Reddy's Dental Studio

06/12/2025

Asthma in Children: How It Can Affect Oral Health and Facial Development

Asthma is more than a respiratory condition—it can also influence a child’s oral health and even aspects of craniofacial development. Many young patients with asthma experience mouth breathing due to chronic airway obstruction, which may lead to alterations in maxillary growth, narrow palates, posterior crossbites, and increased risk of malocclusions.

◽️ Additionally, frequent use of inhalers—especially corticosteroids—can reduce salivary flow and change the oral environment, increasing the probability of dental caries, gingivitis, and oral candidiasis. Mouth breathing can also contribute to dry mouth, altered tongue posture, and changes in the balance of facial muscles, which play a key role in proper dental arch development.

◽️ For pediatric dentists, early identification of these patterns is essential. Collaboration with pediatricians, careful monitoring of oral hygiene, preventive strategies for dry mouth, and guidance on proper inhaler use can significantly improve outcomes for children living with asthma.

👉 Supporting these patients means looking beyond the lungs—understanding how breathing patterns influence the entire craniofacial system is key to promoting healthy growth and preventing future complications.

24/11/2025

New research shows poor oral hygiene literally shrinks your brain.

A new study published in Neurology Open Access reveals a compelling link between gum disease and brain deterioration, especially in areas tied to memory and cognitive function.

Researchers found that older adults with signs of periodontal disease had significantly higher volumes of white matter damage—an early marker of brain aging—compared to those with healthy gums.

These changes are believed to stem from chronic inflammation and bacteria entering the bloodstream from infected gums, potentially triggering long-term damage in neural tissues.

This discovery adds to growing evidence that what happens in the mouth doesn’t stay there. While dental care is often seen as cosmetic or secondary, this research underscores its essential role in protecting brain health as we age. The takeaway is clear: daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits could be a simple yet powerful way to safeguard memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: Okamoto, N., et al. (2025). Association of periodontal disease with white matter hyperintensity volume in cognitively normal elderly adults. Neurology Open Access, 6(4).

07/11/2025

Carious lesion progression, go on time to your dentist! We always say, once it hurts we're usually too late.

23/10/2025

🦷⚠️ What Is Dental Fluorosis? Understanding the White or Brown Stains on Teeth

The image shows a clear example of dental fluorosis, a condition that affects the developing teeth of children when they are exposed to too much fluoride during early childhood — especially while the permanent teeth are still forming.

💧 What Causes It?

Fluorosis occurs when children swallow excessive amounts of fluoride, often from toothpaste, supplements, or water sources with high fluoride levels.

👀 How It Looks:

Mild cases show white spots or streaks on the enamel.

Moderate to severe cases may cause brown stains and surface irregularities, as seen in the picture.

⚕️ Can It Be Treated?

Although fluorosis does not weaken teeth, it can affect their appearance and self-esteem. Treatments include:

✅ Microabrasion or polishing to reduce stains.
✅ Composite restorations or veneers for aesthetic correction in severe cases.

🪥 How to Prevent It:

▪️Supervise brushing in young children.
▪️Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
▪️Teach children not to swallow toothpaste.
▪️Follow your dentist’s advice on fluoride use and water safety.

Balanced fluoride use is key — enough to protect teeth, but not too much to cause harm. 🌿

21/09/2025

15/09/2025

Scientists Call Teeth Nature’s Time Capsules.

Archaeologists and forensic scientists often turn to teeth when everything else has vanished. Why? Because teeth are the hardest, most durable part of the human body — able to guard secrets for thousands of years.

Inside each tooth lies a hidden vault: the pulp chamber. Here, DNA is safely locked away, shielded by layers of dentin and enamel. Even when bones crumble or bodies decompose, genetic material inside teeth can still survive.

This is how researchers have extracted DNA from Neanderthals, Denisovans, and even Ice Age humans — reconstructing our ancient family tree from nothing more than a fossilized molar. The same principle helps forensic experts identify individuals when no other tissue remains.

👉 In other words, a single tooth can carry your genetic identity across centuries — and sometimes, millennia.

14/09/2025

Many people assume baby teeth don’t matter because “they’ll fall out anyway,” but this is one of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry. Primary teeth act as natural placeholders, guiding the proper alignment and eruption of the permanent teeth growing underneath. If these teeth are neglected—whether due to untreated cavities, trauma, or early loss—the permanent teeth can erupt in the wrong position, leading to crowding, misalignment, or even impacted teeth.

The roots of baby teeth sit very close to the developing buds of adult teeth. When infection spreads through an untreated cavity, it can travel beyond the roots and directly affect the permanent teeth beneath. This may cause discoloration, enamel defects, or malformation in the incoming tooth. In severe cases, the infection can even damage the surrounding bone, making future eruptions more complicated.

Caring for baby teeth is therefore not only about preventing pain or infection in childhood, but also about protecting the future smile. Regular dental check-ups, timely treatment of cavities, and proper home care create a healthy environment for permanent teeth to grow strong and correctly positioned. What happens in the early years leaves a lasting imprint—healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.

15/08/2025

🇮🇳 Jai Hind

11/07/2025

Even losing just one tooth can set off a chain reaction in your mouth. Each tooth plays a specific role in maintaining your bite and helping distribute chewing forces evenly. When one is lost, the teeth around it can begin to shift into the empty space. This movement may not be noticeable at first, but over time it can lead to misalignment, crowding, or gaps elsewhere in the mouth.

Changes in bite alignment can also affect how your upper and lower teeth come together. This imbalance puts extra pressure on the jaw joints (TMJ), muscles, and remaining teeth. As a result, patients may experience discomfort while chewing, jaw fatigue, or even chronic joint issues.

Moreover, a missing tooth leaves that area of the jawbone without stimulation, which can lead to gradual bone loss. Over time, this may alter the shape of your face and weaken support for adjacent teeth. That’s why it’s important to address even a single missing tooth promptly—whether through implants, bridges, or other restorative options—to protect the overall structure and function of your mouth.

14/06/2025

Tongue thrusting is a habit where the tongue pushes against or between the front teeth during swallowing, speaking, or even while resting. It’s most common in children but can continue into adulthood if not treated.

Over time, this constant pressure can:

➡️Push teeth out of alignment, causing open bite or gaps.

➡️Affect how the jaws grow, leading to bite issues.

➡️Interfere with speech, especially with sounds like "s", "sh", and "z".

If left untreated, it may require orthodontic correction.
Treatment options include:

➡️Myofunctional therapy to retrain tongue posture and muscle coordination.

➡️Speech therapy to improve tongue control during speech.

➡️Habit-breaking appliances or orthodontic intervention if teeth have shifted.

Early diagnosis makes treatment easier and more effective.

14/06/2025

Did you know orthodontists don’t just straighten teeth?

They help guide the entire development of the face, and that can change a child’s whole future.

From childhood into early adulthood, the face is constantly growing and reshaping. But sometimes, the face your child ends up with isn’t the one they were meant to have.

Why?
Because things like:
👶 Thumb sucking
😮‍💨 Mouth breathing
💥 Trauma
❗ Undiagnosed airway issues or habits
…can silently affect jaw growth, shift the bite, and even alter how your child speaks, eats, or feels about themselves.

But here’s the good news: Orthodontic care can help.
Early assessments allow orthodontists to catch and gently correct these changes, guiding the teeth and jaws into proper alignment and supporting natural, healthy development.

It’s not just about the smile.
It’s about:
✔️ Balanced facial growth
✔️ Confident body language
✔️ Long-term dental and breathing health

If you’ve ever looked at your child and thought something seems “off” with their bite, speech, or smile — don’t ignore it. A simple consultation with your orthodontist could unlock the face they were always meant to have.