What Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Oral Health

Open Your Mouth and Say “Ah”

You check your hair and face in the mirror daily, but how frequently do you check your tongue? The next time you brush your pearly whites, inspect your tongue’s color and shape. It can provide you with clues about your health and well-being.

The tongue is linked to many vital organs in the body. As a result, infections, stress, aging, and even medication issues can make their mark on your tongue. A healthy tongue is typically pink and covered with tiny bumps. However, if you find a change in color, shape, size, or texture, you may need to pay closer attention. Do you know that one not-so-common symptom of COVID-19 is the “COVID tongue?” People with COVID tongue have experienced bumps, swelling, and inflammation of the tongue. Some also reported a loss of taste and a burning sensation in their mouth.

Learn what messages your body is sending you by observing what shows up on your tongue. 

 

Dehydration

One of the first signs of dehydration is usually a dry tongue and mouth. A thick white-coated tongue may mean that your body is producing less saliva to conserve whatever little fluid it has.  Sometimes, dryness and white coating could be a side effect of medication. A very thin tongue may also indicate dehydration. Whichever the case, it’s essential to always keep your body hydrated.

 

Sores or Bumps

Bumps on your tongue are likely canker sores or cold sores. These can be caused by many things including smoking and stress ulcers. You may also be biting your tongue as a reaction to stress. Read these signs early and reduce your stress levels, try at-home remedies like gargling warm salt water and eating food that is soft and cold. These sores normally heal on their own within a week or two.

 

Poor Oral Hygiene

A yellow appearance or a tongue that feels fuzzy may mean a buildup of bacteria. This could develop from poor oral hygiene, alcohol or coffee use, or dry mouth. Another indication of poor oral hygiene is a black and hairy tongue. This could also be a result of diabetes or heavy tobacco use. By simply practicing excellent oral care by regularly brushing both your teeth and tongue and flossing, and cutting down on tobacco, you can get your tongue back to its healthy pink color.

 

Vitamin and Nutrient Deficiencies

An overly red or shiny-looking tongue may signal iron or vitamin B deficiencies, particularly B12 and folic acid. If you address your diet to include more food containing these nutrients or take a supplement, your tongue should return back to its normal appearance. Iron and B vitamins also play a role in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. 

 

Oral Infections

Creamy white patches on your tongue could indicate a yeast infection, also known as oral thrush. It’s more common in babies, older patients, and people with diabetes. White, lace-like patches and open sores on your tongue may indicate that you have oral lichen planus, which means that your immune system is attacking the tissues in your mouth. If these white patches persist, see a doctor as you may require antibiotic treatments to make them go away. 

 

Go Ahead and Stick Out Your Tongue

Don’t just focus on having healthy teeth, get in the habit and brush your tongue daily too. Most bumps, patches, and spots on your tongue are harmless and go away on their own as long as you practice good oral hygiene and do certain things to rebalance your health. However, if they don’t go away within two weeks, it’s best to seek medical attention. 

If you’re wondering whether your tongue is healthy or not, get a complete oral health examination at Risio by scheduling an appointment online at risio.in.

5 Easy Ways to Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Do you constantly wake up in the morning with a sore jaw, headache, or painful teeth? If yes, chances are that you are unconsciously clenching or grinding your teeth at night. Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is a common condition and affects around one in every three people for at least some part of their life. 

The majority of people don’t even realize they grind their teeth because it happens only at night while they sleep. While it is normal to occasionally clench your teeth, sustained and chronic grinding can lead to serious consequences for your dental health. Mild bruxism may not require treatment; however, severe bruxism can result in enamel loss, loosening and fracturing of teeth, and receding gums. In some cases, bruxism can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which causes pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint.

The good news is that there are things you can do to stop grinding your teeth while sleeping and maintain your healthy pearly whites. Read on to learn five ways to prevent bruxism from happening.

