Why are my teeth so important?
Our teeth vary in shape and size and their position in the mouth. These differences help the teeth to perform different jobs. The main function of teeth is chewing and aiding in digesting food.
They also help us to talk, and to pronounce different speeches clearly. Finally, teeth form a good shape for our face. A healthy smile influences everyday communication and is hence so important to maintain your our oral health.
What can go wrong with my teeth?
Tooth decay can be painful and also can damage tooth appearance. It may lead to fillings, crowns, or inlays to restore a damaged part. If tooth decay is not treated, the nerve of the tooth can become infected and cause an abscess. This may then need root canal treatment or else even extraction.
It is important that you keep a good practice of keeping your teeth and gums healthy at home. Gum disease is the most common cause of teeth loss in adults. However, it can be preventable and can be treated with regular cleaning sessions. If teeth are lost, it will be necessary to fill the gaps with an artificial arrangement such as bridges, dentures, or implants.
How do l keep my teeth and gums healthy?
Instead of facing severe cavity and pain, It is easy to keep your mouth clean and healthy. A simple routine of brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing is the first step. Good eating habits, avoiding sugary food, and drinking less can be helpful. And the most important is a regular dental check-up, which can help prevent most dental problems.
Although most people brush twice a day they do not clean the edges of their teeth carefully. and some people don’t consider getting a regular preventive dental check-up. Small changes in our daily routine can make a big difference in the long run.
If you go to the dentist regularly your dentist can remove any plaque or tartar on your teeth. And treat for other oral diseases that have already appeared. But daily dental hygiene is solely up to you, and the main weapons are the toothbrush and floss.
What is the plaque?
Plaque is a thin, sticky substance which is created by bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth.
How can plaque cause decay?
When you consume food containing sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque get nourishment and they can attack tooth enamel. After constant acid attacks, the enamel starts to breaks down forming a hole or cavity.
How can plaque cause gum disease?
If plaque is not removed by brushing it can harden over time and turn into calculus (‘ tartar’). Calculus usually forms near the gum line and the plaque underneath releases poisons that cause the gums to become irritated and inflamed. The gums start to pull away from the teeth and the gaps become affected.
If gum disease is not treated at the right time, the bone supporting the teeth will be damaged and healthy teeth can also start to get infected. Gum disease is the main reason for tooth loss in adults and can eventually lead to a need for artificial fixtures such as dentures, bridges, or implants.
How can I prevent gum disease?
It is important to remove plaque and food debris between your teeth. It this will stop your gums to suck more infection and becoming sore. If you leave plaque not treated on your teeth it can harden and can turn to tartar. This can only be removed by the dentist. It is important to have regular dental consultation so that your teeth can have a thorough cleaning when required.
How do I know if have gum disease?
Gum disease ( gingivitis) will usually show itself as swollen red gums that bleed when brushed or flossed. Many people get the first sign when their gums bleed while brushing. It is important that you clean regularly and firmly in order to fight the condition.
Why is brushing important?
Plaque is a sticky substance that starts to form when you skip brushing. If the plaque isn’t removed, It continues to build up, nourished by the food debris and causing cavity and gum disease.
Which type of toothbrush should I use?
Your dentist will be able to recommend a toothbrush that suits you. However, adults should choose a small to medium size brush with a soft bristle. round-ended nylon bristles or ‘filaments’ are also good. The head of the brush should be small so it can reach all parts of the mouth.
Especially the back of the mouth where it can be difficult to reach (near wisdom teeth). Children need to use smaller brushes but with the same type of features.
You can now buy more specialized toothbrushes according to your condition. For instance, people having sensitive teeth can now use softer bristled brushes. There are also smaller-headed toothbrushes designed for crooked or irregular teeth.
Some people find it difficult to hold a toothbrush due to physical disability. There are now toothbrushes available that have large handles and angled heads to make them easier to use.
How do electric toothbrushes work?
