Thursday, February 7, 2013 khaleej times KHALEEJ TIMES A DV E RT I S I N G SUPPLEMENT
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Make it a habit Poor oral hygiene can lead to painful dental experiences Farhana Chowdhury
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t is probably the first thing you do when you wake up every morning, and the last thing before you snooze into a deep slumber for the night. Dental care is an essential aspect of everyday care. Toddlers usually learn the basics at home or school where a family member or a teacher shows the correct way to brush their teeth and motivate the child to make it a habit. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, they say, and oral hygiene is just a step towards better health. Supermarkets and various outlets boast a variety of brands in products ranging from toothbrushes, toothpastes and mouthwashes to interdental brushes, tongue cleaners and dental floss. With different flavours and content created for different types of teeth, people are spoilt for choice. There are also special products targeted at people with sensitive teeth, offering relief while maintaining dental care. While dentists recommend brushing three times a day, many fail to go beyond once. Laziness, lack of proper information on dental care, or even poor family habits may cause one to skip the basics, which eventually leads to tooth erosion and other related problems. Tooth decay, gingivitis, bad breath, periodontitis and oral cysts pose high dangers and sometimes solutions mainly include tooth extraction, which can be a painful and traumatic experience. Lack of certain vitamins can also affect
the condition of the oral cavity. Scurvy is a deficiency of vitamin C that affects the gums. As you savour that delicious meal, food particles do tend to get stuck between the teeth. It also forms a yellow, sticky film over teeth and gums known as plaque. This attracts bacteria that feed on the leftover bits and release acid, which eats through the enamel, destroying the tooth structure. Most cases start showing up after months or years of neglect where cavities and infection affect, not only the aesthetic condition of teeth, but also causes great pain in the nerves and affects other parts of the oral cavity. According to a survey conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in 2011, dental care takes up only five per cent of the pie chart as residents see other diagnosis groups far more important. Part of this reason may be because of the lack of insurance policies covering dental check-ups. The consultation itself tends to be expensive enough followed by several follow-up visits, enough to drive residents away and resort to over-the-counter painkillers to ease their suffering. As always, prevention is better than cure. Ensure you brush thrice a day — before and after meals. Following a proper brushing technique with a good toothbrush will also help remove particles and keep teeth clean. Fluoride, present in all toothpastes, helps remineralise the lost surface and makes the tooth more resistant to bacteria attacks. Bad breath is another common concern among individuals, as it can bring about a negative impact during social gatherings and cause awkward situations during faceto-face interactions. Sugar-free chewing gums come as a saviour
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and are formulated with special ingredients that help balance the pH levels in the mouth and helps remineralise teeth. The minty freshness temporarily helps get rid of the odour. While these along with breath strips line shelves and cashier counters, nothing comes close to the age-old tradition of brushing teeth. There are brushes with different kinds of bristles customised to reach and clean different parts of the mouth during brushing. Inter-dental brushes help pick out food bits stuck in the gaps of teeth close to the gums, while tongue cleaners help scrape away decay-
ing food particles as well as the white or yellow coating of the bacteria that cause foul odour, fungi and dead cells. UAE health authorities have several campaigns that encourage people to maintain proper dental care. Schoolchildren often receive special lectures and visits in their classrooms from a certified dentist in an attempt to pass down good habits. They are also given colourful gift packages that typically include a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss to encourage them to practice oral hygiene. — farhana@khaleejtimes.com
Swedish Dental Clinic
Prevention is better than cure Besides routine care of your teeth visiting the dentist is key to good oral healthcare World renowned Danish pianist and comedian Victor Borge once said, “A smile is the shortest distance between two people”. We all strive for healthy, beautiful smiles. While some are born with perfect teeth, others have them “remade or enhanced” with crowns or veneers, but we all have to look after them. Most people now recognise that
daily hygiene and regular visits to the dentist can prevent problems such as dental decay (caries) and gum disease (periodontitis), but research shows that our teeth and mouth have a more direct link to our general health than previously thought. Direct associations have been made between poor oral hygiene and disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, complications during pregnancy and even male impotence. Prevention is better than cure, so remember to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Use floss and interdental brushes regularly, and make sure to see your dentist every six months.
