Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

 

Wisdom teeth can be a pain in the neck or more specifically the mouth. These teeth appear later in life, emerging in the upper and lower back areas of the mouth in the 17-25 age years. After wisdom teeth grow in completely, your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction to prevent infection. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, CO, Dr. Roopi Kattaura provides safe and effective wisdom tooth extractions. But first, the question remains, why do we have wisdom teeth anyway?

History of Wisdom Teeth

Since they are the last to appear in the human mouth, wisdom teeth garnered the title “wisdom” presumably because they make you wiser. Wisdom teeth were once very useful in human history, aiding our ancestors to chew and tear tough roots, meats, nuts, and plants. But because most of the human diet today is soft and cooked foods, the need for wisdom teeth is virtually none, with anthropologists suggesting their DNA may soon completely disappear from genetics.

Wisdom Teeth Today: Extractions and Removal

Since wisdom teeth aren’t needed anymore today, they are more likely to do harm than good to your mouth. When a wisdom tooth can’t break through the gums or is stuck under the gums, this means it’s impacted. A wisdom tooth that grows at the wrong angle due to lack of room in the mouth also is impacted. Partially impacted wisdom teeth, which only slightly emerge from the gums are also a cause for concern. 

Your Parker, CO dentist recommends an extraction when your wisdom tooth is impacted and if you experience the following symptoms:

-Pain

-Infection

-Ulcers near the tooth

-Tooth decay

-Damage to nearby teeth

-Gum disease

-Trouble opening jaw

-Bleeding gums

-Sudden bad breath

Sometimes wisdom teeth, even if not impacted, don’t need to be removed because they cause no oral health issues. Here are examples of when you don’t need an extraction:

-Your wisdom teeth are healthy and fully grown in

-Your wisdom teeth are positioned correctly

-Your wisdom teeth are easily reached for proper dental hygiene

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Thumbsucking and Oral Health

 

Does your child suck their thumb? Thumbsucking is a normal reflex that many young children practice for comfort and relaxation. But prolonged thumbsucking can affect your child’s oral health, resulting in issues like misaligned teeth.  At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, CO, Dr. Roopi Kattaura is passionate about your child’s oral health, from thumbsucking to cavities. Call our office today if you have any questions.

Thumbsucking and Your Child’s Teeth

Passive thumbsucking which is simply holding the thumb in the mouth doesn’t damage the teeth. But thumbsucking with a lot of motion or active thumbsucking causes misaligned teeth, damage to the roof of the mouth, and changes to the shape of the jawbone such as overbite issues. 

Thumbsucking becomes an issue when your child’s first tooth appears. Your Parker, CO dentist sees patients of all ages, so contact Ardas Family Dental to address thumbsucking right away.

How to Stop Your Child’s Thumbsucking

Typically, children stop sucking their thumbs between the ages of two to four. If thumbsucking continues past these ages, there are several ways to help wean your child off this habit:

-Include praise or positive reinforcement when your child doesn’t suck their thumb

-Focus on alleviating anxiety. Since thumbsucking is a source of comfort when children are anxious, try to eliminate that anxiety.

-Involve your child in the process. If you have an older child who is still thumbsucking include them in the process to stop this habit, by setting gentle reminders and goals to accomplish.

If your child’s thumbsucking habit is still a concern, contact our office in Parker, CO today. Your dentist can prescribe medication or devices to hinder your child from sucking their thumb. 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Fruit Juice and Tooth Decay

 

Fruit juice seems like the perfect healthy drink for your kids, right? This all-natural beverage may seem like the best choice for your kids to enjoy as opposed to soda or caffeinated drinks. But, fruit drinks are also a major culprit for tooth decay and cavities. At Ardas Family Dental in Parker, CO, Dr. Roopi Kattaura offers expert advice on the causes and prevention of tooth decay, including advice on fruit juice.

The Dangers of Sugar

You’ve probably heard the dangers of sugar a thousand times. Sugar negatively impacts your body and your teeth are no different. After you eat junk food or sip on unhealthy drinks, harmful bacteria in your mouth like Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus feed on the sugars leftover in your saliva. These bacteria create a plaque on the surface of your teeth. They also trigger destructive acids which cause enamel erosion and tooth decay.

But, Why Fruit Juice?

Okay you know sugar is bad, but why is fruit juice dangerous for oral health. When it comes to fruit juice or any similar food, keep in mind that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s completely healthy. Whether it’s sugar from candy or natural sugars derived from fruit, sugar is still sugar and harms your child’s teeth. Fruit juice isn’t all that healthy as well, with too much extra sugar and calories even if it’s naturally derived from just fruit. Bacteria also feed off natural sugars in your child’s mouth, leading the way for weak enamel and decay.

Treatment

Prevention is the best medicine. So the next time you pair your child’s afternoon snack with some beverage, choose water instead of juice. Of course, you don’t have to completely halt the juice intake but limit the amount of fruit juice your child consumes daily.

If your child is already experiencing dental problems from sugar, contact our Ardas Family Dental in Parker, CO today. Dr. Kattaura offers a variety of treatment options and technologies including sealants, crowns, and electric handpieces to protect and repair your child’s teeth. 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.