Know Your Teeth - Oral Hygiene and Dental Care.

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ORAL HYGIENE AND DENTAL CARE
Know Your Teeth
Behind every bright and beautiful smile are
strong teeth and lots of dental hygiene and care.
However, this pretty smile of yours lasts until
your teeth and gums are healthy. Once you stop
paying heed to your oral health, a number of
dental issues arise which have direct and
indirect impacts on your overall health. Did you
know this?
Although there is a solution and treatment for
almost every dental problem, but it is important
to know the causes of dental infections and ways
to overcome them.
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Enemies of Your Teeth
It all starts with colonization of bacteria
around your teeth, also called Plaque. The
yellowish sticky layer developed around your
teeth is the main cause of gum diseases and
cavities. Brushing teeth can help, but its
effects last for 2-3 hours only, and plaque
formation begins again. Dentists, therefore,
recommend flossing along with brushing because it
removes plaque bacteria formed under the gum
line, which is stubborn against a tooth brush.
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Enemies of Your Teeth
Flossing, however, is useful in other ways too,
which are as follows

• It delays the effects of aging by adding 6.4
  years to your life expectancy

• It protects your teeth by minimizing the chances
  of infectious diseases

Nevertheless, if you have the habit of smoking,
even regular flossing may not be effective. It is
because smoking strongly and negatively affects
gums and teeth and overall health. It has also
been found that smoking leads to more than half
of all cases of gum diseases.
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Oral Healths Connection to Overall Health
Will it surprise you if you find that 90 of
systemic diseases have links to oral
health? Well, it is true. Oral health issues and
diseases, particularly periodontal diseases, have
direct or indirect effects on other organs and
tissues of the human body. Appalling, isnt it?
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Oral Healths Connection to Overall Health
Also, periodontal diseases should not be taken
lightly because they lead to following health
problems

• Periodontal diseases increase the risk of fatal
  heart attack

• Periodontal infections cause respiratory
  infections

• If a person has diabetes, periodontal diseases
  make it difficult to control blood sugar level

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Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries)
When the outer layers of your teeth dissolve,
they lead to cavities. As stated earlier, it all
begins with plaque. The formation and dwelling of
bacteria make cavities or caries in your mouth,
but do you know the types of cavities?
Different types of cavities are formed in our
mouth. Main types are

• Pit and Fissure Caries Often the tooth anatomy
  is such that it gets difficult to clean deep and
  parted pits and fissure on the tooth surface.
  Negligence may exacerbate these cavities, but use
  of dental sealants is effective in minimizing the
  occurrence of these caries.

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Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries)

• Smooth Surface Caries Some cavities initiate on
  the smooth surface of your teeth. These are
  smooth surface caries. These caries progress
  because of the bacteria present inside the enamel
  matrix of white spot lesions. Fluorides may kill
  the bacteria, but patients behavior and correct
  use of the topical fluorides gets critical.

• Cervical Caries Also called Root-Surface Caries,
  they decay rapidly. These caries occur in old age
  when root surface becomes vulnerable. These
  caries are mostly formed in those mouths that
  have decreased salivary flow. Besides age,
  periodontal diseases and poor oral hygiene also
  lead to these cavities.

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Tooth Decay and Types of Cavities (Caries)

• Nursing Bottle Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)
  As the name suggests, these cavities occur in
  toddlers and infants. The underlying cause of
  these caries is the sugary liquids and starchy
  foods. By inculcating the habit of brushing in
  young children, these caries can be controlled.

Do you know why dentists suggest to avoid the
intake of sugary foods and drinks?
The sugary items, actually, help bacteria in
tooth decay. In presence of sugary substance, the
bacteria produce acid which reduces the content
of mineral and thus lead to demineralization of
teeth.
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Worst Dental Issue Cancer
Poor oral hygiene, smoking, bad eating habits,
and prolonged dental issues can lead to oral
cancer. To prevent it, dental care is
significant. Following are some major symptoms
and signs of cancer

• Irritations in mouth, lip, throat and formation
  of ulcer.
• Presence of white and red patches in oral cavity
• Soreness in throat Feeling that something is
  caught in throat.
• Pain in ear/s without hearing loss
• Difficulty in chewing food and swallowing.
• Numbness in lower lip and/or tongue.

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Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene
Since dental hygiene prevents tooth decay,
periodontal diseases and other oral issues,
following are some suggestion to improve you oral
hygiene

• Brush your teeth properly for, at least, 2
  minutes and twice a day. It is highly recommended
  to brush teeth before going to bed.
•  
• Dont brush roughly. Give gentle strokes on
  teeth. Precisely, make 45 degree angle between
  tooth surface and brush.

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Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene

• Brush your tongue as well and replace your tooth
  brush after every three months.
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• Use brushes that are suggested by your dentist
  and suit you. If you use soft brush, change it
  after a month or two.
• Toothpastes that contain fluoride are more
  effective
• Start with outer surface of upper teeth and then
  clean lower teeth.

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Tips to Maintain Oral Hygiene

• Lubricate and moisturize lips and mucosa as
  required
•  
• Visit your dentist regularly, once in in every
  six months
•  
• Patients must tell their HIV status to their
  dentist/s
• Develop the habit of flossing and floss after
  every meal. Also, be aware of low platelet count
•  
• Use an alcohol-free mouthwash

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Dentists Responsibilities
Dentists should encourage patients to regularly
visit them. They must give them oral hygiene
suggestions and should provide adequate
palliative, preventive, rehabilitative and
restorative services.
Oral Health Care is crucial for overall health.
By developing good eating habits, and regular
brushing and flossing it is easier to achieve and
maintain clean and healthy teeth and gums.
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Contact Us
Address
4720 Peachtree Industrial Blvd Unit 2303,
Norcross, Georgia 30071
Phone
770- 807-8733
Mail
bldnorcross_at_gmail.com
Website
www.BerkeleyLakeDental.com