19 May
Beautiful Smile, Whitening

Bleaching: How I Whiten A Single Discoloured Tooth

Single Discoloured Tooth

Do you have a friend who has a weird colour tooth?

Have you wondered why?

Or are you one of them who hopes to find a solution?

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Here is the solution: Internal bleaching – a procedure to whiten the dead tooth from within.

Chris’s experience with internal bleaching

Chris had this discoloured tooth accompaniment since forever.

She always had this doubt why is it so, but she never actively looks for a solution.

Until recently when she came to me and I propose this solution and she agrees.

The whole procedures took about a month to complete.

She came about three times in between for me to carry out the procedure.

Each time when Chris came, I would put some whitening gel into the tooth, and she could go home within about 5 minutes. It is a total pain free procedure that is quick and easy to carry out.

 

Who are the suitable candidates for this procedure?
  1. Root canal treated tooth that discoloured.
  2. Tooth that had trauma before
  3. A tooth that without reason turn darker over time

If you have been troubled by this situation, the best is to go to see a dentist for consultation to be sure that if this could be your solution.

 

With Love,

Gwen Gan

 

19 May
Children Dentistry

Baby Teeth: When Does Baby’s First Tooth Come In?

First, congratulation of your new-born!

By the time you are checking on this topic, your baby is probably about 6 months of age and you just cannot get over with how fast your baby changes and develops.

Out of all the developmental milestones, having the first baby tooth is one of the most exciting achievement that you want to celebrate about.

BUT WHY?

 

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BABY FIRST TOOTH?

The appearance of the first tooth means more teeth are coming!

Your baby is now more ready to chew food.

After drinking milk for 6 months or some purees for the past few months, baby is eager to explore the world, taste the food and to join you and the family at dining table.

Other than the abovementioned, there are more reasons of why we should be exciting about baby teething:

  1. With teeth, they are now ready to eat more variety of food and that means nutrients for them to grow.
  2. Chewing solid food means encouraging the jaw to grow.
  3. They are ready to join us at the dining table and start picking up social skills and table etiquette.
  4. Psychologically, they are eager to imitate us to do what we are doing.
  5. Finally, is time to start speaking. (You need teeth to speak and pronounce word properly)

 

When Does Baby’s First Tooth Come In?

Everyone is different in this. A general rule is 6 months.

At about 6 months old, the two lower central incisors come in.

The location is right at the centre of the lower jaw, and they normally come in pair.

The diagram below shows the timing of when the baby teeth erupt (comes in) and shed (falls out)

 

However, everyone is different, some babies get their first pearly white as early as from the first day they are born; and some get it much later.

As long as they are coming, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.

Having say that, even if your baby does not get a complete set of 20 teeth, there are nothing to worry about still, as they are just baby teeth.

Just discuss with your dentist if you are worry and the dentist will be able to advice.

With Love,

Gwen Gan

19 May
Children Dentistry

Baby Teeth : Why, When and How To Clean Baby Teeth?

In this topic, we are covering cleaning a baby mouth before the eruption of the first baby tooth which is about 6 months old.

Most of the first time mum are confused with this question. They know by heart that baby needs to be shower everyday, but do they have to clean their baby mouth every day?

 

DO I NEED TO CLEAN MY BABY MOUTH? THERE IS NO TEETH?!

Yes, you are right. A new born has no teeth in their mouth. (Only in very rare cases, baby is born with teeth)

There is no teeth to brush, and why should I be bothered to brush then?

The truth is you still need to clean your baby mouth even though you are not brushing their teeth.

 

WHERE TO CLEAN SINCE THERE IS NO TEETH?

The area that you need to clean is the soft tissue of the mouth.

These includes tongue, gum pad, inner side of the cheek, inside of the lip as well as lip.

 

WHY DO I HAVE TO CLEAN BABY MOUTH ?

Two very important reasons to clean baby muth:

First, by cleaning your baby mouth, wiping away the milk residue, you are preventing infection

Second and the most important reason is you are instiling a brushing habit to your baby, which is crucial to the future dental health.

