The Care and Feeding of the Mouth
Perhaps the most requested and beneficial thing we do in our office is to show people how to care for their teeth and gums, and yet it’s sometimes surprising when we come across someone that has never learned these things. So let’s give the subject a quick once-over.
BRUSHING: This is the most basic and effective of oral care methods, but a quick once-over won’t do the job in this department. Three whole minutes (four for braces) is longer than you realize, so check the clock to get a better feel for that length. That will give you enough time to clean every aspect of the teeth, the outside and inside as well as the top, angling the bristles toward the gum and using a circular scrubbing motion. A rotary brush works much better and some, like the Rotadent, have an orthodontic tip for those with braces.
Unfortunately, too many people think that’s all they need, but brushing alone is usually not enough to ward off gum disease, which is way more dangerous than cavities.
FLOSSING, ETC: I’m listing these activities in order of decreasing importance, but flossing is a very close second. Don’t underestimate it because it could literally be a matter of life and death for those with a tendency for gum disease. Flossing could add years to your life expectancy by preventing secondary infections that could affect your heart and cause strokes. Work the floss back and forth so it gently passes between the teeth and doesn’t snap into the gum, injuring it. Then you wrap it against one tooth and floss back and forth, going under the gum as far as you can without feeling any pain, and then you do the same thing against the other tooth. Continue between all the teeth including behind the last teeth. In some cases, there are fixed bridges or orthodontic wires that prevent the floss from going between the teeth, so you have to use floss threaders or plastic-tipped floss like Superfloss to go underneath. When you first begin flossing, you may experience some bleeding, but don’t be discouraged. That will go away as the gums heal. The etc. refers to cleaning aids you work in between your teeth, like toothpicks, stimudents and proxabrushes. Those are great, but just be gentle.
DENTAL CLEANINGS: You notice this is all the way down to third on the list. As important as regular cleanings are, good home care is by far the most effective means of preventing decay and gum disease. But no matter how good a job you do, tarter will still form on your teeth, and that’s nothing but a housing project for bacteria. So dental cleanings top off that 1-2-3 punch called dental hygiene. If it’s been a while, you may need more than one visit to get all the tartar off, but then regularly scheduled cleanings will prevent any further gum damage. Also, there is a tendency to think that if you are seeing an orthodontist regularly for braces, you’re covered in the dental department, but it’s actually even more important to see your general dentist for periodic cleanings.
DIET: You know the drill (no pun intended). Sugar is the thing to avoid. That is what feeds the bacteria that cause decay and gum disease, especially if it’s in a form that is sticky or liquid, like candy or soda. If you go sugarless, it is very important to avoid toxic sweeteners like aspartame, also sold as NutraSweet and sucralose, also sold as Splenda. Xylitol is an excellent natural sugar made from berries. It’s good for diabetics, and it actually prevents decay and gum disease. It’s manufactured by a company called Xlear. Chewing gum has a natural cleansing action. Don’t chew it for more than ten minutes at a time, however, because it can stress the supporting structures of the teeth and jaws. Also, almost all brands contain sugar and/or aspartame except Spry gum, which contains xylitol. That’s also made by Xlear, and is sold at Valley Nutrition health food store. It’s the only kind you should chew.
You notice we didn’t talk about mouthwash. It’s not only unecessary, the alcohol in it can actually harm your white fillings and your children if they swallow it.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, September 2007
Tags: aspartame, bacteria, brushing, cavities, dental cleanings, dental hygiene, fixed bridges, floss threaders, flossing, gum disease, mouthwash, NutraSweet, orthodontic wires, orthodontist, Rotadent, Splenda, sucralose, tarter, Xlear, Xylitol
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