Oral Health is Overall Health

March 28, 2017April 6, 2017 admin Leave a comment

Often, as children, we were encouraged and compelled by our parents to ensure that we brushed and flossed our teeth twice a day. Although many of us back then might not have understood the insistence of our parents to inculcate these habits into us, as we got older we started to appreciate the good oral hygiene habits that we were exposed to.

1. Why is oral hygiene necessary?

Our oral and maxillofacial (jaws and face) components consist of 32 adult teeth and the upper and lower gums. When referring to oral health and oral hygiene, it is generally understood to reflect the condition of the teeth and gums.

The oral and maxillofacial cavity forms the starting point of our digestive system. Without the process of chewing of the jaws and the teeth, we would not be able to eat or digest the food that is necessary for our sustenance. In order to ensure that the rest of our body maintains its functions using the nutrition we derive from food, we first need to ensure that our teeth and gums are pain free and well maintained. Poorly managed oral hygiene can lead to conditions such as cavities, loss of teeth and gum inflammation that hinder our ability to eat healthy food.

The hindrance to eating however only forms the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the detrimental effects of poor oral hygiene. Some of the most common oral diseases and conditions are:

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Tips for Finding a Good Dentist in Dubai

October 21, 2016December 21, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Regular dental care is of paramount importance in order to ensure that you are not afflicted by any short or long term dental disorder that could have been preventable had you seen a dentist in time. However, it is even more important that you get yourself and your family members checked by a dentist in
Dubai that you trust and one that is good at their job. Listed below are a few tips that we think might help you choose the right dentist in Dubai for your dental needs:

Check your dental insurance policy.Your insurance company may have a list of approved healthcare providers. If so, this will make your search for a good dentist in Dubai easier because you won’t have as many offices to choose from.

Ask your primary healthcare provider.Your doctors are a good place to start a search for a good dentist in Dubai. They will likely have had numerous patients who have attended each dentist in the area and may have heard about their experiences. They may also be aware of the area dentists’ reputations in the medical community.

Ask family, friends, and neighbours. Your family and friends also have a dentist in Dubai that they rely on, so they will be able to make a recommendation. This is the best way to get an honest review of a dentist since you know whether they have any bias.

Check the internet: This may not be the most reliable source since there are many internet reviews with ulterior motives; however, you may be able to get a wider range of reviews in this case. Though there may be overwhelmingly positive and negative reviews, look at the median experience. Since there are two sides to every story, try not to discount a dentist based on one or two bad internet reviews alone.

Consider the convenience factor: Plug the address of the dentist in Dubai into a map software and see how long it will take you to get there. Look at how close it is to your work or your children’s schools to see if it is convenient to travel to the office after or before work or school.

Look for dentists in Dubai that meet your needs.You may only need a general care dentist; however, it is helpful to know the classifications. A dentist that targets a variety of specialities will also be helpful if you develop more complicated issues down the road.

Periodontics: This is a branch of dentistry that treats special conditions in the gums and jaw. They will deal with loose teeth that might need to be extracted.
Orthodontics: These practices are concerned with misaligned teeth. They fit you with braces, and generally don’t do basic tooth cleanings.
Endodontics: These practices perform special procedures involving root canals, cracked teeth, and more.
Paediatric dentistry: Your children will need someone who is qualified in paediatrics. Ask the practice if they clean children’s teeth as well as adults.
Prosthodontics: These practices specialise in creating prosthetic teeth and other parts of your mouth.

Dental Health – Gateway To A Healthy Body

June 2, 2016June 2, 2016 admin Leave a comment

Maintaining a good Oral or dental Health is the mantra to an overall good health.

Poor oral health has been associated with heart disease, stroke, pregnancy complications and other health problems, but by changing certain habits, you can improve your oral health and reduce the risks.

Maintaining good health does not only mean brushing your teeth, but also making sure you brush twice a day, floss, and rinse with mouthwash so as to ensure every surface of the mouth is cleaned.

It’s necessary to visit the dentist regularly (every 6 months) to get rid of any problems at an early stage than to wait for a toothache which will eventually take you to the Dentist.

What you eat also affects your oral health

Who doesn’t love eating sugary candies, chocolates, and pastries! But it must be understood that worse happens for the oral health when we don’t clean the mouth after feasting on them.

Soft drinks with soda, which are a combination of sugar and acids, have bad effects on the teeth and they should be avoided.

It has also been observed that some people believe that chips/wafers are not sweet so it’s not bad for the teeth and most parents do not stop their kids from consuming the same.

But the fact is, no matter what food we eat or drink, even milk, which is good for teeth and gums it is very important to brush and floss after consumption of any food material or at least thoroughly rinsing the mouth with water, which will remove the food debris and thus prevent cavities.

What to eat for good oral health

As we all have heard that Calcium is good for teeth and gums. Calcium is found in dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, also in fish like sardines & salmon and in vegetables like broccoli and kale.

Citrus fruits like oranges, apples grapefruits, kiwi are very good for healthy gums as they contain vitamin C. Green leafy vegetables and drinking plenty of water also affects the oral health and overall health in a positive manner.

We should always remember that – Prevention is Better than Cure, so visit your dentist every six months and take care of your health.

Dr. Harish Narain

Department of Dentistry,

Aster Al Raffah Hospital, Muscat.