Same as any other routine, the earlier you train them, the easier and less resistance you will face in the future.

The earlier you start the oral hygiene routine, the easier and smoother to transit to a brushing routine.

Seriously, DO NOT wait until your baby has many teeth then only to start the cleaning routine, you will get a lot of resistane and you will need much more effort to do it.

 

HOW TO CLEAN?

Before the first baby tooth comes in, you can use a wet gauze or softcloth to gently wipe against the soft tissue.

You can also purchase dental wipes for this purpose. I find it very useful whenever I am outside the house so that I do not have to skip cleaning my baby mouth.

Develop a routine of how you will clean the mouth so that you always remember where and do not leave out any area.

Step 1: Wet gauze or softcloth with drinking water

Step 2: Wrap it around your index finger

Step 3: Wipe the lower gum pad, upper gum pad, the inner side of lips and cheeks, then finally the tongue

Step 4: Ta-da, cleaned!

This is one of the prepackaged dental wipes available

 

There are two wipes in each package

 

Wrap it around your index finger and you are ready to clean.

 

WHEN TO CLEAN?

If you are hardworking enough, the best is to clean after every single meal.

This is not as simple as said, a newborn needs to be fed almost every two hourly and you are exhausted with the feeding.

Try to do it whenever you feel you can do it in daytime AND NEVER SKIP MORNING AND NIGHT CLEANING.

Make it as part of the morning wake up and night sleeping ritual.

After a while, baby will get it that brushing teeth twice a day is just part of the life.

 

CONCLUSION

Brushing teeth is like a battle between you and your baby, and it is a battle that last for years.

You never see the benefit of you doing it until many many years later.

Start earlier and it really help to ease the whole process of oral hygiene routine!

Good luck cleaning and I wish your baby to have healthy teeth in the future.

 

With Love,

Gwen Gan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19 May
Children Dentistry

Baby Teeth: Natal Teeth

Most babies are born without teeth. They look so adorable, innocent, and harmless without teeth.

When teething comes at about 6 months of age, we are all delighted with the two cute little bunny-like teeth at the lower jaw.

“SOoooooooooo cute!” That is how you feel.

But……

What if…. Your baby is born with teeth?

“What???????? Why?????????? What should I do???????????”

 

Natal Teeth and Neonatal Teeth

Natal teeth are teeth that are present at birth.

Neonatal teeth are teeth that develops in the first month of life

The incidence varies from 1:2000 to 1:3500.

The most common location is the centre of lower jaw (location of lower central incisor)

 

How To Find Out

At birth, the paediatricians will examine the oral cavity and it includes checking for natal teeth.

Another common route is if the mother has problem with breastfeeding due to sharp structure in baby mouth, then a thorough examination is required.

In such case, a pediatric dentist will be the right person to examine your baby.

Radiograph will be required to investigate the teeth and decide what treatment is necessary.

 

Possible Complication of Natal Teeth

The potential complication includes:

  1. Risk of swallowing the tooth if it is very loose
  2. Breastfeeding problem as mother may be injured.
  3. Injury to the baby tongue due to the sharp structure

 

Management of Natal Teeth

Management is different base on the findings from the radiograph and examination by the pediatric dentist.

  1. No treatment
  2. Grinding or smoothening of the sharp edges of the tooth
  3. Extraction / Removal of the teeth

No matter which is the treatment of choice, the baby should be followed up until at least the eruption of the permanent teeth.

 

Myth about Natal Teeth

I have heard patients telling me that the baby is born with teeth because the mother has taken too much calcium during pregnancy.

Also, there are superstitious belief that baby born with teeth is bearer of misfortune.

The truth is multiple hypothesis have been established about the condition. These includes hormone disturbance during pregnancy, nutritional deficiency and etc.

The most acceptable theory is the location of the tooth germ that is at a more superficial level.

No matter what the reason for such condition is, the focus should always be at what to do to manage the condition and love your baby unconditionally. The paediatrician and pediatric dentist will help in such a situation and baby will grow healthily just as any other kids. =)

 

With Love,

Gwen Gan

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