Tooth is the most essential part of our body but at the same time it is the most neglected part. No one is aware of the dangerous diseases which can spread by tooth infection. Moreover toothache is a nightmare for those who have experienced it. Once the toothache starts it will continue to a never ending vicious and expensive circle as one problem leads to other and you have to visit dentists many times. As per the proverb “prevention is better than cure”, it is advisable to maintain oral hygiene since childhood. It is very simple and easy and requires dedication of few minutes from your daily routine. Here are some points which will surely help you to maintain your teeth healthy.
1) Brushing twice Brushing is very important for keeping teeth clean. It helps in removing the food debris and keep teeth clean. You should brush your teeth twice daily- first after breakfast and then in night before going to bed or after dinner..
2) Brushing properly there are various brushing techniques which one can use in a normal routine. Easiest and best way is to use of vertical strokes with toothbrush and brushing all the surfaces of tooth adequately. Use of tongue cleaner is also recommended for cleaning the tongue surface.
For effective brushing you should place pea sized dab of toothpaste on top half of the toothbrush and disperse it properly between the bristles. Do not use harsh strokes. Instead use soft smooth strokes in vertical direction. Ideal brushing time is 2-3 minutes.
Different brushing techniques are as follows-:
a) FONES TECHNIQUE – It is the easiest technique used for brushing. In this method the bristles are placed perpendicular to tooth surface and circular movements are given. But it does not clean the interproximal(contact) areas and it is recommended for kids only .
b) BASS TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed at an angle of 45* to the tooth surface facing towards gingiva (gums) and short back and forth strokes are given.
c) CHARTER’S TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed at an angle of 45* but facing towards tooth and small circular motion is given. It is very effective in cleaning interproximal(contact) areas.
d) STILLMAN TECHNIQUE – In this method bristles are placed obliquely to tooth surface with half on tooth and other half on gingival(gum) and gentle back and forth motion is given.
Harmful effects of improper brushing:-
a) Tooth abrasion – it is mechanical loss of tooth. The enamel layer of tooth is removed leading to exposure of underlying dentin which is very sensitive.
b) Gingival recession – it can be defined as migration of gingiva( gums) in apical direction i.e. towards the root tip which leads to exposure of root that is covered by cementum which is also very sensitive. It also leads to increased plaque accumulation and later on bone loss which further cause tooth mobility.
c) Food habits – You should avoid sticky food like chocolates, candies, etc. Instead of it more of roughage should be taken which helps in removing the adherent debris to tooth surface. Soft refined food gets adhered to the tooth which is not easily removed and it progresses to caries.
d) Smoking and tobacco chewing - Smoking, chewing tobacco etc is very harmful for teeth. It increases plaque accumulation which further leads to caries. It also causes staining of teeth and bad odor. It can also lead to dangerous cancerous diseases.
e) Mouth rinses- Rinsing mouth even with simple water after every meal is must to remove adhered food in fissures and grooves of teeth.
You should use mouth washes regularly along with brushing.
Method to use – Some mouthwashes are required to be diluted before use while some are used as such. Prescribed amount of mouthwash is taken and swished thoroughly in mouth for 1-2 minutes and then spit out.
Content –Most of the mouthwashes consists of chlorohexidine. It is an excellent antibacterial agent which kills the bacteria present in oral cavity. It is used in concentration of 0.2% and is effective against wide range of bacteriae. But it should not be used immediately after brushing or after having tea or coffee as it causes staining of teeth. Another commonly used agent in mouthwashes is sodium fluoride. It is available in concentration of 0.2% for weekly use and in concentration of 0.05% for daily use. It prevents caries and also helps in remineralization of tooth structure. Listerine is also widely used as mouthwash. It helps in making oral cavity free of microbes and keeps teeth healthy.
f) Flossing It is most effective method to clean inter dental areas i.e. area between two adjacent teeth. Dental floss is like a thread which is used to clean those areas not easily cleaned by toothbrush. It is available in various forms.
Method of flossing About 45 cms long dental floss is taken and wound around middle finger of each hand and the last three fingers are folded in such a way that about 5 cms of floss is held between the index fingers of both hands when they are moved apart. Now the floss is moved along the interdental areas from top towards the gingiva (gums) along with back and forth motion.
g) Avoid aerated drinks like coke, soda etc. as it causes erosion of enamel layer of tooth. These contain acid which erodes the enamel leading to sensitivity and discoloration of teeth.
h) Regular visit to dentist you should visit your dentist regularly. After every 2 months for routine check up to stop any progress of caries at early stage.
i) Scaling should be done every 6 months. In this process all the debris or plaque accumulated on tooth surface is removed. It is of two types:-
a) hand scaling
b) ultrasonic scaling
j) Knowledge of inheritable developmental dental diseases There are certain disorders which are transferred through genes. These disorders present as malformed or discolored teeth. They occur due to defective enamel or dentine formation. Some common disorders are Amelogenesis Imfercta (improper enamel formation) and Dentinogenesis Imfercta (improper dentine formation). In these disorders teeth are more prone to caries or attrition. So proper treatment is required.
Fluorosis is also a dental related disorder which occurs due to high fluoride intake. It causes defective enamel formation which creates white chalky patches on tooth surface. These teeth are caries resistant but are not esthetically good. So should be treated with cosmetically pleasing techniques.
