Visiting your Dentist
Maintaining good oral health is an essential health priority for daily life. Prevention is far better than cure, so visiting your dentist regularly should be an important part of your health routine.
Recall examination includes oral hygiene maintenance. The recall interval varies according to individual needs but ranges from 3 to 12 months. If the interval between examinations extend beyond two years, then it is likely that a comprehensive examination will be recommended.
Tooth wear and acid erosion
Acid erosion, also known as dental erosion, is the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids not of bacterial origin. Dental erosion is the most common chronic disease of children ages 5–17, although it is only relatively recently that it has been recognised as a dental health problem. There is generally widespread ignorance of the damaging effects of acid erosion; this is particularly the case with erosion due to fruit juices, because they tend to be seen as healthy. Erosion is found initially in the enamel and, if unchecked, may proceed to the underlying dentin.
The most common cause of erosion is by acidic foods and drinks. In general, foods and drinks with a pH below 5.0–5.7 have been known to trigger dental erosion effects. Numerous clinical and laboratory reports link erosion to excessive consumption of drinks. Those thought to pose a risk are soft drinks and fruit drinks, fruit juices such as orange juice (which contains citric acid) and carbonated drinks such as colas (in which the carbonic acid is not the cause of erosion, but citric and phosphoric acid). Additionally, wine has been shown to erode teeth, with the pH of wine as low as 3.0–3.8. Other possible sources of erosive acids are from exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water, and regurgitation of gastric acids.
Sugar intake
- Avoid frequent intake of sugary foods, especially sticky foods. Look at food labels to see what they contain.
- Bacteria love sugar and soon after it is eaten your mouth becomes very acidic. Swish your mouth out or have a drink of water to remove the bulk of remaining sugar from your mouth
- Don’t snack all day, leave a long break between meals so your teeth have a longer time free from acids.
Saliva
Saliva is a watery substance located in the mouths of organisms, secreted by the salivary glands. Human saliva is 99.5% water, while the other 0.5% consists of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds.
- Drink plenty of water to ensure you have an adequate flow of saliva. You feel thirsty after you mouth has already become dry. This means that if you feel thirsty you will already be dehydrated. Dehydration causes a dry, acidic mouth which increases the risk of tooth decay.
- Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine all reduce salivary flow. Caffeine is contained in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola and soft drinks and can cause dehydration.
- Many over the counter medications and drugs can make your mouth dry, by reducing the flow of saliva. Cold and flu medications are an example, as are many mouthrinses containing alcohol. Alternatives may be available, however this is not always the case. Products are available to help relieve the discomfort of dry mouth.
- Chewing sugar free gum helps to stimulate salivary flow. Some sugar free gums contain Xylitol which helps to slow the growth of plaque.
- The acidity of a dry mouth can be reduced by using a bicarbonate mouthrinse. This helps the saliva to become alkaline. Rinse vigorously with a mixture of one teaspoon of “baking soda” in a glass of water, don’t swallow and discard the remaining portion.
Plaque
Dental plaque is a biofilm, usually a pale yellow, that develops naturally on the teeth. Like any biofilm, dental plaque is formed by colonizing bacteria trying to attach themselves to the tooth’s smooth surface.
- Thorough, daily removal of plaque from the tooth surfaces and in between the teeth reduces the risk of tooth decay. The removal of plaque reduces the numbers of acid producing bacteria in the mouth that cause decay and gum disease.
- Removal of plaque can be done by Brushing and Flossing.
Tooth Brushes
Electric toothbrushes with an oscillating head have been shown to be more effective in removal of plaque and food debris. If a normal tooth brush to be used its always recommended to use a soft or Extra soft tooth brush.
- Brush twice a day using any Fluoride toothpaste. Ensure you brush well at night, as during sleep your saliva flow is greatly reduced putting the teeth at greater risk of decay. For shift workers this simply means brushing thoroughly before sleep.
- Don’t brush directly after a meal as dissolved tooth may be scrubbed away. Swish the mouth out or have a drink of water and wait about half an hour before you brush.
Flossing
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
- Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with.
- Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth
- Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue.
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
- To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth.