A unique world record has been set in India. A 26-year-old woman, Kalpana Balan, has a total of 38 teeth in her mouth—six more than the average person. Due to this rare condition, her name has been recorded in the Guinness World Records. This raises an important question: if someone has extra teeth, should they be removed or left as they are?

Typically, an adult has 32 teeth. However, Kalpana Balan has 4 extra teeth in the lower jaw and 2 in the upper jaw. These extra teeth began appearing gradually during her teenage years. While she does not experience significant pain, food often gets stuck between her teeth while eating.

Why do extra teeth occur?

This condition is known as Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth, where more teeth develop than usual. It is observed in about 3–4% of the global population.

Causes include:

 Overdevelopment of tooth buds
 Genetic factors
 Splitting of tooth buds into two

Should extra teeth be removed or not?

The decision depends on several factors. Extra teeth may be retained if they:

 Do not cause pain
 Do not interfere with chewing
 Do not disturb the alignment of other teeth
 Do not increase the risk of infection or decay

However, regular dental check-ups are essential.

When is removal necessary?

Dentists usually recommend removal if:

 Food frequently gets stuck
 Teeth alignment is affected
 There is difficulty in chewing
 Risk of infection or decay increases

In many cases, extra teeth can be removed easily through minor surgery.

Having extra teeth is rare, but not all cases require removal. If they do not cause problems, they can be monitored under medical supervision.

Every parent wants their child to start the day with a bright smile. But what if that morning smile could reflect not just dental hygiene — but also emotional calm and mental balance?

As a dentist and myofunctional wellness specialist, I’ve noticed something curious in my practice: most people, children and adults alike, brush their teeth without being present. It’s a mechanical act — a box to tick off before rushing to school, work, or the next responsibility.

But brushing, when done mindfully, can be so much more than that.

-Brushing Beyond the Surface

Think of the first two minutes of your morning. You’re standing at the sink, brush in hand, perhaps scrolling your phone or planning the day in your head. The body is brushing — but the mind is elsewhere.

Now imagine instead — you pause. You take a deep breath. You feel the gentle motion of the brush across your teeth. You relax your jaw, unclench your shoulders. You let your thoughts slow down.

That’s mindful brushing: brushing with awareness, attention, and gratitude.

It’s a simple shift, but one that profoundly affects both oral health and emotional wellbeing. When we brush consciously, the jaw relaxes, the nervous system calms, and the body slips into what physiologists call the “rest and digest” mode. You’re not just cleaning your teeth — you’re resetting your mind.

The Mouth–Mind Connection

In dentistry, we often focus on enamel, gums, and plaque. Yet, there’s a deeper connection between the mouth and the mind.

Jaw tension, for example, is one of the most common yet overlooked signs of stress. Many children clench their teeth at night, a habit that can lead to dental wear and even sleep disturbances. Mindful brushing — especially in the evening — helps release that tension naturally.

When brushing becomes a calm, sensory experience, it also nurtures focus and patience. In children, this has ripple effects: they begin their day grounded, not rushed. They end their day soothed, not overstimulated.

Mindfulness Can Be Playful

Parents often tell me, “It’s hard enough to get my child to brush — how can they be mindful about it?”

My answer: make it playful, not perfect.

Play a two-minute song and brush to its rhythm. Ask your child to “count their teeth,” “feel the bubbles,” or imagine they’re giving each tooth a “good morning.” When done together as a family ritual, those two minutes become a time of connection — a shared pause before or after a busy day.

Children imitate what they see. If they watch you brush calmly and with joy, they’ll mirror that energy. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be a lesson; it can be an experience.

The Gentle Science of Awareness

Dentistry has long warned against aggressive brushing — it erodes enamel and harms gums. Mindful brushing naturally solves this problem: when we slow down and stay aware, we automatically brush more gently.

This approach also helps with oral habits like clenching, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing — all linked to muscle tension and stress. A few deep breaths before brushing can activate the body’s relaxation response, improving not just oral but overall health.

A Smile That Reflects Inner Calm

In a world obsessed with speed, mindfulness feels like a luxury. But those quiet moments — like brushing your teeth — are where calm begins.

When your child brushes mindfully, they’re not just protecting their enamel; they’re learning something far more lasting: self-care, patience, and gratitude.

The toothbrush, in this light, isn’t a mere tool. It’s a reminder that health and peace begin with awareness — one gentle stroke at a time.

So tomorrow morning, before you rush out the door, pause for two mindful minutes. Smile — not just because your teeth are clean, but because you’ve started your day in harmony with yourself.

That’s the kind of smile that truly lasts.

The recent Ahmedabad plane crash shook the nation. Due to the intense fire, the bodies of victims were severely charred beyond recognition. In such a tragic situation, DNA testing was the only resort to identify the deceased — and the only viable source of DNA was teeth.

Heartbreakingly, the identities of children who didn’t yet have premolar teeth could not be confirmed.

This horrific event doesn’t just break our hearts — it raises a critical question:

Do we care for our teeth as much as we should?

Teeth — Silent Guardians of Identity

Most people don’t know that teeth are not only essential for a healthy smile and digestion but also serve as a last source of identity in extreme conditions. When the body is destroyed due to fire, water, or decay, teeth preserve DNA. That is why globally, Forensic Odontology — identification through dental records — is a recognized practice in disaster victim identification.

How to Take Proper Care of Your Teeth

1.Brush twice daily — in the morning and at night.

