Tongue Tie

So you are probably wondering what a 'tongue tie' is. It is pretty much a condition that a child is born with, where there is a thin piece of skin under the baby's tongue, that restricts movement. This can affect the way a baby feeds as they have trouble latching on and possibly painful breastfeeding, reflux and failure to thrive. 

Tongue tie may have a genetic predisposition, however it can be congenital as well, meaning that a baby is born with it but it is not genetic. There is some research that links a mother with a MTHFR gene mutation to a child with tongue tie. Further research is required to confirm this association. 

If you have been informed that your child may have a tongue tie, there is no reason to worry. There is a simple treatment available to resolve this tongue tie. Firstly, a dentist can release the tie with surgical scissors. This procedure can be done without anesthesia in the surgery. If the procedure is done properly with the right hands, the baby will not be in pain. Immediately after the procedure is conducted, the baby will be able to latch on for breast feeding. 

Another treatment method involves using a laser to release the tongue tie. There is a bit more preparation involved when using the laser, such as safety procedures e.g. laser protective eye wear. Generally, the pre-operative preparation is a bit more lengthy and the baby might become restless. However, both procedures will procedure the same results, it is a matter of what the clinician determines is best practice. 

Once the procedure has been conducted, the parents are encouraged to follow some post operative practices. This involves  conducting exercises to the area daily to prevent re-attachment of the tissue, as there is a high chance of the tongue tie re-occuring. The dentist will provide further instructions on the post operative care on a case by case basis. 

Please talk to your dentist about any risks or adverse reactions that may occur. 

This article is contributed by Dr. Lisa Chong of Pain Free Dentist Sydney (Hurlstone Park). For more information contact on (02) 9558 8988 or info@painfreedentistsydney.com.au 

Do You Grind Your Teeth?

If you have noticed pain, headaches or even teeth that seem to have worn down then you are probably grinding. Grinding is not part of normal chewing and must be treated as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to the jaw joints (also known as the TMJ or temporomandibular joint) 

The cause of grinding is different from person to person. It may be caused by: 

1. Stress, tension and anxiety 

2. Sleep disorders 

3. Abnormal anatomy of the teeth that cause an improper bite (example: high spots) 

4. Physical stress (example: chewing gum too much) 

Often, individuals do not realise they are grinding until they begin to experience symptoms such as chronic tension headaches, flattened teeth surfaces or even broken teeth. 

If you suspect that you have been grinding your teeth (while you’re alert or even sleeping) than it is essential to visit your Dentist as this will help you avoid further complications and lengthy treatments. 

Your Dentist will usually recommend for you to wear an Occlusal splint (also known as night guards) to prevent further wearing down of teeth. Occlusal splints are custom made from a hard plastic to fit your upper or lower teeth. Patients with severe grinding will often use a combination of the splint and other treatments such as muscle relaxants. Both treatment options mentioned above increase an individuals comfort by eventually reducing or eliminating pain.

什么是牙周疾病？

如果您洗手的时候手出血了，您肯定会很担心。但是，很多人认为刷牙时牙龈出血是一件很平常的事。

牙龈红肿出血是牙周细菌感染的早期症状。如果不及时采取任何措施，感染极有可能会扩散到周围的组织。并且破坏您牙齿的支撑结构造成牙齿松动。

牙周疾病是牙齿周围的组织结构受到感染，包括牙龈、覆盖在牙根上的牙骨质、牙周韧带和牙槽骨。牙龈炎是牙周疾病的最初期阶段，只有牙龈会受到感染。如果牙周病变更严重，所有的牙齿支撑组织都会受到感染。

研究表明，牙龈感染会影响您的健康，有许多疾病跟牙周疾病有关，例如：动脉粥样硬化与心脏病、中风、早产、糖尿病和呼吸道疾病。

牙龈炎的病损局限于牙龈，无深部牙周组织的破坏，在去除局部自己因素后，牙龈的炎症约在一周后消退，破坏了的胶原纤维可新生，牙龈的色、形、质及功能均能完全恢复正常，预后良好。但如果患者不能有效地控制菌斑和定期复查，导致菌斑在此大量聚集，牙龈炎是很容易复发的。

1、习惯早晚刷牙及使用牙线清洁牙缝，尤其是在睡前，可以清除牙菌膜，减少在睡觉时牙菌膜的积聚。每6个月至1年，定期往牙科医生处清洁牙齿，预防牙菌膜变成牙石，及清除在牙齿上已形成的牙石。

2、使用软毛牙刷：用软毛牙刷刷牙龈及舌头，对牙龈很有好处。刷牙龈边缘：刷牙时不要忽略容易堆积牙垢的牙龈边缘，将牙刷倾斜45度角，由内向外刷，清除食物残渣尽量不碰伤牙龈，如此可预防牙龈发炎。轮流使用两只牙刷：轮流使用两支牙刷的好处在于可以使另一只有时间完全风干，从而减少细菌滋生的几率，这对牙齿的健康非常重要。

3、给牙齿补钙：牙骨疏松容易导致牙龈炎，可以多吃含有钙质的食物，来强化骨骼。

4、经常使用漱口水：漱口水可以帮助你清除牙垢，对牙齿健康很有帮助，建议每次吃东西后一定要漱口。

5、戒烟、戒酒：烟和酒会流失保持口腔健康所需的维生素及矿物质，要想有健康中药的牙齿，必须戒烟和酒。

6、多吃生蔬菜：生蔬菜含有很多纤维素，能帮助清洁及刺激牙齿及牙龈以避免牙龈炎。

7、危险讯号：牙龈痛、牙龈流血、长时间口臭、牙齿松动、都是牙龈炎的征兆。若置之不理将信心可能导致更严重的牙周病，所以必须尽快看牙医。