Oral hygiene

If you pay attention to your teeth and gums, you’ll find that they can tell you a lot about your dental hygiene and your overall health. You might be familiar with the common symptoms of dental issues, such as pain, swollen gums, and sensitivity, but have you thought much about the signs of healthy teeth and gums? Knowing what to look for in a healthy mouth can help you set goals to prevent future dental problems. So grab a mirror, and start looking!

You might spend so much time thinking about your teeth that you forget to pay attention to your gums. However, your gums are crucial for keeping your teeth healthy. They should be pink, not red or white. Wash your hands and glide your finger along your gums. If your gums are firm and pain-free, that’s a good sign.

You should also pay attention your tongue and the inside walls of your mouth. Just like your gums, this tissue should be firm and pink. Your mouth should also be moist because saliva constantly flushes out extra food particles from your teeth. If your mouth is dry, you could be dealing with a larger health issue like diabetes or Alzheimer’s. When you brush your teeth, always pay attention to your tongue and remove any plaque, which can show up as a white film.

If you can wiggle any of your teeth, it could be a sign of gum disease, so consult your dentist immediately. The same rule applies to any crowns or fillings you have. Dental work can become dislodged over time and harbor plaque and bacteria, so always be on the lookout for spots that appear to be loose. Most reliable dentists will check your fillings each time you visit, but you might be able to spot a problem area before your dentist if you are pay attention between visits.

Although mouthwash, toothpaste, and mints can make your mouth smell pleasant, your mouth probably doesn’t naturally have a minty-fresh smell. A healthy mouth should have a relatively neutral smell. Mouths that emit a foul odor might have pockets of bacteria hiding underneath the gums, and bad breath can also be a sign of untreated tooth decay. When you floss, pay attention to any unpleasant smells. If you notice that you are removing a lot of smelly food particles, you could be in an early stage of gum disease.

The next time you brush and floss, pay attention to the mirror and the sink. Healthy teeth and gums shouldn’t bleed regularly, and if they do, don’t ignore it. Make sure to consult with your dentist if you notice a reoccurring pattern, even if it is just a small amount of blood. The number one cause of bleeding gums is built-up plaque along your gumline, so make sure to brush gently along all the surfaces of your teeth to prevent gingivitis. Brushing too hard can also cause your gums to bleed, and it can even damage your enamel. Make sure to use gentle, circular motions when you brush and use a soft-bristle toothbrush.

However, oral health is about more than cavities and gum disease. Research has shown that there is an association between the health of a person’s mouth and their overall health. Experts consider oral health problems to be a global health burden.

Without treatment, tooth decay or gum problems can lead to pain, problems with self-confidence, and tooth loss. These issues may lead to malnutrition, speech problems, and other challenges in a person’s work, school, or personal life.

People can prevent these problems with proper dental care, both at home and in the dentist’s office. The following are some best practices that can keep teeth and gums healthy.

Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems by regular brushing of the teeth and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable prevention of dental disease and bad breath. The most common types of dental disease are tooth decay (cavities, dental caries) and gum diseases, including gingivitis, and periodontitis.

General guidelines suggest brushing twice a day: after breakfast and before going to bed, but ideally the mouth would be cleaned after every meal. Cleaning between the teeth is called interdental cleaning and is as important as tooth brushing. This is because a toothbrush cannot reach between the teeth and therefore only removes about 50% of plaque from the surface of the teeth. There are many tools to clean between the teeth, including floss and interdental brushes; it is up to each individual to choose which tool they prefer to use.

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.

The importance of the role of the oral microbiome in dental health has been increasingly recognized. Data from human oral microbiology research shows that a commensal microflora can switch to an opportunistic pathogenic flora through complex changes in their environment. These changes are driven by the host rather than the bacteria. Archeological evidence of calcified dental plaque shows marked shifts in the oral microbiome towards a disease-associated microbiome with cariogenic bacteria becoming dominant during the Industrial Revolution. Modern oral microbiota are significantly less diverse than historic populations. Caries, for example, have become a major endemic disease, affecting 60-90% of schoolchildren in industrialized countries. In contrast, dental caries and periodontal diseases were rare in pre-Neolithic and early hominins.

Here are some tips to help you look after your teeth :

1.     Brush at least twice a day but not aggressively . The best time to brush teeth is after meals. Choose a toothbrush with a small head for better access to back teeth. Soft bristles are kinder on your gums.

2.     Use fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride helps to harden tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay.

3.     Brush thoroughly. Tooth brushing should take between two and three minutes.

4.     Floss your teeth daily. Use a slow and gentle sawing motion.

5.     Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries). In severe cases, teeth may be ‘eaten’ right down to the gum. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar from foods and drinks. Then they make acids, which soften and wear away your enamel. Chewy candies that stick on your teeth are can also cause damage. Soft drinks may have extra acids. Soft drinks with artificial sweeteners are a smarter choice than ones with sugar, but they're also acidic and will wear down enamel over time. The best choice when you're thirsty? A glass of plain water. Many flavored waters are acidic.

6.     Limit sugary foods. Bacteria in dental plaque change sugars into acids, Calcium in food counters acids in your mouth that cause decay. It also helps keep your bones and teeth strong.

7.     Protect your teeth from injury. Wear a mouthguard or full-face helmet when playing sports.

8.     Try to save a knocked out tooth. If possible, hold the tooth back in place while you seek immediate dental advice. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in milk and seek dental advice immediately.

9.     Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food. If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.

10.                        Avoid Over-Brushing. You can wear down your enamel if you brush too fast and hard. Hold a brush with a soft bristle at about a 45-degree angle to your gums. Then move it back and forth in short, gentle strokes, about the distance of one tooth. Wait for up to an hour after eating sweets or citrus fruits before you brush your teeth. Acidic foods can soften enamel and may make it easier for you to damage it.

11.                        Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth.It’s no secret that the general recommendation is to brush at least twice a day. Still, many of us continue to neglect brushing our teeth at night. But brushing before bed gets rid of the germs and plaque that accumulate throughout the day.

12.                        Drink more water. Water continues to be the best beverage for your overall health — including oral health. Also, as a rule of thumb, Schwartz recommends drinking water after every meal. This can help wash out some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages in between brushes.

13.                        Consider mouthwash. Advertisements make mouthwash seem necessary for good oral health, but many people skip them because they don’t know how they work. Schwartz says mouthwash helps in three ways: It reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, cleans hard-to-brush areas in and around the gums, and re-mineralizes the teeth. “Mouthwashes are useful as an adjunct tool to help bring things into balance,” he explains. “I think in children and older people, where the ability to brush and floss may not be ideal, a mouthwash is particularly helpful.” Ask your dentist for specific mouthwash recommendations. Certain brands are best for children, and those with sensitive teeth. Prescription mouthwash is also available.

14.                        See your dentist for regular check-ups. You should also visit your dentist if you have a dental problem such as a toothache or bleeding gums.