Flossing is a very crucial cleaning process that should become part of any regular dental hygiene regimen. Unfortunately, not a lot of people really get in to the habit of flossing their teeth.
One of the reasons flossing has met resistance from people is that it’s a dental regimen that was not really actively advocated in homes about twenty to thirty years ago. Another reason could be that flossing, when done for the first time, can result in gum bleeding and some discomfort and this could turn off some people. But the key is to do it every day and the bleeding stops permanently after a few flossing sessions.
Dental Hygiene, flossing
Infrequent tooth brushing and flossing – brushing and flossing the teeth at least twice a day removes the food debris left between our teeth and this could lead to plaque formation.
Eating/snacking many times a day – it takes about 20 – 40 minutes for the food acid to be neutralized by the saliva and frequent eating gives the saliva less time to act on them.
Sucking citrus/acidic fruits – the ph levels of fruit juices are enough to erode the enamel making it susceptible to dental caries.
Smoking – this causes teeth stains due to tar deposits and more likely to develop gum diseases.
It is recommended that children get sealants as soon as their permanent molars start to come in, even before decay occurs. This will usually start around six years old. Second molars usually come in at age twelve. These are the perfect time when children can highly benefit from this technology.
Adults on the other hand, can also take advantage of this protection by sealing in the areas of their teeth that has not yet been filled or restored. These may last ten years long. However, it may need to be regularly checked to make sure that they are not worn or chipped away. If it is needed, the dental hygienist or dentist can repair it by adding more layers of sealants.
Most bacteria present in the mouth are called anaerobic meaning they thrive in environments that lack ample amounts of oxygen. They thrive uncontrolled in mouths that are not brushed properly often leading to periodontal disease and tooth decay resulting in fallout. Chlorine is primarily a sanitizing agent but used as is can result in serious injury for it eats away tissue being caustic thus making it useless for dental use. Chlorine Dioxide on the other hand is a form of stabilized chlorine that reacts with the many gasses that results in bad breath neutralizing it thus eliminating the odor.
It also has the advantage of producing oxygen which is also an anti bacterial that kills off the bacteria as it oxidizes. It also makes the environment oxygen rich hence lessening the chances of bacteria to survive in the mouth. Used in toothpaste or as a gargle it really helps lower the bacterial levels while clearing away the odor. Mouthwash that contain chlorine dioxide also tends to be milder for with no alcohol, the sting is removed thus making the process of gargling recently brushed teeth and gums(that sometimes get bruised and scratched).
Parents tend to be too careful when it comes to the care of their child’s teeth but too much care may have a downside that will only become apparent in later life. Wisdom teeth (baby teeth) as they are called come out a few months after birth and continue to grow in place till the toddler stage. Teeth care is a must but too much as we have said can result in impacted tooth with permanent teeth growing erratically resulting in discomfort and even painful conditions.
Emergencies with teeth due to knocks and falls are common as any parent knows and they usually result in no permanent damage for new teeth do grow in after a couple of months. It is a good idea to get your little one to the dentist for proper management which can allow proper maintenance of your child’s teeth preventing problems later on. Regular check-ups is also a must to allow proper care for developing problems. An apple a day might keep the dentist away, but a twice a year visit can help you keep a mouthful of sparkling healthy teeth.
dentist, permanent teeth, teeth care, Wisdom teeth
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Teeth which have been damaged by tooth decay can be returned to their useful self with sealants which can also prevent further decay, the hitch, early detection. Our teeth are the hardest bones in the human body but like all the other parts of the body care should be exercised for like machinery that works but isn’t maintained it can fail. Teeth are designed to last a lifetime but dietary changes and unhealthy eating habits have changed their longevity causing teeth loss and other maxillary problems that can affect your health and your confidence. The sealant works like an invisible plastic coating which is applied to the chewing surface of the tooth preventing the enamel itself from getting worn down. The teeth are first cleaned and then the sealant is applied and depending on the type used (some require lasers for curing and others don’t) they are a fast and easy treatment for your teeth that can extend their life enough top last your lifetime.
Brushing your teeth is important to prevent tooth decay, and it is also for your overall hygiene as well. To brush your teeth properly, you need to have a soft bristle brush, and a tube of toothpaste. Simply squeeze a little bit of toothpaste with fluoride into your toothbrush. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle and use short strokes back and forth while brushing the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth.
Make sure that you brush along the gum line, as this is where gum disease usually begins. Brush your tongue too to prevent bacteria build-up. However, do not brush too hard because you might damage your gums.
Over-brushing – hard brushing will abrade and wear away the enamel layer of teeth and may also cause the gum to recede.
Teeth as tools – biting on hard objects, using teeth as bottle openers can chip their edges.
Overuse of toothpick – using toothpicks create wider gaps between teeth and may cause lesion in the enamel and dentin.
Ice cubes and hard candies – eating these may fracture the molars’ crowns exposing the pulp resulting to toothaches.
Thumb sucking – this interferes which the normal development of jaw resulting to anterior open bite or posterior cross bite.
Tooth grinding –most common cause of wearing away of enamel and dentin.
These are plastic coatings applied to the fissures and pits of the surface of the teeth to prevent accumulation of plaque that are causing decay in these areas. They are usually applied as a flowing liquid which is then hardened with a dental curing light. It is a painless procedure which does not require drilling or anesthetic.
Sealants protect the decay of the chewing surfaces on the back teeth. It is most commonly used in children, but it could be for adults too. It was already approved by public health agencies and professional health associations for many years yet only a few people are aware of it.
If you will brush as recommended by your dentists, you should do it for two whole minutes and twice each day. However, an average person would rarely do this properly, therefore leaving behind plaque that will definitely cause tooth decay.
The big difference between a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush is the number of strokes that they can deliver. Manual brushing only yields 300 strokes per minute while electronic brushing will deliver 50,000 strokes per minute! Also, most of these electric toothbrushes have a timer to let you know if you have brushed the recommended amount of time. Modern ones will even have a sensor to let you know that you are brushing too hard.
