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Oral Health Nutrition

At any age, a complete oral health home program includes sound nutritional habits.  Many of the foods that help your body build strong muscles and bones also help build strong, healthy teeth and gums.

  1. Dairy products provide calcium and vitamin D for strengthening teeth and bones.
  2. Bread and cereals supply B vitamins for growth and iron for healthy blood, which in turn contributes to healthy gum tissue.
  3. Fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C (among other important vitamins) are essential to maintaining healthy gums.
  4. Lean meat, fish, poultry and beans provide iron and protein for overall good health, and magnesium and zinc for teeth and bones.
  5. And if you are among thousands of Irish people who smoke, your dental hygienist will educate you about the hazards of tobacco and work with you to establish a smoking cessation program.

Gum Disease

Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) is caused by a bacterial infection.

In its early stages it is called gingivitis and this is totally reversible.  However, if this is left untreated it can lead to periodontal disease which effects the gum tissues, bone and supporting tissues of the teeth.

Warning Signs:

  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Tender gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Loose teeth
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Pain when chewing
  • Pus around the teeth and gums
  • Tartar (brown hard deposits) forming on the teeth

Prevention:

  • Visit the dental hygienist regularly
  • Good oral hygiene
  • Don’t smoke
  • Having a nutritional balanced diet

Adolescent Oral Health

Good nutrition and oral hygiene care practised at home are particulary important during the teen years.  Proper diet, brushing and flossing play an important role in maintaining a healthy smile and preserving teeth during these challenging years.

Cavities and periodontal disease can be a threat to teens as well as adults.  Recent survey results show that bleeding gums were most prevalent among adolescents.

Our dental hygienists recommend these tips:

  • Be sure to brush thoroughly after meals whenever possible and floss daily.  Busy schedules and activities can encourage snacking.  That is why choosing a proper diet will help you to maintain and preserve your teeth.
  • If you wear custom-made appliances, or braces, pay special attention to keeping spaces between the teeth and wires clean by using floss threaders.  Orthodontic toothbrushes are specially designed to make cleaning teeth and braces easier.

Proper Brushing

Proper brushing is essential for cleaning teeth and gums effectively.  Use a toothbrush with soft, nylon, round-ended bristles that will not scratch and irritate teeth or damage gums.

  1. Place bristles along the gumline at a 45-degree angle.  Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline.
  2. Gently brush the outer tooth surfaces of 2-3 teeth using a vibrating back and forth rolling motion.  Move the brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat.
  3. Maintain a 45-degree angle with the bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline.  Gently brush using back, forth and rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces.
  4. Tilt the brush vertically behind the front teeth.  Make several up and down strokes using the front half of the brush.
  5. Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back and forth scrubbing motion.  Brush the tongue from back to front to remove odor-producing bacteria.
  6. Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months.  Researchers have established that thousands of microbes grow on toothbrush bristles and handles.  Most are harmless, but others can cause cold and flu viruses and bacteria that can cause periodontal infections.

Top Tip Guide For 2011

  1. For consistent cleaning, brush your teeth and gums at the same time everyday, e.g. before breakfast and before going to bed.
  2. Only use the recommended amount of toothpaste and ensure all teeth and gums are cleaned thoroughly.  You can use different sized interdental brushes to clean plaque from inaccessible areas.  Use plaque check tablets weekly to check if your technique is good.
  3. Make a special effort to quit smoking.  Smoking is a major cause of bad breath, stained teeth, tooth loss and oral cancer.
  4. Change your toothbrush every three months.  Remember a toothbrush is not for life, it’s just for three months.
  5. Make sure to floss twice daily.
  6. Use a high quality toothpaste that provides protection for your teeth and gums.
  7. Reduce your intake of high sugar content foods.  Keep snacks between meals to low-sugar or sugar-free foods.
  8. Make a resolution to visit your dentist regularly so that small problems can be resolved before they become bigger, more complicated and expensive.
  9. Arrange preventative fissure sealants for children reaching the age of six or seven as directed by the dentist.  Follow up at six months intervals.
  10. If you notice ulcers or lumps in your mouth or neck persisting for more than a week, arrange to have an oral cancer screening appointment with the dentist.

Dental Health and Your Child’s Teeth

The following chart shows when your child’s primary teeth (also called baby teeth) should erupt and fall out.  It is important to note that eruption times can vary from child to child.

Primary Teeth Development Chart

Upper Teeth      When tooth emerges       When tooth falls out

Central Incisor        8 to 12 months                          6 to 7 years

Lateral Incisor        9 to 13 months                          7 to 8 years

Canine                 16 to 22 months                       10 to 12 years

First Molar             13 to 19 months                       9 to 11 years

Second Molar         25 to 33 months                      10 to 12 years

Lower Teeth           

Central Incisor          6 to 10 months                     6 to 7 years

Lateral Incisor         10 to 16 months                     7 to 8 years

Canine                  17 to 23 months                     9 to 12 years

First Molar            14 to 18 months                      9 to 11 years

Second Molar        23 to 31 months                     10 to 12 years 

As seen from the chart, the first teeth begin to break through the gums at about 6 months of age.  Usually, the first two teeth to erupt are the two bottom front teeth (central incisors).  Next, the top four front teeth emerge.  After that, other teeth slowly begin to fill in, usually in pairs – one each side of the upper or lower jaw until all 20 teeth (10 in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw) have come in by the time the child is 2 and a half to 3 years old.  The complete set of baby teeth is in the mouth from the age of 2 and a half to 3 years of age to 6 to 7 years of age.

A general rule of thumb is that for every 6 months of life, approximately 4 teeth will erupt.  Girls generally precede boys in tooth eruption.  Lower teeth usually erupt before upper teeth.  Baby teeth are smaller in size and whiter in colour than the permanent teeth that will follow.

Shortly after age 4, the jaw and facial bones of the child begin to grow, creating spaces between primary teeth.  This is a perfectly natural growth process that provides the necessary space for the larger permanent teeth to emerge.  Between the ages of 6 and 12, a mixture of both primary teeth and permanent teeth reside in the mouth.

While it’s true that primary teeth are only in the mouth for a short period of time, they play a vital role in the following ways:

  • They reserve space for the permanent teeth
  • They give the face its normal appearance
  • They aid in the development of clear speech
  • They help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make if difficult to chew causing children to reject foods)
  • They help to give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in the baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent teeth developing beneath it)

 Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart

Upper Teeth                 When tooth emerges

Central Incisor                 7 to 8 years

Lateral Incisor                  8 to 9 years

Canine                           11 to 12 years

First Premolar                  10 to 11 years

Second Premolar              10 to 12 years

First Molar                      12 to 13 years

Wisdom Teeth                  17 to 21 years

Lower Teeth                When tooth emerges

Central Incisor                  6 to 7 years

Lateral Incisor                  7 to 8 years

Canine                          9 to 10 years

First Premolar                 10 to 12 years

Second Premolar              11 to 12 years

First Molar                      6 to 7 years

Second Molar                  11 to 13 years

Wisdom Teeth                17 to 21 years

Very often the central incisors will come into the mouth inside the baby teeth.  This is not unusual and they will be pushed forward by the tongue as they come into the mouth.  Permanent teeth begin to come in around the age of 6.  In some children, the first permanent molars are the first to emerge, in others the incisors are the first to emerge.  By the age of 13, most of the 28 permanent teeth will be in place.  One to four wisdom teeth emerge between the ages of 17 and 21, bringing the total number of permanent teeth up to 32.