Prevention is always the best medicine, although a healthy routine is sometimes difficult to adopt. Here's a quick review of good preventive dental habits:

Brushing Your Teeth

It is extremely important that you brush after every meal to prevent the build-up of plaque. Plaque is a sticky bacterial substance that forms on the teeth. Plaque mixes with the sugars inside the mouth, forming strong acids that cause tooth decay.

When teeth are not properly brushed, plaque builds up on the surfaces of the teeth and irritates the gums. If this condition is left untreated, the gums will respond by pulling away from the teeth, leaving pockets that contain bacteria and pus that irritate and destroy the bone that hold the teeth in place. Eventually, the bone loss can become severe and no longer support the teeth.

Tooth decay and gum disease are easily preventable by brushing, flossing, proper nutrition and visiting your dentist once every six months for a professional cleaning and examination.

How to brush correctly:

1.  Begin with a good quality toothbrush. Generally, an angled brush with soft bristles is most likely to be recommended by dentists.

2.  Remember that you must brush each tooth inside and out. Start by using some of your favorite toothpaste and brush in an organized pattern.

3.  The back teeth are most often missed, so start there on the outside surfaces of the teeth and work forward around to the opposite side of the mouth. Use a short circular motion making sure the brush makes contact with both the teeth and the gum line.

4.  For the front teeth, position the bristles at a 45-degree angle and brush in a small circular motion.

5.  Make sure you brush the top surface of your tongue. This helps in fighting bad breath bacteria. A tongue-scraper may also be used to remove oral bacteria.

6.  Finally, rinse with water or your favorite mouthwash.

Choosing the right toothbrush

Choosing an effective toothbrush is the first step in obtaining maximum brushing results. There are many shapes and styles of brushes, from the standard manual toothbrush to electric toothbrushes.

Regardless of the type of toothbrush you choose, the general rule of thumb is to choose a toothbrush that has an angled head and soft bristles.

The toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. In the case of the electric toothbrush, you can simply replace the head, which contains the soft bristles.

Please keep in mind that simply brushing your teeth is not as effective at removing plaque and tartar as the brushing and flossing combination.

Additionally, it is essential that you have a professional cleaning and checkup every six months.

Flossing Your Teeth

Brushing simply doesn't reach all of the tooth surfaces. Specifically, it misses the proximal surfaces (between the teeth) and the V-shaped sulcus (where the teeth and gums meet).

This is why daily flossing is crucial to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If you are a bit out of practice or are just learning to floss for the first time, here are a few flossing tips that will get you going in the right direction:

1.  Tear off a piece of dental floss about 18 inches long.

2.  Wrap the floss a few times around your fingers and leave about three or four inches between the fingers and thumbs.

3.  Start in the back of the mouth, either on the top or bottom. Insert the floss between the teeth and move the floss up and down. Work between the teeth and the gum line scraping away food particles and plaque.

4.  As the floss begins to fray or build up with plaque, unwind another piece of floss.

5.  After you have flossed between every tooth you should vigorously rinse with water or your favorite mouthwash.

It is important to keep in mind that visiting your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and examination is as important as regular brushing and flossing.

Mouthwashes

Using mouthwash, in conjunction with brushing and flossing, may help reduce buildup of plaque and tartar and therefore reduce your chances of tooth decay.

There are many types of mouthwashes that kill bacteria in the mouth, while others actually loosen plaque so it can be removed more easily while brushing and flossing.

Regardless of which type of mouthwash you choose, it is important to remember that nothing substitutes for regular brushing and flossing. You should ask which mouthwash, if any, is recommended when you visit your dentist for your six-month cleaning and checkup.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition plays a key role in your general overall health. It also has an obvious and direct effect on your teeth and mouth.

The fuel that allows plaque to form is sugar. Eating foods that have high concentrations of sugar may put you at a higher risk for developing tooth decay and gum disease than other types of healthier foods.

