Keep your teeth and gums healthy for life
Maggie Jackson and her team explains the importance of oral care.
Caring for your teeth is a good investment for your future health
Tooth brushing is an almost universal habit but a tooth brush only cleans the front, the back and the biting surface of the tooth.
Cleaning Between Your Teeth
Cleaning between the teeth is not so often adopted in early in life, though it really is needed after the large molars (back teeth) come through. Bacteria and debris can collect between the teeth and under the gum line.
Did you know, our oral hygiene habits also affect your health in general?
Gum disease causes inflammation in various parts of the body. Recent research carried out by the British Heart foundation have found there is a connection between diseases in your mouth and other diseases, such as Diabetes, cardiovascular disease including stroke. More recent reports also have shown there may be a link to several cancers, and evidence of periodontal (gum) bacteria being found in post-mortem brains of Alzheimer patients.
How gum inflammation leads to disease of the mouth and body
A common entry of bacteria into the blood stream is believed to be through the gums. A little bit of bleeding in the gums may appear to be a minor problem at first, but if left unchecked, can develop into gum inflammation (gingivitis) and eventually gum disease (periodontitis). If untreated, after years of neglect, can lead from plaque in the mouth to diseases mentioned above. Therefore, thorough removal of bacteria (plaque) from your teeth and gums is important.
How you can limit dental disease
You should brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day. The fluoride strengthens your teeth against acid produced by bacteria. It is recommended you spit without rinsing the paste away to prolong the time for fluoride absorption.
It is desirable to clean all tooth surfaces, children are too young to use interdental devises without strict supervision. Starting by your late teens, you should clean between your teeth too. Before brushing, gently floss or use small sized interdental brushes such as the Mini Vision Interdental brush between the teeth to loosen any plaque and allow the toothpaste to come into contact with the teeth. If there is any bleeding, this will indicate there is some gum inflammation, however after a few days using the interdental brush, this should subside.
