Parents try to keep their children safe and healthy, but some medical conditions are hard to prevent due to a genetic predisposition. All developments that occur in the early years of life are important to future health and development. If one stage of development does not occur, the future health of the child is affected. Hypodontia and Oligodontia are the dental terms used to describe congenital missing permanent teeth. More specifically, hypodontia describes up to six missing teeth, and oligodontia describes more than six teeth missing. There are also cases in which all teeth fail to erupt, this is called anodontia.

Permanent teeth erupt between the ages of 12 and 14, and all primary teeth and the crypts of permanent molars are visible using radiography at time of birth. A radiography diagnoses of hypodontia or oligodontia can be made at an early point in life due to the visibility of the crypts, the spaces in which teeth will grow, before the development and eruption of teeth. But definite diagnosis should not be made until the age of 6, because formation of teeth vary based on gender and race. Teeth can be missing on either the left or right side of the jaw with the opposite side having a complete set of teeth, but teeth missing teeth on both sides of the jaw occur as well.

Factors that have an effect on the development and eruption of permanent teeth are environmental and genetical. Environmental effects that may cause hypodontia or oligodontia are fractures in the jaw occurring before tooth development, surgery on the jaw, chemo and radiation therapies, treatment for malignant diseases, irradiation procedures, and Thalidomide use during pregnancy. Thalidomide is a medication used for multiple myeloma and as a sedative. The genetic factor that causes hypodontia and oligodontia is a mutation chromosomes MSX1 and PAX9. There are thought to be mutations in other chromosomes that affect tooth development, but they have not been discovered yet. Screening tools for mutations in the MSX1 and PAX9 genes are used in research, but are not yet available for routine testing.

An open bite, a gap between teeth may be present in some cases between teeth where there are no missing teeth, and should be side-by-side. The way the teeth of the upper and lower jaw join together when the jaw is closed is called dental occlusion, and this may differ in children with congenital missing teeth. Teeth that are not effected by congenitally missing teeth and should appear normal may not erupt or only partially erupt due to the socket that the tooth is set in being too small to allow the tooth to fully emerge. The usual treatment for disarranged and open bite cases in people not suffering from congenital missing teeth is braces, unfortunately, victims of hypo/oligodontia do not respond to braces treatment and may wear partial dentures depending on the severity of the case.

Teeth that are present in the mouth of a victim may be smaller in size or/and deformed in shape compared to teeth from an unaffected person. Some teeth may be rotated, this means that the tooth is not facing the direction it should. The formation of unaffected teeth may be delayed and eruption may occur at a later then normal age. A condition called hypocalcification can be present in some cases due to the enamel layer on a tooth or teeth being too thin, causing dents or scrapes in teeth, discoloration of entire tooth, or spots of discoloration.

Only approximately 2.8% of the US population suffers from congenital missing teeth, and, in most cases, only two teeth are missing. The mandibular premolars and the maxillary central incisors are the most common teeth that fail to erupt. If there is a history of hypodontia or oligodontia in either of the parents families, then there is a high possibility that a child born to those parents will have congenitally missing teeth. If the child is female, the possibility increases slightly because studies show a slight increase of predominance in females.

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Many dental complications can be prevented by daily oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth removes plaque buildup and lessens the possibility of developing dental complications such as gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Approximately 75% of the US population suffers from some form of gum disease, and most of those people don’t even realize it. Gum disease causes complications in the present, but also has an effect on a persons overall health in the future.

Plaque is the sticky, white substance that forms on teeth and gums, and is easily removed by brushing and flossing. If the buildup is not removed it hardens and becomes known as tartar. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and leads to further plaque buildup and infections. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and is reversible but often goes unnoticed. If untreated, gingivitis may lead to periodontitis, the second stage of gum disease. Periodontitis has several levels and is not reversible.

