Bad dental hygiene has been associated with various diseases, including heart disease, clogged arteries, stroke, respiratory disease and pneumonia among others.[break]
“The condition of the mouth reveals the inside story of overall health,” says the dentist. She recommends a mandatory visit to the dentist every six months.
This week, Republica caught up with Dr Shrestha to dicsuss the basics of maintaining proper dental hygiene, and according to her, the most important part of oral care starts at home.
Here are some tips to follow to maintain your oral health.
Brushing
Regular brushing is the first step to good oral health.
Brushing twice a day—morning, after breakfast, and evening, after dinner— is mandatory. A good two-minute brushing using a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste containing fluoride is important. A helpful way to keep track of time is to play your favorite music and brush along.
When we brush, we must make sure that we clean every single tooth surface. A good way to brush would be to tilt the toothbrush slightly, at a 45-degree angle against the gumline and brush with short gentle back-and-forth strokes. Similarly, for the insides of the teeth and the chewing surfaces, use short front and backstrokes.
The brush can also be used to clean the tongue using gentle forward sweeping motion.
Remember to change your toothbrush every three months or earlier. Never use a toothbrush with frayed bristles.
Of course, an electric toothbrush would be a good buy. Their heads vibrate and pulse incredibly quickly which has been proven to remove more plaque than manual brushing
Interdental cleaning
Only 60% of cleaning is done if you do not clean in between your teeth. There are many ways to do this.
Flossing is an easy way. And this must be done at least once a day.
Cut about 18 inches of dental floss and hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth and move the floss up and down swiping it against the tooth
Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
Other interdental cleaning aids include interdental brushes or picks.
Rinsing after meals
The age-old practice of rinsing after a meal is particulary helpful because this not only flushes away food and bacteria from the mouth but also helps neutralize the pH of the Saliva.
Diet
Changes in the mouth start the minute you eat. Bacteria in the mouth break down certain food into acids that eventually cause tooth decay.
- Food like cheese, milk, nuts and meat are good and so are crunchy vegetables and fruits like apples and pears.
- Cut down on sugary and sticky food. These stick to the teeth and so reduce the ph in the mouth for an extended time.
- Non-sweetened chewing gums assist oral irrigation in the mouth by stimulating saliva flow.
- Beverages and food containing acids like lime juice, vinegar, pickles and soft drinks lower the pH level of the mouth, which causes the enamel to demineralize and therefore increases the risk of decay tremendously.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Saliva and oral health
Saliva is an integral part of oral health. It not only contains enzymes to help digest certain foods but saliva also has major antibacterial property. It also protects the soft tissues and encourages a resistance to dental caries. Saliva also contains calcium, phosphorous and other minerals that preserve the tooth enamel. Saliva also neutralizes the acid generated by bacteria. Moreover, saliva plays a huge role in washing away food particles in the mouth thereby decreasing the chance of plaque build-up.
If you have a dry mouth, you can drink plenty of fluids and/or suck on sugarless candies or chew unsweetened chewing gums.
Smoking and oral health
Smoking has shown to cause a significant adverse effect on the oral health. Smoking is also the major cause for gum disease (periodontal disease) and loss of tooth. Research has shown that smokers are four times more prone to gum diseases than non-smokers but the good news is that quitting smoking seems to gradually erase the harmful effects of tobacco use on periodontal health.
Yet another very scary risk associated with smokers is oral cancer. In fact, other forms of tobacco like ghutka, paan chewing and khaini are also associated with cancer or precancerious lesions.
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