To protect teeth & gums from tooth decay & gum disease you should:
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control {plaque}
control your diet
increase resistance of your teeth to decay by using {fluoride} products
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Controlling {plaque} is !b! essential !n! to decrease risk of {gum disease}. However, since plaque starts to form again immediately after it has been removed, it is not as important as dietary control & the use of {fluoride} products to increase resistance of teeth to decay.
Your dentist can give personal advice on how to look after your mouth. He can advise on oral hygiene, diet & {fluoride} supplements. Your dentist can also repair damage that has been done to your teeth & try to stabilize & prevent further {gum disease}.
Remember, !i! prevention !n! is better than cure & !i! prevention !n! is largely up to YOU.
#plaque BUILDUP
Mouths are all different & so there is no single correct way to brush teeth. The aim of brushing is to remove {plaque} from teeth, gums & spaces between, without damaging them. The 1st stage in achieving successful oral hygiene is getting to know your own mouth & where the worst plaque deposits accumulate, so that you can pay special attention to those areas.
#disclosing mouth
By chewing a {disclosing tablet} you can stain the plaque in your mouth. You can then see {plaque} & develop your own personal technique of brushing which is most effective. A small mouth mirror is useful to see the backs of teeth inside the mouth. Your dentist or hygienist can help to advise on the correct technique.
#tooth brushing
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The best method is whatever is effective in removing {plaque} for you. As a general guide, remember to brush the outsides, insides & biting surfaces of all teeth using a combination of upward & downward, backward & forward & round & round actions, keeping the bristles of the brush pointing at 45 degrees to the axis of the tooth.
You should brush thoroughly twice a day. It takes at least 1min to brush teeth effectively. Check your technique regularly using {disclosing tablets}. Your dentist will be able to give specific advice for your mouth.
#toothbrushes
There is a confusing array of different shapes & sizes of toothbrush available from drug stores. Most dentists agree that you should use a brush which you find comfortable to hold. However, larger brushes are not as effective in gaining access to the smaller nooks & crannies in your mouth.
The neck of the brush should be slim enough for easy access to your back teeth & the brush itself should be made from medium texture nylon filaments with rounded ends.
#toothpaste
There are a huge number of toothpastes, gels, polishes & powders available today. Always use a toothpaste or gel containing {fluoride}. There is little to choose between most toothpastes & gels, so use one with the best taste & price.
Generally, gels are the most kind as they have the least added abrasive, but may not be as effective in preventing build up of staining if you are a smoker or avid tea or coffee drinker. Some of the tooth powders & polishes are very abrasive & will scratch the surface of your teeth.
Should you be susceptible to staining, it makes sense to see your dentist rather than damage your own teeth by regular use of abrasive materials.
#flossing
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Once you have mastered tooth brushing correctly, the next step in plaque control is flossing. However thoroughly you brush your teeth, you can't remove the {plaque} from spaces between teeth with a brush. It is important to remove this plaque daily with {floss}. Most dentists agree it is not necessary for children to floss until they have lost all baby teeth, at 12-13yrs.
Taking about 20 inches (50cm) of floss you can either tie it in a loop, or wind the ends around your middle fingers, leaving a short distance of floss between them.
Insert the {floss} carefully between your teeth & clean the side of each tooth by moving the floss gently up & down. Be careful not to damage your gums by being too vigorous. This should be repeated between each of your teeth. Flossing takes time & practice. Perseverance & patience will be rewarded by maintained health of your gums.
Some {flosses} are now available with added {fluoride} which can help increase the resistance of your teeth to decay.
#BRUSH PASTE ETC
Should you have awkward spaces between teeth, other cleaning aids are available. Interproximal, interspace brushes & woodsticks may be used. The interspace brushes are particularly useful if you have had some gum recession leaving larger spaces between teeth. Recently available 'anti-plaque' mouth rinses may aid effective plaque control, & should be used prior to tooth brushing.
#cream cakes
When sugar is taken into the mouth, it is metabolized by bacteria in the {plaque}. This produces acid, which causes tooth demineralization & decay. Following eating or drinking something sweet, the acid remains in the plaque for approximately 30mins. If sugar is taken 2-3 times/day, the effect is not significant.
However, if you eat sweet things or take sweet drinks between meals, the period during which acid is present is increased & eventually a cavity will result. It is the !i! frequency !n!, not the quantity of consumption of sweet things which is important.
You should try to avoid a daily diet which contains too many sugary foods & drinks. Try to restrict sugar consumption to 3 times/day, at meal times. If you're hungry between meals, eat a safe snack containing no sugar. Some dentists believe that chewing certain types of gum immediately following a meal can reduce the risk of dental decay.
#fluoride
Fluoride helps to make teeth more resistant to the acid which causes decay. There are several ways of introducing {fluoride} to teeth. The best resistance is by incorporating fluoride into teeth as they develop. As teeth are already developing at birth, this means taking fluoride into the body from a very early age.
Some areas have naturally occurring fluoride in the water supply while others add fluoride (1 part to 1,000,000 parts water). This is the best method as {fluoride} is taken up into developing teeth & also has a localized action on the surface of teeth which have already erupted. Areas that have fluoride in their water supply show a !b! substantial !n! decrease in the cases of tooth decay.
Alternatively, fluoride drops & tablets are available from drug stores & should be given to children aged 0-12yrs in areas where there is no natural or added {fluoride} in the water. Consult your dentist prior to giving your children fluoride supplements (too much fluoride may cause problems, e.g. tooth staining).
The surface layer of teeth can be made more resistant to decay with topical, or surface applied {fluoride}. This can be in the form of toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels or varnishes, & floss containing fluoride (a USA study, at the University of Iowa, found that fluoride toothpaste cut seniors' root cavities by 67%).
#fissure TOOTH
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Areas of the teeth most likely to decay are the pits, grooves & fissures on the biting surface of the teeth. These can be protected by your dentist by application of a protective layer of a sealing resin. The surface of the tooth is cleaned thoroughly & then etched by application of a phosphoric acid conditioner for a short period.
This is then washed away & the sealing resin applied. Sometimes a material is used which requires the use of a blue light for a short period to encourage setting.
