Dental Articles
Can periodontal disease be prevented?
The best way to prevent periodontal disease is a program of good dental hygiene throughout your entire life. Brush your teeth at least twice daily; in the morning and evening, and floss at least once a day. Better still is to brush after every meal or snack or as your dentist recommends. Floss before you brush to clean away the loosened food particles and bacteria. Choose the right toothbrush: Select a toothbrush with soft bristles, as stiff or hard bristles can injure your gums. Only the tips of the brush do the cleaning, so there's no need to exert too much pressure. Replace your brush every three to four months, or if the bristles are splayed.
Some dentists recommend electric toothbrushes with rotating or vibrating bristles because they may be more effective at removing plaque and maintaining healthy gum tissue. Electric brushes may be especially helpful for people with dexterity problems. But you don't have to invest a lot of money to achieve good oral health, since a manual toothbrush will give good results if used properly.
Brush your teeth well: Brushing doesn't do much good if you don't do it correctly. Clean the outer surfaces of your teeth and gums, using short, side-to-side, then up-and-down strokes. Use vertical strokes to clean inner surfaces. To clean the junction between your teeth and gums, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. Flossing: This is the part of oral care that most people tend to ignore.
Flossing is a tedious task, which is why most dentists comment that their patients don't floss regularly. However, flossing is an essential part of good oral care. How to use floss: Hold about 14 inches of the floss and bent around each tooth, scraping up and down each side of each tooth and go slightly below your gum-line until you feel resistance. Flossing removes plaque between your teeth and also helps massage your gums.
Brushing action: Some toothpastes claim to remove plaque and tartar or to kill the bacteria that cause plaque. The truth is that all toothpastes, including natural ones without additives of any kind, remove plaque if you brush properly. No product can remove tartar below your gum-line, although tartar control toothpastes can help prevent tartar from building up on your teeth.
Eat a healthy diet: To help protect your teeth and gums, eat a well-balanced diet containing plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. A potent antioxidant and major player in the synthesis of collagen is vitamin C, which is essential for healthy gums. Many fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, berries, melons, broccoli and spinach, are sources of vitamin C, and most natural foods stores and pharmacies carry vitamin C supplements. Calcium is essential for bone health, and experts recommend getting 1-2 grams every day.