BRUSHING FREQUENCY AND ORAL HEALTH

The diversity of advise across the countries was thought to be because of lack of good evidence, but regarding the frequency of brushing there seems to be consensus with majority of sources recommending brushing TWICE a day. 

More brushing makes teeth healthier ???

Excessive brushing causes tooth wear due to the abrasive action of toothpaste, there by inviting dental issues. Between twice a day brushing rinse is the safe alternative, adding sugar free chewing gum also enhances the saliva secretion after meals thus helps in attaining the pH of oral cavity towards neutrality in less span of time.

In bleeding gums brushing and flossing should be avoided??

Simple answer to that is OPPOSITE is true. Rather bleeding is an indicative and protective sign thus appraising that disease has moved to advanced stage where professional help is required. Professional treatment rendered is Scaling (deep cleaning in gums), followed by Polishing (makes tooth surface smooth shiny, by removing stains and scratch line, thus reduces the area for bacterial attachment) and fluoride treatment (makes tooth more resistant to decay and kills the remaining microbes) as and where required.

Care for sensitive teeth 

Sensitive teeth are usually the result of worn out enamel or exposed tooth roots, although tooth decay may also be the reason for the same. Depending on the circumstances your dentist might recommend- Desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride application or fluoridated toothpaste or if there is any other underlying cause, timely diagnosis will help in preventing worsening of  the condition. 

Ignorance in selecting TOOTHBRUSH...ES

Oral health is the mirror of general health. Because mouth is the “gateway to the body” bacteria from teeth and gums can affect your overall health in number of ways.  It should be kept in mind that there is no substitute for a regular, scheduled brushing but we cannot take toothbrush to a test drive so some times it becomes difficult to select the right one as there are so many in market with each claiming their own advantages, obviously a point of great confusion.

Broad tooth brush head- lacks proper access in small mouth and posterior areas of oral cavity

Tapered toothbrush head a better access in the posterior areas

Not only regular usage of toothbrush but regular replacement of toothbrush also a key factor in enhancing oral hygiene.

Brush Made of Horse Hair 

Historically, toothbrushes were made of horse hairs, with evolution and technological advancements the less efficient and rough tooth brushes were replaced with nylon bristles, and till today researchers are working on enhancing efficiency and comfortability.

Presently, we classify brushes in 2 broad categories

            Manual tooth brushes

            Powered/electric tooth brushes.

Manual toothbrushes are the most commonly used and are inexpensive, with almost equal cleaning efficiency as that of powered brushes by considering few things.

Brushing time also plays a critical and paramount role in giving a better hygiene and results. The most frequently the average time of brushing less than 1 minute has been seen, ideally to access all corners with effective and efficient cleaning, the recommended time duration is 2-3 minutes.

Commercial availability with different designs, shapes, different lengths of bristles assuring a better efficiency, but the key aspect is regular and recommended brushing technique. Bristles quality defines the cleaning efficiency, as per the general belief, harder the brush better the cleaning, but the fact is medium to soft brushes cleanse better with comfort. 

Rather, hard bristles have a negative impact by injuring soft and delicate tissues like gums and gingival and causes cervical abrasion on teeth.

Maintains Hygiene during Orthodontic treatment\

Another important part is toothbrush head, it hold bristle and carries to the area of cleaning. Thus the common belief “bigger the better” does not always holds true. Criteria for selection is the one which compliments mouth and easier to access the area hard to reach.

Flexible handle limits the amount of force applied

Handle though considered the insignificant part but it should be long, non-slippery and flexible, as cleaning does not require huge force, it just requires dexterity and maneuvering. 

Relation between Dental issues and General health………..Fact/Myth????

Yes, teeth infection can really turn out to be serious issues. It’s hard to imagine how a toothache could turn deadly—but it can. Even mild or moderate dental discomfort quickly turns into a serious condition, known as an abscess - a pus-filled infection inside the tooth or between a tooth and the gum. 

No one has a precise explanation for the trend, but some experts speculate that the high cost, pain phobia, lack of awareness of dental treatment prevent many people from seeking routine dental care and perhaps delaying treatment when a dental problem occurs/arises.

Dr. Erin Sutton, a Fort Walton Beach dentist, pointed out the infection could either move to bone marrow or the bloodstream, causing sepsis and affecting major organs.

“Toothache leads to multi-organ dysfunction” Ms Mala, 26 yrs, lands in ICU, unable to drink, eat or speak. Never had she, imagined that lack of oral hygiene could prove so disastrous. What started as a simple toothache landed with multi-organ dysfunction. Mala survived three mild cardiac attacks and was on ventilator for two months before recovery.

When a toothache and swelling in her right jaw bothered, she, like any other youngster, thought pain killers would be the cure. However, those didn't help her in fact, the ache led to dental cellulitis and the swelling made its way to her throat, blocking the passage. An examination revealed the infection had spread to her vital organs and she was diagnosed with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. There was a shower of bacteria on her lungs and fluids in the lungs started accumulating around her heart. Besides, there was a clot in a vein that connects the heart, head and the neck region. Oral hygiene was compromised, leading to the spreading of anaerobic bacteria,"

“Ms Mala had a lot of cavities and didn’t bother to take care of them. It hit her only when she lost speech, couldn’t lie down and wasn’t even able to swallow water. It’s a rebirth for him.”

(http://www.thequint.com/health-fitness/2016/07/19/bengaluru-womans-ignored-dental-problem-toothache-led-to-multi-organ-dysfunction)

Tooth brushing and oral health

It is widely accepted that toothbrushing plays an important role in the prevention of tooth decay, a significant goal to ensure the overall quality of health for all. Toothbrushing is considered fundamental self-care behavior for maintenance of oral health. Even though we’ve been brushing and flossing our teeth for years and years, many of us are surprised to learn that we’re not doing it properly.   When you brush your teeth, you help remove food and plaque — a sticky white film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria. Brushing before bedtime is especially important, in order to prevent plaque and food particles remaining in contact with the teeth throughout the night.

More brushing makes teeth healthier.

Areas where cervical abrasion is appreciated

Excessive brushing causes tooth wear due to the abrasive in toothpaste, specially at the neck of tooth, there by inviting dental issues. Between twice a day brushing, rinse is the safe alternative; adding sugar free chewing gum also enhances the saliva secretion after meals thus helps in attaining the pH of oral cavity towards neutrality in less span of time, but not a substitute.

Should brushing and flossing should be avoided in bleeding gums?

 

    

No, rather bleeding is an indicative and protective sign thus appraising that disease has moved to advanced stage where professional help is required. Professional treatment rendered is "SCALING" (deep cleaning in gums), followed by polishing (makes tooth surface smooth shiny, by removing stains and scratch line, thus reduces the area for bacterial attachment) and fluoride treatment (makes tooth more resistant to decay and kills the remaining microbes) as and where required.