Teething Troubles- Femina

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Your worst nightmare: At 40, you need dentures! Well, your teeth will age, but they don't have to fall out. Rohini Bhatia Singh helps you prevent a mid-life dental crisis

FROM Julia Roberts to Madhuri Dixit, we've seen that a dazzling smile with bright shiny teeth scores at the box office, helps at a job interview, and definitely doesn't drive away a delicious kiss. "Your teeth tell a story," says Dr Sunil Bhoolabhai, a Mumbai-based cosmetic dentist. "A proper oral regime is not just important for a beautiful smile, but also for health," adds Dr Bhoolabhai. "Brushing, flossing and rinsing after each meal would be an ideal beginning to good dental hygiene," adds Dr Reshma Shah of 32 Reasons, a Dental Clinic in Mumbai.

There are four basic dental problem areas: Plaque and tartar related problems, gum diseases, normal wear and tear of the teeth, diet and overall lifestyle. Dr Sagar Shah emphasises, "Diagnosis plays a crucial role in treating cases." Here is a list of dos and don'ts for combating age-related dental problems you might face.

Plaque
Most dental problems are plaque-related. Plaque is a bacteria-harbouring film that forms on your teeth. As you age, more tartar forms (hardened plaque) that is tough to clean. Of course, today's ultra-sonic cleansers work better than the old-fashioned hand scalars. Still, you need to prevent bacteria from settling on your teeth. To do so, you need to brush, floss and rinse thoroughly after meals. Dentists also suggest clean-ups every six months. If you don't remove the tartar, it leads to the mobility of the teeth, which can eventually lead to teeth removal and gum problems.

Gum Disease
It's normal to have slight inflammation of the gums. However, when tartar accumulates, it can set the stage for gum diseases. These can cause loss of bony foundation and lead to mobility and/or loss of teeth. To fix it, you may need flap surgery that involves opening the gums and cleaning them. More gory and severe forms of gum disease exist like pyorrhea (pus in the gums) due to severe neglect and lack of treatment.

TIP: To prevent pyorrhea, rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse regularly. It helps harden the outer layer of the tooth enamel, prevent the occurrence of cavities and keeps the gums healthy and clean.

Bad Breath
A sure romance killer! Bad breath can occur due to several reasons: If you have pieces of food stuck in your mouth, or if you suffer from ulcers, acidity, sinusitis, or haven't eaten or drunk for long hours. Proper hygiene is the best solution, as is chewing gum.

Wear and Tear
This is expected, as you get older. Depending on your lifestyle and environment, your teeth could yellow or wear down in places like the ridge (cusp). Teeth wear down almost 30 per cent between the ages of 18 to 40 and it's more visible among women. Also, smoking, drinking colas and eating food that is high in sugar or acid content or bad quality food colours, damages and discolours your teeth.

To fix yellow or discoloured teeth, you could go for whitening or bleaching treatments. Or opt for restorative veneers, or in some cases, implants. One of the greatest achievements in modern dental medicine has been the invention of sealants, a clear protective coating used to cover the tooth. Sealants are used to cover the pits and fissures of the back teeth that are especially cavity-prone. By filling in the cusps of the teeth, you have a better chance of avoiding cavities.

Tooth Off
Your teeth fall when the bony foundation weakens to the point that your teeth drift or gaps form. If you don't replace the fallen teeth, you lose the lip support, which may lead to drooping lips and later, wrinkles. Sounds ghastly? Well, no worries.

Your options for teeth replacement include bridges, implants and dentures. These aren't as tacky as the ones our grandparents used. There are implants now that use a titanium cylinder upon which a new tooth is built. High tech enough for you?

They are different than using a bridge as you don't need to grind the adjacent teeth. However, they are to be used with caution, as other health risks have to be taken into consideration.
Dentures can be used to replace missing teeth provided there is an adequate bony foundation for them to remain stable upon.

Needless to say everyone likes to look his or her best at any age. "Good dental care is one of the most important aspects of any beauty regime," summarises Dr Reshma Shah.

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