subject: Maintaining Healthy Teeth And Gums [print this page] A strict oral hygiene program needs to be adhered to in order to remove plaque and tartar from teeth which will prevent gum disease, gingivitis and tooth decay. A Nashville dentist stated that tooth decay and gum disease causes eighty percent of adults tooth loss. Over the years there has been a variety of oral hygiene protocols used for cleaning teeth from alternative measure to modern measures.
Nashville dentists recommend that the teeth need to be maintained and cleaned professionally every six months. This type of cleaning includes scaling and polishing and if there is an excessive tartar build up debridement may be needed. Both adults and children will have a fluoride treatment after the cleaning is completed.
The Nashville dentist will then advise patients on the essentials of oral hygiene which will prevent tartar build up and gum disease such as using a soft toothbrush and while brushing use circular movements as well as flossing which will remove any leftover food that has lodged between the teeth and gums which prevents the accumulation of dental plaque.
Dental plaque is a major cause of tooth decay, toothache and periodontal disease as plaque is a sticky film that resides on the teeth and gums. The tooth enamel is attacked by the bacteria which release an acid and when there is a constant build up of dental plaque tooth decay will set in. By brushing and flossing daily dental plaque build-up can be prevented.
Your Nashville dentist will tell you that by eating a balanced diet and limit snacking one can prevent tooth decay and periodontal gum disease. Nutritious foods such as plain yoghurt, cheese, fruit and raw vegetables are excellent snack foods. The dentist further explains that a build up of plaque causes gum irritation and in some instances the gums retract from the teeth which eventually causes bone loss and the teeth become loose and may have to be removed.
When it comes to flossing teeth which is an important element of oral hygiene Nashville dentists prefer the use of inter-dental brushes as opposed to dental floss as these are far gentler on the gums and causes less tissue damage. One first needs to clean between the teeth before brushing as this creates easy access for the saliva fluoride mix to re-mineralize any de-mineralized teeth.
However not only is it important to floss and brush the teeth but part of the cleaning involves cleaning of the tongue which is essential as a tongue that is coated with bacteria causes bad breath as well as fungi and dead cells. Tongue cleaning removes most of the bacteria species which could cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Nashville dentists also recommend massaging the gums and this can be done wither with the bristles of your toothbrush or else one can use a small hand towel to massage the gums as this stimulates the blood circulation and prevents gum disease as well as receding gums from occurring which ultimately prevents cavities between the teeth.