 

Wear a Mouthguard

The most common treatment to prevent teeth grinding is to use a mouth guard. They work by cushioning your teeth and can protect you from the adverse effects of grinding or clenching your teeth, especially in the nighttime while you sleep. Wearing a mouth guard will also reduce jaw strain. You can buy mouth guards over-the-counter or your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard, which is customized to your bite so it is comfortable and easy to wear.

 

Try Jaw Exercises

Exercising the tongue and jaw muscles can help relax the jaw and facial muscles. They work to relieve the clenching and help maintain proper alignment of your jaw. One simple exercise is to say the letter “N” out loud. This keeps your top and bottom teeth from touching and will help avoid clenching. You can also try lightly massaging your jaw to loosen up the muscles.

 

Reduce Stress

Stress, depression, and anxiety cause many people to clench or grind their teeth. Managing your stress may not only ease your bruxism but can also benefit your overall health. One of the best ways to de-stress is to exercise, consider adding a few sessions of running or working out. Practicing yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises can also help reduce stress and anxiety. 

 

Stop Chewing Everything but Food

Do you have a habit of biting your pen while you work? Do you chew gum all day or love chomping on ice cubes? You need to stop as these repetitive motions train your muscles to clench and instigate grinding. Give your jaw muscles a temporary break from being overworked by opting for softer food and avoiding foods that are chewy, sticky, or crunchy.

 

Correct Your Bite

Some people suffer from bruxism because of the way their teeth are aligned. Misaligned, crooked, or crowded teeth and gaps or missing teeth can cause muscles to work harder as they try to bring your teeth and jaw into alignment. Reductive coronoplasty is an effective dental procedure used to reshape or level out the surface of your teeth. Crowns, veneers, and Invisalign® and ClearCorrect® aligners can also help rebalance your bite comfortably and discreetly.

 

Stop Your Teeth Grinding and Clenching Habits

Even though teeth grinding and clenching is common, it’s a tough habit to break especially for nighttime teeth grinders. If you know you grind your teeth or have any symptoms of bruxism, call or schedule an appointment online at risio.in.  At Risio, we can examine your teeth for wear, gum recession, and other signs of grinding and clenching. It is important to get early bruxism treatment to avoid significant dental complications. 

Which foods stain teeth and how do we prevent that?

There are many other foods and drinks that can cause staining or discoloration of your teeth. 

Teeth were never meant to be totally white. The natural colour is light yellow. However, with age, the teeth tend to get darker in colour. This is because, with constant wear and tear, your teeth’s enamel tends to erode and develop cracks. In addition to this, the enamel is extremely porous and tends to absorb the food colour even when there are no cracks.

Food contains components called ‘tannins’ that make the colour stick to your enamel. Stains also tend to attach to the plaque and tartar build-up on and between the teeth.

 

Let’s look at what food types cause stains on teeth.

Morning beverages – Ever thought something you loved so much could betray you? Well, you’re in for a shock. Your morning beverage, coffee or tea, could be one of the causes behind your teeth losing their colour. Coffee contains tannins, a chemical compound called polyphenol, that makes colours stick to the enamel.

Wine –Wine roughens the teeth’s enamel and opens the pores. The rough surface, with the now larger surface area, increases the risk of staining, especially if it is red wine.

Energy drinks and sports juices – These drinks are notorious for corroding the enamel and causing stains. This is more with energy drinks since they are more acidic than sports juices.

Food with tomatoes in them – Tomatoes are acidic in nature. So, they will make your enamel rougher and cause staining. Always rinse your mouth immediately after consuming anything with tomatoes in them.

Sweets and candy – Hard-boiled sweets with food colouring in them have dyes that can permanently leave stains on your teeth. However, other types of sweets and candies only cause mild stains.

Berries – Berries have dark pigments that leave a mark when consumed, either in fruit form or juice.

Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar is acidic and darkly pigmented. Both of these are traits that cause staining.

Starchy foods – Bacteria love starchy foods. They will break down the food caught between or on the teeth into sugars that will cause the erosion of the enamel, thus paving way for staining.

