Dental Care:
Tooth Care
- Good dental hygiene is essential in preserving your teeth for a lifetime. A basic routine includes brushing and flossing. Every side of the tooth and the gums should be kept clean. Healthy gums should not bleed when brushing or flossing.
Brushing
- Brush at least twice a day; once in the morning, after meals or before going to bed.
- Use a soft toothbrush. A hard one may scratch the enamel.
- Hold brush with bristles at an angle of 45 degrees against the gum line.
- Brush for at least 2 minutes to ensure thorough removal of plaque. Plaque is a thin, sticky layer of bacteria that must be removed daily or else it becomes a trouble-maker, leaving you with tooth decay and gum disease.
- Never press your brush hard on the teeth and gums. Be firm yet gentle.
- Practice systematic brushing strokes: start from top then proceed to the bottom. Do not ignore the gums.
- Change toothbrush when bristles are worn out.
Flossing
- With such a wide variety of floss available, there must be one suitable and comfortable for you to use.
- Flossing is definitely necessary because it can remove plaque from in between teeth and no toothbrush (for now?) can do that.
- Floss gently.
- If gums are weak and start to bleed just as you are flossing, do not stop, continue flossing. It should improve some days later, if not, do see a dentist.
Rinsing
- Another good way to get rid of those bacteria lingering between teeth and gums. Choose a rinse that is alcohol-free because alcohol dries the mouth.
Dentures
- Dentures collect plaque and food particles causing bad breath if they are not cleaned.
- Do not wear them to sleep at the end of the day. Let the gum tissues and the jaw bone that support the dentures have their rest.
- Avoid using dentures to bite hard foods such as bones, crab and lobster shells. They will break!
Braces
- Like dentures, braces also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Clean regularly with a normal soft toothbrush or an orthodontic toothbrush (if braces are not removable). Pay attention to those areas where the plastic touches the tooth surface.
- Cut food into smaller pieces before chewing. This exerts less pressure on braces.
- Avoid eating candies or foodstuff that is sticky and hard such as peanut butter, toffee, nuts and gum.
- If you experience pain or discomfort with your braces, go back to your dentist.
Fixes for teeth & mouth problems
BAD BREATH 
- Also called halitosis. Usually caused by food particles found in-between teeth, poor oral hygiene, stress and sulphur (forms a yellowish white film on the tongue). Good oral hygiene habits should settle this problem. If not, discuss with your dentist what other oral treatments are available at present.
CAVITIES
- Caused by acid producing bacteria and sugar attacking the tooth. The enamel is first dissolved away before the bacteria proceeds deeper into the tooth resulting in decay.
- The sensible thing to do in order to prevent cavities is to brush and floss after meals, or perhaps rinse. Keep away from sugary foods.
GINGIVITIS
- Caused by plaque, it makes gums swell and bleed.
- Gingivitis ranges from mild to more serious conditions. When faced with mild gingvitis, the practice of good oral hygiene will solve the problem. Severe gingivitis has been linked to menopause, leukemia, diabetes and premature births which calls for a dentist's attention.
- US researchers found that daily intakes of vitamin C (2000mg) and calcium (1000mg) promote healthy gums.
[ Owner Login ]