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.