Commonly caused by bad oral hygiene, tobacco use, bad nutrition, birth control pills, arthritis and high blood pressure medications, and hormonal changes, the earliest signs of gum disease may be bad breath and red, swollen, and/or bleeding gums. Progression of the disease causes symptoms to worsen and new symptoms to appear. The new symptoms may include color change in gums, loosening teeth, abscessed teeth, receding gum line, and tooth loss due to bum and bone tissue loss.

Gum disease increases medical risks in diabetes patients and the fetus in pregnant women. The disease has also been linked to causing heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, and preterm birth. Pregnancy gingivitis is common during the first trimester of pregnancy due to hormonal changes. If periodontitis is developed during pregnancy, the baby may be born premature, or with a low birth weight. People that have slow blood circulation, slow immune system, and frequent changes in blood sugar levels experience more frequent and more severe cases of gum disease.

Daily brushing, flossing, the use of mouth wash, and regular visits to your dental hygienist are the best form preventing gum disease and other dental complications. The early stages of gum disease are reversible with a visit to the dentists office, scaling is performed by the dentist or hygienist to remove plaque and tartar buildup. A prescription mouth wash, such as chlorhexidine gluconate, and several cleanings will be used as treatment for mid-level stages. For advanced stages of gum disease, surgery is performed to stop or minimize the progression of the disease and replace lost bone tissues.

Easily prevented and possibly reversible, gum disease should not be the epidemic that it has become. With so many types of tooth brushes, tooth paste, and mouth wash available on market in this century, people are very aware of their oral hygiene, but still do not perform the menial tasks that can prevent so many dental complications. Brushing and flossing teeth two to three times a day takes mere minutes to perform and should never be postponed.

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Bad breath can make you the bad guy at the party or anywhere you go. Have you tried everything and no matter what you do it wont go away? The answer is a lot simpler then you may think.

Halitophobia is the fear of bad breath and can be a serious problem for many. Seek your local therapist if you experience these issues. If youre wondering what is causing your bad breath see your dentist right away. Somewhere between .05%-1% of the population suffers from Halitophobia.

Halitosis is caused most often by bacteria and the toxic waste they create on your tongue, tooth decay, and tonsil problems. Onions, spices, and coffee can stay on your breath for up to 96 hours. You should brush your tongue gently and floss everyday.  Health challenges such as diabetes or liver problems can cause halitosis.

It is estimated that about 1% of the population has halitophobia which is the fear of bad breath. This is a psychological challenge and one should see a specialist on that issue.  Millions of people have bad breath. Babies arent born with teeth that have broken the surface yet and thus they dont have bad breath. Smell a babies breath and youll see one of the main culprits in bad breath.  They dont have teeth so its virtually impossible to have bad breath yet.

Changes within the body such as hormonal changes, a teen going through puberty, and menopause may have an effect on halitosis. Any food that gets stuck in the mouth and sits for days will create a potential problem, even beyond a cause of bad breath. Smoking not only causes bad breath from the toxins but also it heats the mouth up, creating a breeding ground for bacteria to grow.

Dentists recommend using gum containing Xylitol rather then sugarless or artificially sweetened gum. View mouthwashes as short term relief as they do not address the root issue. Keeping healthy teeth and gums will give you great breath all day.

One of the most over looked things in Halitosis is not enough saliva. Having the proper amount of saliva will also help in tooth decay. Drink plenty of good clean water as if youre dehydrated then it may cause bad breath.

Use the best floss possible. Dentists recommend using the gentle glide kind as it is must easier to slide in and out of the teeth and creates less stress. Ask your dental professional questions, they always love that. Get educated and study as much as you can about nutrition and dental health. After all you do only get one set of teeth.

See your local dentist right away; they will be likely willing to work with some sort of payment plan for you. Its always good to have a check up especially if youre experiencing any discomfort.

Our friendly Olympia Washington Dentist gives cutting edge exclusive tips and dental health information. We are located in Olympia WA and look forward to serving you.

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