Oral Health and Dental Care

Dental care is integral part of general health, and good oral health gives the sense of overall well-being. Tooth decay is the most common health problem in many countries, and it shows the poor emphasis on the dental care by the general public. Unbalanced diet, poor brushing habits and negligence to daily oral care leads to various dental problems calling for dental treatments, which can be time consuming, expensive, painful and complex. Most of the dental problems can be avoided by paying attention to the daily oral hygiene.

Important Dental Care Tips

It is advisable to use the soft bristled brush with synthetic rounded bristles. When buying a brush, look for the seal of approval from American Dental Association. The toothbrush must be replaced every 2-3 months, or when the bristles are bent or worn. For good dental care, replace your toothbrush after you have suffered from cold.

Proper brushing technique is important for dental care, and brush outside, inside and inside surface of lower and upper jaws. Brush your tongue to freshen up your breath as bacteria and debris on the tongue cause bad breath.

The ideal dental care involves brushing the teeth at least once everyday, preferably at bed time. Brushing after the breakfast helps in thorough removal of plague daily. To clean each tooth properly, change the position of the brush after few strokes. Good dental care does not require too much of paste, and pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste is sufficient. It is essential to avoid brushing teeth too vigorously as it can wear down the tooth structure. It can also cause the gums to recede, exposing the root surface.

For good dental care, good flossing techniques must be used. But, many people do not enjoy flossing, as they are not aware of the proper technique, and hence hurt the soft tissues of the mouth during the attempt. A safe and effective alternative to flossing includes use of brush picks, floss picks, tooth picks and special plague removers.

Some dental specialists and dentists advise using the plague removers instead of regular flossing for dental care. The picks can reach the nooks of the mouth that are left unavailable for floss and toothbrush. Toothpicks are great for dental care, but they are not able to reach all the desired places such as behind the last wisdom tooth.

For good dental care, you can also make the toothpaste at home by mixing baking soda, salt, glycerin and peppermint. But, never swallow the toothpaste, as it may cause the fluoride toxicity. Brush mildly for 2-3 minutes as brushing vigorously for longer time does more harm than good.

Many studies have indicated a strong correlation between oral health and general health. Not paying attention to the dental care can lead to many health problems such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and pregnancy problems. The bacteria causing the periodontal infection can enter the blood stream carrying the infection to many major body organs, leading to various health problems. Consider a periodontal evaluation if you have diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, respiratory disease or if planning to conceive a baby.

As a good dental care program, smoking must be avoided as it can cause tooth discoloration, bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. Some of the other ill-effects of smoking include mouth bores, hairy tongue, shifting teeth, delayed wound healing, altered sense of smell and taste and jaw bone loss.

For good dental care, mouthwashes such as Chorohexidine or Listernine have effective antiseptic properties that kill the bacterial plague. It is also important to maintain a well-balanced diet, and minimize the consumption of sugary and starchy foods that are known to cause tooth decay. To maintain proper dental care, avoid eating between meals as it makes teeth more prone to decay.

It also helps to visit your dentist once in 3-4 months so that any oral concern can be diagnosed early. There are no symptoms associated with most of oral health problems till the disease has progressed to the advanced stage.

First Trip to the Dentist


Image by Andrew Scott

How To Care For Your Teeth

With more people taking better care of their teeth at home and with advanced dental treatments, more people are keeping their natural teeth for a lifetime. Two of the most important things you can do at home is to: Brush your teeth and floss your teeth properly every day.

That sticky substance called plaque causes most dental problems that occur in the mouth. A bacterium in plaque produces acids that attack the enamel of the tooth and can cause decay. Plaque can also cause gum disease. If untreated gum disease can lead to a serious infection that can destroy gum tissue and surrounding bone. If the bone is infected, teeth can be lost.

The best thing you can do to have healthy teeth and gums is to remove the plaque that build up on your teeth daily, before it has a chance to cause any damage to your teeth and gums. The brushing is done to remove the plaque from the tooth surfaces and if your brush correctly you can also remove the plaque from under the gums. Flossing removes plaque from in between two teeth.

We learn how to brush when we are kids and sometimes we can get sloppy or we hurry through the task and do not brush all of our teeth or even all of the surfaces of our teeth. We can damage our gums if we brush too hard. Believe it or not, there are different ways to brush your teeth correctly and your hygienist or dentist can show you the way that is best for you.

Parents should brush their kids teeth through age 5 and supervise kids from age 6 through 10. Teeth should be brushed a minimum of twice a day, but ideally after each meal. Even if you do not eat breakfast, you should brush your teeth early in the morning to remove plaque build up during the night. At night you have less saliva to protect your teeth against plaque so it is really important to brush your teeth.

Most people tend to brush their teeth too hard, you really only need to brush lightly. Once plaque has hardened into tartar, you cannot brush it away the hygienist must remove it. To remember to brush lightly, hold your toothbrush like you would hold a pen.

You should brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes each time you brush. Set a timer if you have to, to be sure that you brush for a full two minutes. Longer is fine, but two minutes is a minimum because it is what is required to brush all of your teeth and their surfaces. Sometimes brushing your teeth in the same order each time will help you to brush every tooth. Use a soft bristled brush; anything harder might cause gum damage. It is important to change your toothbrush regularly when it looks like it is getting worn or every 3 months whichever comes sooner.

It is important to choose the right toothpaste for you. Ask your dentist for advise. It is important to choose one that has fluoride.

Your dentist or hygienist can demonstrate the proper way to brush your teeth.

Floss once a day and in between each tooth. Take your time flossing, there is no hurry and doing a through job of getting in between each tooth is important. Do not skimp on the floss. There are many different types of floss, so ask your dentist for the best type for you.

Your dentist or hygienist can demonstrate the proper way to floss your teeth.