Dentists say that the most important part of taking care of one’s teeth takes place at home. This is where one can program regular
tooth cleaning activities like brushing and flossing, or dental checkups with the dentist. Flossing, or cleaning between the teeth with the use of a thread, aids brushing in keeping the teeth and gums healthy, especially in the prevention of cavities by removing plaque and tartar. It is important to note that plaque is most important to be removed first to prevent it from becoming hardened as a tartar, which develops on the inside of the lower front teeth or outside of the upper back teeth. This is more damaging and difficult to remove even by regular brushing. Statistics show that tartar develops fast in more persons who are negligent in their duties for personal
tooth care.
The problems associated with neglected tooth care result in many other problems including bad breath, periodontal or gum disease and
toothache. Bad breath or halitosis is caused by bacteria that grow and produce offensive odor in the mouth especially among those who do not brush and floss regularly. This may also be caused by garlic and onions that contain pungent oils and definitely by smoking. If bad breath persists even with regular brushing and flossing, one needs to consult a dentist to help check if something else causes the offensive smell. The periodontal disease is often caused by the buildup of plaque. It is an infection of the bone and tissues that support one’s teeth. If left untreated, it can loosen the teeth and lead to a tooth fallout. Toothache is an incomparably painful sensation related to the teeth which is commonly caused by dental caries or
tooth decay. For some persons, it is hard to treat with the last option to remove the affected tooth when all other treatments do not work.
Teeth and gums speak a lot about one’s
health and well-being. Cavities and gum diseases are said to point to
diabetes or
heart disease, as loose teeth to osteoporosis. There are reports that indicate bleeding gums, dry mouth, fungal infections and cavities are also oral signs of other serious health issues like leukemia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cavities or hollowed out spaces in the teeth are among the dental signs of diabetes. They develop over time when the tooth enamel breaks down after being attacked by bacteria that thrive with sugar in the mouth. Dental plaque bacteria cause blood clots and can induce a heart attack when released into the blood stream. This is also true with a gum disease where plaque buildup causes the gums to form chronic inflammation and cause inflamed lining of blood vessels to create a high risk of heart disease.
Tooth care is therefore important for the prevention of diseases. This necessitates keeping the teeth and gums healthy at all times by undertaking oral hygiene, dietary modification and applying dental sealants on the affected teeth. Oral hygiene involves proper brushing and flossing to ward off disease-causing agents in the mouth and prevent plaque from forming. Dietary modification is minimizing snacking to cut off a continuous supply of nutrition for acid-creating bacteria in the mouth. Dental sealants should be applied to chewing surfaces of affected molars to prevent food from being trapped inside fissures and pits of the teeth.
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