What is oral hygiene? Oral hygiene is a set of practices to eliminate plaque that forms naturally and permanently to the tooth surface. Eliminating plaque helps prevent periodontal disease. Indeed, bacteria are responsible for irritation of the gums (gingivitis), which become red, swollen, and bleed easily with brushing. This situation may degenerate into periodontitis, causing the onset of mobility and subsequent loss of teeth. Fluoride has a significant cariostatic effect, which is why it is a component of toothpaste. Children that get a fluoride treatment twice yearly are less likely to get cavities.
Bacteria transforms sugar (sweets but also chips, biscuits, and so on…) into lactic acid. The action of this acid on tooth enamel will result in demineralization of the tooth and the appearance of a cavity. Each meal is potentially cariogenic. However, the buffering capacity of a person’s saliva makes it possible to reduce the acidity of the mouth (pH) to neutrality. However, in the mouth of a person eating constantly, acidity will remain important. The risk of decay will be greatly increased.
Tartar, which is a mineralized plaque, cannot be removed by simple brushing and must be removed by a dentist scaling. This is why a fluoride treatment twice a year is so important. Note that good oral hygiene contributes to an individual’s health and well-being. It acts by attaching to the tooth enamel: the hydroxide ion of the hydroxyapatite Ca5 (PO4) 3 (OH), which constitutes the enamel of the teeth, is partially replaced by fluoride ions. Since the fluoride ion is a weaker base than the hydroxide, the enamel becomes more resistant to the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria after a meal.
Fluoride that is directly placed on the teeth by a dentist is preferred because it has the most benefits and fewer side effects. The fluoride contained in toothpaste will attach to the teeth when brushing. The duration of brushing must, therefore, be sufficient. Children always swallow a portion of the toothpaste, especially the younger ones. Ingestion of toothpaste decreases with age: from 2 to 4 years, 50% of the toothpaste is swallowed; From 4 to 6 years, 30% of the toothpaste is swallowed, to 6 years and more, 10% of the toothpaste is swallowed. It is very important to adjust the fluoride concentration to the age of the child. For more information, contact Lewis Family Dentistry today. You can also follow them on Twitter.
