Tips to Improve Oral Health

Oral cavity refers to the mouth and consists of lips, the lining inside the lips and cheeks, tongue, gums, floor of the mouth ,the hard and soft palates, salivary glands and of course the teeth. When we say oral health, it encompasses the health of all the previously mentioned parts. Oral health care is of paramount importance because without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels which will cause not only local oral infections but systemic infections as well..Teeth care tipsThere are many ways to take care of your oral hygiene from early childhood to old age. To simplify the process let us go as per the age criteria1) Early childhoodDental care should begin as soon as the child's first tooth pops, that is around 6 months of age. The newly erupted tooth should be cleaned with a soft muslin cloth or a very soft brush. A condition known as “nursing bottle caries “is found in children caused by not cleaning the milk teeth post feeding of milk, hence it is very important to clean the teeth with a soft cloth or soft infant brush after feeding the child even if it is just milk.By the age of two and half years all the milk teeth erupt. Brushing twice a day with a child friendly tooth paste must be encouraged at this stage. Parent supervision is a must as the child is too small to brush correctly on his own.2) Age 6Permanent molars erupt at this age. They can be protected early on by “sealants”. A thin layer of sealant put on the pits and fissures on the teeth, by the dental expert will save the teeth from decay. Children must be taught the proper brushing technique and mouth rinsing after meals must be followed. Brushing twice a day must be emphasised.3) Age 7 to 16This is the age of mixed dentition when the mouth has both milk and permanent teeth. The care here should be on proper flossing as most of the time there is crowding of teeth which leads to improper cleaning by brushing only using floss is required to clean between the teeth. Correct flossing technique should be learnt from a dental specialist.Another important point is use of fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride application can also be done by your dental professional in the dental clinic. Care should be taken to use an appropriate amount of fluoride, as excess fluoride can cause white spots on teeth.Children undergoing orthodontic treatment should strictly follow the instructions given by your orthodontist. It is very imperative at this stage to take good care of the oral cavity. Along with brushing twice, using proper brushing technique, flossing and frequent rinsing of mouth with water, a dentist recommended mouth wash should be used. An orthodontic tooth brush is a great tool to clean the teeth; it cleans the inter-dental area properly. Your doctor may recommend scaling in case of calculus and tartar deposition on teeth.4) Age 17 and adultsThe wisdom teeth erupt after the age of 18 years. Regular dental check-ups at 6 monthly intervals is recommended. Regular scaling and polishing of teeth will clean the teeth thoroughly along with the gums. Rinsing with lukewarm water mixed with salt, especially at night works towards reducing unwanted bacteria in the mouth and also reduces inflammation. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouth wash is recommended in case of decay and gum problems.Chewing sugar free gum after meals can also protect by increasing the flow of saliva, which naturally washes off the bacteria and neutralises acids. Dry mouth is an invitation to caries. Do not smoke or use tobacco in any form as it not only stains the teeth but also significantly increases the risk of oral cancer and gum disease.Gum care tipsGum care is an important part of maintaining overall health. Here are a few points on how to keep gums healthy.1) Regular flossingFlossing after brushing helps in cleaning the food particles and plaque which stick between the teeth, which a brush cannot clean..2) Regular scaling and polishing of teethThe area just below the gum line and the tight spaces between the teeth are susceptible to plaque formation. Plaque can build up and turn into tartar, which on calcification becomes calculus and is impossible to clean at home. Scaling and deep cleaning of gums takes care of the calculus deposits in turn making the gums healthy by removing the focus of infection.3) Using therapeutic mouth washMany over the counter mouth washes are available at the medical stores. Choose according to your oral hygiene needs under the advice of a dental professional. Mouth washes can help to prevent or reduce plaque formation, gingivitis or a combination of both. Warm water mixed with salt can be used as a mouth rinse it works as an antiseptic agent reducing bacteria and infections.4) Brush twice a dayAs mentioned earlier brushing twice a day keeps not only your teeth but your gums clean as well. Use a medium or soft bristled brush. Never use a hard brush it may harm your teeth and injure your gums. Brush should be changed after every 3 months or earlier if the bristles no longer seem straight but wide spread.5) Quit smokingSmoking is