ORAL
HEALTH AND US
♦ Why is oral hygiene important?
Microbes
(mainly bacteria) that collect around teeth and gums become a thin sticky layer
or ‘biofilm’ called plaque on the surface of teeth. These microbes
convert sugars and starches from food and drink into acids,which—along
with acidic food and drink—dissolve the surface of teeth.
Saliva
offers some protection, but plaque and food debris need to be physically and
regularly removed by agood oral hygiene routine. Poor oral hygiene and frequent
acid attack due to snacking will cause tooth decay.
In
addition, plaque build-up at and below the gumline can lead to gum disease,
which may lead to bone loss and eventually tooth loss.
Why
is oral hygiene important?
Other
tips for a healthy m should I see a dentist?
O♦ How should I keep my teeth and gums
healthy?
1.
- Brush
teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, brushing plaque away from the gums
(Brushing
should last a total of 3-4 minutes—aboutthe length of a song on the radio)
- Floss
between all teeth once a day
- Change
your toothbrush regularly
- Limit
the frequency of snacking, especially ofsugary and acidic food and drink
- Never
dip babies’ dummies (pacifiers) in honey,fruit juice, or syrup; don’t leave
a baby with anursing bottle at night
-
Have regular dental check-ups; dentists can fillin natural deep grooves
on the biting surface ofback teeth (fissure sealing) to reduce the chanceof
decay
-
Chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow
-
Keep a healthy lifestyle: have enough rest, havea balanced and regular
diet, exercise regularly,and do not smoke OR chew tobacco
♦ When should I see a dentist?
Visits
should be regular, at least yearly. Your dentist can detect early signs oftooth
decay and gum disease, fix problems early, and give advice on how toprevent
disease and maintain oral hygiene.
You
need to see a dentist if youhave these:
-
Toothache or sensitivity to sweet, hot, or cold food and/or drink
-
Visible holes or discoloured spots on teeth
-
Receding or bleeding gums, especially when brushing and flossing
-
Bad breath (halitosis), which can be due to decaying teeth orperiodontitis
-
Other problems, such as a mouth injury, a painful jaw, partially emerged
(impacted)wisdom teeth, apersistent dry mouth, loose teeth, or teeth grinding
(bruxism).
♦ What
does it mean?
Some
commonly used dental terms:
Calculus
Hardened plaque (=tartar), which needsprofessional removal
Caries
Tooth decay due to acid attack and entryof microbes into the
tooth, leading tocarious lesions (=cavities)
Abscess
Collection of pus in or around a tooth due to infection
Gingivitis
Inflammation of gum due to plaquebuild-up
Scaling
Professional removal of calculus, plaque,and stain (scaling of
the root surface=root
planing)
Restoration
Filling of a cavity with metal or metal alloy (e.g. amalgam), or
tooth-coloured porcelain or plastic-based material
Endodontic
or root canal treatment- Treatment for infection of the
contentsand roots of a tooth
Extraction
Removal of a tooth that cannot be saved
Periodontitis
Loss of ligament attachment and bone, andeventually the tooth, due to
inflammationof the tissues around the tooth
GUIDE
TO TEETHING AND BRUSHING
When do teeth appear?
The first tooth appears at about 6 months of age,
and a child will have all 20 milk (primary) teeth by about age 3 years. During
teething, babies may become restless, lose their appetite, or drool more, and
gums may develop harmless eruption cysts through which teeth erupt. However, if
a child develops a fever or diarrhoea, or is over restless, visit your doctor.
To soothe a teething child, try:
Gently rubbing the gum with a clean finger, cool teaspoon, or wet gauze pad.
Using a clean teething ring or dummy/pacifier, but never dip these in honey, fruit juice, or syrup.
Ask your doctor or dentist for special ointment.
Primary teeth start to shed and give way to adult
teeth at about 6 years. There are up to 32 adult teeth, and most appear by
about age 14; the third molars (wisdom teeth) appear last.
> When should brushing start?
When a baby’s teeth erupt, they can be brushed with
a soft baby toothbrush and a bit of water. Regular dental check-ups should
begin by the age of 1 year.
Only from age 2 years onwards should fluoride
toothpaste be used, and only a pea-sized amount, with adult supervision until
age 6 years to encourage spitting out.
> How to choose a brush?
All conventional brush/bristle/handle designs as well as electric toothbrush are effective at cleaning teeth.
Use soft bristles to avoid gum/tooth damage.
Use a brush head of an appropriate size:
ü 0-2 years: size about 15mm
ü 2-6 years: size about 19mm
ü 6-12 years: size about 22mm
^ Caring for your toothbrush
- Rinse your toothbrush well after use, to remove saliva, plaque, and food particles.
- Shake off excess water and store your toothbrush upright in the open air to let the bristles dry.
- Avoid cross contamination by not letting brushes touch and not sharing toothbrushes.
- Change your toothbrush regularly (e.g. each season), or if bristles are frayed.3.0/h
Dr. Anupama Nigam, MDS
- Rinse your toothbrush well after use, to remove saliva, plaque, and food particles.
- Shake off excess water and store your toothbrush upright in the open air to let the bristles dry.
- Avoid cross contamination by not letting brushes touch and not sharing toothbrushes.
- Change your toothbrush regularly (e.g. each season), or if bristles are frayed.3.0/h
Dr. Anupama Nigam, MDS
Associate Professor
Chandra Dental College & Hospital, Lucknow
