Know Your Teeth - Oral Hygiene and Dental Care.

1. ORAL HYGIENE AND DENTAL CARE Know Your Teeth Behind every bright and beautiful smile are strong teeth and lots of dental hygiene and care. However, this pretty smile of yours lasts until your teeth and gums are healthy. Once you stop paying heed to your oral health, a number of dental issues arise which have direct and indirect impacts on your overall health. Did you know this? Although there is a solution and treatment for almost every dental problem, but it is important to know the causes of dental infections and ways to overcome them.

2. Enemies of Your Teeth It all starts with colonization of bacteria around your teeth, also called Plaque. The yellowish sticky layer developed around your teeth is the main cause of gum diseases and cavities. Brushing teeth can help, but its effects last for 2-3 hours only, and plaque formation begins again. Dentists, therefore, recommend flossing along with brushing because it removes plaque bacteria formed under the gum line, which is stubborn against a tooth brush.

3. Enemies of Your Teeth Flossing, however, is useful in other ways too, which are as follows: • It delays the effects of aging by adding 6.4 years to your life expectancy • It protects your teeth by minimizing the chances of infectious diseases Nevertheless, if you have the habit of smoking, even regular flossing may not be effective. It is because smoking strongly and negatively affects gums and teeth and overall health. It has also been found that smoking leads to more than half of all cases of gum diseases.

4. Oral Health’s Connection to Overall Health Will it surprise you if you find that 90% of systemic diseases have links to oral health? Well, it is true. Oral health issues and diseases, particularly periodontal diseases, have direct or indirect effects on other organs and tissues of the human body. Appalling, isn’t it?

5. Oral Health’s Connection to Overall Health Also, periodontal diseases should not be taken lightly because they lead to following health problems: • Periodontal diseases increase the risk of fatal heart attack • Periodontal infections cause respiratory infections • If a person has diabetes, periodontal diseases make it difficult to control blood sugar level

6. Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries) When the outer layers of your teeth dissolve, they lead to cavities. As stated earlier, it all begins with plaque. The formation and dwelling of bacteria make cavities or caries in your mouth, but do you know the types of cavities? Different types of cavities are formed in our mouth. Main types are: • Pit and Fissure Caries: Often the tooth anatomy is such that it gets difficult to clean deep and parted pits and fissure on the tooth surface. Negligence may exacerbate these cavities, but use of dental sealants is effective in minimizing the occurrence of these caries.

7. Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries) • Smooth Surface Caries: Some cavities initiate on the smooth surface of your teeth. These are smooth surface caries. These caries progress because of the bacteria present inside the enamel matrix of white spot lesions. Fluorides may kill the bacteria, but patient’s behavior and correct use of the topical fluorides gets critical. • Cervical Caries: Also called Root-Surface Caries, they decay rapidly. These caries occur in old age when root surface becomes vulnerable. These caries are mostly formed in those mouths that have decreased salivary flow. Besides age, periodontal diseases and poor oral hygiene also lead to these cavities.

8. Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries) • Nursing Bottle Caries(Baby Bottle Tooth Decay):As the name suggests, these cavities occur in toddlers and infants. The underlying cause of these caries is the sugary liquids and starchy foods. By inculcating the habit of brushing in young children, these caries can be controlled. Do you know why dentists suggest to avoid the intake of sugary foods and drinks? The sugary items, actually, help bacteria in tooth decay. In presence of sugary substance, the bacteria produce acid which reduces the content of mineral and thus lead to demineralization of teeth.

9. Worst Dental Issue –Cancer Poor oral hygiene, smoking, bad eating habits, and prolonged dental issues can lead to oral cancer. To prevent it, dental care is significant. Following are some major symptoms and signs of cancer: • Irritations in mouth, lip, throat and formation of ulcer. • Presence of white and red patches in oral cavity • Soreness in throat Feeling that something is caught in throat. • Pain in ear/s without hearing loss • Difficulty in chewing food and swallowing. • Numbness in lower lip and/or tongue.

10. Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene Since dental hygiene prevents tooth decay, periodontal diseases and other oral issues, following are some suggestion to improve you oral hygiene: • Brush your teeth properly for, at least, 2 minutes and twice a day. It is highly recommended to brush teeth before going to bed. • Don’t brush roughly. Give gentle strokes on teeth. Precisely, make 45 degree angle between tooth surface and brush.

11. Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene • Brush your tongue as well and replace your tooth brush after every three months. • Use brushes that are suggested by your dentist and suit you. If you use soft brush, change it after a month or two. • Toothpastes that contain fluoride are more effective • Start with outer surface of upper teeth and then clean lower teeth.

12. Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene • Lubricate and moisturize lips and mucosa as required • Visit your dentist regularly, once in in every six months • Patients must tell their HIV status to their dentist/s • Develop the habit of flossing and floss after every meal. Also, be aware of low platelet count • Use an alcohol-free mouthwash

13. Dentist’s Responsibilities Dentists should encourage patients to regularly visit them. They must give them oral hygiene suggestions and should provide adequate palliative, preventive, rehabilitative and restorative services. Oral Health Care is crucial for overall health. By developing good eating habits, and regular brushing and flossing it is easier to achieve and maintain clean and healthy teeth and gums.

14. Contact Us Address: 4720 Peachtree Industrial Blvd Unit 2303, Norcross, Georgia 30071 Phone: 770- 807-8733 Mail: bldnorcross@gmail.com Website: www.BerkeleyLakeDental.com