Why are my teeth so important?
Your teeth vary in shape and size depending
on their position within your mouth. These
differences allow the teeth to do many different
jobs. Teeth help us to chew and digest food.
They help us to talk, and to pronounce different
sounds clearly. Finally, teeth help to give
our face its shape. A healthy smile can be
a great asset and because this is so important,
it makes sense to give your teeth the best
care possible.
How do I keep my teeth and gums healthy?
It is easy to get your mouth clean and healthy,
and keep it that way. A simple routine of
brushing and cleaning between the teeth,
good eating habits and regular dental check-ups
can help prevent most dental problems. Although
most people brush regularly, many don’t
clean between their teeth and some people
don’t have dental check-ups. A few
small changes in your daily routine can make
a big difference in the long run. Your dentist
or dental hygienist can remove any build-up
on your teeth and treat any gum disease that
has already appeared. But daily dental care
is up to you, and the main weapons are the
toothbrush and interdental cleaning. (Cleaning
between the teeth).
What is plaque?
Plaque is a thin, sticky film of bacteria
that constantly forms on your teeth. The
plaque reacts with food, turning sugar into
acid, which then dissolves the enamel on
your teeth.
How can plaque cause decay?
When you eat foods containing sugars and
starches, the bacteria in plaque produce
acids, which attack tooth enamel. The stickiness
of the plaque keeps these acids in contact
with teeth. After the teeth are attacked
in this way many times, the tooth enamel
breaks down forming a hole or cavity.
How can plaque cause gum disease?
Plaque can harden into something called
calculus (another name for it is ‘tartar’).
As calculus forms near the gumline, the plaque
underneath releases poisons causing the gums
to become irritated and inflamed. The gums
begin to pull away from the teeth and the
gaps become infected. If gum disease is not
treated promptly, the bone supporting the
teeth is destroyed and healthy teeth may
be lost. Gum disease is the biggest cause
of tooth loss in adults and can lead to dentures,
bridges or implants.
Which type of toothbrush should I use?
Your dentist or dental hygienist will be
able to recommend a toothbrush to you. However,
adults should choose a small to medium size
brush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round-ended
nylon bristles or ‘filaments’.
The head should be small enough to get into
all parts of the mouth: especially the back
of the mouth where cleaning can be difficult.
Children need to use smaller brushes but
with the same type of filaments.
You can now get more specialised toothbrushes.
For instance, people with sensitive teeth
can now use softer bristled brushes. There
are also smaller headed toothbrushes for
those people with crooked or irregular teeth.
Some people find it difficult to hold a toothbrush,
for example because they have Parkinson’s
disease or a physical disability. There are
now toothbrushes, which have large handles
and angled heads to make them easier to use.
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