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Sketching the smile LooksWoow offers the best advice on dental treatment options and improves your oral well-being LooksWooW is a state-ofthe-art dental clinic located in the heart of Dubai on the ground floor of the iconic Dubai Mall. It is designed with modern interiors and equipped with advanced dental equipment to deliver exceptional dental services to achieve everlasting smiles. Apart from offering a full range of dental services, LooksWoow specialises in cosmetic dentistry ranging from revolutionary 3D Teeth Whitening System to complete smile makeovers to making you resemble Hollywood stars. The clinic uses the best materials and quality is always guaranteed. LooksWoow is home to highly-professional, licensed and well trained dentists who give patients the focused attention they deserve and the best advice on dental treatment options that best suits the smile. Dentists, staff and laboratory technicians all work to fulfill and achieve one goal: Improve your oral well-being. The sleek and soothing interiors of the clinic are sure to impart the feeling of being in a spa rather than a dental facility— rejuvenated with the ‘Woow’ effect.
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khaleej times Thursday, February 7, 2013
Dental Care anD Oral Hygiene
khaleej times / ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Improve dental health while on the go
Chewing sugarfree gum can be an important defence mechanism to help protect your teeth from decay DoctorMaisAlaswad
Latha Krishnan EvEryonE enjoys chewing gum! Chewing gum freshens our breath and some say that it even helps them concentrate better at work. But how many people know that chewing sugarfree gum, such as Extra by Wrigley, can help keep teeth healthy? Clinical trials have demonstrated that chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking can benefit teeth and overall oral health. Several dental associations around the world now recognise the scientific evidence supporting the oral care benefits of chewing
sugarfree gum. According to the WOHP (Wrigley Oral Health Programme), numerous studies, research, and clinical trials have consistently demonstrated the beneficial effect of chewing sugarfree gum in helping to reduce tooth decay. Doctor Mais Alaswad, the WOHP Representative in the UAE, affirms, “Chewing sugarfree gum can be an important defence mechanism to help protect your teeth from decay. This works by stimulating saliva production, remineralising tooth enamel to strengthen teeth, neutralising
plaque acids, and cleaning the mouth of food debris.” Before eating and drinking, the plaque pH on the teeth is at a normal level and the teeth are safe from damage caused by plaque acids. After eating and drinking, bacteria in the plaque releases acids and the plaque pH level on the teeth decreases. This can cause the minerals in the tooth’s enamel to be dissolved (demineralisation) giving rise to initial lesions (white spots) which can over time weaken the teeth, and can lead to tooth decay. Brushing the teeth after eating and drinking cleans the mouth of food particles and, in addition, restores the plaque pH level on the teeth. But in those situations when brushing is not possible, chewing sugarfree gum can help. Research shows chewing sugarfree gum for 20 minutes after meals and snacks has been proven to reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly 40 per cent. It increases the production of saliva, which can help clean the mouth of food particles and, in addition, can help neutralise plaque acids on teeth that may damage the enamel. This returns the plaque pH level on the teeth to a point at which damaged enamel may be repaired. This process, called remineralisation, ultimately helps strengthen your teeth. Stimulating the production of saliva is of vital importance. Absence of saliva in the mouth (dry mouth/Xerostomia) can cause difficulty in eating, uncomfortable swallowing, general mouth discomfort, poor tasting ability, denture problems, increased tooth
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Research shows chewing gum for 20 minutes after meals and snacks can reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly 40 per cent
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decay and potential speech difficulties. Sugarfree gum aids in saliva production in the mouth and delivers enhanced oral health. Along with visiting the dentist regularly, brushing twice a day
Along with visiting the dentist regularly, brushing twice a day and flossing daily, chewing sugarfree gum is a quick, easy way to improve oral health between meals, and is ideal for the Middle East’s ‘on the go’ lifestyle
and flossing daily, chewing sugarfree gum is a quick, easy way to improve oral health between meals and snacks, and is ideal for the Middle East’s ‘on the go’ lifestyle.
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