How to care for your Oral Cavity
The proper way to care for one’s teeth is to brush and floss daily, otherwise termed “One Thorough Plaque Removal Daily”. It must be understood that plaque is not food stuck to your teeth; it is actually a colony of bacteria that have glued themselves to your teeth. The bacteria are common to everyone’s oral environment, but when allowed to overpopulate, their excretory byproducts of acids and enzymes begin to digest your tissues along with your food. What you eat that contains carbohydrates provides the bacteria with their primary nutrients. So, this is not just colas, candy and sugars, but rice, potatoes, bread, fruits, anything that contains carbohydrates. Bacteria absorb these carbohydrates, digest them, and excrete their waste products in your mouth. The acid is concentrated hydrochloric acid. Usually, your saliva will neutralize this acid, but when plaque is adhered to the enamel or submerged beneath the gum tissues, the neutralization does not occur rapidly enough to prevent tissue destruction, i.e. cavities in teeth, gingivitis, or periodontal disease or tooth abscesses which lead to root canals or tooth loss. Furthermore, it has been scientifically shown that oral bacteria can penetrate through the oral tissues into internal body organs and systems and have been shown to be involved in the development if diabetes as well as heart disease. This is why “One Thorough Plaque Removal Daily” is mandatory. Flossing is the MOST EFFICIENT method of scraping plaque out from between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach, so developing the correct technique of flossing is critical. Seeking routine exams every six months at your Dentist’s office allows the Doctor and Dental Hygienist to evaluate your level of disease and to assist you in developing the skills and motivation to take care of yourself. Believe it or not, we truly believe flossing is critical and not just that boring speech you hear at the dental office. There are many brushes available, some of which have very specific purposes that your dental professional can direct, but for the most part, a medium hardness toothbrush is adequate for routine oral hygiene if adequate time and ideal technique are utilized. One trick for children is to give them a song to hum while brushing such as The ABC song or Happy Birthday song hummed twice. Little tricks work wonders. In children, parents MUST be involved in their brushing and flossing routine from the moment they are born until the child can demonstrate the dexterity and maturity to perform this critical, yet mundane task proficiently; this may be necessary until age 12 when their second permanent molars erupt. Even when children are beyond age 12 and are undergoing braces, it is imperative that parents take an active role in the discipline and motivation for these children to not allow poor technique to result in extensive decay.