If you limit your intake of foods like cookies, pastries, candy, soft drinks and chewing gum, and replace them with snacks like fresh fruit (which is lower in sugar), you will significantly reduce your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

It is also very important to have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined by your dentist every six months.

Dental Exams

Regular dental exams are critical to the prevention of tooth decay, gum disease and other dental disorders that can lead to serious oral problems. Once tooth decay or gum disease begins, it will continue to spread to other areas in the mouth. Quite often people won't even realize that they have a problem until a painful symptom is present.

Prevention of many common dental disorders is easy as long as you have a good oral regimen and visit your dentist every six months for professional cleanings and evaluations.

If you are a first time patient or haven't been to the dentist in a while, here is what you can expect when you visit the dentist for an examination.

Before your dental exam begins the dentist will need to know your medical and dental history. This is usually accomplished by filling out a questionnaire. Once the dentist is familiar with any special conditions or allergic reactions that may affect your exam, he/she can then proceed.

The dental examination seeks to explore your current dental condition. It will focus on the teeth, gums and the other tissues in the mouth. By identifying which teeth are healthy and which teeth need treatment the dentist will offer the best procedural options.

The Teeth

 Using special instruments, the dentist will look for any evidence of tooth decay. The dentist will also check for any abnormalities in your bite (the way the teeth come together when your mouth is fully closed). An irregular bite can lead to uneven or excessive wear on the affected teeth and may lead to other dental problems in the future.

The Gums

The dentist will examine the condition of the gums, making sure they aren't inflamed or soft. The tool used for this is called a "periodontal probe," which measures the depth of the sulcus (the area where the gum and tooth meet). Large pockets in the sulcus are signs of early gum disease.

The Tissues Inside the Mouth

The dentist will examine any irregularities on the tongue, cheeks and lips. Many times a dentist is the first to diagnosis certain types of oral cancer. Many types of oral cancer that are caught in the early stages can be treated and eventually eradicated.

X-rays

X-rays help the dentist see any abnormalities in the mouth that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The dentist is able to see the extent of any tooth decay, or minute fractures in the teeth.

Professional Cleaning

Visiting your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and checkup is crucial to maintaining a healthy smile. Regardless of how diligent you are at brushing and flossing your teeth, you will still need a professional cleaning every six months to clean those areas that are impossible to clean at home.

Most people do not understand that early stages of serious dental problems are rarely accompanied by symptoms. Quite often, a person will not realize there is a problem until a dentist diagnoses it, or until the problem has advanced to the point where it is causing serious dental pain. There are many problems that can only be diagnosed by a dental professional.

If you limit your intake of foods like cookies, pastries, candy, soft drinks and chewing gum, and replace them with snacks like fresh fruit (which is lower in sugar), you will significantly reduce your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

The Procedure

The techniques used in dental cleaning have changed significantly over the past 20 years. Today's dental techniques have made the professional cleaning procedure relatively quick and painless.

A cleaning may be performed by a dentist or a dental hygienist (a specially trained dental professional). The cleaning consists of scraping off the hard material buildup with a dental scaler or an ultrasonic machine, which uses sound waves to remove the plaque. The plaque is then rinsed off.

After the teeth are cleaned, they are then polished using a special material and a cup-shaped instrument. After the cleaning, your teeth will feel smooth and fresh.

Restore or Extract?

Today, modern dentistry and better nutrition have reduced the necessity of tooth loss. It is easily possible to preserve and maintain your teeth for a lifetime.

When a tooth is extracted, it leaves a space that can cause other teeth to shift and become crooked, affecting your ability to chew properly. Thus, the loss of a single tooth can have a major impact upon your dental health and appearance.

Although an extraction is less expensive, the missing tooth will need to be replaced with a bridge or implant, which can cost more than a root canal or other restorative treatment.

Overall, the benefits of natural teeth outnumber the benefits of prosthetic, or replacement, teeth.

