to prevent this, and it affects a tenth of children. You’re not alone, nor are you at fault. It’s pretty simple and relatively painless for someone to get this treatment for infants. 

The symptoms. 

The presentation of the condition does vary quite greatly. It may impact the baby’s life, or their child’s life, but in a lot of cases, there’s mild symptoms. 

The symptoms, however, might change based on the stage of one’s life. 

The symptoms for infants include: 

• Issues with breastfeeding 

• A notched or heart-shaped appearance on the tongue of a child 

• A click when they’re nursing 

• Problems with weight gain 

• A very high level of hunger 

For young children: 

• Speech issues and difficulties speaking 

• Issues with swallowing 

• Issues with sticking their tongue out, kissing, moving it from one side to the other, or positioning it near the roof of the mouth 

For mothers: 

• Low milk supply 

• Breastfeeding being discomforting 

• Nipples that are tender 

Regardless of the symptoms of a child, you should always check with medical professionals if you do have ankyloglossia. 

Treatments 

For this condition, you may not need treatment right away. But if there are issues with swallowing, feeding, or speaking, there may be a corrective procedure required. 

The best procedure for this is tongue tie division, or a frenectomy, which consists of cutting out the tissue that connects the tongue to the mouth floor.   It is generally painless for an infant, but there might be some pain relievers or anesthetic done.

Now that it’s simple enough for treating, it doesn't usually require pain meds.

But there is some aftercare that might be done, and if you have questions, you should reach out right away. always schedule the follow-up appointments too, in order to ensure success.

There is a chance that there might be some blood in the mouth and the stool.   To stop this, you may want to use gauze or cloth, submerging this in ice water. Apply this with some mild pressure for a couple minutes.

Using a bottle or breastfeeding might also help. But if there are issues still with swallowing, breathing, or bleeding abnormally, seek medical care immediately.

There is also some possible issues with breastfeeding too. But the good thing is that usually after a week or two it goes away.

Effects of neglecting the dentist

I have recently found out that neglecting your dentist visits is highly risky. There are many different kinds of illnesses and diseases that can form and take root if not dealt with. That is why going to the dentist is very important as they clean your teeth and check for any illnesses and diseases that may be trying to form as well as any issues with the teeth. 

Tooth decay is one kind of disease or illness that can form from the neglect of going to the dentist. This happens when plaque eats away at the teeth. Plaque forms from eating and drinking. It is always coming. If plaque is not removed by brushing or dentist visits, then disaster can strike. Plaque mixed with bacteria will slowly eat away at the tooth enamel and eventually the gums. After a while, if left untreated, then your teeth could fall out. This is what is knows as tooth decay. Tooth decay also causes bad breath regardless of how much brushing or mouthwash has been done. This can be fixed with extensive work such as root canals or a crown. 

Speaking of tooth decay, gum disease will be an issue. If tooth decay is left untreated, then it will evolve into gun disease or gingivitis. This disease attacks the gums. The gum’s primary purpose is to form a tight seal around the teeth and keep the base of the tooth as well as the roots safe and healthy. Plaque build-up will attack the teeth and eventually the gums. It will eat away at the gums and break that tight seal. The bacteria will then be able to settle on the base of the tooth and attack the roots as well as the gums as free will as it is now in a tough spot to get to. This will lead to bleeding, swelling, and sensitivity in the gums. 

The final kind of problem that can arise if you choose to neglect the dentist as well as brushing is staining. This one is not as serious as the previous two unless you like a pretty white smile. Drinking coffee, tea, soda, and smoking cigarettes will lead to this issue and leave you with an unattractive smile. An easy way to make sure this does not happen is to make sure you are brushing your teeth every day and night, as well as making sure to go to every dentist appointment that is scheduled. A professional dental cleaning can help remove these stains, but that is a lot of money and can be easily avoided by brushing your teeth. Some darker stains will require more specialized cleaning. A cosmetic dentist will need to work with you, and they will help get your teeth white but again, that is a lot of money. Way more than a simple cleaning. 

Going to the dentist can be a scary experience, but it is essential for your oral health. If you choose not to brush, floss, or even use mouth wash, then you are at risk of one if not all of these oral issues. Simply going to the dentist when appointments are required will help prevent and stop all of these diseases and problems. I personally do not like the dentist, but I make sure to go to every appointment as well as brush my teeth twice a day. 

