The precious 32 pearls!!

Dental care -A very important thing in the lives of persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
Dental problems are a menace to hemophilics.
  How do I know that?  Well, I am a dental practitioner and my little brother is a person with hemophilia(Hemophilia A,severe). And yes,he did face difficulties due to dental problems.
  So, here are a few tips on how to take good care of your precious 32 pearls   and decrease the chances of dental problems. A few measures to be taken right from infancy.

• Proper nursing of infants: Seen yellowish to brownish - black front teeth of kids?? Those are teeth decayed due to improper feeding of breast milk/ formula.Breastfeeding is essential, but should be done in the proper way. Feeding at night just to make the baby stop crying and go to sleep is not a good idea. A pool of milk remains in the mouth and causes decay of the teeth. Also, take care to wipe clean the teeth and gumpads after feeding using a soft cloth.Remember milk teeth, though are shed as you grow, are very important for proper chewing of food and thus your overall health. Take good care of the 20 little pearls

• Daily home care: Brush twice a day, but not in a hurry, take a few minutes, covering all surfaces of teeth and don't forget to reach to the last tooth.Floss to clean the interdental areas, but don't force it through tight areas, and do not injure your gums. Clean your tongue and cheeks as well. Follow by a gentle massage of the gums.
• Avoid frequent snacking: Frequent snacking increases the risk of tooth decay multifold. Frequency matters a lot more than the amount consumed. Rinse after every snacking. Avoid sticky and sugary food. Sucrose is known as "arch criminal " because it causes tooth decay.If you just love sweets, try to have it at the end of your  meals.Include more fiber into your diet.
• Regular dental check up:Visit your dentist every 6 months.Early dental decay and other problems can be detected at an early stage and corrected by non - invasive or minimally invasive treatment methods.
•  Professional methods to prevent or reduce tooth decay: Your dentist can help you prevent decay to an extent by methods like Fluoride application, Pit and fissure sealants etc which are applied at specific ages corresponding to the eruption of teeth.

    Follow these easy and simple tips, keep your 32 pearls healthy and sparkling!!
A healthy, happy smile means a more confident you!!

----  Dr Anupama Pattiyeri & Team RedLegacy !