Well, the government of India just issued a circular dated 11 November, warning that there will be no let up in COVID-19 tests, because a second wave is likely in January-February:2021.
The circular from the Government’s health services directorate anticipating a second wave of the Corona epidemic should make us all more aware about keeping ourselves safe and in ensuring that all safety measures are in place like face masks and hand washing along with social distancing . The government has specifically directed government authorities to ensure there is no complacency in testing and has made sure labs are functional in every district and municipal corporation limits for Corona testing .
The second wave is expected based on what is happening in European nations right now. So all of you who thought it was over and we can relax, should be warmed that a second wave of cases is about to unfold soon. This time even more people will be affected. The second wave of covid-19 is at its peak in places like Delhi. The number of cases suggests it is the worst wave so far and the biggest reason for the increase in infections is our lax behavior. If we do not wear masks, don’t follow social distancing, then it is the main reason for the surge.
Public health experts have said that India can avert a second or third wave of infection with covid-appropriate behaviour. According to the India National Supermodel committee on Covid-19, the pandemic can be controlled with minimal active symptomatic cases by end of February 2021 if preventive measures are followed by all in public places and at homes.
Mobility data show that Indianson large have returned to shopping areas and public spaces. Many are not wearing masks. A large chunk of the population seems resigned to the threat of infection and have lowered their guard. This is an invitation to the pandemic. We cannot stop social distancing and sanitizing just yet. Covid -19 is very much there although people are tired of it, the disease is back with a second wave and our only cure is prevention .
Partha Clinics are committed to helping their patients and the nation in combating this second wave of Corona and is adhering to all safety protocols and measures . We urge you all to do the same ! For all your dental, skin and hair needs visit us at Partha where we follow strictest Covid prevention protocols !
Most of us only go to a dentist when we are in pain , but there are some very important and interesting secrets that no dentist will ever tell you. The top 10 among them are these. Not only are these interesting but useful too. Have a look here…
1. Pain isn’t your biggest problem
You would rush to a dentist as soon as you have dental pain, but as any dentist would tell you, dental pain is not your biggest issue. Pain is the last pit stop. Just like any other body part, teeth too have to be kept healthy and primed. Cholesterol does not pain but it kills, similarly dental decay, infected gums, bad oral health can lead to heart issues and other diseases, even without feeling any pain. Look out for infection and not pain is not your biggest problem, infection is!
2. Brush your back teeth more than the front
Evidently, most people brush only what they can see! The average adult spends two or three minutes total, and kids do even worse and most of us only brush in front and not at the upper back of the teeth. The trick to healthy teeth is to have the right brushing technique for the back of your teeth to stop infections and cavities!!!!
3. Flossing is essential, not mouthwash
Most advertisements and dental hygiene ads focus on brushing and toothpaste but very few speak about flossing. Brushing doesn’t go deep enough into the gums to reach the plaque that causes bad breath. One needs to floss every day and get a professional cleaning done every few months. Using a mouthwash is good but not essential. A mouthwash with alcohol dries out your mouth—you’ll smell nice and minty for a half hour, but then the bad breath can come back , hence brush and floss
4. Don’t stress about germs on your toothbrush
There’s no reason to sanitize a toothbrush unless you’re sharing it with other people. Those UV devices and other germ zappers are totally unnecessary. The exception: Replace your toothbrush if you’ve been sick or have had mouth sores.
5. Truth about the toothpaste never told…
Ever thought what does a tooth paste really do? New whitening formula? It can get rid of surface stains, but it can’t whiten like professional bleach. Fluoride is good but it alone cannot strengthen your teeth as shown, that depends on the food you eat and your oral hygiene.
Tooth paste is a good accessory to proper brushing but is not a medicine in itself. Any tooth paste will work as long as your brushing technique is proper.
6. Baby teeth are not important
Most dentists will not tell you the truth but baby teeth, but it is more important than you think. Kids having cavities and teeth rotten down to the gums tend to have bad teeth even when they grow up. In fact, young kids with tooth problems and cavities often struggle in school due to pain and school days lost due to teeth troubles. Parents think there’s no reason to pay attention to baby teeth because they fall out. But when a tooth comes out prematurely, other teeth crowd in to fill up the space. Without the right treatment, it turns into a mess. So baby teeth as much attention as permanent teeth.
