DENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE

DENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE

DENTAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE

From the time you were a little boy, you’ve
been hearing about how important it is to
brush your teeth and floss every day. But caring
for your teeth and gums does more than
improve your smile and your breath. In fact,
good dental hygiene may actually reduce your
risk of ulcers, pneumonia, digestive problems, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
A healthy mouth doesn’t just happen by itself—you need to take on an active
role by making dental hygiene a part of your everyday routine. By working with
your dentist and following the suggestions in this chapter, you’ll improve your
chances of keeping your teeth—and your health—for a lifetime.

W H AT’S REALLY GOING ON IN YOUR MOUTH?

Although you can’t see them, there are literally millions of bacteria in your
mouth. Some are harmless and help break down the food you eat so it can be
more easily digested. Other bacteria are quite harmful. They clump together to
create plaque, a sticky, acidic substance that builds up on the teeth.
Having plaque on your teeth is perfectly normal—everyone does—and if it’s regularly
removed (by brushing and flossing every day), plaque is harmless. But if
i t ’s not removed, plaque begins eating away and decaying your teeth and will
ultimately cause cavities and gum disease. Over time, the bones and tissue that
hold your teeth can be destroyed. Your teeth may become loose and/or fall out.

GUM DISEASE

In fact, good dental hygiene may actually reduce your risk of ulcers, pneumonia,
digestive problems, heart disease, stroke and diabetes . Approximately 75 perc e n t
of adults over 35 will have some form of gum disease at some point in their life.
Here are some of the risk factors:
• Being male. Men are more likely to suffer from gum disease than women.
• Being African-American. Black men are more likely than white men to
develop gum disease.
• Being poor or uninsured. People at the lowest socio-economic levels tend
to have the most severe gum disease. This is largely because they don’t
have access to (or can’t afford) regular dental care.
• Age. As we get older, our gums gradually recede, exposing the roots of the
teeth to plaque. We also produce less saliva, which plays an important role
in rinsing plaque out of the mouth.
• Genetics. If your parents lost teeth to gum disease, you are at greater risk.
• Not brushing and flossing regularly.
• Poor diet.
• Clenching, grinding teeth.
• Smoking

Symptoms of Gum Disease:

In the early stages, gum disease is painless and you might not even notice if you
have it. But if you notice any of the following symptoms, you should see a dentist
as soon as you can.
• Red, swollen, tender gums.
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.
• Gums that have receded (pulled away) from the teeth.
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
• Pockets of pus around teeth or gums.
• Loose teeth, changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.
• Pain when chewing or difficulty chewing certain kinds of foods (usually
crunchy foods