Toothspot - All About Teeth

Tongue Anatomy      The inside of your mouth is covered by a delicate lining of mucous membrane. It is kept moist and lubricated by saliva, which is produced in three pairs of salivary glands in your mouth. These are the sublingual glands located under your tongue, the submandibular glands located in the floor of your mouth, and the parotid glands located above the angle of your jaw. Your tongue is composed of a complex system of muscles that enable it to move food around as you chew. The surface of your tongue is covered with hair-like projections called papillae with groups of tastebuds arranged in clusters around them. Your tastebuds can distinguish four main types of flavors: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. The majority of disorders affecting the mouth and tongue are not serious and are easy to treat. However, because it is possible for malignancies to form there, you should consult your physician or dentist of any condition persisting for more than two weeks.  We'r

The Jaws and Dental Arches The teeth are arranged in upper and lower arches. Those of the upper are called maxillary; those of the lower arch are called mandibular. The mandible is a horseshoe shaped bone which articulates with the skull by way of the temporomandibular joint, or the TMJ. Dentition Dentition is a term that describes all of the upper and lower teeth collectively. Clinically, there are three types of dentitions: The primary dentition consists of 20 teeth in all: ten upper and ten lower. Primary teeth are also called 'baby teeth, deciduous, or 'milk' teeth. Primary teeth begin to appear at about six months and are entirely replaced by permanent teeth by 12 to 13 years of age. The mixed dentition is the stage from ages 6 to 12  and is composed of both primary and permanent teeth. The permanent dentition is composed of 32 teeth in all, 16 upper and 16 lower. Types of dentition Homodont - Teeth that differ from each other only in size.

What foods Are Best For Your Teeth When you serve the occasional sweets, try to combine them with meals. Increased salivary flow during meals aids in neutralizing the damaging effects of sugar. When combined with starches such as toast and cereal, milk will actually neutralize tooth-damaging acid. Avoid soft, sticky sweets which remain on and between tooth surfaces (ie. toffee). Sticky foods that are retained in the mouth longer give bacteria additional time to dine; as a result, they produce more cavity-forming acid. If you can't brush after every snack and/or meal, at least try to rise for a few seconds with water. The key is to cut down on the acidity of the mouth. Avoid giving your child foods rich in sugar that stay in the mouth and prolong the acid attack (ie. hard candy, lollipops, gum). Instead, try offering snacks which are low in sugar. By offering your child a variety of foods such as grains, milk and milk products, meat, vegetables, and fruits you can often a

Pacifiers and Teeth If you notice that your child is beginning to suck their thumb or fingers during their first 3 months, you can introduce them to a pacifier. However, it’s important to buy a pacifier with a nipple made of rubber to avoid any trauma to the gums. Don’t allow them to use the pacifier around the clock; allow them to use it only when necessary.  It’s a good idea to check the pacifier daily for signs of wear. Like everything else, they don’t last forever. Your child could potentially choke on a piece of ripped pacifier. Also, it’s a bad idea to hang the pacifier around your child’s neck with a string. They could easily become entangled and choked. Choosing a Pacifier  Only purchase pacifiers which come as a single molded piece. Avoid using pacifiers assembled from multiple parts; should pieces become loose, there’s a risk of choking.   You should choose a pacifier which resembles the natural nipple as closely as possible. In rare cases, pacifier use can

First Visit To The Dentist Your child's first visit to the dentist should be before their first birthday . Bringing your child early to the dentist can lead to a lifetime of good oral care habits by properly acclimating your child to the dental office. There’s alot you can do to ensure your child’s first visit to the dentist will be a pleasurable one. Children are often full of questions on their first visit to the dentist. Entertain their curiosity by talking about the upcoming visit. Whatever you do, Don’t mention ‘needles’ or ‘that it won’t hurt’ - this may frighten your child. Instead, tell them that the dentist will count their teeth to see how many there are and maybe take some pictures of their  teeth as well. Your dental office or local library may have a book or two which you can read to your child about their first visit to the  dentist. Meeting the Dentist: Allow your child to accompany you when you visit the dentist. The dentist may have time to offer yo

Dental Emergencies Avulsed (knocked-out) Teeth: Deciduous (Baby) Teeth. If a deciduous tooth is avulsed, do not place it back in the socket. Deciduous teeth which have been replaced tend to fuse to the bony socket and present with difficulties when it's time for the tooth to exfoliate (fall-out). Also, there's a risk of damaging the permanent tooth underneath when the deciduous tooth is replaced. Permanent Teeth. If knocked-out, a permanent tooth can be replaced in the socket by your dentist; most have a fair chance of surviving. Every minute the tooth is out of the socket decreases the chance of its survival. First Aid Procedures: 1. Find the tooth. 2. Don't touch the tooth's roots. Handle the tooth only by its crown. 3. Don't attempt to clean the tooth. 4. Wrap the tooth lightly in glad wrap or store it in milk or in your mouth (just don't swallow it!) 5. Seek dental help immediately , it's essential that the tooth be replaced within