Good Teeth: Simple Advice for Healthy Teeth and Gums
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About this ebook
Mandy Collins
Mandy Collins started her career writing about television, later moving into the world of consumer magazines, where she started to specialize in writing about general health issues, and later, health issues affecting children. She currently freelances for a number of international magazines.
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Good Teeth - Mandy Collins
Back to basics
We’ve all been brought up to brush our teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly and perhaps even use a mouthwash, but are you sure you’re brushing and flossing correctly? Do you know whether or not your toothpaste is suitable for your needs? Is your toothbrush doing its job properly? The key to a healthy, beautiful smile is getting the basics right: practising the best oral hygiene you can at home, and leaving the complicated procedures to your dentist.
In addition, while most of us focus on fighting cavities, it’s gum disease we should be worrying about as adults. More teeth are lost through gum disease than through tooth decay, and it is estimated that nine out of 10 people start to show signs of gum disease by the time they are 25 years old.
Your teeth are supposed to last a lifetime, but cavities and gum disease are known to shorten their lifespan.
Fortunately, a sound oral-hygiene regimen protects your teeth against both cavities and gum disease. The key is to commit yourself to that regimen, and then implement it correctly and effectively. Doing so, just a few minutes a day, will ensure that your teeth last a lifetime.
IllustrationANATOMY 101
To best understand what you’re doing when taking care of your teeth, it helps to have some knowledge of their basic anatomy. Your teeth have a complex, multilayered structure, as well as a supply of nerves and blood.
The tooth is divided into three main parts: the crown, the neck and the root. Enamel covers the crown of the tooth, and this smooth, hard coating is the hardest tissue in the body. It is not sensitive at all, and is usually translucent-white in colour. The main substance of the crown, neck and root of the tooth is dentine. This is a yellow-white colour, and is very sensitive, as it houses the tooth’s nerve supply.
The gums, or gingiva, are the link between the teeth and the rest of the mouth. The tiny space between the teeth and the gums is known as the gingival sulcus, and is usually no thicker than 2mm (0.08in). However, as small as it is, this space is a common source of infection. The tooth is connected to the bone in your jaw by thin fibres (periodontal ligaments), which act as shock absorbers for your teeth. The periodontal ligaments attach to the thin layer covering the root, called cementum.
ANATOMY OF A TOOTH
IllustrationTHE ORAL CAVITY
IllustrationInside each tooth is a nerve cavity that houses the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves. Blood vessels are vital because they transport essential nutrients to the tooth, and the nerves make the tooth sensitive, which is sometimes a good thing and at other times extremely painful. The nerves and blood vessels pass through the tooth into the nerve cavity by means of small channels called root canals.
Adults have 32 teeth, including four wisdom teeth, which can be divided into four types. Each of the four types has a different structure, position and function.
The eight incisors occur near the front of the mouth, and are typically used for biting. Moving outward from the centre, your canine teeth are sharper and more pointed than incisors, and help to tear off and hold your food while you are eating. They are also commonly called eye-teeth.
The premolars are next, and have two raised points that help to crush your food during chewing. Molars are a larger version of the premolars, and are used for grinding and pulping food. There are eight premolars and eight molars, plus the wisdom teeth that are simply an additional set of molars.
GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
Your brushing technique
Your teeth are supposed to last a lifetime, but cavities and gum disease often shorten their lifespan. The key to teeth that last is correct brushing and flossing on a daily basis. Here, prevention really is better than cure.
However, while we all probably brush our teeth at least once daily, and floss occasionally, the question is whether or not we are brushing correctly and effectively. A good brushing technique is vital if you are going to get into all the nooks and crannies between tooth and gum. So here’s a basic guideline: hold the toothbrush in a comfortable grip and place the head at about 45 degrees to the surface of your teeth: this allows the bristles to get into the space between the gum and teeth. Starting at one side of your mouth, systematically brush first the outside of your upper and lower teeth, moving from one side of your mouth to the back of the other side. Then do the same for the inside of all the teeth, working from one side to the other, and repeat for the chewing surfaces.
The key to teeth that will last is correct brushing and flossing daily.
IllustrationFluoride strengthens teeth, but too much can actually discolour them.
IllustrationEnsure you are holding your toothbrush firmly, but comfortably, with its head at a slight angle to your teeth, and systematically clean every surface.
Finally, wipe your tongue with two or three strokes from back to front, and use your tongue to test whether or not your teeth feel smooth and clean. If not, return to whichever areas need attention, and brush them again.
In the absence of fluoridated water, it is essential to use a toothpaste containing fluoride. Note that, unlike adults, if children ingest too much fluoride, it can discolour their teeth, so you need to find a good balance.
Fluoride strengthens their teeth in two ways: either from the inside, where it is systemically absorbed, or by direct application to the surfaces of teeth to make them more resistant to decay. The latter is what you are doing when you brush your teeth.
To get the balance right, start by brushing your teeth at least twice a day – three times if you can manage it. If you really can’t get that right, then at least ensure that your once-a-day brushing occurs last thing at night. Bacteria accumulate on your teeth during the day, and saliva flow diminishes at night, so your teeth have less protection while you sleep. When you have finished brushing your teeth, don’t rinse your mouth afterwards – simply spit out any excess toothpaste and leave the remainder on your teeth, so that the fluoride can