Are you smiling enough to be healthy?

Smiling is one of the strongest natural drugs and guess what? It’s easy and free.No kidding, there are health benefits to having a smile on your face and it is actually pretty cool.  Being jolly can have added benefits in life and can not only be an emotional boost but a physical one as well.  I’m a huge advocate for smiling at complete strangers. You don’t have to be overly zealous about the smile. But if you go about your day without smiling or acknowledging anyone else, you may come off as a loner, an unhappy person, or even mean and unapproachable.

Is it fair that others make assessments about you like this? Not really. But you make the same assessments about others every day without probably noticing it. It’s just how humans read one another. The thing is, smiling does a heck of a lot more for your health than you may have originally considered. If you think you smile less than other people because you’re not as confident in your teeth, maybe it’s time to visit us so we can help restore your smile. 

With that said, here are a few things smiling can do for you, your social life, and even your health in general.  Because smiling is important and can be an emotional boost to your life and if you are afraid of smiling you may need some help.  That part is easy. Go and see your dentist.  Each of us has different needs and your dentist can really help out. 

It is not a surprise that smiling makes yo more productive.  If you are in a good mood then you can simply do more and be happy about it. 

The more you smile, the more you get done. Basically, your brain can be tricked into being more positive and happy, which is when you’re at your most creative and motivated. Don't brush off the idea of smiling for success.

Smiling can alter your brain and in the most positive of ways. Smiling from one day to the next can actually reteach your brain to be happier and more positive. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want this sort of change?

Smiling is free and can be contagious. Don't you want to help other people out?

 Think of the first response someone gives you when you smile at them. If you didn’t answer “Smile back”, then you were wrong. There’s some science behind why we do this, but basically, our brains learn to copy gestures when you see someone else doing it. If anything, others mean to say “I respect you, I’m similar to you, and we’re both equal.”

Smiling instills trust.  Those who frown all the time are not known to have the most trust.

Who would you rather trust? A) Someone who is pleasantly smiling and acknowledges your existence or B) someone who looks at you but doesn’t smile or really seem to care about you at all? Uh, yeah. It’s option A.

Smiling reduces stress and costs a whole lot less then therapy or drugs. The more you smile, the more you’re able to relax your facial muscles and calm your nervous system. This all leads to reduced stress and more oxygen in your brain. Endorphins are a seriously underrated chemical in your body.

 

Teeth Grills

 You’ve heard of grills used for barbecues, cars, and even bars and grills. But what about dental grills? You’ve probably seen them, and noticed that they’re popular, and very shiny. Some may wonder if there’s a way for you to get them.

Currently, the ADA says that there aren’t any studies that say that these are harmful, but there aren’t any studies that also prove that these are safe as well.

If you’re thinking of adding these to your mouth as a pretty accessory, here’s what we know about grills, and whether they’re the correct choice for you.

What are they?

They’re known as grills, and they’re shared a lot.  They came into pop culture because athletes and hip hop artists started to wear them on their social media posts. 

They’re usually removable for the most part, but some of them are permanent.

However, they usually include the following: 

• Are made from silver or gold and have jewels encrusted in them. 

• They get fitted over one tooth, or over multiple kinds of teeth

• Sometimes some people may mistake a crow for a grille due to the silver colors 

• They’re actually made by dentists 

• You can actually get these online or at a jewelers too if you want something cheaper, and a better option for DIY usage. 

The Risks of Grills 

There are a few risks of grills that you should be mindful of.

The first is the bacteria, debris, and the food getting trapped in between the grill and the teeth. This causes tooth decay, gum issues, and your breath gets bad 

They do have a glue that goes on these in order to attach them. This glue actually can harm the gums and the teeth in some cases depending on the formula.

There is the risk of abrasion that comes with this, as they do scrape the enamel that’s there off of your teeth, and this can put the teeth at risk for dental decay, along with sensitivity 

Some grills are made with metals and other alloys that can be quite problematic if you’re allergic to this.

It can also impact the way that you speak and chew, as they may be placed within the incorrect position, affecting the state of things. 

Caring for a grill 

If you plan to get a grill, here are some tips to make sure that the mouth and the grills are healthy and clean, and so that they last a long period of time.

First, if you’re going to wear a grill, remove this before you clean your teeth, or eat something.

Make sure that you keep up with your oral habits as they can help to get rid of the food and the plaque that’s there.