 

Some other foods that can also cause staining are

• Soy sauce
• Fruits like Pomegranates, and purple grapes
• Beetroot
• Citric fruits
• Soda

Other reasons for staining are

• Tobacco
• Some medications
• Beetroot
• Infections
• Trauma to the tooth

Now that you know what causes stains, here’s how you can prevent them

• Use a straw as much as possible for your drinks
• Brush or at least rinse your mouth after consuming food that stains
• Stop using tobacco
• Floss regularly
• Ensure that there is no plaque build-up on or in between your teeth
• Use an electric toothbrush to remove plaque and ensure that there isn’t any at any given point
• Visit the dentist every six months for a routine check-up and make sure that there aren’t any problems
• Get a routine teeth cleaning and polishing service done by your dentist every 6 months

To book your appointment call +91 9144544454 or visit Risio.in.

Oral hygiene tips that will keep you smiling for a lifetime

Yes, it is possible to maintain your teeth for a lifetime..

The mouth is the window to your whole body. Good oral health translates to overall health. Poor oral health has a significant impact on your entire body, including your heart, and pregnancy, and can cause diabetes, and chronic inflammation like arthritis as well!

Brushing, flossing, and practicing oral hygiene diligently, keep the bacteria in control, and protects your mouth. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria levels could increase and cause tooth decay and gum damage.

Following good oral hygiene is directly connected to staying healthy and preventing the development of many diseases. For example, some studies show that inflammation in the mouth, most probably in the gums, can contribute to other diseases.

 

Here are some health problems that are linked directly to your oral health

• Cardiovascular diseases – Some studies suggest that heart diseases, clogged arteries, and even stroke, are caused by oral bacteria.
• Complications in pregnancy and birth – Periodontitis can cause premature birth.
• Endocarditis – Germs in your mouth or other parts of your body travel through your bloodstream and settle in the inner lining of your heart.

To avoid these diseases and other health complications, here are some tips you can follow to protect your health.

• Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day
• Do not brush too hard or with salt or charcoal powder as they may wear off the enamel
• Brush with up and down motions, as well as sweeping and slanting motions to ensure that you push the food debris away from the teeth
• Rinse your mouth properly after you eat any food or drink anything.
• Visit your dentist every six months and get a professional teeth cleaning service done. This will help your dentist ensure and eliminate any underlying problems and keep your teeth clean and healthy.,
• Avoid frequent snacking or snacking in between meals. This is because frequent snacking is one of the major contributors to enamel erosion and cavities.
• Avoid or limit the intake of sugar since sugar increases the bacteria levels in your mouth, resulting in decay and cavities.
• Avoid or limit the intake of sticky food items like bread pizzas, and pastries which are highly sticky and provide the perfect environment for bacteria and for food particles to accumulate and cause dental issues.
• Drink water frequently for good salivation so that saliva can wash out the food remnants and avoid bad breath.

To book your appointment call +91 9144544454 or visit Risio.in.

5 tips to maintain your kid’s oral health

Dental health in kids is a must, and there is no better time to instill a healthy routine, than when they are young. 

While you make appointments for your baby’s overall physical health, you should also not forget to get a dentist to check out your child’s teeth.

Good dental health is not just about keeping teeth clean. It involves maintaining the gums, cheeks, soft tissues, palate, lips, and jaws. It is never too early to start caring for your oral health.

While taking care of your dental health is a job for a lifetime, getting kids started early helps lay a foundation for good habits.

Protecting your child’s teeth today will prevent problems in the future.

 

Here are some tips to take care of your kid’s teeth.

Don’t feed your kid milk before bedtime
The natural sugars in the milk contribute to baby tooth decay. This is especially more during the night when the baby’s saliva production decreases when they sleep. However, if you do have to give milk to your kid before bedtime, make them drink water and wipe their teeth and/or gums with a damp cloth to remove milk residue.

