Guide to Rough Times

Orthognathia surgery is an operation to reposition the jaws. Ortho means to straighten and gnathia means jaw in Latin.

This operation is done with the aim of correcting any imbalance between the upper and lower jaws. This helps the teeth to bite together correctly. Another benefit of orthognathia is it helps enhance one’s face as it creates a more balanced appearance.

Who needs orthognathic surgery?

• As jaws mature throughout our growth and development from adolescence to adulthood, there instances the growth of the jaws may cease or may come to completion. This leads to lack of proper function and may also affect appearance.
• There are a number of reasons the upper and lower jaw remain disproportionate. Some of the reasons are injury or trauma, genetic causes or might be caused by a tumour.
• Orthognathic surgery is more often than not a matter of choice rather than necessity. However, is sometimes not possible to correct how the teeth bite together using only orthognathics. A combination of braces and surgery might be used to correct how the teeth sit while orthognathic surgery is able to correct larger jaw discrepancies and balance the shape of the face.
• It is important to use braces to move the teeth to the ideal position so as to align them correctly after orthognathic surgery. Sometimes braces are worn for up to 18 months before the surgery and for about 6 months after the surgery to align the teeth and ensure they are adjusted and stabilized. The last stage would be to wear a retainer for a period of time to hold the teeth together in their new position.
• Treatment varies from one individual to another. It can range from 2 and half years to 18 months. Missing appointments and brace breakage might lengthen the treatment time.
• The length of ones hospital stay varies from one person to another and the speed of recovery averages 2 – 4 weeks.
• The operation is done from inside the mouth to prevent external scars. It is only on rare occasions does the surgeon need to make a small cut on the angle of the jaw though this is practically invisible after a few weeks of the surgery. The jawbones are repositioned and secured with plates and screws which remain under the gum. Small elastic bands are also used between the top and bottom brace to guide the teeth into their new position and bite.

See for advice on below links:

Kensington: http://www.nhs.uk/Services/dentists/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=22423

Hounslow:  http://www.nhs.uk/Services/dentists/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=22379

Conclusion

For consultation, treatment and advice on orthognathia surgery, visit https://orthodontist.london/ for more information.

An offensive mouth breath can cause great embarrassment and humiliation. The moment we notice that we have an unpleasant smell we know that something is out of balance.  Sometimes it may be a sign of a serious health problem; it is thus wise to consult an expert to identify the cause. There are various causes of bad breath and not just the assumed reason of poor oral hygiene. These include;

• Lack of regular habit of brushing teeth causing accumulation of bacteria.
• Smoking
• Dry mouth
• Certain medications
• Mouth infections

Since it is difficult to assess if you have a bad breath, ask a close friend or relative to confirm if there is need for concern. Your dentist is also a good person to consult when facing bad breath issues. The main reason for bad breath, also known as halitosis, is poor dental hygiene. When food particles clog up in between the teeth, it causes building up of bacteria resulting in a foul smell.

Bad breath is a great cause of concern as it can greatly debilitate a person’s social life. Since it is a sensitive matter, even your close friends may feel embarrassed to tell you and may just end up avoiding you. Sometimes you may even brush regularly but feel that the problem is still persistent. However, there are certain habits that could be contributing to your bad breath problem.

Read >Bad breath (halitosis) – NHS Choices

Avoid These Habits and Eliminate bad breath

You need to remember that just brushing your teeth daily is not enough. Flossing regularly can also remove hidden food particles that cannot be removed by a toothbrush. The tongue can also be a hiding place for bacteria. Always clean your tongue along with brushing. Strong smelling foods like garlic and alcohol can also contribute to having a bad breath. Extreme dieting and fasting can stimulate the production of ketones which result in bad breath.

Self-management 

Eliminating bad breath is all about identifying what is the underlying cause. As discussed above, if you know the cause of your bad breath then it will be easier to find ways to eliminate this problem. Consider for example these simple home remedies;

1. Use gentle toothbrushes which to avoid risk or bruising and damaging gums. Use toothpaste containing fluoride. Make god use of recommended mouthwashes.
2. Prevent the dry mouth condition by chewing sugar-free gum. This will stimulate saliva flow.
3. Eat fibrous food and vegetables. Also make it a habit to drink green and black teas.
4. Supplements like vitamin C, B, D and E are a good source of antioxidants which remove bad bacteria.
5. Occasionally use baking soda when brushing your teeth. Apart from its’ whitening abilities, baking soda is good in neutralizing an acidic environment.
6. Drink plenty of water.

Read > How to Stop and Prevent Bad Breath | TheraBreath

Conclusion;

Eliminating bad breath may be a gradual process but it is something that can be achieved. The good news is that it is not always a permanent problem and with much effort it can be eliminated.

If you have ever experienced a toothache, then you probably know that its effect can be excruciating. Teething pain and sensitivity can be the most painful experience both for adults as well as children. It can cause you to have sleepless nights and practically rob you of the joy of enjoying simple daily activities. Symptoms of root canal damage include localized pain at a particular tooth, sensitivity while eating/drinking cold or hot foods or drinks, and swelling of the tooth.  Tooth sensitivity is always the first sign to show that you will start having dental pain. Most over the counter pain killers used to curb teething pain are only effective on a temporary basis and sooner or later, the pain is back again with a bang. So it is best to look for more effective ways of dealing with a tooth pain. You might be surprised to learn that there are easy tips to ease that pain. Consider these;

1. Ice packs remedy; Place an ice cube on the affected tooth and you will notice a cooling effect, thus easing the pain. This is because the ice produces a numb effect on the aching tooth. You can also just hold a pack of ice cube on the cheek and you will feel a relaxed feeling.
2. Salty water intake; Gaggle a glass full of warm salty water at least three times a day to relieve the pain. Spit out the water after it stays in the mouth for a considerable amount of time.
3. Liquid diet; Solid foods further add to the pain since accumulation of food stuffs on already damaged tooth canal further irritates the tooth, worsening the situation. Stick to a diet of warm natural juices for the time being until your tooth pain eases.
4. Olive oil; Make a cotton ball and fully dip it into olive oil solution. Apply gently on the affected tooth for a relieving effect. If you cannot find olive oil, then you may also try clove oil. Both oils act as effective anti-inflammatory ingredients.
5. Garlic juice; if you have the guts, you can chew the garlic cloves and the released juice will work miracles as it penetrates the aching tooth canal. If you find this method to be terrible, try to squeeze the juice in a small bowl and pour on the affected tooth or drink it.

More tips onTooth Pain – Likely causes and what can be done – Dear Doctor

Causes of tooth pain

• Eating extremely hard food may eventually fracture your tooth thus causing root canal.
• If you are hit by someone in the mouth, you may have internal tooth injuries which when overlooked can start decaying of the affected tooth, causing pain.
• If you have had a tooth filling before don’t wait for too long before going for checkup. The old filling shrinks and cause decay.
• Eating sweets especially just after going to bed without brushing your teeth. Bacteria become active at night and works on these leftover food particles, resulting in pain.

Conclusion;

The above easy remedies will do wonders in alleviating toothache, before you seek professional help.