It is important to prevent tooth decay to avoid long-term pain and complications:

- The best way to prevent tooth decay is with a thorough oral care routine.
- The back molars are susceptible to decay due to their uneven surface trapping food, so additional protection can be applied in the form of a thin protective coating of plastic known as sealants.
- Sealants can be applied to healthy teeth or when there are early signs of decay.

"Sealants will often last for several years before they need to be reapplied."
Read the full story here: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/sealants

A common method of fixing crooked or damaged teeth is through the application of braces. However, while the braces are necessary they make teeth difficult to clean and floss properly. Your dentist can recommend products and methods to help the process, but what is basically required are:
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
- An interdental cleaner to brush under wires and around the brace brackets
- Waxed floss to make flossing easier
A floss threader (a tool to thread floss under braces and bridges) might also be helpful “to make flossing with braces much easier” and more advice and guidance can be found at https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/how-should-i-brush-my-teeth-when-i-have-braces/

TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome) can cause pain and discomfort within the jaw and even the face. So, childhood TMJ is particularly uncomfortable. Parents have a number of treatment choices and the good news is that a dentist will provide them with professional suggestions.
How can TMJ be alleviated at an early age?

- Dental appliances known as splints can be applied and are quite effective.
- Orthodontists could suggest other non-invasive treatments including mouth guards.
- Parents should always discourage bad habits such as teeth grinding and chewing very hard substances (such as candy).

Symptoms and causes are listed below:
https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/tmj-treatment-options-for-children/

Were you aware that baby teeth contain "growth rings"? Although a dentist cannot detect these structures, they may be important when predicting the developmental condition autism. What have scientists uncovered and why might these findings be important?
- Growth rings within infant teeth contain traces of zinc and copper.
- These two elements are thought to be related to autism.
- Abnormal levels of either could be early signs of this condition.
"As kids develop in the womb and throughout early childhood, a new tooth layer is formed every day."
Check out additional information here:
https://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/autism-news-51/baby-teeth-give-clues-to-autism-s-origins-detection-734271.html

Anaesthesia like novocaine help numbs pain during oral surgery or teeth extraction procedures. However, different people react differently to the anaesthesia. So, how long will your numbness last?

Main takeaways:

- If you have a tooth infection, you'll be less sensitive to novocaine.
- The dose administered depends on the size of the site, duration of the procedure and the number of nerves being numbed.
- The dentist can make numbness last longer by combining using epinephrine.
People with serious medical conditions like heart disease and hypertension shouldn't use epinephrine.

Read more here:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321880.php

While visiting the dentist is always wise, there are several steps which a parent can take in order to safeguard their infant against gum disease. What are three straightforward suggestions to keep in mind?

- Be on the lookout for common symptoms such as redness, bleeding or swollen gums.

- Learn to know the differences between teething and gum issues.

- Clean the gums with a damp cloth after every feeding.

"If your baby has teeth, use a tiny toothbrush with a tiny amount of toothpaste to gently brush their tooth or teeth."
See what other dentists have to say:
https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/can-infants-suffer-from-gum-disease/

Countless individuals suffer from sleep apnea and as a result, their teeth and gums can become damaged over time. The good news is that there are a number of effective treatment options at your disposal. What are the three professional suggestions which may be recommended?

- Continuous positive airway machines have often been used to treat sleep apnea.

- Sleep appliances can also be available.

- These appliances slightly modify the position of your jaw in order to keep your airway open.
"Your dentist can help treat your sleep apnea through oral sleep appliances."

Learn more about treatment options below:

https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/how-does-a-dentist-diagnose-sleep-apnea/

Your dentist or surgeon might suggest using an ice pack following this standard surgical procedure, especially for the first few hours.

Key takeaways:

- It can take between one and two weeks to recover fully.
- The length of the recovery period depends on the difficulty of the surgery.
- If stitches were necessary to close a gum incision, your dentist usually removes them seven days later.
Mild or moderate painkillers will help to alleviate occasional post-operative discomfort after having wisdom teeth out.

See more advice from a dentist:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321657.php

Accidents will happen and children’s teeth are susceptible to becoming chipped, cracked, loosened or even lost. If your child should have the misfortune to damage a tooth it is important to remain calm and act quickly.
A dentist should be consulted straight away to assess the extent of the damage. A swift response can make the difference between saving or losing the damaged tooth.

For baby teeth:

- A dentist can often easily realign the tooth
- Delaying treatment makes realignment more difficult
- Untreated loosened baby teeth may grow crooked

If your child damages a tooth you should “call your dentist instead of the emergency department” and you can read more at https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-do-if-your-child-chips-loosens-or-loses-a-tooth/.

Your dentist will advise that flossing is an important part of your dental hygiene routine. It is important to floss to ensure you remove all bits of food debris from between your teeth. It is also important to floss correctly.
Here are some things to know about flossing:

- You should use about 15-18 inches of new floss each session
- Flossing should take about five minutes
- Ideally, it is best to floss before brushing

Your teeth should not bleed when flossing if you floss regularly. Either you are flossing too aggressively, or you have gum disease. See your dentist regularly to get advice on bleeding gums. You may need treatment for gum disease.
"It only needs to be done once a day, unlike brushing, and can help prevent bad bacteria from getting stuck between your teeth and causing problems."
Read more about how to correctly floss your teeth here https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/how-can-i-know-if-im-flossing-correctly/