Clean up the grill itself on the daily so that debris and bacteria are removed

Wear the grill only a little bit, and don’t wear this all the time. It can impact the health of the teeth in a lot of cases as you start to wear this more often.

If you have an allergic reaction to the grill, or if you have some issues with the materials, talk to your dentist before you make sure that you use these, so that you don’t cause further problems.

Remember, while it’s trendy, there are issues with grills and wearing them. Keep them in mind when you decide to wear them and talk to your dentist before investing in a grill for your teeth, so that it helps keep your smile a lot longer, and also makes you look better too. 

Why It’s time to Start Taking Care of Your gums

Your gums might not seem like anything special, but gum health is actually really important. If your gums aren’t healthy, it can cause tooth decay, and other problems as well. it even ties into your overall health too. Here, we’ll dive into the importance of gum health, and steps you can take in order to have better gum health that lasts a long time. 

The Gums—why they’re Important 

Your gums might not seem like much, but they’re actually some of the most important parts of our mouth. 

They anchor your teeth and are what keep the bone in the jaw protected. They cover the bottom layers of the teeth, the roots. With their security your teeth stay.

It’s more than just that though. your gums are also intimately connected to other parts of the body. If garbage gets in them, it can seep into other parts of the body, putting you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other problems. 

Basically, without healthy gums you not only lose all your teeth, but you compromise your entire oral health system, which is a big problem. 

The types of Gum Disease 

When you brush your teeth, your gums shouldn’t bleed. But if they do, that’s a sign they might be unhealthy.   This is something that you should be mindful of, because if you notice it, talk to your dentist right away.

There is gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums.   This is where the bleeding and swollen gums come from, and generally is simple to fix.

But, as it goes on, you have periodontitis, which is a more advanced form of this. with periodontitis, there’s a chance of the teeth becoming loose and falling out, creating a lot of trouble for your oral health.

In general, you don’t want any of this, but know that periodontitis is preceded by gingivitis. 

How to maintain healthy gums 

There are certain ways to make sure that your gums are taken care of.

First, your daily habits. I know this should be obvious, but brushing and flossing is the most effective way to protect your gums. It gets rid of the plaque and debris, ultimately protecting the structures from further damage.   Simple enough, right? 

Your diet is another place you should look at. Most don’t talk about it, but the diet you have plays a huge part in your gum health. Sugars and starches, while they taste good, end up causing more harm than good as the damage grows.   Bacteria in the mouth feed off it, so if you give that to them, then it grows. This contributes to decay of not just the tooth, but the gums too.

Eating healthy foods such as greens and reducing the sugar you have is a great place to start. If you want to have a sweet treat, be sure to have water, and brush thirty minutes after consumption.

When to Get Treatment 

If you haven’t been seeing your dentist, you should go see them. They can clean off the tartar, which is a calcified plaque.

They can also give you treatment for gum disease. A deep cleaning or dental scaling is the first thing they’ll do. Usually these are painless, but you can ask for a little more to help ease the pain.

In serious situations, they might have to extract the teeth if it gets too bad, and then put in a bridge or implant.

Overall, gum disease is something that isn’t a joke, and you should be mindful of your gum health, taking care of it constantly.

Top Myths About Oral Health

You take care of your teeth a lot, but did you know that there are many misconceptions about the oral health you have. Sometimes these messages are improperly interpreted, and dental myths can pass for many generations. Let’s set this record straight with the top dental myths, and the misconceptions there. 

Sugar Causes Cavities 

It isn’t sugar itself that’s the major problem, but basically you’re feeding the bacteria that will eat this. sticky foods such as starches also will cause bacteria to thrive near the teeth. They’re basically producing acids that will cause tooth decay. So, the solution is to rinse and then brush after your meals in order to reduce the acid and the plaque buildup. 

Bleeding Gums are Normal! 

They’re not. They happen because of gum inflammation. When gums are inflamed, they bleed, simply because of too much plaque building up, and gingivitis settling in, along with gum disease and the like. If you find they’re bleeding a lot, talk to the dentist and get an exam. 

It’s Better to harder brush 

No, it’s actually not. In fact, it can undo a lot of the things you’re trying to do to your teeth, and if you brush too hard, it causes tooth trauma to the enamel and gum tissue. It eventually leads to gum recession, so make sure to brush two minutes, twice daily with soft-bristled toothbrushes. 

