What is oral hygiene?
Oral
hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and
other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental
hygiene) and cleaning between the teeth. Good oral hygiene can help protect
against tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
Why is oral hygiene important
It
is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable
prevention of dental disease and bad breath. Brushing your teeth twice a day
and flossing once a day can help keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Mouthwash
is an effective way to clean your teeth and gums, and freshen your breath.
Mouthwash can be used to clean your teeth before bed, in between meals, or any
time you feel the need to freshen your breath.
A
healthy mouth is essential for preventing dental disease and bad breath.
Common
types of dental disease include tooth decay (cavities, dental caries) and gum
diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Tooth decay is the result of
acids attacking the tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities. Gingivitis is a
mild form of gum disease that leads to inflammation of the gums. Periodontitis
is more serious and can damage the tissues and bone that support your teeth.
There
are many tools available for cleaning between the teeth, including floss, tape,
and interdental brushes. The best tool to use depends on the individual's
preference. Flossing is an effective way to remove plaque and food particles
from between the teeth and under the gumline. Tape is less likely to shred and
can be easier to use for those with larger spaces between their teeth.
Interdental brushes are small, toothbrush-like devices that can be used to
clean between the teeth.
Sometimes
white or straight teeth are associated with oral hygiene. However, a hygienic
mouth can have stained teeth or crooked teeth. To improve the appearance of
their teeth, people may use tooth whitening treatments and orthodontics. These
treatments can be helpful in making teeth look their best, but they come with
risks. Misuse of tooth whitening products, for example, may lead to tooth
damage. Orthodontics is the use of braces and other oral devices to correct the
alignment of teeth. This treatment can be helpful for children who have crooked
teeth or for adults who experience problems with tooth alignment.
Brushing
and flossing are important for maintaining dental health, but they do not
completely remove all plaque and tartar from teeth. Regular teeth cleanings by
a dentist or dental hygienist help to remove any remaining plaque and tartar
that brushing and flossing missed. During a teeth cleaning, special instruments
are used to scrape plaque and tartar off of the surfaces of teeth. The process
of having your teeth cleaned by a professional is called a prophylaxis.
Prophylaxis means to prevent or control the spread of disease. In this case,
the disease is dental decay. Dental cleanings help to prevent gum disease,
cavities, and bad breath. Professional teeth cleanings are important for
maintaining oral
Although
many people take dental hygiene for granted, keeping a clean and healthy smile
requires some effort. Routine brushing and flossing are necessary to remove
dental plaque and tartar, which can lead to a number of oral problems like
gingivitis, periodontal disease, cavities, and tooth decay. According to the
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, severe gum disease is
responsible for around one-third of all adult tooth loss. Good oral hygiene not
only helps prevent these problems but also boosts self-esteem and overall
confidence. A beautiful smile is always worth the extra effort.
In
the past, people used different forms of tooth cleaning tools. Even though
there is no direct evidence, historians believe that teeth cleaning began in
the prehistoric era. This has been verified by various excavations done
throughout the world, in which chew sticks, tree twig bird feathers, animal
bones and porcupine quills have been found. In historic times, different forms
of tooth cleaning tools have been used. The first toothbrush was invented in
China. It was a brush with hog bristle. In 1780, William Addis of England
created the first mass-produced toothbrush. In 1857, the first toothpaste was
sold in a jar. In 1873, Colgate started selling toothpaste in a tube.
Archaeological
evidence suggests that the first dental hygiene tools may date as far back as
6000 BC. This has been verified by various excavations done throughout the
world, in which chew sticks, tree twig bird feathers, animal bones and
porcupine quills have been found. In historic times, different forms of tooth
cleaning tools have been used. The first toothbrush was likely developed in
China during the Tang Dynasty. The first bristle toothbrush was made with hog
bristles. Europeans did not start using bristle toothbrushes until the 17th
century. In 1938, nylon bristles were invented and became the standard by which
all toothbrushes are made today. Various materials have been used to make
toothbrush handles including bone
Indian
medicine (Ayurveda) has used the neem tree, or daatun, and its products to
create teeth cleaning twigs and similar products; a person chews one end of the
neem twig until it somewhat resembles the bristles of a toothbrush, and then
uses it to brush the teeth.
In
the Muslim world, the miswak, or siwak, made from a twig or root, has
antiseptic properties and has been widely used since the Islamic Golden Age.
The plant is also used to clean the teeth and to stimulate gingival growth.
Oral
hygiene is essential for preventing tartar build-up, the most common problem associated
with bad dental hygiene. Regular dental cleanings by a dental hygienist will
help to remove plaque and tartar, which can cause problems like inflammation
and decay.
Problems that affect Teeth
The
purpose of this document is to introduce the reader to the various sources of problems
that can affect their teeth that can lead to tooth decay. Two main problems
are.
Dental plaque
Dental
plaque, also known as dental biofilm, is a sticky, yellow film consisting of a
wide range of bacteria that attaches to the tooth surfaces and can be visible
around the gum line. This film can cause tooth decay, gingivitis, and other
dental problems. Dental plaque can be removed by a professional dental
hygienist with a toothbrush and water or a pea-sized amount of chlorhexidine
gluconate.
The
sticky film known as dental plaque can quickly reappear on teeth after they
have been cleaned. Regular brushing helps to remove plaque before it turns into
tartar, which is harder to remove. Dental plaque is a yellow film consisting of
a wide range of bacteria. These bacteria attach to tooth surfaces and can be
visible around the gum line. Dental plaque can cause tooth decay, gingivitis,
and other dental problems. Dental plaque can be removed by a professional
dental hygienist with a toothbrush and water or a pea-sized amount of
chlorhexidine gluconate. Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antiseptic that helps reduce
plaque and gingivitis.
Calculus
Calculus
is the hardening of plaque on teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of food debris,
bacteria, and saliva. The longer plaque stays on teeth, the harder it becomes
to remove. Over time, plaque can turn into calculus. Calculus is difficult to
remove, and can only be removed by a dental professional.
Beneficial foods for Teeth
·
Community water fluoridation is the addition of fluoride to
adjust the natural fluoride concentration of a community's water supply to the
level recommended for optimal dental health, approximately 1.0 ppm (parts per
million). This practice has been shown to be effective in reducing cavities and
promoting dental health. It is important to note that community water
fluoridation is different from using fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash, which
are applied topically to the teeth. Community water fluoridation is a much more
efficient way to deliver fluoride to the population because it allows everyone
to receive the benefits of fluoride, regardless of their ability to purchase or
use fluoride products.
·
Some people choose to abstain from
milk and cheese for religious or moral reasons, but these foods are also
excellent sources of calcium and phosphate, rich in vitamins B12 and D, which
are necessary for a healthy immune system. All of these foods are great sources
of calcium and phosphate, which are important for strong teeth. Milk, cheese,
nuts, and chicken are all especially good for this because they are rich in
these nutrients.
·
Green and black tea are both rich
in polyphenols, which act as suppressors of the bacteria that cause plaque.
This makes them good choices for sustaining oral health, and they can be
consumed during or after a meal.
·
Foods high in fiber (like
vegetables) may help to increase the flow of saliva, and a bolus of fibrefibre
like celery string, fresh carrot or broccoli can force saliva into trapped food
inside pits and fissures on chewing surfaces where over 80% of cavities occur,
to dilute carbohydrates like sugar.
Comments