DENTAL HEALTH ......................

 

 

Brushing......................

Brushing your teeth is the single most important preventive measure that can be taken to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing with a toothbrush removes plaque from tooth surfaces that cause decay and the gum disease gingivitis. Proper brushing can help maintain a healthy smile.

Brushing should take place at least two times a day, preferably in the morning after breakfast and at night before going to bed. Brushing after meals is also advantageous. The type of brush used should have soft bristles and have a small head. Only mild pressure should be used while brushing, aggressiveness causing large amounts of pressure can over time cause damage to tooth and gum tissues.

Flossing...............................

Flossing is a method of preventive care that is used for the cleaning of surfaces between teeth. Flossing is a very important part of proper oral care and should be done at least once a day. Plaque that is not removed between the teeth by the toothbrush can be removed by flossing. Flossing can reduce or prevent cavities that arise between the teeth, plus it can stop the build up of tarter. This tarter build up can lead to the gum disease gingivitis which can lead to the more serious disease of periodontitis.

Fluoride............................

Fluoride and its effect on teeth has been one of the greatest discoveries in dental history. Fluoride changes the chemical composition of tooth structure and makes the tooth more resistant to the demineralization process caused by acid. It has significantly reduced the amount of caries in populations that have access to it. Most people who have had exposure to fluoride have had it through community drinking water. Fluoride is also contained in toothpastes, mouth rinses and in topical form applied by dental professionals. Too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, which is a condition that causes brown staining of the teeth.

Sealants................

Sealants are resin based materials that are used to seal off grooves (pit and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of teeth. These sealants help to prevent plaque build up which could lead to decay in areas that may not be completely cleaned by brushing. These procedures are usually performed on children and adolescents because this is a time of high caries risk. It may also be done on adults who have deep pits and fissures.

Dental Visits...........................

Regular dental visits are another great way to help prevent oral disease. At dental visits, the dentist can assess how well the patient is cleaning their teeth at home, determine if there are any risk factors that may cause oral disease, try to eliminate these risk factors, place sealants, and use x-rays to determine if there are any areas that need to be observed. Regular dental visits are essential for a person to maintain a healthy oral state, and to ensure that at home preventive measures are being used properly.

Healthy Diet......................

Diet can play a major role in the health of the oral cavity. Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates are the worst for teeth when it comes the development of decay. Bacteria in the mouth metabolize these sugars and during this process produce acid. The pH of the mouth therefore drops and causes demineralization of the enamel surfaces of the teeth. Over time, enough of this demineralization can cause a cavity to form. Foods low in sugars or that contain no sugars at all do not cause this acid production and pH levels stay in a healthy range.

Tobacco............................

Tobacco use is not only a major risk factor in developing conditions such as cancer (including oral cancer), heart disease, hypertension, and emphysema; it is also the leading risk factor in developing periodontal (gum) disease. Popular tobacco products include cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and smokeless (chew, snuff, or plug). In addition, the ingredients in tobacco make treatments for periodontal disease more difficult and less likely to be successful because the mouth's ability to heal and fight infections is decreased.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the soft (gum) and hard (bone) tissues of the mouth that leads to tissue destruction and ultimately tooth loss. Normal collars of gum tissue around your teeth called pockets increase in depth due to gum deterioration and bone loss. This allows even more plaque and calculus (tarter) to collect on your teeth and roots which feeds the harmful bacteria and in turn, more and more destruction occurs. To make matters worse, smokers often have more plaque and calculus coupled with more severe bone loss and deeper pockets around the teeth. Quite alarmingly, studies conducted over the last several years have also discovered associations between periodontal disease with other serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

Studies indicate smokeless tobacco is just as harmful to the mouth as smoking. Smokeless tobacco can increase the incidence of periodontal disease, tooth decay, receded gums, and oral cancer (most commonly on the tongue and the cheek where the tobacco is placed). White, rippled patches (called snuff pouches) often form in the area where the tobacco is held in the mouth. These should be biopsied if detected because they may contain cancer cells.

Your dentist can discuss the various tobacco cessation (quitting) methods available and recommend one that will work for you. Many research studies show that after quitting, most peoples' risk of tobacco-related health problems dramatically decreases - for instance people who quit smoking and stayed tobacco-free for 11 years had no more risk of periodontal disease than people who had never smoked. So by all means, if you use tobacco, make sure to visit your dentist regularly and stop using tobacco today.

 

 

 

COSMETIC DENTISTRY - DENTAL HEALTH