Flossing isn’t necessary 

It is! it’s an integral element to good oral health. With only about 20% of Americans flossing, most of the time less than half the people floss daily. But flossing removes up to 80% f the plaque in your mouth. The plaque deposits in the mouth contribute to tooth decay, but flossing aims to help with removal of the problems and can ultimately be the best way to eliminate the presence of bad bacteria. 

You can replace brushing with chewing gum. 

No you can’t. in fact, gum is not a replacement for brushing those teeth. Sure, some gum will be able to help with making sure you’ve got better breath and clean out the teeth. Some dentists even consider this to be a better alternative to candy, for those with a sweet tooth. But, while gum might be great for oral health, they don’t clean up in the manner that brushing the teeth will. 

White teeth Mean healthy Teeth 

That’s not always the case. Teeth will become white, but over time they’re discolored through damage and staining. 

While whitening is good for color, if there are underlying issues, it will impact the overall luster. If you notice this, then talk to the dentist right away, to find out just what you can do to make your teeth better. 

Charcoal toothpaste works better 

It is commonly marketed to people, but the reality of this is simple. Charcoal teeth aren't good as a protectant for teeth, and the toothpaste works against your teeth through absorbing those agents that are meant to keep the teeth nice and strong. 

Kids don’t have to brush their teeth. B

Ad oral health leads to a lifetime of problems, and sometimes, kids never develop the habit. They’ll lose these teeth that they have, and over time, it causes some major health issues. Tooth decay in kids does cause some big problems once the baby teeth are gone too, so keep that in mind. 

These myths are important to remember, and you should keep these in mind in order to have a happier, healthier smile, and to help solidify the idea of taking care of your teeth for the long haul too.

Two main kinds of Dental Dysplasia

Dental dysplasia is a condition that causes the tissue to look weird and form in weird ways, and it can have markedly bad effects on your oral health. If you do suffer from dentin dysplasia, you’ll want to definitely continue reading as you learn about the condition, ands the two best ways to treat this in order to make sure you’ve got the mental health that you can maintain and monitor. 

About Dentin 

You’ve got four parts of the tooth, and basically, you want to understand where each of these are. First is enamel, which is the protective outer part of the tooth which is above where your gums are. The second part is cementum, which is a protective outer layer that lays beneath your gums. Then there is dentin, which is basically underneath both of these and makes up the tooth . Finally, you’ve got pulp, which is the inner part of the tooth, where the nerves get stored. 

What Dysplasia is 

Dysplasia is basically a term that means that there are cells which are abnormal in your tissues and organs. With dentin dysplasia, it affects the dentin, causing abnormal growth. There are two types of dentin dysplasia, which we’ll go over here, and also about what happens in each location. 

Type I dentin dysplasia is called radicular dysplasia, which is basically where the tooth looks normal at the gumline, but underneath is where the problems lay as the roots developed badly, or not period, and this can usually look short, pointed, and also dark with an x-ray. 

This condition does impact the adult and baby teeth, and does result in tooth loss, and most who have this lose their teeth by 40 years old in most cases. The best way to handle this is to actually maintain your teeth health, and this can also be good for those who want to keep teeth from falling out. 

Endodontists also can help to trat the roots and pulp, and this can extend the length it lasts, but if you’re not sure whether this is right for you, talk to your dentist. The second types is type 2, where it affects your teeth crowns and the pulp chamber. According to this, it usually affects the primary teeth, and this is something that children develop/ 

When children have this, the baby teeth become translucent and also a yellow, grey, brown, or a brownish blue, and the pulp chambers do not exist. Adult teeth that are affected by this look normal, but the enamel is weak, and it can be chipped away. Usually, the pulp chambers with Type II actually have a flame look in x-rays and it shows the abnormal way the roots extend, and usually, there are stones or calcifications that appear here. 

There are also other disorders too that can actually cause similar symptoms. So what do you do in either of these cases? The best way to trat this is to talk to your doctor and actually find out what you can do through your dentist to help with extending the length of your teeth. This may involve more cleanings and procedures, and they may also discuss how to go about ensuring proper tooth replacement therapy, whether it’s dentures or other types of ways. 

The thing with dysplasia, you can work with your doctor in order to understand and properly treat this condition so that you can continue to live your life, even with this being a problem, and even if it isn’t easy for you to understand fully and totally handle as well.