associated with onset of gum disease. Smoking affects the immune system making you vulnerable to not only gum infections but also delays healing in case of gum injury.6) Massage your gums after brushingMassaging of gums post brushing ensures gum health. You can massage with your finger. Most of the Indian households have “ghee” which works wonders on gums.Massaging with ghee helps in healing of irritations, abrasions and ulcers also to an extent. It also soothes the gums.Tongue care tipsWe often overlook the health of our tongue. Tongue helps you to speak, chew, swallow and of course taste the food you eat.Tongue is also a home to a majority of the bacteria that live in our mouth. Tongue can be cared for by the following habits.1) Brush your tongueEvery time after brushing your teeth you should brush your tongue with the brush and a little paste. Brush from in to out of the mouth. Use gentle pressure or you might injure the tongue. Rinse later with water.Use a soft brush or a specific tongue cleaning brush.This helps in removing odour causing bacteria from the mouth.2) Tongue scraperThis helps to clean the tongue more thoroughly. It removes the mucus layer that resides on the middle of the tongue. After each swipe wash the scraper with warm water to remove the bacteria.Clean gently using light pressure.3) WaterDrink plenty of water and keep mouth hydrated at all times. Water helps in washing away bacteria and food debris from the tongue. 4) Regularly monitor tongue colour and textureA healthy tongue is light pink in colour. A slight white coating may be present.Change in colour and texture is an indication of an underlying health problem.For example a thick white coating may be oral thrush, or a pale tongue indicates a vitamin deficiency etc.If you notice any abnormal colouring it is better to consult a doctor.Soft tissues and palate care tipsRegular brushing of teeth and tongue, rinsing of mouth after meals, regular consumption of water and avoiding injuries will ensure a healthy palate and oral mucosa.Diet tipsDiet and when we eat play a very important role in oral well being.Changes in our mouth start the minute we eat anything, the ph balance of our mouth changes in accordance with what we eat. Eating healthy food is important.1) Calcium and phosphorousFoods like spinach, broccoli, cheese, chicken, nuts and milk are rich in calcium and phosphorous, which are in turn thought to make the enamel strong, thus protecting teeth from decay. These minerals also help in remineralisation of teeth, stopping further decay.2) Crunchy fruits and vegetablesThese foods have a high water content thereby helping in diluting the acids in the mouth and stimulating salivary flow thus helping in stopping decay causing bacteria.3) Citrus fruits and vegetablesCitrus food items like lemon and tomatoes are rich in vitamin c, which helps boost our immune system and boosts healing process. Only these foods should be eaten as a part of a larger meal and not in isolation because of their acidic nature.4) Foods to avoidFoods high in sugars and starches like candy, cakes, cookies, chocolates, potato chips etc. stick to the teeth and act as food for the bacteria and help in causing dental decay. Also avoid sugary beverages and drinks as they expose your teeth to decay causing bacteria.5) Sugar free productsSugarless foods or sugar free foods are a good choice. Eating sugar free chewing gum after meals lowers risk of caries. Avoid in case of jaw pain or other jaw issues..1) Avoid in between meal snackingIf you must snack, choose nutritious foods like plain yogurt, crunchy fruit or nuts.2) Drink plenty of waterWater is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 per cent of your body weight. Your body depends on water to survive. You should drink at least 3 litres every day.. Interactions with medicationsMany medicines cause dry mouth as a side effect , thus increasing risk of oral diseases and infections. If such a problem is encountered a change in prescription is recommended. Saliva like oral mouth washes is also available.Electric tooth brushFor people with limited manual dexterity or in case of difficulty in reaching posterior teeth an electric tooth brush is recommended. Brush head should be changed every 3 months or when it becomes deterioratedCommon ailments1) The most common oral disease is dental caries. Nearly 100 per cent of the adults have at least one cavity.2) Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums, may cause bleeding and redness in the gums.3) Periodontitis or inflammation of the periodontal i.e. tissues around the teeth.4) Bruxism or grinding of teeth5) Wisdom teeth problems.To concludeOral health has an overall impact on the systemic health of an individual. Therefore it is very important to maintain good oral hygiene to live a healthy life. Nearly ninety per cent of the diseases can cause symptoms in your mouth. A dentist becomes paramount in spotting serious health conditions forming silently in your body. Therefore regular oral check-ups are recommended. We should start practising good oral habits at the earliest.Dr Shweta Savanur is a Consulting Dentist in Pune