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Health Tips
Oral
Facts:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- The burden of oral diseases is spread unevenly throughout the population. Many more poor people and some racial/ethnic minority groups have untreated oral disease than does the population as a whole.
- Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases - 5 times as common as asthma and 7 times as common as hay fever in 5-to-17-year-olds.
- 18 percent of 2-to-4-year-old children have experienced tooth decay, and 16 percent have untreated decay.
- Among adults aged 35 to 44 years, 69 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth.
- Among adults aged 65 to 74, 26 percent have lost all their natural teeth.
- In the U.S., 30,000 people are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer each year, and 8,000 die of these cancers.
- Mouth and throat cancers are the sixth most common cancers in U.S. males and the fourth most common in African American men.
- More than 108 million Americans do not have dental insurance. For every child without medical insurance, there are 2.6 without dental insurance; for every adult without medical insurance, three are without dental insurance.
What is plaque?
American Dental Association
Many of the foods you eat (sugared foods and starches) cause the bacteria in your mouth to produce acids. If you snack often, you could be having acid attacks all day long. After many acid attacks, your teeth may decay. Plaque also produces substances that irritate the gums, making them red, tender or bleed easily. After a while, gums may pull away from the teeth. Pockets form and fill with more bacteria and pus. If the gums are not treated, the bone around the teeth can be destroyed. The teeth may become loose or have to be removed. In fact, gum disease is a main cause of tooth loss in adults.
One way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease is by eating a balanced diet and limiting the number of between-meal snacks. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit.
What is daily oral health care?
American Dental Association
The best way to remove decay-causing plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth everyday. Brush your teeth twice a day, with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth, allowing you to reach all areas easily. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. When choosing any dental product, look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, an important symbol of a dental product's safety and effectiveness.
Cleaning between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners removes plaque from between the teeth, areas where the toothbrush can't reach. It is essential in preventing gum disease.
How do I brush my teeth?
American Dental Association
- Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
- Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
- Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Use the "toe" of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
National Institute on Aging
Some people (with arthritis or other conditions that limit motion) may find it hard to hold a toothbrush. To overcome this, the toothbrush handle can be attached to the hand with a wide elastic band or may be enlarged by attaching it to a sponge, styrofoam ball, or similar object. People with limited shoulder movement may find brushing easier if the handle of the brush is lengthened by attaching a long piece of wood or plastic. Electric toothbrushes are helpful to many.
How do I floss my teeth?
American Dental Association
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
- Don't forget the back side of your last tooth.
People who have difficulty handling dental floss may prefer to use another kind of interdental cleaner. These aids include special brushes, picks or sticks. If you use interdental cleaners, ask your dentist about how to use them properly, to avoid injuring your gums.
How Much Toothpaste Is Enough?
American Dental Association
In spite of what many people believe, it's not so much the toothpaste that cleans your teeth. It's the effort that you put behind your toothbrush. All children need is a small amount of toothpaste -- the size of a pea or the size of the nail on their little finger. The amount of toothpaste recommended for adults is just enough to cover the length of the bristles on your toothbrush.
Conditions of the Mouth
National Institute on Aging
Tooth Decay (Cavities)
Tooth decay is not just a children's disease; it can happen as long as natural teeth are in the mouth. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that normally live in the mouth. The bacteria cling to teeth and form a sticky, colorless film called dental plaque. The bacteria in plaque live on sugars and produce decay causing acids that dissolve minerals on tooth surfaces. Tooth decay can also develop on the exposed roots of the teeth if you have gum disease or receding gums (where gums pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots).
Just as with children, fluoride is important for adult teeth. Research has shown that adding fluoride to the water supply is the best and least costly way to prevent tooth decay. In addition, using fluoride toothpastes and mouthrinses can add protection. Daily fluoride rinses can be bought at most drug stores without a prescription. If you have a problem with cavities, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during the office visit. The dentist may prescribe a fluoride gel or mouthrinse for you to use at home.
Gum (Periodontal) Disease
A common cause of tooth loss after age 35 is gum (periodontal) disease. These are infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. Gum diseases are also caused by dental plaque. The bacteria in plaque causes the gums to become inflamed and bleed easily. If left untreated, the disease gets worse as pockets of infection form between the teeth and gums. This causes receding gums and loss of supporting bone. You may lose enough bone to cause your teeth to become loose and fall out.
You can prevent gum disease by removing plaque. Thoroughly brush and floss your teeth each day. Carefully check your mouth for early signs of disease such as red, swollen, or bleeding gums. See your dentist regularly every 6-12 months - or at once if these signs are present.
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
This condition is common in many adults and may make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and speak. The condition happens when salivary glands fail to work properly as a result of various diseases or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the head and neck area. Dry mouth is also a side effect of more than 400 commonly used medicines, including drugs for high blood pressure, antidepressants, and antihistamines. Dry mouth can affect oral health by adding to tooth decay and infection.
Until recently, dry mouth was regarded as a normal part of aging. We now know that healthy older adults produce as much saliva as younger adults. So, if you think you have dry mouth, talk with your dentist or doctor. To relieve the dryness, drink extra water and avoid sugary snacks, beverages with caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol - all of which increase dryness in the mouth.
Oral cancer (mouth cancer)
This disease most often occurs in people over age 40. The disease frequently goes unnoticed in its early, curable stages. This is true in part because many older people, particularly those wearing full dentures, do not visit their dentists often enough and because pain is usually not an early symptom of the disease. People who smoke cigarettes, use other tobacco products, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol are at increased risk for oral cancer.
It is important to spot oral cancer as early as possible, since treatment works best before the disease has spread. If you notice any red or white patches on the gums or tongue, sores that do not heal within 2 weeks, or if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing, be sure to see a dentist. A head and neck exam, which should be a part of every dental check-up, will allow your dentist to detect early signs of oral cancer.
Bad Breath
drkoop.com
Most adults and many children have unexplained bouts of bad breath -- also known as halitosis -- apart from the well-known effects of coffee, alcohol, and highly spiced or strong-smelling foods such as garlic and onions. Usually it's no cause for alarm, but it can be a sign of another health problem, such as gum disease, tooth decay, sinusitis or tonsillitis. Bacteria, often mixed with food bits and saliva to form a foul-smelling film on teeth called plaque, usually causes bad breath. Smoking is a major culprit, too. A dry mouth also contributes to the problem, causing the familiar "morning breath." Simply not drinking enough water during the day can aggravate the condition, as can some medications, including diuretics, tranquilizers and antihistamines.
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