An electric brush performs rotating and vibrating in the mouth. , which provides a large amount of cleaning action with little action needed from the user, although you need to position the brush correctly in the areas you need cleaning.
Do electric toothbrushes clean better?
Tests have proved that electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque, particularly those that have an oscillating rotary action. They are particularly useful for people who can do limited movements, such as disabled or elderly people.
Electric or battery-operated toothbrushes can be a better choice for children as they may be inclined to brush regularly because of the novelty of using as an electric toothbrush. Discuss the idea with your dentist about the benefit of using an electric toothbrush.
How should I brush?
Brushing cleans the plaque and food particles from the tooth surfaces. Here is one method of removing plaque.
- Hold your toothbrush against your teeth, then tilt the tips to a 45-degree angle against the gum line. Start to move the brush in small circular movements, repeat this a few times, on all the surface of every tooth.
- Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth carefully, both upper and lower jawline, hold bristles angled against the gum line.
- Use the same method on the inside surfaces of each teeth.
- Brush the biting surfaces of the teeth and ensure any food particles are not stuck between.
- To brush the surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the toothbrush vertically and make a few small circular strokes with the front part of the brush.
- Cleaning your tongue will help enhance your breath and will clean your mouth by eliminating bacteria.
How do I know if all the plaque is removed?
There is a special solution available to check the existence of the Plaque. Using this solution can stain the plaque area and give the idea about alerting about the plaque. This stain is harmless and will show any areas of your mouth which need better brushing. Look particularly where your teeth and gums connect. The stain from the can be removed.
How often should I brush my teeth?
Ensure brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Visit the dentist consultation as he/she recommends. If you regularly feel discomfort or bleeding after brushing consult your dentist soon.
How often should change my toothbrush?
Damaged bristles cannot clean your teeth properly and have the chance to damage your gums. Changing toothbrushes on time will greatly help to clean and it is good to change them every 2-3 months.
Should I use fluoride toothpaste?
Yes. Fluoride helps to strengthen and protect your teeth, which can reduce tooth decay in both adults and children.
What sort of toothpaste should I use?
Along with the family toothpaste, some specialist toothpaste is also available to help the particular issue. These include tartar control for people who are likely to build tartar. People with sensitive teeth also can use sensitive helping toothpaste.
Total care toothpaste help fights multiple issues such as gum disease, freshen breath and help reduce plaque build-up. Whitening toothpaste is good at removing staining but is not strong enough to change deeply discolored teeth.
Children should use toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm ( parts per million). Special children’s toothpaste usually contains about half the fluoride that adult toothpaste has. They are able to give limited protection for the teeth. To have a clean mouth you need to use the correct dental care products. Ask your dentist or suggest the option and give their recommendations.
How should I clean between my teeth?
Dental floss is one way to clean your teeth. Dental taps are thicker than floss and most people find them easier to use. Flossing helps to clean plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
It can go to the areas where a toothbrush can’t reach. You should clean food particles between your teeth at least once a day with floss. Your dentist tells you proper flossing techniques.
The following suggestions help:
- Break off about 18 inches of floss, and hold it around one of your middle fingers. hold the remaining floss around the same finger of the other hand. You can take up the used section with this finger.
- Hold the floss in between your thumb and forefingers, with about an inch floss between them, leaving no slack. Use gentle movements to guide the floss between your teeth. Do not jerk the floss or don’t be aggressive to the gums.
- When the floss reaches till gum line, curve it as a c-shape against one tooth for a time.
- Hold the floss against the tooth start to scrap gently side of the tooth. Move the floss away from the gumline. Repeat the same on the other side of the gap.
- Don’t forget to clean the back of your (last tooth)
When flossing, follow a regular pattern. Start to work on the top an clean it from left to right, then start to move to the bottom and again work from the left to right. This way you will not miss any teeth. At first, looking into the mirror helps. Never neglect to clean in the edges of any crowns, bridges or implants. The specialist flosses are more easy to do than the traditional flosses.
71 thoughts on “Taking care of my teeth”
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