Proper dental and oral care for adults

Regular oral hygiene plays an important role in maintaining dental health and preventing various diseases.
Almost everyone knows about how dental hygiene affects the general condition of the body. And in fact, anyone can debate this topic.

But, nevertheless, the undeniable fact is that the general health of a person largely depends on the health of teeth and gums. This has been confirmed by various scientific medical studies. Inflammatory processes on the teeth and gums, as well as heavy plaque and other deposits lead to an increase in the number of pathogenic microbes that can provoke a large number of diseases. Heart and vascular diseases, the development of diabetes, complications during pregnancy and premature birth - these and other health problems can arise due to small microbes on the teeth.

As medical dental practice shows, caries, gingivitis and tartar almost always occur due to improper oral hygiene. Having heard the phrase “you are brushing your teeth incorrectly” from a dentist, most patients are very surprised and begin to give other reasons for the development of their diseases, be it heredity, sensitive enamel or crowded teeth.

What is the right and wrong way to care for your teeth?

There are research results that clearly show that 99%

Problems of teeth and gums arise from improper care.

And there is data that shows the opposite picture, as in Switzerland, where regular oral hygiene is instilled almost from infancy. Only 3% of the population suffers from caries. Children are taught to brush their teeth correctly at an early age, special lessons are given at school, and they need to visit the dentist every six months.

As they say, feel the difference.

The formula for dental health looks like this:

proper home care + regular visits to the dentist = healthy teeth and gums

According to statistics, in Russia only 30% of the population brushes their teeth correctly; the rest, alas, do not do this for various reasons. Most often this is due to the inability to brush your teeth properly and a lax attitude towards your health.

Why is it necessary to brush your teeth?

Proper dental and oral care is important not only because it keeps your teeth white and your breath fresh. A so-called bacterial film is constantly formed on the teeth, mucous membranes, and tongue. This is a complex structure consisting of an intercellular matrix, components of oral fluid, various bacteria and their metabolic products. The oral cavity is a very favorable environment for the growth of bacteria. Microorganisms contained in the bacterial film, during their life processes, release substances that destroy enamel and cause inflammation of the gums. Over time, hard tissues are destroyed and carious cavities form.

Bacterial film, or biofilm, in dentistry is a set of microorganisms that are firmly attached to each other and at the same time quite tightly attached to the teeth and mucous membrane.
Actinomycetes, fungi, spirochetes, and fusobacteria that live in large numbers are called periodontopathogenic and cariogenic: modern studies have shown their leading role in the development of periodontal inflammation and dental caries “The structure of biofilm on natural teeth,” Dr. Vincent Zijnge, MD [4]

Oral health is of great importance for the health of the entire body, including the immune and digestive systems. An example of such a relationship is the condition of the teeth and the process of chewing food. If the teeth do not fully perform their functions, the food is not crushed as it should be (for example, because it is painful or uncomfortable for a person to chew), then a poorly processed food bolus ends up in the stomach. It lingers longer, is digested less well and can later cause discomfort and disruption of intestinal function. Thus, knowing how to properly care for your teeth is important for the normal functioning of the entire body.

What should the diet be like?

When it comes to your diet, you should limit the amount of food that can damage your teeth. First of all, this concerns mechanical damage: too hard, too cold, too hot - in a word, everything that is too much is dangerous. So, if you crack nuts with your teeth, and then eat hot and drink cold, prepare for the worst. The same applies to strongly alkaline or acidic foods.

Healthy eating is the key to healthy teeth

Plus to all this, there is an opinion that sweets are very harmful to teeth. This is true, but for healthy teeth I want to tell you a secret: chocolate candy is much safer than long-lasting sucking or caramel. Why is that? Because the remaining chocolate is washed by the saliva of the mouth and completely goes into the gastrointestinal tract. But the decay products of caramels remain on the teeth for a very long time, and, unnoticed by you, they begin to spoil them.

In addition, do not forget to eat foods that help strengthen your teeth. Your diet should definitely include apricots: they have a very beneficial effect on the condition of your teeth. But, we want to warn you right away: no matter how many apricots or vitamins you eat, it will still not help you restore your teeth. It will simply slow down the processes of their deterioration. To our deepest regret, nothing can restore your teeth.

How often should you brush your teeth?

It is believed that you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day. There is a very practical justification for this. Brushing in the morning removes bacteria that have accumulated in the mouth overnight. Cleaning in the evening before bed helps remove bacterial plaque that has accumulated during the day and inhibits the formation of biofilm at night.

Another widely known tip is to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes. One jaw consists of three conventional parts: chewing teeth on the right and left, and the front part. It is necessary to pay sufficient attention to each department.

Why do you need toothpaste and floss?

What hygiene supplies are needed to properly care for your oral cavity? First of all, a toothbrush . It must be individual, corresponding to the condition of the teeth and gums. It is better to select it with a dentist, since toothbrushes differ in the softness and structure of the bristles.

Toothpaste is the second important element of care because it:

• cleanses;
• protects against caries;
• whitens;
• polishes;
• freshens breath;
• covers teeth with a protective layer, etc.

It is also better to choose it with a dental hygienist. But in general, if there are no problems, then fluoride toothpaste is used to prevent dental diseases and maintain healthy teeth and gums.

The third component is floss for cleaning interdental spaces. Unfortunately, in Russia the habit of using dental floss is not so widespread, although in the United States most adults follow the recommendations for the use of floss.