7. Cold drinks destroys your mouth more than you know
Soda in tall glasses with ice is a sure teeth killer, but no one ever told you that! It cuts through teeth. And it’s not just the sugar—it’s the acid that stains and ruins enamel and the teeth. Soda lowers the pH level of the mouth, and softens tooth enamel. The acidity of the sweeteners and the carbonation can lead to tooth decay.
8. Listen to the dentist not just Google
Most patients listen more to Google and the sites they read than the actual doctor. It is better to listen to the dentist and incase of doubt, go in for a second opinion from another dentist. Trust your doctor and not just the web results because your doctor can accurately diagnose and treat your tooth problems not Google!
9. Dentist love it when you ask questions
Contrary to what you think, dentists like to explain to you what is wrong with your teeth and how to correct it ; provided you are eager to know. So, go right ahead and ask as many questions as you like about the tooth problem and what they can do about it, what is the cost etc, any good dentist, worth his salt will be more than happy to help and counsel you .
10. Brushing at night is mandatory
Even if no advertisement or dentist ever tells you this, brushing at night is more important than early morning brushing because the bacteria ruin your teeth at night while you sleep especially if there is lodged food particles, sugar extracts or milk remains, hence you must brush at night before you hit the bed to prevent dental decay .
Hence these are the top 10 secrets your dentist may not tell you explicitly but they are actually life changing, if you decide to follow them !
As the cases of COVID-19 begin to spike again across the country, it’s important to stay steadfast in helping prevent further spread of the virus. While you should continue to wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, avoid touching your face and follow social distancing rules, wearing a mask is an additional step you should also take to stay safe. Its not just about you , but all those around you .Here’s why:As we’ve learned throughout this pandemic, the most common way COVID-19 spreads is through person-to-person contact. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, they produce respiratory droplets that can travel as far as six feet and can land in the mouths or noses of those nearby. COVID-19 can also be spread by people who don’t know they have the virus since they aren’t experiencing any symptoms. Because of this, the doctors and government everyone is urging us to wear a mask and follow social distancing. But , some people just don’t get it ,because they are only bothered about their own convenience and not about the good of all! Really shameful!
Wearing a mask is recommended to add a layer of protection along with frequent hand washes and social distancing. To make sure you are properly protected, there are some things you should and should NOT do when wearing a mask or cloth face covering:Choose a mask that doesn’t have a valve or other openings in it. Make sure it covers your face from the bridge of your nose down to your chin. Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face, making sure there are no gaps. Make sure you can breathe easily through it. Wash it regularly using water and a mild detergent; dry it completely in a hot dryer; store it in a clean container or bag. Do not allow it to slip under your nose and don’t wear it on your forehead or around your neck.Do not put it on a child younger than 2, anyone who has trouble breathing or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove it without assistance. Do not touch the inside of it, as it may be contaminated from your breathing, coughing or sneezing.Do not share it with others. Make sure your masks are regularly washed and dried. Also remember that just wearing a mask may not keep you from getting COVID-19, it can surely lower the odds. If you’re sick, a mask can help keep your germs from infecting others. If you’re healthy, a mask can help keep respiratory droplets from a sick person, from landing in your nose and mouth. In short, we are all at the lowest risk when everyone wears a mask. Despite the doctors’ recommendations, there is one big myth out there about the safety of wearing a mask – that it causes you to breath in dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide. This is absolutely untrue!For those who can medically tolerate wearing a mask, there is no science to support claims that wearing a mask can harm you. Health care workers and doctors wear masks daily, often for extended periods of time, without any carbon poising incident. While it may be uncomfortable, this is how we can help protect one another from COVID-19. This is how we can be responsible citizens and help our community.
Apart from a face mask , remember that social distancing and hand washing are still very important safety precautions that everyone should follow in addition to immunity raising teas and drinks.We are all in this together and wearing a mask helps protect you and everyone around you, especially those who are at the highest risk. Follow rules. Save lives . Be Safe.
