How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy?- by Dr Nidhi Parhar

The mouth is made up of more than just teeth. So good oral hygiene goes beyond simply brushing and flossing. Taking care of your teeth at home can help you maintain your dental health and prevent periodontal or gum disease. Please remember your dentist is only a partner in your dental health. You need to do your part at home to maintain your dental health.

Home Care Measures  include:-

1.       Spend at least three minutes brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Use a timer to ensure you are actually spending three minutes.

2.       Use a floss at least once a day everyday to clean between your teeth.

The goal is to combat the build up of plaque in and around the teeth and gums; to fight bad breath, tooth decay and gum diseases. Poor oral health invites plaque to accumulate around the base of the teeth and gum line causing gums to become red and inflamed. This, if not cleaned or treated, would lead to the development of empty spaces around your teeth which would eventually lead to the destruction of bone and fragile tissues supporting the teeth, leading to loosening and finally loss of teeth. Also due to the deposition of plaque the germs in that thin film produces acid to digest the food stuck to the teeth, causing destruction of the tooth structure and hence decay.

Neglecting your oral health does not just lead to bad breath, painful teeth and inflamed gums but can also lead to various other health problems. Poor oral hygiene has been linked with heart disease, stroke, problems during pregnancy and even certain cancers.

Things to avoid

1.       Sugary Foods: bacteria thrive in sugary environment hence causing tooth decay and gum problems

2.       Smoking and drinking: tobacco problems are known to cause gum problems, tooth decay and cancers of mouth and throat. Smoke from tobacco has a toxic effect on gums and decreases the blood flow of to the area. The effect gets compounded with increased alcohol consumption.

3.       Medications  :  There are many drugs available over the counter that have harmful effects on the oral tissues like dry mouth and enlargement of gums. A dry mouth is more prone to bad breath, tooth decay and gum diseases.

4.       Aerated drinks:  These drinks not only have high sugar content but also cause extensive damage because of the acidic nature.

Healthy Food for Healthy Teeth

1.       Milk and milk products :  Calcium is vital for our bones and teeth. When a diet is low in calcium the body leeches mineral from teeth and bones, decreasing the resistance to decay and gum diseases. The the jawbone is particularly susceptible to effects of low calcium. Though milk is the best source of calcium, it also has an inherent sugar content. Drinking milk is good for teeth and bones. However it becomes very important to brush or atleast rinse after drinking it. After ensure to brush before sleeping. Given to a child in a bottle before sleeping can lead to extensive damage in the form of nursing bottle caries as it sticks to the teeth the whole night giving the germs a haven for the whole night.

2.       Foods rich in vitamin C: Vitamin C helps to repair connective tissue and help the body fight off infection.  Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to swelling in the gums and they start to bleed easily. Citrus fruits and kiwi are good sources of vit. C.

3.       Green Tea:  Certain teas contain polyphenols which can actually clean plaque from teeth. The compounds in black tea are known to destroy or suppress the growth of cavity causing bacteria. However, tea can be acidic and needs to be taken carefully. Tea , itself, can stain the teeth.

4.       Fruits and Vegetables: Crunchy fruits and vegetables act as cleaning agents on teeth by wiping away the bacteria stuck to the teeth. Also these foods require a lot of chewing, which increase the production of bacteria neutralizing saliva.

5.       Water: Water helps to rinse away both bacteria and remnants of food stuck to the teeth.

Visit Your Dentist

Regular visit to your dentist is the key to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Dentist is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of health needs. It is recommended  to visit  your dentist at twice a year for:-

1.       Early detection of tooth decay:  Decay if detected early can be managed easily. However once the caries progresses treatment becomes more extensive.

2.       Cleaning of teeth: Despite home care measures, the plaque and calculus tends to deposit, causing cavities and gum diseases. So regular cleaning can prevent these problems.

3. Timely detection of some serious diseases

Ignoring dental problems allows them to spread and become more serious. Dental  diseases are suspected to contribute in heart diseases, stroke, pregnancy problems etc. So keep your teeth healthy to stay healthy.

(Author is a Jalandhar based Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon)