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Name
Josh
- United States
Profession
Question
I heard that brushing your teeth to clean them is not enough, that you should also periodically go to a dentist to clean them, is this true? And how often should I go clean them?
Answer
It is true, you must visit a dentist once every six months because caring for your teeth involves a complete package of care, which includes brushing your teeth twice daily, using floss periodically after each meal if possible, and clinical visits once every six months for scaling and polishing. Because as the time passes, plaque starts building up and can only be removed by a specialist.
Name
Mona
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Question
Do you suggest using mouthwashes and gargles every day as a protective measure even if there are no problems with the gums?
Answer
It is ok to use mouthwash as a protective measure. In fact, it is preferred and I strongly advise you to use local herbs to do so. It is not necessary for you to purchase commercial products, because these herbs helps keep your mouth wet. Of course that is if you do not have any diseases. If you do, then I recommend using mouthwashes that are clinically available, i.e. from the pharmacy.
Name
Raghda
- Egypt
Profession
Engineer
Question
What is your advice for having the perfect white smile?
Answer
It is kind of hard to have a perfect white smile, because people are different and their teeth composition is different from one to another. However, you can have your teeth bleached. You need to visit your local dentist to do so. But you should know that teeth care starts at childbirth and lasts for a lifetime. It takes a lifelong commitment to give the closest thing to a perfect white smile.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
Sometimes when people eat something sweet, there is a stinging pain in their teeth, what does that mean?
Answer
Caries disease is divided into three stages. The first stage is when the top layer is attacked and starts to break up. At this stage, a patient does not feel anything. The second stage is when the disease reaches the middle layer, and that is when a patient becomes sensitive to sweets, cold water, etc. For this reason, it is recommended that a normal person visits the dentist once every six months, because in the first stage, a patient does not feel pain until the disease is well underway into the second or even third stage.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Question
There are many products sold in the pharmacies to whiten the teeth. Are these effective? And can they be used without a dentist's supervision?
Answer
It is very hard to determine these days which whitening product to recommend. I must say, however, that most of these products are only effective when used under a strict schedule. It is much better to avoid the causes of discoloration of the teeth such as smoking, coffee, and many other food products that are known to discolor the teeth.
Deciding which whitening product to use is not an exactly obvious issue, especially these days when there are so many products that claim to whiten the teeth.
Name
Breathe
- Egypt
Profession
Question
I have a problem with my wisdom teeth. There's no space for them to grow and recently a dentist told me I must have a small operation to remove them but I'm scared. They do not bother me except very rarely and at these times aspirin solves the problem. Is this operation necessary?
Answer
The dentist decided whether the operation is needed or not after examining the X-ray images of your teeth. From the X-rays the dentist determines if the wisdom teeth is pushing the neighboring teeth or affecting the nerves connected to your tongue. Whether you are suffering from repeated pain is another factor. Once these answers are decided, the dentist then examine if there is an infection or abscess bags.
At any rate, these decisions are best made by your local dentist after thorough examination. Generally speaking it is better to have them removed.
Name
Maha Yahia
- Egypt
Profession
Question
I have a 7 years old daughter and she didn't exchange any of her teeth, is this normal?
Answer
You are still within the normal period which is between 7 years to 14 years. So, knowing that she is 7, she will probably start in the next few months, and even if she does not, she still has a few years to go.
Name
Ahmed Moharram
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Sometimes a certain tooth or more than one are slightly darker than the rest, no matter how much they are brushed. Why is that? And is there anthing a person can do to fix this?
Answer
Discoloration is usually caused by the food we eat, especially if it has artificial colors added to it. There are several other causes of discoloration such as trauma, which can kill the nerves so the teeth naturally die. Also, fluoride in the water is one of the major factors which can cause small white dots on some teeth. The materials used in some fillings can also cause discoloration and sometimes, discoloration occurs after treatment of root-canal nerves, because the nerves are dead and the teeth no longer receive any new nutrients and thus their colors change.
Name
Ola
- Kuwait
Profession
Question
Is the use of general anesthetics in young children a safe measure?
Answer
We generally use safe anesthetics. In children we use a spray which causes them to be drowsy and has a mild effect on them. We also sometimes use anesthetics via injections. Normally speaking, we use mild forms of anesthetics though of course it all depends whether the child has any kind of resistance or allergic reaction to anesthetics.
Name
David
- Belgium
Profession
Question
What do you suggest to overcome teething pain in little children?
Answer
Teething pain in children is a normal process that is accompanied by diarrhea and fever. We sometimes use baby gels and other medications as mild painkillers, but as I said, teething pain is normal in kids and should not worry you too much.
Name
Rasha
-
Profession
Question
Some people may become paranoid about their teeth color and brush too often. Is there a problem with brushing your teeth too often?
Answer
No problem if a person is brushing his or her teeth properly. I do not believe that brushing will remove discoloration because usually discoloration is in the uppermost layer and that is the hardest to clean.