Rainy season and cold weathers are often a difficult time for some people and if you google the word “SAD” ( in capitals) , you will know that it is a seasonal depression that affects a lot of people around the world. Apart from SAD and the forced lockdown and not much activity to do , there has been a rise in people feeling sad or depressed, anxious or angry and all these emotions are ok as long as they do not hamper the working of our day-to-day life!
It is such an important issue that in a dental blog too , we cannot ignore it . We have to understand that mind controls all- our thoughts, our self care, our organs and how we behave, react, respond and basically live! Without good mental health we cannot have good dental health as all of it is interconnected.
Sometimes we get up feeling heavy, sluggish exhausted and confused, but this is not clinical depression , it can be termed as depression only when that happens every single day and for months on end. With the recent suicides of celebrities and some young aspiring actors, the limelight is back on the benefits of good mental health.
Many a times we just are not motivated enough to go to work or even scared, we drag ourselves out of bed, and into the bathroom. We cannot even decide on simple things like not decide whether to shave or shower first, and keep staring blankly at the wall…well that is the time we need to see a mental health worker, a doctor, therapist or a good friend to talk to. Typical thoughts that run through the head of a depressed person every morning are will I ever get over this feeling? Will I ever be happy? Why do I feel like this all the time? Maybe this is normal and I will eventually get over it?
The most important thing to do is to understand that depression is just a disease like diabetes or cold and flu and needs to be treated, monitored and routinely checked.
A diary entry from a depressed person would read something like this- “Finally, I realised that even small tasks seemed monumental and overwhelming to me, like brushing my teeth or taking a bath, but I pushed on. I started my day by looking for faults in everything and everyone and I was very short tempered with those closest to me. On the outside though, I put up a great front so no one could see, but I was trapped inside a deep dark world, a personal hell which was dark and endless, it was a veil of dark cloud that refused to go and I was depressed and felt hazy “.
The greatest problem is not depression , but the feeling that no one will understand. There are medications, therapy and mindfulness techniques that can help you overcome depression completely , but the first step is • knowing that you are depressed and • the second step is to know that it is treatable!
The only person that can drag you out of depression is you, but for that one has to be absolutely committed to taking medications and being determined to defeat the monster of depression. Once the medicines set in one can easily regain one’s focus, drive, energy and care for self and others.
Depression is an emotionally draining journey that many will go through in their lifetime, but depression does not have to rule your life there is plenty of help available. Answers and treatments will vary from person to person what works for one person may not work for another. Allowing the state of depression to control you and be the norm will negatively affect you and others. Depression drags you down to depths that you feel you don’t have the energy to accomplish anything or even beat depression itself, a vicious cycle. Depression appears to cause many physical illness’s that can be overcome with treatment. It’s time now, for us all to understand and defeat depression especially in elderly people .
Being able to feel normal and handle life is your right. When people look at others that are cool and calm, they appear to have everything under control that might not be the case, because many of us can put of a really good front. Putting up a good front is ok for a while, but you need to address the disorders. “Depression slowly erodes your will and breaks down any attempt at your happiness for a normal life this is not what anyone wants.
Finally, I want all of you to know that depressed people are highly intelligent, loving and sensitive people that have a lot to contribute to the world, but they need to realize that they are depressed, admit it and find a solution. Remember – • Depression is a very serious matter, which does not discriminate.
• Depression does not care what your age is, what gender you are or even what your race or social class is.
• Depression can often make a person feel sad, helpless, hopeless and irritable.
• Depression is an illness that affects your body, mind, attitude, thoughts, sleep, energy, concentration, weight and behaviour.
• Depression is not a mood, it is not a sign of personal weakness, and it cannot be simply willed away.
• Clinical depression can be devastating to all areas of a person’s everyday life, including family ,relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or study.
• And finally depression is treatable with medicines and meditation !
Well, we all know the bad effects of stress on our body , mind and skin ,but very few people actually know what it does to your teeth and gums!
You are aware of the physical and emotional symptoms of stress such migraines, blood pressures, heart problems, depression and anxiety. But did you know that stress can also affect your oral and dental health? It’s important to pinpoint the causes of your stress and know your body’s early warning signs especially dental signs and take steps to reduce your stress.
