Did you know that tooth decay has different stages & in the initial stages it can be reversed or prevented from progressing further. This article will educate you about the stages of tooth decay (Internationally accepted way of staging tooth decay), when not to treat, when to reverse, when to prevent tooth decay, when to do what treatment in brief. These stages have to be diagnosed by a dentist & then the appropriate action can be instituted. International Caries Detection & Assessment System Stage 0 – Is a normal, healthy tooth & does not need any treatment Stages of Prevention Stage 1 – Is initial stage where you see white spots on drying the tooth. This stage of tooth decay can be reversed (remineralized) by using particular in-home agents used by patient, which can reverse the process. Stage 2 – This stage is when you see white spots without drying the tooth. This stage of tooth decay can be arrested with the use of few agents. Stage 3 – This stage is when you see deep pits & grooves, which show some discoloration at their base. Left alone without treatment, it goes into the next stage needing filling. At this stage of tooth decay, the dentist will fill the pits & grooves with sealant materials stopping the decay process & preventing further progression of tooth decay. Stages needing Treatment Stage 4 – This stage shows discoloration in the pits & grooves with softness at the base due to decay. Mild cavity may be seen & this stage of tooth decay needs small fillings by the dentist. Stage 5 – This stage shows a well formed cavity & will need a routine filling to be done by the dentist. Stage 6 – Extensive decay touching the nerve area at the center of the tooth. This will require root canal treatment by the dentist followed by filling & crown to strengthen the tooth. Any further progression from this stage, the tooth would require removal & replacement with artificial means. So, it is very important for all the individuals to visit dentists every year for a check up & as soon as the decay is detected the dentist would advice appropriate prevention or treatment measures. The motto of a dentist is always to prevent tooth decay, which is possible only when the patient cooperates by maintaining good oral hygiene & early detection of decay in its first 3 stages that happens during his regular visits to the dentist. I will end this article with a saying – “Dentistry is not expensive, but the Neglect is”.

Some of the medicines that you may consume on a regular basis comes with inevitable side effects, including swelling of gums. Gums can overgrow to an extent that covers a major portion of the teeth, following the consumption of medicines against seizures (commonly called as ‘FITS’), high blood pressure and those given for organ transplant patients. Poor oral hygiene can add to this effect and push you towards severe gum disease. A dentist can help you detect this problem & request the physician for substitution of medicines whenever possible. Frequent dental visits and meticulous oral hygiene becomes mandatory sometimes to treat this issue. The professional dental help will also help resolve all the associated gum diseases in such conditions.

Smoking weakens and suppresses you body’s ability to fight an infection. People who smoke are 2-7 times more likely to develop gum disease. Smoking delays healing of gums leading to severe form of gum disease, causing loosening of teeth & their loss. The problems associated with smoking do not stop here, but also hinders response to treatment provided in any form. This can result in higher chances of failure of therapy, with loss of time, effort & money too.

Bad breathe results from accumulation of odour producing bacteria due to improper maintenance of oral cleanliness that can further cause gum disease or even pus accumulation in severe cases. While 90% of reasons to bad breathe originate in the mouth (tooth decay, gum disease, pus in the mouth food lodgement, coated tongue etc), consumption of food containing onions and garlic, smoking, medicines and general health problems are other reasons. This is because of drying of the mouth or accumulation of several chemical compounds in the body that is breathed out. Bad breathe can thus indicate towards diabetes, liver diseases, kidney diseases, gastric problems or sinusitis.

Did you know that a good oral health is essential for a good overall health? Its true & has been recognized my modern science too. Careful monitoring of your oral health can present clues about your general health. Poorly maintained oral health contributes to the development of diabetes, high blood pressure, certain heart diseases, pneumonia and other lung diseases, pregnancy complications like premature birth of babies etc by the spread of bacteria and its harmful substances from the gums into the blood. Adequate care of the mouth, teeth & gums can help improve or prevent these complications. Furthermore 90% of general health problems like diabetes, stress, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, metal toxicity affects the gums and the mouth and present with specific signs. Thus frequent dental visits can help identify early signs of these conditions, treat them, prevent them & thus creating a healthy mouth with a healthy body.

Bleeding from gums may be spontaneous or triggered by brushing or chewing. It results from inflamed and / or infected gums most commonly. It can also bleed due or injury from sharp food or burns etc. Though, these are the most common causes occurring in the mouth, gum bleeding can also occur as a result of general health problems including problems in the blood, abnormalities in blood clotting, vitamin C or K deficiencies & in those people who are taking blood thinner drugs like aspirin, clopidogrel etc. If left untreated, the disease of the gums spreads to supporting bone causing weakening of the teeth & its loss. So, if proper care is provided as soon as bleeding gums are detected, we will be able to save further damage to gums, teeth & bone surrounding the teeth.