2. Use dental floss — to clean between the teeth.

3. Visit your dentist every 6 months — to catch early problems.

4. Avoid sugar, tobacco, and pan masala — they damage both teeth and life.

5. Keep dental records and X-rays safe — especially for children.

Children’s Teeth and Identification

In the Ahmedabad crash, many children had not developed their permanent premolar teeth, which made DNA extraction from teeth impossible. This unfortunate reality has become a lifetime sorrow for many parents.

Preserve children’s baby teeth when they fall, and keep their dental history documented. It may save their identity in unimaginable circumstances.

Teeth: A Lifetime Asset

We often care for our heart, lungs, and kidneys — but neglect our teeth. This tragedy teaches us: teeth not only protect your smile, they may one day protect your identity 

in life and even after death.

Teeth are not ordinary. They are a part of your living being, and they might be the only remaining trace of your existence one day.So start today. Take care of your teeth — not just for life, but for what may come after.

“Zindagi ke Saath Bhi, Zindagi ke Baad Bhi.”

While occasional mouth breathing might seem harmless, chronic mouth breathing in children can lead to a cascade of developmental issues. From facial alterations to cognitive impairments, understanding of it is crucial for early intervention.Let's take it one by one.

1. Face and teeth issues

Nasal breathing plays a pivotal role in shaping the facial structure during a child’s growth. Chronic mouth breathing can lead to:

 • Narrowed facial structure and elongated face: Mouth breathing can cause the upper jaw to narrow and the face to elongate, leading to aesthetic and functional issues.

 • Receding chin and misaligned teeth: The altered tongue posture associated with mouth breathing can result in a receding chin and crowded teeth, necessitating orthodontic interventions.

2. Sleep and Behavioral Issues

Mouth breathing can compromise sleep quality, leading to:

 • Snoring and sleep apnea: These conditions reduce oxygen intake during sleep, affecting overall health. 

 • Daytime fatigue and concentration difficulties: Poor sleep can result in tiredness, impacting a child’s ability to focus and learn.

 • Hyperactivity and behavioral challenges: Sleep disturbances from mouth breathing can mimic or exacerbate symptoms of ADHD. 

3. Cognitive Impacts

Chronic mouth breathing has been linked to cognitive deficits, including:

 • Reduced working memory and learning difficulties: Children with mouth breathing syndrome may exhibit deficits in working memory, reading comprehension, and arithmetic skills. 

 • Altered brain function: Functional brain imaging studies have shown that oral breathing can lead to decreased brain activity in areas responsible for memory and learning.

4. Speech and Swallowing Challenges

Mouth breathing can interfere with normal speech and swallowing patterns:

 • Speech delays and articulation issues: Children who mouth-breathe may develop a lisp or struggle with articulation.

 • Swallowing difficulties: The altered tongue posture can affect swallowing, leading to inefficient feeding and potential nutritional concerns.

5. Immune System and Respiratory Health

Nasal breathing acts as a natural filter, trapping dust, allergens, and pathogens before they enter the body. Without this protective function, mouth-breathing children are more susceptible to:

 • Frequent colds and respiratory infections: Mouth breathing bypasses the nasal filtration system, increasing the risk of respiratory infections. 

 • Allergies and asthma exacerbations: The unfiltered air can introduce allergens directly into the lungs, triggering or worsening allergic reactions and asthma. 

What to do: Steps for Parents and Caregivers

Early recognition and intervention are key to mitigating the adverse effects of mouth breathing:

 • Consult Healthcare Professionals: If you notice signs of chronic mouth breathing in your child, seek advice from pediatricians, ENT specialists, or orthodontists.

 • Address Underlying Causes: Conditions like allergies, enlarged tonsils, or nasal obstructions should be evaluated and treated appropriately.

 • Encourage Nasal Breathing: Simple breathing exercises and reminders can help children develop the habit of nasal breathing.

 • Consider Myofunctional Therapy: This therapy focuses on strengthening the oral and facial muscles to promote proper breathing, chewing, and swallowing patterns.

While often overlooked, mouth breathing may be doing more harm than previously believed. A recent study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revealed that breathing through the mouth, instead of the nose, may significantly impair brain function—especially working memory, attention, and learning.

Mouth breathing is common in situations like nasal congestion caused by allergies or enlarged adenoids. Even healthy individuals may breathe through the mouth about 17% of the time during their daily routine. However, prolonged mouth breathing can affect not just dental and pulmonary health, but also brain performance.

Health experts have long known that mouth breathing leads to oral health issues such as dry mouth, reduced saliva production, tooth decay, gum disease, and even changes in facial structure due to altered tongue and jaw positions. It can also impact lung function, as air entering through the mouth is not properly filtered, humidified, or warmed—leading to increased risk of respiratory infections and reduced oxygen levels.

The latest findings take this further. Researchers observed significant decreases in memory and learning abilities during mouth breathing. In children, performance in tasks requiring attention and working memory was found to decline. In adults, even tasks involving smell-related memory were affected.

Brain imaging results showed that areas like the left cerebellum and inferior parietal gyrus—regions critical for memory and attention—were significantly less active during mouth breathing compared to nasal breathing.

These discoveries suggest that mouth breathing isn’t just a dental concern. It can disrupt key brain functions linked to academic performance, attention, and concentration. Experts urge parents, educators, and healthcare providers to take mouth breathing seriously and seek appropriate medical or therapeutic interventions when necessary.