Yes! Stress absolutely ruins oral health and in fact, bad oral health is considered a direct indicator of high stress in your life!
You would never know if there is stress in your body, unless indicators like these issue a warning!!!
Recently, a patient walked into one of our Partha Clinics with severe gum erosion, infection and damage to teeth. On taking medical history we realized that he did not have any bad habits like smoking, tobacco chewing etc, not was his diet lacking in nutrition and yet, he was experiencing horrible symptoms of dental decay. Talking to the patient further we were shocked to hear that he had very high stress as a share marketer, he also could not sleep at night, he was battling insomnia and so we realized that stress was causing his gums to erode and teeth to decay! hence, this blog today.
Most people think that eating good food and keeping teeth clean is all it takes to have good dental health but that is only half the truth. Avoiding stress and regular sleep too is a necessary condition in today’s stressful world; in getting your teeth to shine and sparkle.
So let us see the different oral health conditions that can occur due to stress.
Oral infections or Canker sores- These are white or red spots, lines or little pus filled pimples in the inner lining of your mouth. These are extremely painful and hurt a lot while eating salty food. Many people use over –the –top ointments and creams and gels that are available in the market to cure these sores. If left on their own they can heal in 2-3 weeks without medication. These canker sores are directly correlated with stress and lack of sleep .These can be brought on by stress has been proved in clinical researches in the University of Leads medical research centre in UK.
Teeth Grinding or Bruxism – This is an early indication of stress in individuals especially children. Many kids during the time of exams or other anxiety filled events like competitions etc are known to develop Bruxism. It can cause damage to your teeth and enamel as well as headaches and soreness in the jaw. As grinding often occurs during the night you may not be aware you are doing it but it is ruining your teeth nevertheless. Your dentist may recommend a night guard to protect your teeth from damage. Sometimes in adults experiencing some stress, teeth grinding can happen during the day, as well especially if you are concentrating on something.
Gum Disease: Stress can lower your immune system and increase your risk for infection in the mouth, including gum decay, bleeding gums, gum rot, infections and bad smelling breath and in some cases the “Burn mouth syndrome” too in which the patient just cannot feel any taste or salt and feels like a layer is always covering the insides of the mouth and the mouth isn’t clean. All these are symptoms set on by stress.
Dry Mouth- Another common dental problem which is both a side effect of stress as well as the medicines used to treat stress and depression is the Dry Mouth. The mouth’s first line of defense against bacteria is saliva, and in this disease the saliva reduces, without enough saliva there is an increased risk of tooth decay and fall, gum disease and infection.
Jaw issues, or disorders of the jaw joint or chewing muscles. These can cause pain around the ear or face and the patient thinks that the pain is due to the teeth, whereas the pain is due to the jaw muscles being affected due to stress, teeth grinding or low immunity.
General Tooth Decay: Just as we saw in the patient who walked it with severe tooth damage despite good food and no bad habits, similarly a generalized tooth decay is seen in people with high stress jobs or lifestyle. A neglected oral health routine, unhealthy lifestyle choices and conditions such as dry mouth further increase the risk of tooth decay.
Decreased immune response, caused by stress, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease.
Reduce your stress symptoms
It’s important to get to the root of the problem and figure out why you’re stressed. Once you’ve pinpointed the causes, think about how to lower your stress levels. In the meantime, follow these steps to get relief for painful oral symptoms:
Talk to your dentist about treatment options and visit a Partha dental clinic near to your place.
Address teeth grinding by asking your dentist about getting a custom-fitted night guard. It can be worn at night to prevent tooth damage caused from grinding and clenching. The night guard also creates a cushion to remove stress on your aching muscles and joint tissues.
Avoid hard, sugary, sticky or crunchy foods as they ruin teeth health and cause dental decay.
Don’t use cigarettes and alcohol to handle stress as they further aggravate the problem. These products make your oral symptoms worse.
Manage pain through gentle massage, physical therapy or pain relief medications.
Ask about prescription medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help inflammation of the jaw joint. Antiviral drugs may prevent cold sores.
Eat health food and try meditation and yoga to calm yourself down.
Avoid stress and have healthy teeth and shining smile!