 

Don’t encourage the use of pacifiers
While many parents consider pacifiers as god-send, pacifiers can do more harm than good. Using a pacifier continuously can make the growing teeth misaligned and create problems in the future.

 

It is never too early to brush
Start your kids young when it comes to brushing. While this may seem odd when they don’t even have teeth, you can use a soft cloth to wipe their gums every morning and at night before sleep. This will help establish a good oral care routine. Once their teeth emerge, you can switch to a soft toothbrush.

 

Feed your children a healthy diet
A diet that predominantly consists of sugars will increase the chances of tooth decay. Ensure that you feed your children food that is high in fibre, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, etc. Ensure that you include fluorine in the diet. Fluorine is an important mineral that helps strengthen the teeth.

 

Schedule Dental visits
Schedule dental visits with a paediatric dentist every six months for your children to prevent cavities and decay. Ensure that you follow all the instructions provided by the dentist.

With these tips, your child will have strong and healthy teeth, that will lay the foundation for a lifetime of good health well into adulthood.

 

To book your appointment call +91 9144544454 or visit Risio.in.

Dental myths debunked: Uncover the truth about your teeth!

Being able to identify the difference between popular misconceptions and scientifically proven facts can help maintain the quality of your oral health and overall well-being. 

How do you know which is fact and which is fiction when it comes to taking care of your dental health? While some myths may be harmless, some could be dangerous to your health.

In this blog, we are busting myths about oral health and bringing you the correct way to treat your teeth and gums.

 

Bleeding Gums Are Normal – If your gums bleed while brushing or flossing, it is due to inflammation. The inflammation could be caused due to excessive plaque build-up, the onset of gingivitis, or any other gum disease. You must contact your dentist because of this.

 

Fluoridated water isn’t good for you – Fluoridated drinking water helps with preventing tooth caries or decay. Fluoridation is not known to cause any harm to babies or anyone for that matter.

 

Whitening damages your teeth – Most whitening techniques are considered safe these days, if it is done under the supervision of a dental professional or if you follow the instructions given by your dentist if you are doing the teeth whitening at home.

However, if you don’t follow the instructions, you will end up causing damage to your teeth.

 

Braces are just for kids – While more children than adults wear braces, it is not uncommon for adults to go through corrective dental treatment. However, instead of the obvious metal wires, adults opt for discreet plastic aligners that are not obvious and can be removed while eating, speaking, and brushing teeth.

 

You only need to go for a dental check-up if you have a problem – It is good to get a dentist to check your teeth even if there isn’t any problem. These check-ups will help the dentists to assess your oral health and determine if there are any potential problems they will have to take care of immediately.

 

The harder you brush your teeth, the cleaner they’ll be – Brushing your teeth too hard may cause more harm than good. The protective layer of your enamel could get eroded, and your gums can get worn down and even recede.

Dentists advise you to use a soft bristle brush and not apply too much pressure because brushing hard is not equal to cleaner teeth.

 

Gum disease only affects your mouth – Yes, your gums are in your mouth, but your mouth is the gateway to your body. So, any issues in your gums or any other part of your mouth can lead to problems elsewhere. For example, gum disease can lead to heart conditions and sometimes, even cancer.

Charcoal toothpaste is better for your teeth – While charcoal in tooth products have been trending, it is more important to ensure that your toothpaste has fluoride in it. Brushing with charcoal may be harmful to your teeth. Most charcoal toothpaste don’t contain fluoride in them.

 

No need to brush baby teeth – It is good to start your kids young when it comes to dental health. Learn the correct brushing techniques for your kid and teach them. Brushing twice a day prevents the build-up of plaque, and reduces the risk of decay, and gum disease.

 

Only sugar causes tooth decay – Eating too much sugar does cause decay but that is not the only cause of decay. Incorrect or the lack of brushing or flossing may also cause it. Also, starchy foods containing carbohydrates cause plaque to form, thus leading to cavities and decay.

 

To book your appointment call +91 9144544454 or visit Risio.in.