GET TO KNOW IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH

Impacted wisdom teeth is found at the back of the mouth as they are the third molars. Usually, these teeth do not have enough space to emerge or devlop and hence get cramped up or impacted in the bone.

The specialty of wisdom teeth is that it is the last adult teeth to emerge. There are totally four wisdom teeth in a grown-up person, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw.

Problems of impacted wisdom teeth

As far as wisdom teeth remain hidden, there is no cause for worry but more often the wisdom teeth get impacted and result in pain, damage and cause other dental problems. Many a time impacted teeth by themselves do not cause any immediate harm. The impacted wisdom teeth, though it will be hard to clean properly and so cause tooth decay and gum disease than other healthy teeth.

The best way to tackle impacted wisdom teeth is to get it removed. It is also advisable to remove impacted wisdom teeth that do not cause any present issues to prevent any future problems.

Symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth normally do not cause any symptoms. When an impacted wisdom teeth get infected, it can damage other nearby teeth or cause dental problems.

Infected wisdom teeth cause redness and swelling in the gums, gums get tender and starts bleeding. The infection also causes jaw pain and swelling of the jaw area. The other symptoms include bad breath, an unpleasant taste in the mouth and difficulty while opening and closing the mouth.

What causes impacted wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17- 25 years. Generally the wisdom teeth emerge without any problem and it lines up with other teeth that have already emerged as it positions behind the second molars. When the mouth is too crowded for third molars to develop, they get trapped in the gum and become impacted.

Sometimes an impacted tooth will partially emerge so that the crown becomes visible.   This condition is called partially Erupted. The affected tooth may grow at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar). It can also grow toward the back of the mouth or at right angle to the other teeth as if the tooth is lying down within the jawbone. The impacted wisdom tooth may emerge up or down but stay trapped.

Complications of the impacted condition

Impacted wisdom teeth cause many dental problems, including damage to other teeth by putting pressure on the nearby teeth, especially the 2^nd molars. The condition also causes some sack like growth or cyst formation in the gums near the impacted teeth. All these may lead to tooth decay or carries that affects the teeth and  gum infection too.

How to prevent impacted wisdom teeth?

It is not possible to prevent impacted wisdom teeth from showing up but you can always watch for its growth and symptoms. You should have regular consultation with your dentist and let the doctor examine your wisdom teeth while checking for any infection, pain and abnormalities.

Your dental doctor may use a dental X-ray to locate impacted wisdom teeth, study its position and recommend remedial action even before any symptoms or complications develop.

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WHAT ARE THE FOODS FOR HEALTHY HAIR?

We all know about strong and healthy hair. The fact is that we can’t change our age and genetics but our diet is one thing that we have control over. That is why eating a proper diet with right nutrients in it can help promote hair growth.

Let us now look at those foods that can give us a regular supply of nutrients that will help us have a head of healthy hair.

• Salmon
• Yogurt
• Spinach
• Guava
• Cereal & Nuts
• Poultry
• Sweet Potatoes

Salmon

Fish is one food that can do wonders to your health and hair. Fishes like salmon, sardines and mackerel are packed with healthy omega 3 fatty acids.  They help to protect you from diseases and your body needs them to grow hair and keep it shiny and full.

Yogurt

Yogurt is packed with protein, which is the building block of your hair. Yogurt also has ingredients that help with blood flow to your scalp. It has vitamin B5 which also helps against hair thinning and lail. That is why you find vitamin B5 in most of your hair and skincare products.

Spinach

Like most of the dark green vegetables spinach is also full of nutrients., It has loads of vitamin A, iron, beta carotene, foliate and vitamin C. These nutrients work together for a healthy scalp and hair. The nutrients help keep the hair moist so it does not break.

Guava

Guava is a tropical fruit that is full of vitamin C, which protects the hair from breaking. One serving or one cup of guava has around 377  mg of vitamin C. That should be more than four times the minimum daily requirement.

Cereal & Nuts

You can eat iron fortified cereal as too little iron can lead to hair loss. You can easily find this nutrient in iron fortified cereals. You can also find it in foods like grains, pasta, soya beans and lentils. Meat especially liver has lots of iron. Shell fish and dark green vegetables are also good storehouse of iron.

Poultry

Lack of protein will stop proper hair growth. Since the old hair falls off and new ones don’t grow easily, your hair tends to thin out. Lean proteins like chicken and turkey will provide all the protein while remaining healthy for you,

Sweet Potatoes

Does your hair look dull and lifeless? Reach for sweet potatoes which are filled with an antioxidant called beta carotene  which your body turns into vitamin A. This protects your hair from turning dry and dull. Vitamin A also promotes sebum production that keeps the hair soft and moist. Beta carotene is also found in carrots, pumpkin and  mangoes.

The list of foods that benefit the hair is equally good for a healthy body. Take for example cinnamon for circulation, eggs for growth and oysters for fullness are some of the prominent choices that give proven results.

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HOW TO USE A FACE MASK

Who and when should you wear a face mask? The health department recommends that everyone over the age of 2 years should wear cloth face masks in public places, especially in areas where it is difficult to maintain the mandatory 6 feet distance.

It is best to wear a face mask if you are sick and if there are other people around, at home also. Caregivers are supposed to use the facemask when cleaning and disinfecting a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom.

When visiting a doctor or a hospital, you should wear a face mask.

Wearing a facemask is in addition to other COVID-19 safety measures. You still have to limit contact with other people, wash your hands often with soap and keep surfaces clean.

Who should not wear a face mask?

Children under two years of age, someone who is having trouble breathing, someone who is unconscious or people who can’t move or take-off a mask by themselves need not wear a mask.

The right way to wear a face mask

Before you put on a face mask, wash your hand for 20 seconds with soap and water. Then, secure the mask either with ties behind the head or loops behind the ears as provided. Adjust to fit the mask properly around your nose and mouth and under your chin.

Take care, there is no space between your face and the mask. Pinch the top edge of the mask to fit it around the bridge of your nose. The mask should fit comfortably and be able to breathe easily through it.

Once you wear it and step out, do not go on touching your mask every now and then.

Cleaning and maintaining the face mask

It is best to wash cloth masks with hot water and detergent after every use. If the mask has a filter, take it out before washing. After taking out the mask from the washing machine, hang it up for drying. Wash your hands when you’re done.

After drying your mask check for any hole or frayed edges that can cause gaps around your face.

Before you use the mask again, check for holes. Be sure it’s not frayed and doesn’t gap around your face.

It is recommended to wash your face mask rather than just putting it out in the sun since there is no evidence that sunlight can deactivate the COVID – 19 virus.

Myths and facts about face masks

Gaps in masks make them useless

A mask that does not fit perfectly may not be totally useless if it has a high filter level. Even cloth masks that fit perfectly can’t stop all particles. But a mask that has a gap won’t work nearly as well as a perfectly fitting mask.

Should wear a mask at home too

It is not required to wear a mask at home unless you yourself are sick or you are caring for someone who is sick.

We should wear a mask when exercising outdoors

Though it is best to wear a mask when you go outdoor, wearing a mask and exercising has its own problems. Some people will feel breathless when they wear a mask and exercise. So, it’s fine not to wear a mask when exercising outdoor if you maintain 6 feet distance with other people.

Masks trap carbon dioxide and viruses

Continuously wearing an N95 mask for several hours can make CO2 linger behind the mask. The presence of excess carbon dioxide will cause headache, dizziness and fatigue. At the same time, cloth and surgical masks generally do not cause so much of a problem.

Yes, mask could trap particles of coronavirus and that is why it is recommended that face masks should not be touched often when wearing them and they should be properly washed once you use them outdoors.

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HOW TO TACKLE THINNING HAIR?

Hair loss is a common phenomenon, whether you are a man or a woman.  But in men, hair loss is more visible and prevalent than in women. There are several reasons for hair loss.

People lose their hair due to illness and medications like chemotherapy for treating cancer. Hair loss is also hereditary and you may inherit from your parents and grandparents. Hair thinning is basically because the hair gets brittle and becomes fine in texture, or you use too many harsh chemicals to wash or style your hair.

Here are a few hair care tips that can help in managing thinning hair and making it look more voluminous and healthy:

Try colouring the hair:

Overall your hair must be healthy, but you may have inherited hair loss, then you can try to add body and volume to hair by using a semipermanent colour. Ammonia or peroxide free hair colour will not damage your hair but make it look more appealing and mask the thinning. Coloured hair can get overprocessed and hence damage occurs, causing further hair loss. So care should be taken to seek professional help in colouring your hair.

Use voluminizing products

Most of the volume building products contain paraffin, which is not good for the hair. Paraffin can build up in your hair and start breaking its strands.

