Saturday 3 May 2008

Survey: 12 Percent Of People Not Brushing Teeth Daily


Survey: 12 Percent Of People Not Brushing Teeth Daily
A British survey showed that more people than ever are reporting poor dental hygiene habits.

The Dental Health Foundation polled more than 1,000 people and found that one in 10 people do not brush their teeth daily and only one third were brushing for the full two minutes -- the recommended time.

"Good oral health is needed to prevent a wide range of conditions and, in particular, tooth decay and gum disease," said Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation.

He added that oral health overall has improved greatly in the last 30 years but warned that could be reversed.

"People must really get into the habit of brushing twice-a-day with fluoride toothpaste - it is absolutely vital to both your oral and general health."

This year the foundation saw great increase in oral health decline. The number of non-brushers was eight times higher than numbers last year.

The foundation was also concerned by some odd practices people reported like flossing their teeth with drill bits and twigs.

Lester Ellman, of the British Dental Association, said, "We are not noticing any deterioration in oral health, it has actually been improving for years.

"However, the danger is that people become complacent as things have got better with fluoride toothpaste and stop doing the things they should be doing.
contiune reading how to brush your teeth

Thursday 1 May 2008

Mouth Breathing

Mouth Breathing habit
basically breathing from mouth can also cause malocclusion
classification of mouth breathing
a. obstructive
b. Habitual
c. Anatomical


Obstructive: Complete or partial obstruction of the nasal passage can result in mouth breathing


Habitual: A habitual mouth breather is one who continues to breathe through his mouth even though the nasal obstruction is removed. Thus mouth breathing becomes a deep rooted habit that is performed unconsciously.


Anatomic: An anatomic mouth breather is one whose lip morphology does not permit complete closure of the mouth, such as a patient having short upper lip


Clinical feaure

malocclusion associated with mouthbreather is called as long face syndrome or the classic adenoid facies.
feature of pt.
a. long and narrow face.
b. narrow nose and nasal passage
c. short and flaccid upper lip
d. contracted upper arch with possibility of posterior cross bite
e. An expressionless or blank face
f. Anterior marginal gingivitis can occur ue to drying of the gingiva
h. anterior open bite can occur