A great proportion of the population who do not take care of their daily oral hygiene tend to develop disease of the gums. This can progress and result in detachment of gums from the teeth creating pockets between gums & teeth. This will create an environment favourable for the growth of more disease causing bacteria and eventually loss of bone that supports the teeth. If the disease is left untreated, it can advance towards weakening of the teeth and ultimately its loss. The problem does not stop here, but the infection gets released into the blood causing issues of general health too.

Teeth are often associated with beauty and health. However, cavities and infections can grow within a perfectly white tooth, hidden from naked eye. Individual differences in enamel thickness and shade, can present as colours other than white, which are natural. However, the teeth are considered unhealthy if the change in colour is attributed to microbial build-up or staining. Furthermore, excessively white teeth may point towards certain other teeth problems. Healthy gums are specified as firm, pink, and that generally don’t bleed with routine brushing and flossing. Diseased gums may be pinkish red, cherry red, bluish red, or may present with blue, purple areas or may spontaneously bleed. However diffuse darkening of gums need not be a sign of disease and may reflect your genes or your skin colour.

Did you know that, it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 muscles to smile. The teeth start to form even before we are born. Abnormalities in teeth and mouth can direct towards certain diseases initiated as early as pregnancy. Once completely established, the dentition, the gums, the tongue and their health or diseased conditions can either contribute to general health problems and or may reveal signs of some other underlying diseases (Refer 5). In a fully erupted tooth, while only 1/3 to ½ of it is exposed to the mouth, the remaining is submerged and any infection to the teeth and its surrounding gums (Refer 3) can easily spread to the surrounding areas and even distant organs through the blood.

When you’re looking for a new dentist, you’re searching for more than someone to just clean your teeth. Your oral health is such an important part of your overall health as oral health is an integral part to have good overall health. So it is important for every patient to have a dental home with a good family dentist, which is always there providing the best dental care for you and your family. Having a dental home with a caring family dentist allows you to feel comfortable when you’re having a regular visit, or for any additional treatments that you take. It gives you a safe and trusted place to turn for a procedure or dental emergency. This makes it so much important for you to find the best dental clinic for you and your family. Dentist should be a Partner of general health care team We now know from the latest research that your dental health has an impact on your overall health. Taking this into account, a dentist should be a part of your general health care team.  Look for someone who can be a trusted advisor to turn to when health issues arise and a partner to make dental care decisions as a part of whole team. To do this, he should be a knowledgeable person, a team worker & a caring person. Meet and Greet A few questions you might ask yourself before deciding on getting a treatment at a clinic – Is the dentist caring? Does the dentist listen to your concerns with patience? Does he give correct treatment advice with details about number of appointments & treatment charges.  Does he understand your issues and answers all your questions? Will the dentist explain ways to help you prevent your dental health problems? Is dental health instruction provided? Will your medical and dental history be recorded and placed in a permanent file or on software? To find the right dentist, don’t be shy about calling or visiting the dentists on your list before deciding. Schedule a consultation time with the dentist to meet with the dentist and staff before taking any treatment. You’ll also be able to see if the clinic is welcoming, comfortable and neat. This step, I say is the most important one, because don’t just select any dentist, but select someone who will be your caring family dentist taking care of your dental health for long term. So, don’t feel bad to visit 2 or 3 shortlisted places based on the tips given below. You may select one of them based on the visit experience. Once you have selected the dentist, if there are no emergency procedures involved, get some simple things done first like teeth cleaning, simple fillings etc. These few appointments also will give you an idea about how good is the dentist with his treatments. This exploration is an investment that you do for your own dental health. Useful tips on how to select your family dentist who cares for you – Launch a search on google to check out the – Profile of the doctor, Clinic facilities on their website & Reviews of the patients. It will give you an idea about the dentist you would like to visit. A trusted friend or a relative says they like their dentist, check them out! Doctor-patient communication is very important. Research the Dentist’s Credentials Consider the Dentist’s Experience If you find some impressive dentists or clinics in your search, shortlist few of them & fix-up an appointment with them for a general consultation. Meet them personally & get your problem diagnosed & treatment planned. If you get a good feeling about the dentist in this appointment, fix up an appointment for some simple procedures & when you feel convinced about the dentist, go ahead with the more complex treatment procedures. Though, this takes little extra effort, it is worth an investment as it is a long term relation that you are looking for.