Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene (also known as tooth care) is central to preserving the color and condition of teeth. Teeth whitening will not last long if proper oral hygiene has not been adhered to. Keeping the mouth clean and free of debris also prevents dental caries, periodonatalitis, poor breath, gingivitis and other dental diseases. Personal oral hygiene includes brushing, flossing and gargling with mouth wash. Profession oral hygiene administered by a dentist includes all the previous as well as teeth scaling, which is accomplished using instruments to get rid of substances covering the teeth. These steps in of themselves can improve the color and appearance of teeth.
Plaque
The major reason for oral hygiene is to remove plaque. Plaque is mostly bacteria and is also referred to as tartar. It can start to build up very quickly in the mouth, within one day already the plaque can build up to be a thick layer.
Recommended routine
- Brush twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening after the last meal of the day. An electric tooth brush can be used instead of a manual tooth brush especially if the user suffers from arthritis or another condition which reduces dexterity.
- Floss once a day - preferably before bedtime, this is to remove the plaque which occurs between teeth, as the tooth brush will not reach these parts, it may be recommended to up the floss rate especially after eating if it found that food gets stuck between teeth regularly
- Fluoride mouth wash once a day - this helps prevent dental decay as it binds to the hydroxyapatite within enamel. This gives the enamel an increased resistance to decay.
- Tongue cleaning once a day - this helps to prevent bad breath, as it removes the coating of bacteria which builds up on the tongue. As well as the decaying food, fungi and dead cells from the tongue, as well as various bacteria. These bacteria can also cause gum issues and decay
- It is recommended not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after a dental routine
Dietary recommendations
Generally food substances which promote the grown of bones and muscles will also assist the teeth and gums in staying healthy.
Foods which are rich in Vitamin B such as cereals help as well as fruits and vegetables can be beneficial in providing Vitamin C and keeping the gums healthy. While fish, chicken and low fat meat give zinc and magnesium which help with teeth. Fluoride is the first port of call when thinking of protection from cavities. Fluoride works by toughening up the surface of teeth, fluoride can either come via the potable water or toothpaste or mouthwash.
The number one class of food substance which causes cavities are
sugars. That is not to say that it is the only one though, other carbohydrates such as potato chips may also damage teeth also. The most important factor when considering the damage that sugar can cause is not the quantity of sugar consumed but the duration that the teeth are exposed to the sugar. So to limit damage consumption should be limited to fewer times per day rather than continuously drinking juices or colas throughout the day. It is important to note that the sugar from fruit or fruit juices (fructose) is as damaging as table sugar (sucrose).
Another food to avoid if possible is sticky food as this tend to stick to the teeth and reduce the pH and causing more damage to the teeth.
Not just the mouth
It has also been found that poor oral hygiene may contribute to bacterial pneumonia, low birth weight, diabetic complications, osteoporosis as well as stroke and heart attack.