How do I treat bee stings?
Take these steps if you are stung by a bee:
If the stinger is still in the skin, gently try to remove it by scraping it carefully from the side with the edge of a firm object, such as a finger nail or credit card — flicking the sting out as soon as possible to reduce the amount of venom injected.
Do not use tweezers to remove the sting; bees leave behind a sac of venom, and if you try to use tweezers you will release more venom from the sac.
When you have removed the sting, wash the affected area with soap and water and dry the area gently.
What is thrush?
Thrush is an infection with a fungus. It is also known as a yeast infection. The fungus, called Candida, occurs naturally in the body, particularly in warm, moist areas such as the vagina, penis, groin and mouth.
Thrush can develop when there is an overgrowth of Candida due to factors such as hormones, medication side effects and medical conditions like diabetes.
You may require an antifungal medication or lozenge to clear the infection. You can speak to your pharmacist or doctor about the best treatment.
Speak to your doctor if the thrush is severe or comes back after treatment.
The orthodontist has recommended the removal of permanent teeth as part of my daughter’s orthodontic treatment. Why would this be?
The majority of the time, orthodontic treatment with braces can be achieved without the removal of permanent teeth. In some cases, however, the removal of permanent teeth is required to achieve the optimal dental and facial outcome. Some examples of where this might be the case are:
Moderate to severe crowding of the teeth
If expansion of the upper jaw is not an available option, the removal of permanent teeth can be required to achieve the best result.
Improvement of the bite
An assessment of the relationship of the upper and lower teeth may reveal a jaw size discrepancy. In many cases, this relationship can be corrected with braces treatment alone but, in some cases the removal of premolar teeth is required with the braces treatment to achieve the best bite correction.
Dental protrusion
Dental protrusion is when the upper front teeth “stick out” and require moving back. Creating space with the extraction of premolar teeth, can improve the angulation of the anterior teeth as well as improving the lip posture.
Compromised teeth
There are cases where the poor health and long term prognosis of compromised permanent teeth may indicate the need for the extraction of these teeth and orthodontic intervention to close the spaces.
An assessment by a specialist Orthodontist is always recommended. An analysis of the position of the teeth, their relationship to the lips and facial profile, the jaw relationship, condition of the teeth and gums will be completed before an individualized treatment plan is formulated.
Sallie Thomas
BSc (Melb) Dip OHT (Melb) Oral Health Therapist
Peninsula Orthodontics, 134 Tanti Ave, Mornington