Health Zone For All: DENTAL HYGIENE

DENTAL HYGIENE

Maintaining good dental health is one of the most important requirements for human body. Many diseases that affect the body may first be seen in mouth e.g. diabetes. Poor dental hygiene would lead to early loss of teeth and infection of gums and underlying bone.In short good oral health is important to overall well-being of a person.

Consequences of neglected or poor oral hygiene:

Dental diseases including tooth decay (cavities, dental caries), gum diseases, e.g. gingivitis, and periodontists can occur if oral hygiene is neglected for long. It is of paramount importance that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable prevention of these dental diseases.

Dental Plaque and tartar:

Dental plaque is a mass of bacteria that grows on tooth surfaces and is often visible around the gum line. Plaque can also attach on dental fillings or crowns and bridges or even dentures. It is a sticky deposit which is initially colorless, but when it forms calculus also known as tartar, it becomes brown or pale yellow. Bacterial plaque is one of the major causes for dental decay and gum diseases. Plaque control and removal can be achieved easily with twice-daily tooth brushing and use of dental floss and interdental brushes however calculus or tartar needs professional removal. Plaque starts to reappear after the tooth surface has been cleaned, which is why regular brushing is encouraged. A diet containing a lot of added sugars like juices, chocolates, candy encourages the formation of plaque. Microorganisms or bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into acid. This acid then causes the breakdown of the tooth structure (enamel first) eventually leading to tooth decay. If left untreated it can lead to pain when the pulp of the tooth gets involved.

Methods of oral or dental hygiene:

Regular brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste is recommended by most of the dentists or hygienists, once at night and once after breakfast. At least 2 minutes of brushing on all the surfaces of teeth is required for maintenance of proper oral health. Along with brushing interdental cleaning is also important which is done with the aid of floss or interdental brushes. These enable the removal of food packed between the teeth where the brush does not reach.

What else can you do?

Maintain a proper and well-balanced diet without too much sugar intake to reduce the risk of cavity formation. Reduce the frequency of sugary drinks and limit snacking. Increase the amount of food which protects the teeth e.g. milk and cheese which are rich in calcium and phosphate, and encourage remineralization of the teeth. Chew on sugar free gums like xylitol to increase the saliva production.

Oral hygiene consists of both personal and professional care. Dental X-rays (radiographs) are often performed as part of routine professional examinations that’s why its recommended to follow up with dentist regularly at least once a year. Sometimes, even with best personal oral hygiene measures, plaque and tartar deposits accumulate on the teeth and need to be removed professionally.

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