How Can I Maintain Healthy Teeth And Gums?

Teeth consist of a crown and root which is embedded in the jaw bone, the root is attached to the bone by many tiny fibres. The jaw bone is covered by soft gum tissue which acts like a cuff around the neck of the tooth. Tooth is composed of four dental tissues, three of them are hard: enamel dentin, cementum, and the fourth tissue which is soft pulp localized in the centre of the tooth, contains nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissues.

Dental caries are the most common form of oral disease known to man, and the process of getting caries is called tooth decay.  When you eat or drink foods or beverages containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel, over time the enamel can break down and the dentin will be exposed.

To ensure you have healthy teeth and gums

• Brush your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. This helps remove the food and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Scrub your tongue too, since it can harbour bacteria. Using an electric tooth brush will help you to clean more your teeth; don’t forget to change your toothbrush regularly as the bristles are considered as a bacteria holders.
• Floss at least once a day it will help you to remove the plaque and food that’s beyond your toothbrush reaches.
• During your routine checkup, your dental hygienist can apply a thin coat of fluoride varnish to your teeth after the cleaning portion of your visit is completed. This varnish contains a concentrated form of fluoride, which when left on for an hour is incorporated into the surface of your teeth, making the enamel and exposed root surfaces more resistant to the acid attack from plaque.
• Application of pit and fissure sealants by your dentist, a hard plastic material applied to seal the grooves and pits when the teeth have erupted, can prevent this type of dental caries.
• Get your regular dental check-up, and visit your hygienist for a cleaning.