Seek professional help to chose a volumizing product that won’t weigh your hair dooown or damage it. Hair mousse should is applied to the root area for support. Then the root area is dried with a blow dryer and a brush is used to build up the   volume. In the end, a liiight finishing spray will help hold the hair in place.

Shampoo and condition regularly

Hair is one part of the body that needs constant care since it is overexposed to the elements. To protect your hair, it is best to use shampoo only when the hair is really dirty. Those with fine hair will have to do this more often. A good shampoo and an excellent conditioner can work wonders on fine hair.

Fix the style with care

Blow dryers are ok even for fine-hair, but be careful that high heat is not applied directly to the hair. Flat irons and curling irons can cause damage and extensive breakage. Curl relaxing products contain hefty dose of chemicals and are not recommended at all.

Waves and hair health

Permanent waves can give the hair volume to fine hair but not to dry or brittle hair. Even a wave should be a gentle body wave, which, unlike the tighter waves that damage hair, will only add to its looks. For permanent style, harsh chemicals are used and hence should be used occasionally or not at all for fine hair. It is again mandatory that you get it all done by a professional hairstylist.

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WHAT  ARE THE CAUSES FOR HAIR LOSS?

In humans, hair grows everywhere on the skin except on places like the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet, eyelids, belly buttons. In some places, the hair is so fine that it is not easily visible to the eyes.

Hair is made of a protein called keratin that is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of the skin. As the follicles produce new hair, the old cells are pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of six inches per year. The hair you see only a string of dead keratin cells. The average human head has 100, 000 to 150,000 hairs and loses about 100 of them daily.

Each hair follicle has its own life cycle that is influenced by the age of the person, health condition, and many other factors.

What causes hair loss?

Scientists and researches are yet not certain what causes hair loss in humans. It is baffling why some hair follicles are programmed to have a shorter growth period than others. Though there are many identified factors that can influence hair loss:

Hormones: Hormones such as abnormal levels of androgens (male hormones produced both by men and women) can cause hair loss.

Genes: Genetic factors both in men and women may influence a person’s predisposition to male or female pattern baldness. It is usually inherited from their parents.

Stress, illness and childbirth: They are all causes that bring about temporary hair loss. Ringworm caused by a fungal infection also causes considerable hair loss.

Drugs or medications: Certain treatments using chemotherapy drugs, blood thinners, beta-adrenergic blockers used to control blood pressure and birth control pills can cause temporary hair loss.

Burns and injuries: Burn, injuries and even x-rays can cause temporary hair loss. In such cases, normal hair growth returns once the injury is healed. If the injury causes a scar, then the hair will never regrow in the area.

Autoimmune disease: Certain autoimmune disease will cause alopecia areata. It happens when the immune system revs up for no reason and affects the hair follicles. In most people with alopecia areata, the hair growth returns to normal. The hair though may be thinner and lighter in colour.

Cosmetics and beauty procedures: Some cosmetic products and their prolonged use can cause hair loss. Certain beauty procedures like shampooing too often, perms, bleaching, and dyeing hair can cause hair to become thin, weak and brittle. Tight braiding, using rollers, hot curlers, running hair picks through tight curls can also damage your hair. The procedures do not cause baldness and hair does return to its normal growth. But severe, repeated use can cause permanent damage which can lead to bald patches.

Medical conditions: Health issues like thyroid disease, lupus, diabetes, iron deficiency anemia, eating disorders and anemia can cause hair loss. Most time when the underlying condition is treated the patient recovers their hair growth.

Hair loss treatments

Mainly hair loss is treated with the following systems.

Minoxidil is a topically applied hair preparation provides modest hair growth to parts of the head where it has gone totally bald.

Hair transplantation is the relocation of plugs of skin from parts of the scalp containing active hair follicles to bald areas.

Corticosteroids are used to treat alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out in clumps, resolve spontaneously.

Lasers are sometimes incorporated in combing devices. These devices can be used at home or office and help stimulation new hair growth.

How to prevent hair loss?

Although hereditary balding cannot be prevented, you can protect your hair from damage and stop it from getting thinner.

The emphasis is on preventing tremendous stress on your hair at all times. Hairdryers, hot curlers, hair dyes, tight braids and hair straightening products and chemicals laden with cosmetics can cause hair to become dry, brittle and thinner.

If you remain careful of easing the stress on your hair, you are on your way to recovering your crowning glory.

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