Milk Teeth….What’s That All About?

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

        By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

     Milk Teeth….What’s That All About?

            

Hello again, I hope that you are well.  Another busy month dashing about.  My team and I went to a two day customer care/ team and personal development conference three weeks ago.  Less than two weeks ago I was I Florida continuing my dental laser education.  Well, “If you’re not growing anywhere you’re not going anywhere” apparently.  Always looking for better.

Back At The BBC

Last Sunday I was at BBC Radio Humberside.  I was invited to go on the Sally Fairfax Show.  It was a bout a new feature when kids send in questions to be answered.  It was actually Sally’s 7 years old son who asked the question “ why do we have milk teeth and why do they fall out?”

I was amused whilst driving into Hull when a listener said it was because children would look stupid with big teeth.  I was asked to give a definitive answer.  Well I’m not sure I did that but I had a good crack at it. 

So, milk teeth are called that because they usually start coming through from 6 months to about 2.5 years. Children are still on a lot milk at this age either breast milk, formula milk or cows milk later.  Milk teeth are also called primary teeth,  baby teeth and deciduous teeth (like trees).  Obviously adult teeth would be too big for a baby’s mouth. And the jaw too small to hold them.  When the jaws start to grow as a child grows up there is a transition from the primary teeth through a mixed dentition (primary and secondary) and then the secondary (adult dentition).  There are 20 milk teeth and 32 adult teeth in total. So they fall out to make room to teeth more appropriate for an adult size jaw.

OK, But How Did This Happen

Well it can only be evolution, the survival of the fittest.  Environmental pressures select out new traits to remain if they are of benefit and increase the survival of a species.  As a child comes off the milk they need enough teeth to chew but these small teeth are not fit for purpose in an adult human.  It’s amazing how this happens really. As Human kind became top of the food chain, environmental pressures became less of a factor because humans changed their environment with increased intellect, imagination and dexterity.

Just Like A Shark

Having two sets of teeth was OK for early man who wasn’t meant to last much longer than 20-30 years.  These days we may be expected to last 70-100 years.  That’s a long time for teeth to last.  It would be great if evolution was still on the go and we could new teeth all the time like sharks.  Not that great for the dental profession though I suppose.  There are plenty of other careers mind.

Until next time.   Take care and be good. 

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 24 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’s charity work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk

A Bit Of A Hoo-Ha

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”
        By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield     

A Bit Of A Hoo-Ha

            

Hello again, I hope you are well.  I can’t believe it’s three weeks into January already.  We’ve hit 2017 at quite a pace and there are loads on. Tomorrow my team and I are off to Manchester to a Dental Customer Care Conference and a Charity Ball to raise money for Dental Mavericks.  We are also busy organising our second 70’s disco fundraiser for Dental Mavericks at Armstrong’s Social Club in Beverley on February 10^th.  There might be a few tickets left if you fancy it.  Last year was a good laugh.

So What’s All The Hoo-Ha

Well, it’s toothpaste.  Colgate toothpaste to be more precise. There is an anti-bacterial chemical called Triclosan that has been in Colgate Total Toothpaste since about 1997.  This toothpaste was considered the benchmark in modern toothpastes because if it.  Triclosan was also put into hand soaps and gels as an anti-bacterial agent.  Now here’s the rub.  Quite recently the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned Triclosan from soaps and gels.  The reason is on health grounds.  It was found that Triclsan is absorbed through the skin and can cause endocrine problems and also affect he immune system.  Other studies have shown it to cause tumours in mice.  Now mice are not humans so there isn’t a direct correlation.  However, Triclosan is still in Colgate Total toothpaste for some reason even though the mouth allows quicker absorption.  Colgate argued that there are loads of studies to show its safety.  The FDA took this board and concluded that the benefits may well outweigh the risks.  Now, Triclosan is not in Colgate sensitive as far as I know.  I’m not trying to scare monger at all, I just find it all very interesting and thought you may want to know or research yourself.

Now For Some Optimism

Fillings could be consigned to history after scientists found that a drug given to Alzheimer’s patients can help teeth regrow and repair cavities. Researchers at King’s College London found that the drug Tideglusib stimulates the stem cells contained in teeth so that they generate new dentine, the material under the enamel.  They discovered that the drug heightened the activity of stem cells in the dental pulp so they could repair 0.13mm holes in the teeth of mice.

A drug-soaked sponge was placed in the hole and then a protective coating was applied over the top. As the sponge broke down it was replaced by dentine, healing the tooth.

Now, don’t get over excited just yet, a 0.13mm hole is very big and easy to protect.  I am intrigued to see how it fairs with bigger holes and how they protectively coat these so there is no wash out of the drug.  It all looks very promising though.

       

 This King's College image shows tooth repair after four weeks (left) and after six weeks (right).

There Is Still Hope

I saw Hull City beat Bournmouth 3-1 last weekend.  It was great!.   There is still hope of staying up if we can keep sticking it in the net.   Come on lads, get stuck in.  Oh, I thought the City Of Hull Celebrations on Queen Victoria Square was really good. Very stirring.

Until next time.   Take care and be good. 

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 24 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’s charity work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk

To Brush Or Not To Brush That Is The Question

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

To Brush Or Not To Brush That Is The Question

Hello again, I hope that you are well. The year is pressing on fast. It seems faster every year. Not long to the end of the football season now. Hull City have been a bit hit and miss lately, in fact a bit more miss. As it stands as I write it looks like it might be the play offs. Fingers crossed eh.

To Brush Or Not To Brush

Well that isn’t the question. There is no debate or referendum. We definitely have to brush our teeth. The question is more when should we brush our teeth? I couldn’t think of a catchy title to go with that question. As this week (as I write) is William Shakespeare’s 400th birthday celebration week I thought it sort of apt. 

When Should You Brush Then?

Well, definitely last thing before bed. This gets rid of the daily growth of bacteria and provides a protective fluoride application as long as you have a fluoride toothpaste. It’s even better if you floss or use those little brushes for in between you teeth first. Your saliva glands shut down over night and that’s why you have e dry mouth in the night. Saliva has a protective effect on the teeth so when it is not there the bacteria can play havoc and cause decay. This makes the night time brush so important.

Before Or After Breakfast

I got asked this question when I was on radio Humberside last. Well, I get up, shower and brush my teeth before breakfast. People are sometimes surprised at this. There is some method in the madness. What I want is clean teeth with a fluoride hit from the toothpaste. The fluoride helps protect the teeth from acid made by bacteria and acid from food and drinks.

I actually have a cup of filtered, boiled water with a squeeze of fresh lemon in. The lemon is acid. If I was to brush after the lemon then I would be brushing away the surface of the teeth softened by the lemon juice. This cause tooth surface loss and wear and can also cause sensitivity. I know a good toothpaste for sensitivity.

By brushing first there is fluoride about. The lemon will still dissolve and soften the surface of the teeth but the will harden up again more quickly with fluoride knocking about. Also the fluoride will become incorporated in the tooth surface making it stronger to acid attack and decay.

My old oral biology Professor, Prof Weatherall told us about his academic mate who did this. So you see, method in the madness from a high academic level! 

Acid On The Outside Alkaline On The Inside

Lemons are highly acidic but once inside the body they have an alkalising effect. Having an acid pH in the body is believed to cause inflammation and free radicals that cause cancer. Reducing acid forming food and having alkalising food seems to be the way to go. Green foods are good on the whole.

Come on Hull City. Reading away tonight. I’m off to listen on the radio.

Until next time. Take care and be good.


Chris




Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550. He has been in dental practice for 23 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’s charity work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk