Pacifiers give busy parents a break by alleviating some of an infant's intense sucking need and providing her with a way to self-soothe. The Mayo Clinic also suggests that pacifiers potentially serve a protective purpose by reducing an infant's...
Braces are common these days, intended to straighten out your teeth and improve your bite. However, braces often cost a lot of money and can be seen as an unnecessary expense by some. But the benefits of braces go beyond just cosmetic improvements.
According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation for Health Care, Research and Education, thumb sucking is normal and soothing in babies and young children. Thumb sucking can be the result of hunger, boredom, nervousness or tiredness. Most children...
Overcrowded teeth are usually identified as teeth that have grown in crooked or protrude slightly. Overcrowded teeth are more difficult to brush and floss, and can be subject to various dental diseases if proper oral hygiene is not practiced....
Straight and properly aligned teeth makes an attractive smile, and they promote good overall dental health. Teeth that overbite, cross-bite, are widely spaced or overcrowded can contribute to gum disease, painful jaw, wearing down of the teeth and...
Dental braces work to realign teeth over the course of months or years. Installed by an orthodontist, braces come in a variety of styles and materials. Proper care of the teeth during the period when braces are installed and for a little while...
HGH, or human growth hormone, is produced by the pituitary gland. It is necessary for growth in children, and maintenance of muscle mass and protein synthesis. Supplemental HGH is available by prescription only. Indications for use include growth...
When kids have crooked teeth, an overbite or underbite---also known as malocclusion---they often end up seeing an orthodontist to get braces. Years ago, having braces often went hand-in-hand with cruel nicknames like "metal mouth." However, the...
Mixed sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that has symptoms of two varieties of sleep apnea. Essentially, this condition begins as a long-standing case of obstructive sleep apnea that triggers issues with the central nervous system. Causes for mixed...
Treatment of misaligned teeth may involve a process that could be long and uncomfortable. Traditionally, the only option for straightening teeth was through the use of metal braces, which corrected alignment over the course of months or years. For...
Orthodontic braces serve to reposition your teeth and may be necessary if you suffer from an overbite, misaligned teeth or a misaligned jaw. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that, ideally, individuals should receive braces during...
Wearing braces is a rite of passage for many teenagers, and in recent years many adults have decided to straighten their teeth, too. Braces are worn to correct many orthodontic problems, including crooked or crowded teeth, under-bite or overbite....
Emerging theories in orthodontic care have changed the timing of when children get braces. By putting braces on baby teeth, orthodontists can better manage jaw growth and positioning of adult teeth. The result is typically a two-phase approach,...
As your baby reaches his toddler years, you may start worrying about letting him continue to use his pacifier. For many children, the pacifier represents a transitional object or way to continue comforting themselves until they learn more advanced...
Once your baby starts teething, she becomes susceptible to a host of dental problems. Not all problems are inevitable, however, and good dental habits can combat many of them, the Healthy Children and KidsHealth websites agree. Proper brushing,...
Actors Tom Cruise and Ashley Judd wore braces, and so did songbird Gwen Stefani. Orthodontic braces are dental appliances used to correct the path of permanent teeth that grow in unwieldy directions, creating a malocclusion--a problem with the...
Teeth are necessary for chewing food as well as for being able to speak clearly. Each tooth has a specific function, according to the Kids Health website. Your incisors--the four front teeth and the teeth on either side of them--are shaped like...
Dental occlusion is the way that the teeth meet when you close your mouth and put them together. There are several things that create the occlusion. The teeth themselves are one factor on how they fit together. Teeth that are out of line or...
Choosing what age to give your baby a pacifier is a balancing act. Introduce the pacifier too early, and you could interfere with breast-feeding or cause your baby to gain weight too slowly. Introduce it too late, and your baby may refuse it...
Evan Turner, a basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers, started his professional career in 2010. Prior to that, he was a well-known high school and college star. The 6-foot-7-inch Turner plays both guard and forward, making him a versatile...
Given a variety of names such as "binky," "plug" and "pacie," the pacifier is a topic of much debate. Whether to use it is one question. When to wean a child off it is another. This decision isn't just based on personal parenting beliefs. Using...
Chewing gum used to be frowned upon by dentists. Not only was it full of sugar, but it also remained in the mouth longer than candies that you could swallow, making it a greater cause of tooth decay. However, in the 1950s, manufacturers introduced...
Orthodontists are dentists who are trained in diagnosing and treating misalignments of the teeth and jaw. Orthodontists who treat children focus on the development of the teeth and jaws and on preventing or correcting problems with misalignment....
Straight teeth and perfectly meshed bites sometimes require orthodontic help. For most people, this help comes in the form of braces. Braces come in several varieties, from the traditional metal bands and wires to virtually invisible clear plastic...
In order to get braces for the teeth, someone has to display a physical structure issue in order to qualify. There are several reasons why someone may need braces, including malocclusions such as crooked teeth, overbite, overcrowding, breathing...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that is classified as autoimmune, which means that it is a result of the body producing antibodies against itself. These antibodies react with the body's own cells and cause symptoms. Some of the...
While you might associate teeth with chewing, they also play an important part in helping us speak and defining our facial features. While adults have 32 teeth, children may have fewer depending on their age. Teeth actually begin to form during...
Mouth guards and retainers have long been a part of many childhood trips to the orthodontist, but their list of potential uses is growing ever longer; for example, mouth guards have even been studied as a way to help women maintain their strength...
Most children do not have naturally straight teeth, and braces can help to correct crooked teeth and misaligned bites. Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not cover braces, and so many families cannot afford this expensive orthodontic...
