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  Gingivitis , a common gum problem, plays hide & seek with us and only catches our attention when it gets out of control. Yes, if you aren't someone who is very cautious of your oral health, it might already be doing its evil in your mouth right now. Photo by Dentist Says Scared? Don't be! Let's understand it better so we can detect it at the very beginning. Gingiva is a part of the periodontium , the structure that secures the tooth in the bony socket. It is the external fleshy tissue which drapes the alveolar bone, the part which contains the sockets for the teeth and forms a collar surrounding each tooth. It is an important structure as it prevents external bodies such as debris and germs from entering the periodontium, which can cause periodontal diseases which might result in tooth loss. Hence, to maintain healthy & strong teeth, the periodontium is important and part of it, the gingiva is of foremost importance. When the gingiva gets affected due to any f

 “Wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, rinse your mouth …”, a saying we have been listening to ever since we were kids. A part of good habits to maintain a good impression. It is no secret that our hygiene habits play not only a role in maintaining our health but also giving a good impression in society. No one wishes to be seen with uncombed hair, dirty clothes or even an unwashed face and so does oral hygiene add to it in a similar way. The moment you wake up from bed, the first thing you want to do is clean your mouth. Why? A common response would be the common bad smell we ourselves experience from our mouth that we seem to despise, let alone it being sensed by others. Our mouth is a gateway to showcasing our thoughts and mental skills, it is our way of communication with our society. So we don’t want to be letting out a bad odor that can affect our social impression. Imagine people avoiding standing close to you or someone addressing your breath in a gathering? Quite an embar

Tooth cleaning causes loosening of teeth? Getting scaling done will lead you to increased sensitivity ? Tooth cleaning causes gaps in the teeth? These are few things which we get to hear routinely from our friends and family. However the point to ponder upon is – Is this information correct or is it just a myth? As a dental practitioner, we have been encountering with such concerns on getting a scaling done from patients on routine basis. So before anyone avails the treatment, it is paramount for us to know the facts about tooth cleaning. What is Scaling  and why is it necessary? Photo by Niles Family Dentistry Scaling or tooth cleaning is a dental procedure which is done to remove the plaque, tarter (the bacterial and food particle) coating which is attached to the tooth surface and those deposits that can't be removed by brushing at home. These deposits can further cause gum diseases and pyorrhea. Is it painful? Professional tooth cleaning is not a painful pro

Tongue is an organ which can be related to not only our nutrition but to the emotional experience of food. We as humans, have evolved to not only consume food but enjoy it too with all our senses but the sensation of taste dominates it, making us capable of tasting all the different flavors the world has to offer. However, the tongue not only contributes to taste but speech as well. We are able to form proper speech due to our tongue but do you know there is much more to the tongue than this? Let us find out but first let’s understand what is tongue in a physical attribute. Photo by Gut Health Project The tongue is a purely muscular organ that lies in the oral cavity. It is considered to be one of the strongest muscles in the body. It has a rough dorsal surface with tiny papillary projections that contain taste buds which enable us to identify different tastes. The tongue has specific areas on it for assessing specific tastes. Being made of a complex arrangement of muscles and attach

You might have definitely witnessed at least one dental advertisement in your life which shows a person biting into an apple to witness blood coming out from their gums and the infamous lines “ kya aapke masudon mein takleef hai?” endorsed by several toothpastes brands giving out solutions to bleeding gums by adding salt, clove, mint and what not but have rarely have we seen anyone commercially explaining the reasons for bleeding from gums. Finally, the dentists had to take matter into their hands and here is a simple explanation on what exactly is bleeding gums and what causes it. Let’s read on. What is bleeding gums ? Photo by Smiles by Dr Donan Bleeding gums is a condition in which blood flows out from between the gum-tooth margin due to various reasons. Bleeding gums is a sign of unhealthy gums. However, there are times when gums can bleed even when healthy. Read further and you will understand how. Types of bleeding gums Bleeding gums can be acute or chronic based on t

  There are a lot of reasons one might be unhappy with their smile. One of the reasons being an excessive amount of gum is visible while smiling. This is known as a gummy smile! In a normal/ ideal smile 2/3 rd of the teeth are displayed and the remaining is covered by the lips. If while smiling more of your gum area is seen it causes an unfavorable appearance. What causes gummy smile? Photo by Cards Dental ●      Teeth is covered with excess gum (teeth appears to be shorter than it is) ●      When lips are short/ thin. ●      Size of the teeth is smaller than the gums. ●      The muscle in the lip is hyperactive , so when you smile it lifts high giving a gummy appearance . ●      Long/ bulging gums ●      Misaligned tooth When do you need to fix a gummy smile? If the appearance of the smile bothers you it's time you talk to your dentist about the available treatments, but if not appearance what are the other reasons to get a gummy smile fixed. Your gummy

Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness. Some of you might be conscious about your diet and how it affects your health, but do you know some of those things you eat on a regular basis might not be good for your teeth. Are you curious to know about how certain foods affect your teeth, and what are the foods/drinks that you can avoid for healthy teeth?  Here are 10 food items to avoid for a healthy teeth: 1.    Sugary Sweets, candies, sticky food: Photo by HD Wallpapers       As kids most of us are told to avoid chocolates, sweets / sticky food to prevent tooth decay. Candy and sticky food stay in our mouth for a long time if not brushed properly. Also, they can be at sites where it is difficult for the brush to reach. Hence, it is advised to have sugary sweets/ candies during meals and to brush and rinse immediately after consuming. 2.     Apple Cider Vinegar: Photo by The Food Market       Generally used as a detoxifying drink but it affects the teeth, wearing away the