Remember the famous line from Forrest
Gump's momma in the 1995 Oscar-winning film? "Life is like a box of
chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Well, that may be
true. But there is one thing we do know - if you don't practice proper
dental hygiene, you're most certainly gonna get a cavity, or at least
periodontal disease.
It is easy these days to become
overwhelmed by the advertising and media attention focused on dentistry
and dental products. And while this attention may seem excessive, it does
help to emphasize the importance of good oral hygiene for health, beauty
and overall quality of life.
Daily Dental Care
Brushing twice daily, flossing at least
once a day, and making two trips to the dentist each year may seem like
too much effort for our busy lifestyles. You may be wondering if all of
this is really necessary. My patients often ask, "Isn't it really
just important to brush every day and see your dentist whenever there is a
problem? You know, just like going to the doctor when you have a pain or
illness?"
Well, in a word -- No! While dentistry
shares many similarities with the medical field, there is one significant
difference:
It is vital that you perform regular preventive maintenance for your
teeth and visit your dentist before you notice problems for early
detection. In dentistry, by the time you begin to experience pain, usually
radical treatment is required. And your teeth rarely repair themselves.
So based on the fact that dental hygiene has such an important impact on
our lives, lets examine each of the important steps to proper oral hygiene
in order of importance:
Flossing
Yes, flossing. You might have
thought brushing would be the most logical place to start talking about
dental hygiene. Yet flossing is actually the most important regimen for
maintaining good oral health.
Proper Flossing Techniques
Flossing is simple and painless when done
properly. Simply wind the floss around your fingers and slide the exposed
floss between each of your teeth. When flossing it is important not to
neglect the area under the gumline. This is where plaque collects to form
tartar. If not properly cleaned on a daily basis, this can lead to
periodontal disease. This can sometimes be irreversible requiring
extraction of the teeth. So, each day (or twice a day if possible) make
sure clean the areas between the teeth as well as under the gumline with
floss.
Bleeding Gums
If you experience bleeding gums after
flossing do not be alarmed. This is a normal reaction to flossing if you
haven't flossed recently. In fact, the worst mistake you can make is to
stop flossing. After a few days of regular use, your gums will become
accustomed to the flossing and will not bleed.
Making Flossing
Easier
Recently several new flossing products have
been introduced that allow consumers to more quickly and easily floss.
Products like Glide(TM), a tape-like strand, and other accessories make it
easier to floss. Waxed floss will be easier to use, however, there is some
controversy around the use of waxed floss. For maximum effectiveness, you
may want to use an unwaxed floss to avoid remnants of wax that may be left
on the teeth.
Brushing
You've heard it time and again, but let me
repeat, "use a soft bristle brush to brush your teeth." Soft
bristles are much more effective than medium or hard bristles at removing
the plaque and calculus from the surface of the teeth without damaging the
enamel or gum tissue.
Brushing Techniques
Just as important is your brushing
technique. Years ago, we were all taught to brush up and down, from the
gum to the tips of the teeth and back again. However, it is now known that
brushing in circular motions is one of the most effective ways to clean
teeth. Practice brushing in small circles to polish and clean teeth, while
stimulating the gums.
Brushing Paraphernalia
Contrary to the commercials we all see on
televisions, you do not have to invest in the plethora of fancy dental
products on the market like multi-level bristled brushes, plaque reducing
rinses and super turbo boosted toothpaste and teeth whiteners. Most of
these products are expensive and unnecessary. In fact, it has often been
said that if you floss and brush, you do not even need toothpaste.
Adapting Your Oral Hygiene Program
As we've all experienced, age brings about
many changes to our bodies. Among these, are changes to the oral cavity.
Bacteria in the mouth appears to go through changes as we mature. Children
experience more problems with cavities than adults. However, adults have a
much higher rate of gum disease.
While both children and adults must
floss and brush regularly, it is important to focus on specific programs
for oral hygiene based on age. For example, children often require regular
fluoride treatments and tooth sealants to prevent tooth decay. While both
of these treatments must be performed by a dentist, is also wise to use a
toothpaste at home that contains fluoride.
Adults will need to focus on flossing
underneath the gumline and may often need toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
Toothpaste for sensitive teeth is not a frivolous accessory when it comes
to oral hygiene. In fact, these special toothpastes use ions which adhere
to the teeth filling in the microscopic pores that cause tooth pain.
Monthly Cleaning and Checkup
Brushing and flossing alone do
not remove all of the plaque and calculus from your teeth. While there are
products on the market designed to remove plaque from the surface of
teeth, use of these products at home is not sufficient to maintain good
oral health. A regular cleaning every 6 months and sometimes every 3
months is a requirement. This is because your dentist is trained to remove
the plaque that you cannot see or reach. Additionally, a checkup along
with the cleaning can often help you catch many problems before decay or
infection has gone too far. This can only be done by your dentist.
Quality of Life
The good news is that you don't have to
avoid sweets (with the possible exception of hard candies). Eat all the
chocolate that you want. But make sure you brush your teeth afterwards.
This will allow you to eat all your favorite foods today and in your 60's
and 70's. Because there is nothing like a full set of your own teeth for
enjoying apples, corn on the cob and steak.
By: YaHind Research Team
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