Oral care consists of taking care of your teeth and gums. Another term for it is dental hygiene. A preventive care regimen helps you to avoid painful and costly problems, maintain your ability to eat all types of foods and preserve an attractive appearance. And its benefits extend beyond your mouth to your general health.
Home Care
Brushing and flossing are the cornerstones of oral self-care. For best results, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and use gentle strokes of about one tooth-width, the Academy of General Dentistry recommends. Remember to brush the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of every tooth. For between the teeth, you need floss. Hold it taut and gently rub the sides of each tooth, including the area slightly below the gum line. These habits help to get rid of plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth after you eat.
Professional Care
Even diligent brushing and flossing is not sufficient for a complete oral care plan, because they alone cannot eliminate all plaque. You need regular care by a professional because some plaque accumulates in places that are hard or impossible to reach, according to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. Over time, the plaque turns into calculus, a hard substance that is also known as tartar and which you cannot remove yourself. A dentist or dental hygienist can clean the teeth and scrape away calculus. The professional will also provide a thorough exam and offer treatment for any problems that may have developed since your last visit.
Risks
Without routine oral care, you are at risk for two major problems: tooth decay and gum disease. Decay occurs when food and bacteria combine to form acids, according to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. It can require treatment such as fillings, root canals or tooth extraction. Even more serious is periodontitis, where the gum tissue becomes infected and inflamed. The result can be loss of bone tissue and, eventually, the teeth. Gum disease also shows links with heart disease, possibly due to bacteria entering the bloodstream and contributing to clot formation, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.
Time Frame
You should brush your teeth a minimum of twice per day using a fluoride toothpaste, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. You should floss at least once a day. As for dental checkups and cleanings, a guideline is twice a year, though more frequent visits may be necessary depending on your particular situation, according to the American Dental Association. Children should begin seeing a dentist starting at age 1.
Misconception
Some parents think caring for their children's baby teeth is not important since those teeth are not permanent, notes the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. In fact, oral care is as important in children as it is in adults. The baby teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth. If they fall out early, the child may end up with a poorly aligned bite when the adult teeth grow in. Additionally, the baby teeth help the child chew and speak properly.
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