Dental Technologies

Just as new technology has improved other areas of healthcare, new developments in dental care have brought incredible patient benefits. From the development of tooth-colored filling materials to the perfection of dental implants as a means of replacing missing teeth, today's dentist is able to help patients in ways that simply were not possible even just a few years ago.
Modern dental care also allows dentists to detect and correct minor problems before they become more significant. Patient comfort is another characteristic of modern dental care. Thanks to modern developments, a visit to the dentist today is a comfortable and pleasant experience. The end result is that through the wonders of modern dentistry, everyone can have a healthy, attractive smile and enjoy the benefits of excellent oral health throughout their lifetime. Following are examples of modern dental technology. Because these are emerging technologies, they are not yet available in all dental offices.

Dental Lasers

Laser dentistry employs a new and exciting technology. Dental lasers are a family of instruments, some used for surgery, some to cure (harden) restorative tooth materials and enhance tooth bleaching, and others to remove tooth structure to eliminate disease. Dental lasers are used for a variety of treatment procedures. Depending on treatment needs, the dentist may use the laser for a long period of time or for only brief moments. All laser treatment requires eye protection, so safety glasses with special lenses will be provided.

Laser therapy may require a reduced need for local anesthesia, and has been found to enhance the effect of tooth bleaching agents for a fast and effective result. When used on gum tissues in the treatment of periodontal disease, bleeding is minimized and swelling is controlled.

Because this is a developing technology, which requires additional training, relatively few dentists provide laser treatment at this time. Dentists who use lasers have devoted training time and expense to be able to offer this new technology in their dental offices.

Air Abrasion

Air abrasion cavity preparation allows the dentist to remove the decay from a tooth without using a drill.  This is done with micro-fine abrasive particles that remove any decay and prepare the tooth for the filling material.
Because the abrasive particles can be controlled very precisely, anesthesia is not needed in most cases. Another benefit of air abrasion is that the precision provided by the micro-fine particles allows the dentist to remove only the decay, resulting in the preservation of tooth structure. While air abrasion is best limited to small areas of decay, when appropriate, this method of treatment can provide attractive benefits.

Digital Radiology

New digital technology allows dentists to take and store diagnostic pictures with the computer. Benefits include instant viewing capability and the ability to easily enlarge images for greater clarification. In addition, digital radiography allows for the electronic transmission of images to colleagues such as dental specialists or to insurance companies. While digital radiography is not yet a total replacement for traditional film x-rays, improvements in this technology are progressing rapidly and it’s likely that digital pictures will become common in the dental office.

Pain-Free Dental Visits

The truth is that modern dentistry can be a pain-free experience. New developments in injection techniques and technology allow the dentist to deliver anesthesia without pain. The modern dental office strives to make every visit a comfortable and pleasant experience. From a toddler’s first visit to the dental office to a more experienced patient who may have not visited the dentist in a while, most dental offices are well-trained in dealing with patients with special needs and are prepared to make the visit a positive experience.

Cosmetic Dentistry and Video Imaging

A beautiful smile is not limited to the Hollywood set! Cosmetic dentistry refers to dental treatment that helps patients look their best. With the wonderful advances in dental materials that look amazingly natural, you can now have the smile of your dreams. Cosmetic dentistry can provide a brighter smile, fix crooked or stained teeth, fill in spaces between teeth and correct other appearance issues. Some dental offices now have new video imaging technology that can allow you to see how you would look with your new smile (with before and "after" images), which can help the dentist design a smile that is perfectly suited to you.

Microscopes and Other Vision-Enhancing Tools

Many dentists today wear little surgical telescopes that look like funny eyeglasses. These usually have a small light source attached and allow the dentist to see things in your mouth magnified many times natural size. The use of very powerful microscopes is also a technology available in some dental offices today. These microscopes and other vision-enhancing tools allow the dentist to see things that are not possible with the naked eye and result in even earlier diagnosis of dental problems.

Women's Oral Health