Don't forget to use a mouth rinse to remove food debris from areas of your mouth that are hard to reach with a toothbrush and leave your breath fresh.

When to wean off a pacifier to avoid problems with bite

The habit of putting everything in the mouth can lead to poor articulation of the tongue, lips and jaw when swallowing, as well as an open bite. Studies have shown that a child can be weaned off the habit of sucking a pacifier up to three or four years of age. But since such a habit has biomechanical reasons, it can be difficult to wean a child - in this case, the help of a psychotherapist is necessary.

To avoid problems with bite, it is important to give up the pacifier in time. By 8–9 months, if complementary foods are introduced in a timely manner, the sucking reflex is gradually replaced by a chewing reflex. It is from this age that it is recommended to start giving the baby a pacifier less - it will be psychologically and physiologically easier for him to wean himself off the habit.

What affects the health and color of teeth [2,3]

Sometimes, despite careful oral care, teeth do not have the desired snow-white “Hollywood” shade. Most often, the reason for this is the natural color of the enamel and/or dentin: there are many people whose teeth are yellowish or grayish from birth. In this case, persistent bleaching using chemical or abrasive agents is fraught with increased sensitivity of dentin.

Color can also depend on the food you eat and bad habits. Tea, coffee, jam, natural juices, tobacco affect the shade of enamel, and smoking and alcohol abuse worsen its condition.

Another factor is eating habits. Lovers of sweets and foods rich in carbohydrates (baked goods, pasta, etc.) are at increased risk of caries, since sugar is the favorite food of bacteria that cause the development of caries.

The habit of eating soft pureed food has a bad effect on the natural cleansing of the oral cavity. That is why, from childhood, everyone is recommended to chew fairly hard vegetables and fruits: carrots, apples, celery, cucumber, kohlrabi. During chewing, natural cleansing of the surface of the teeth, cheeks, gums and tongue occurs.

The need to maintain hygiene

More than 15 thousand bacteria and microbes live in the mouth. By feeding on food particles, they secrete acids that corrode tooth enamel. If you do not follow a set of hygienic measures, a carious cavity will form.

Oral hygiene includes disinfecting measures aimed at removing dental plaque. Maintaining these steps is an important step in preventing dental disease.

By following the rules of cleanliness you can achieve:

• fresh breath;
• healthy enamel color;
• destruction of pathogenic microflora;
• high quality teeth;
• prevention of caries, gum disease and periodontal disease.

Every person needs increased oral care, especially smokers and people with weak immune systems.

How to choose the right toothbrush and toothpaste [2,3]

A high-quality toothbrush will not injure enamel and gums when using the correct teeth brushing technique. Toothpaste with fluoride has a preventive effect, protecting teeth from caries, while antibacterial paste fights germs that cause inflammation and bleeding gums. Dental floss , mouthwash, and other hygiene products provide additional oral health benefits.

With what and how should you properly care for your oral cavity?

What is not recommended to do at home?

Often people try to save money and resort to traditional methods, in particular using soda or tooth powder to clean their teeth. Of course, the application gives some results, but it does not replace professional hygiene and it is impossible to remove plaque in hard-to-reach places with soda.

Other negative aspects of DIY whitening include:

• formation of microtraumas on the gums;
• violation of the integrity of the enamel, since aggressive compounds corrode and make it fragile, over time it becomes thinner;
• allergic reactions on the skin near the mouth are possible.

Damaged enamel increases tooth sensitivity, which greatly accelerates and causes the development of caries, and can even lead to the loss of a dental unit.

Teeth whitening using professional gels is another procedure that many try to perform at home, considering it absolutely safe. The procedure is truly harmless, provided that it is carried out under the guidance of an experienced specialist. By carrying out whitening without first consulting a dentist, you risk your health. Even in a clinical setting, not all procedures may be useful to you, and only a doctor, having fully examined the condition of the oral cavity, will choose the best option for you.

Contraindications to teeth whitening are:

• inflammatory processes in the gums;
• periodontitis;
• worn away tooth enamel.

Before whitening, treatment of the gums and teeth is always carried out, and only after that it is possible to begin to improve their aesthetic appearance.

Only a doctor can choose the appropriate method and the right preparation for whitening. When carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to take into account many factors, which cannot be done without special knowledge. Therefore, dentists advise not to experiment with your health, but to turn to professionals.

How to use a toothbrush correctly [1,2]

The best way to learn how to properly brush your teeth is to visit your dentist or hygienist. Consultation is especially important for people with braces, dentures, dentition defects, etc.

Standard recommendations include several cleaning steps, none of which should be skipped.

1. Wet a toothbrush and apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Place the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the teeth. Start cleaning movements from the upper right chewing teeth (the farthest ones) and from the side of the cheek, then from the side of the tongue, sequentially moving to the front ones. Using a toothbrush, make sweeping movements from the gum to the edge of the tooth.
2. Move to the chewing surface and brush it by moving the toothbrush horizontally back and forth. Try to penetrate as deeply as possible.
3. Continue brushing the lower chewing teeth and then the entire lower jaw.
4. Close your jaws and massage the gums of both jaws in a circular motion.
5. Final stage: use a special scraper or pad on the back of the toothbrush head to clean the surface of the tongue.
6. Clean between teeth using dental floss or tape. Then use mouthwash.
7. After each meal, also rinse your mouth thoroughly with clean water or mouthwash.

Medical expert: Oleg Sergeevich Shchekin

Last updated: July 21, 2021