DENTAL PROCEDURES Preventive Dentistry
Dental
hygiene, also known
as oral hygiene, is
the process by which
preventative dental
care is provided to
avoid dental emergencies.
At the core of dental
hygiene is the in-home
dental care regimen
you perform. Your at-home
regimen is supplemented
with professional
preventative dental
care provided by dentists
and licensed dental
hygienists.
While
you are responsible
for day-to-day dental
maintenance, dental
hygienists, along with
general dentists, family
dentists and cosmetic
dentists, play an integral
role in preventative
oral care.
Tooth brushing is fundamentally important, though it alone will not remove the calculus (also called tartar or dental plaque) that builds up over time. Calculus must be removed to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease or even the loss of all your teeth. By removing calculus, you can reduce your chances of needing root canals, tooth extractions, dental bridges, crowns and more.
Getting to the Root of Dental Hygiene
Over time, calculus builds up on the teeth. If calculus forms below the gum line, bacteria can invade and create a host of other dental problems. Furthermore, the surfaces and areas between the teeth and under the gum line must be maintained and treated on a regular basis in order to ensure proper dental hygiene. These areas are impossible for you to examine yourself; they require a professional touch.
Dental hygienists are
often responsible
for performing professional
tooth cleaning, scraping
hardened plaque (tartar),
removing calculus
deposits, taking X-rays,
identifying changes
in the bite (occlusion),
investigating components
that relate to the
bone and setting up
the nitrous oxide
(“laughing gas”)
that is used, when
necessary, to relax
people requiring more
invasive treatment.
Your
dentist then works with
your hygienist by further
examining the teeth,
mouth and gums
to provide any necessary
treatment for tooth
decay or gum disease.
Regular dental visits
are critical at any
age for the maintenance
of dental hygiene. The
American Dental Association
recommends that patients
visit with their dentist
and dental hygienist
a minimum of two times
each year to maintain
proper dental hygiene.
Facts on Brushing
What is the best technique
for brushing? There
are a number of effective
brushing techniques.
Patients are advised
to check with their
dentist or hygienist
to determine which
is the best one for
them since tooth position
and gum condition vary.
One effective, easy-to-remember
technique involves using
a circular or elliptical
motion to brush a couple
of teeth
at a time, gradually
covering the entire
mouth. Place a toothbrush
beside your teeth at
a
45-degree angle and
gently brush teeth in
an elliptical motion.
Brush the outside of
the teeth, inside the
teeth, your tongue and
the chewing surfaces
and in between teeth.
Using a back and forth
motion causes the gum
surface to recede, or
can expose the root
surface or make the
root surface tender.
You also risk wearing
down the gum line.
Soft or hard
bristles?
In general, a toothbrush
head should be small
(1" by 1/2")
for easy access. It
should have a long,
wide handle for a firm
grasp. It should have
soft, nylon bristles
with round ends. Some
brushes are too abrasive
and can wear down teeth.
A soft, rounded, multi-tufted
brush can clean teeth
effectively. Press just
firmly enough to reach
the spaces between the
teeth as
well as the surface.
Medium and hard bristles
are not recommended.
How long should
I brush?
It might be a good idea
to brush with the radio
on, since dentists generally
recommend brushing 3-4
minutes, the length
of an average song.
Using an egg timer is
another way
to measure your brushing
time. Patients generally
think they're brushing
longer, but most spend
less than a minute brushing.
To make sure you're
doing a thorough job
and not missing any
spots, patients are
advised to brush the
full 3-4 minutes twice
a day instead
of brushing quickly
five or more times through
the day.
Should I brush
at work?
Definitely, but most
Americans don't brush
during the workday.
Dentists say it's a
good idea
to keep a toothbrush
in your desk, which
increases the chances
that you'll brush during
the day by 65 percent,
according to a recent
survey released by Oral-B
Laboratories and the
Academy of General Dentistry.
Getting the debris off
teeth right away stops
sugary snacks from turning
to damaging acids, and
catches starchy foods
like potato chips before
they turn to cavity-causing
sugar. If you brush
with fluoride toothpaste
in the morning and before
going to bed, you don't
even need to use toothpaste
at work. You can just
brush and rinse before
heading back to the
desk. If you don't have
a toothbrush, rinsing
your mouth with water
for 30 seconds after
lunch also helps.
Why
We Floss: The Frontline
of Oral Health
Flossing
in between your teeth
is an essential oral
hygiene practice for
avoiding gum
disease and preventing
tooth decay. Also
known as periodontal
disease or periodontitis,
gum disease affects
75 percent of Americans
and is one of the
main causes of tooth
loss
in adults. Pervasive
as the oral disease
may be, it can be
easily prevented by
brushing
and flossing your
teeth.
Recent studies have determined a link between gum disease and increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen may help to eliminate the inflammation factor associated with gum disease, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene habits may help prevent more serious health complications.
Many people don’t realize the importance of flossing and often forego the hygienic practice, believing that tooth brushing is adequate for the removal of plaque, the sticky substance that forms on the surface of and in between the teeth.
Tooth decay is a serious oral health concern that is caused by a buildup of plaque. If dental plaque is allowed to accumulate, it can combine with the sugars and/or starches of the foods that we eat to produce an acid that attacks tooth enamel. Tooth brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of the teeth, but only flossing can remove plaque that accumulates in between the teeth.
Dental
plaque can also irritate
the gums to the extent
that they bleed easily
and become
red and tender. If plaque
is not removed from
in between the teeth
with dental floss, the
gums can eventually
start to pull away (recede)
from the teeth. When
this happens, bacteria
and pus-filled pockets
can develop and the
bone that supports the
teeth can be destroyed.
Once the bone is destroyed,
the teeth will loosen
and/or require removal.
Optimal Flossing Techniques and Types of Dental Floss
Flossing your teeth is not hard, does not take much time and should be performed at least once daily. The following steps detail optimal flossing techniques for maximum effectiveness:
. Select
the type dental floss
that you prefer.
. Tear off
a piece of floss about
18 inches long.
. Wrap one
end of the floss around
either your middle or
index finger
. Wrap the
other end of the floss
around the finger on
your opposite hand.
. Grip the
floss tightly between
your thumb and finger.
. Gently insert
the dental floss between
your teeth. Be careful
not to snap the floss
or you
could
damage your gums.
. Gently
move the floss back
and forth against the
tooth on both sides
and underneath the
gum line.
. Repeat
this process in between
all of the upper and
lower teeth.
. It is important
to floss against the
backside of a tooth
even if there is no
tooth behind it.
. There are
different types of dental
floss from which to
choose. Among the different
kinds
of floss are dental
tape, waxed floss, woven
floss and unwaxed floss.
Your hygienist or
dentist
can recommend which is most
appropriate for you.
Flossing Products: What Are Your Options?
The
American Dental Association
recommends that flossing
should be done daily.
There
are numerous products
available that are designed
to make flossing easier.
For
those who suffer from
arthritis, a device
known as a dental flosser
would be ideal because
they are easier to hold.
The vibrating dental
flossers feel pretty
good as they massage
your gums, but they
are more expensive than
traditional dental floss.
They can
be recommended by your
hygienist or your dentist.
Many kids prefer the
fun-shaped dental flossers
that are now available
because they seem to
be easier to manage
with small hands.
The
best dental flossing
product is the one
that you will use
everyday. The bottom
line is
that flossing is an
essential component
of your daily oral hygiene
practices and should
not
be overlooked.