Oral hygiene and keep your teeth clean

What is oral and dental hygiene?

Oral and dental hygiene refers to the practice of keeping your mouth healthy and clean by following regular and correct brushing and flossing routines.  This helps to prevent the formation of plaque, which is the sticky film of bacteria that forms on the hard surfaces of the teeth, leading to dental decay and gum disease.

What are the results of good dental and oral hygiene?

A healthy looking and odourless mouth, which comprises of:

• Clean and debris free teeth
• Pink gums that do not hurt or bleed while brushing or flossing
• A mouth free from regular episodes of bad breath

 

What is the purpose of oral and dental hygiene?

Good dental and oral hygiene helps to:

• Prevent the formation of plaque, which is the sticky film of bacteria that forms on the hard surfaces of the teeth.  This can lead to further dental and oral problems such as tooth decay, tartar, gingivitis, and periodontitis or gum disease.
• To improve quality of life by preserving speech and eating functions as teeth will last longer and one can avoid the embarrassment due to bad breath or missing or unsightly teeth

What are the symptoms of improper oral and dental hygiene?

• Bleeding or painful gums
• Persistent bad breath
• Yellow or brown deposits on teeth
• Loose teeth and widening gaps between teeth

What are the potential consequences of improper oral and dental hygiene?

Tooth decay or dental caries or cavities, gum irritation and foul breath - As a result of improper dental and oral hygiene, plaque accumulates on the hard surfaces of the teeth, and release acids when the bacteria uses the starch and sugar from the food in the mouth.  This acid

• corrodes the tooth enamel overtime and results in holes or cavities in the tooth
• irritates the gums resulting in bleeding, which results in foul breath

The cavities are usually cleaned and refilled with an inert material by the dentists to retain and restore the teeth as well as protect it from further decay.  If left untreated it can result in loss of the teeth entirely.

Tartar or calculus – Constant accumulation of plaque as a result of irregular brushing and flossing results in the hardening of plaque into a yellow or brown mineral deposit called tartar or calculus. As a result of its crusty and rough surface they become ideal locations for further plaque growth. Tartar leads to gum disease when it is formed below the gumline.

Gingivitis – This is the initial stage of gum disease and is characterized by

• inflammation of the gums
• painless bleeding during brushing and flossing

If treated with adequate dental care, it is reversible. If ignored, it can lead to a more serious and advanced condition in gum disease called periodontitis.

Periodontitis – This is advanced gum disease, which leads to the destruction of structures supporting the teeth including the bone, causing the loosening and falling of the teeth or requiring their removal as a result. The signs of the condition are red, swollen, bleeding gums that are shrinking away from the teeth.  The resulting widening spaces between the teeth and exposed root surfaces are highly vulnerable to decay.

How can one maintain good oral and dental hygiene?

Proper dental and oral hygiene will prevent the formation of plaque which as explained above is the main factor that leads to gum disease and tooth decay.  Parents must guide children on the proper dental hygiene methods for daily practice.  You can also seek the dentist’s advice for the proper oral and dental hygiene practices to be followed.

Antiseptic mouthwashes
Use regularly after brushing and/or flossing to kill plaque forming bacteria, and especially if you have bad breath.

Fluoride use

• Use Fluoride-in toothpaste, fluoridated drinking water, or dental treatments-also or take a fluoride supplement
• It protects the teeth by binding with enamel to make it stronger

Precautions to be taken in your oral hygiene program

Taking care begins from as early as infancy and continues lifelong. Hence there are some ideal precautions that must be taken at various periods of life and under various conditions.

• Infants – Use a moist cloth or a soft toothbrush to wipe the tooth clean.  Use only very limited amounts of toothpaste especially if it contains fluoride as too much of the ingredient can be toxic to infants.
• Adults with partial or full dentures, bridges – Must maintain proper dental and oral hygiene as instructed by the dental hygienist or dentist in order to prevent gum disease.  Denture users must regularly visit their dentist, and reline and adjust the dentures as required to prevent red and swollen gums.

Brushing and flossing precautions –

• Must be done thoroughly but not too vigorously as rough movements can irritate or damage sensitive oral tissues.
• Sore or bleeding gums experienced in the initial few days after flossing is normal. However, any bleeding, sore or abnormal condition that prolongs beyond one week should be reported to the dentist.

Prevention

• Regular visits to the dentist –at least every 6 months to monitor dental and oral health
• Regular professional dental cleaning – fluoride treatments, sealant application, and scaling that helps to scrape off the hardened plaque, called tartar
• Diagnostic services – go for X-ray imaging and oral cancer screening
• Treatment services - Fillings, crowns, and bridges to restore and retain teeth

 

Healthy eating for healthy teeth

Eating a balanced diet plays an important role in dental health.  A balanced diet would include all the main food groups - fruits and vegetables, milk products, meat, fish etc. 

Foods that cause tooth decay:

• Foods with high concentration of sugar - cakes, ice cream, honey etc
• Acidic drinks with a low pH value - can damage the tooth enamel
• Sticky foods – these do not get washed away from the tooth surface easily by the saliva, hence increase the exposure of teeth to sugar and acids, and consequent tooth decay. 

Foods that are good for oral health:

• Foods high in fibre, such as fresh fruits and vegetables - they increase the saliva flow that neutralizes acids, helping to clean the teeth of food particles and sugars during chewing
• Rich foods without sugar - milk, yoghurt, rice, meat, fish, fruits etc
• Fruits and vegetables that contain a high volume of water - pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers

Good eating habits

• Consume sweets only at the main meals and not between meals - as saliva production is increased neutralizing most of the acids during mealtime lessening the hazard
• Avoid sugary or acidic drinks between meals and drink milk or water instead
• Finish your meal with yellow cheese - helps neutralizing the acids in the mouth, especially after the consumption of sweet foods

 

To read questions and answers from the experts about orthodontics click here.

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