For a Lifetime of Smiles

~ Preventive Care

Combining good daily oral hygiene with regular visits to your dentist, are critical if you want to keep your gums, teeth, jawbones and your smile healthy.

Between brushings, a sticky film of bacterial plaque actually covers your teeth. Although a small amount is relatively harmless, there are at least three reasons to get rid of it right away.

First, if you add food or drinks to the picture, you have got a three-ring circus. The bacteria feed off of sugar and starch, converting it to energy and acidic byproducts. These byproducts then attack your enamel for up to 20 minutes. And on it goes, unchecked unless you brush. If you do not, the process eventually breaks down your enamel and cavities form.

Second, your teeth's chewing surfaces are designed with special depressions and grooves that enable them to do their job properly. With age and use, these surfaces develop additional pits and fissures. All of which are perfect places for bacterial plaque to camp out. And all of which are very difficult to clean effectively without professional assistance. The lack of proper attention can cause these surfaces to become another common cavity site.

Third, that thin layer of plaque will thicken in no time, producing more and more toxins that irritate the gums. They grow red, swollen and tender, pulling away from the teeth in defense. Sadly, this exposes your roots to attack and decay by the same acids that caused the trouble for your lower teeth surfaces. Meanwhile, the thicker plaque layer hardens into "tartar" or "calculus" deposits, further aggravating the angry gums. Hence, the onset of gingivitis.

Allowing gingivitis to begin is an open invitation to ongoing pain and trouble. Because at any age, undiagnosed or untreated gingivitis can lead to peridontitis. And that is serious. Peridontitis means that the very tissues supporting your teeth-gums, roots, and jawbone-develop a severe bacterial infection. This condition rapidly destroys bone, allows the teeth to move out of position, and causes tooth loss. It can be localized to just a few painful areas, or include your entire set of teeth. And peridontitis is not selective: it gladly goes after baby teeth as well as permanent ones; it can attack anyone from infants through adults.

Certain people are more susceptible to gingivitis. In these cases, good preventive oral health habits are even more critical. High risk situations include: high stress, smoking, poor nutrition; medications such as steroids, heart medications, cancer therapy drugs, antiepilepsy drugs, and antidepressants. It can also affect women undergoing hormone changes associated with adolescence, birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause.

The only good news about dental disease is that you can avoid it, simply and inexpensively. Just do the right thing: develop meticulous oral health habits. Brush carefully after every meal, floss daily according to Dr. Anderson's instructions, and get a professional cleaning/examination twice a year. With a little effort and a good attitude, you will set a lifetime example for your entire family.

Other Helpful Hints

If you occasionally cannot brush after eating or drinking, simply rinse thoroughly with water to deter acid production up to 30 percent. At the very least, wipe your teeth with a napkin, or chew a piece of sugarless gum. Then brush as soon as you can!

If you want to get even more aggressive, consider setting up a bacteria barricade. Ask Dr. Anderson how to reduce your risk of cavities with a special plastic called a "dental sealant" applied to your cavity-prone teeth. Made of a durable plastic resin film, the sealant is applied to your teeth's most vulnerable chewing surfaces, covering and penetrating the grooves and depressions. This covering reaches beyond where toothbrushes can go. Bacterial plaque and the resulting acids cannot penetrate into the teeth enamel, and you are protected against decay. In fact, studies show sealants to be over 90% effective in decay protection; without them, over 95% of people eventually get cavities in the grooved surfaces of their teeth.

So consider the facts, arm yourself with good oral health habits, and you can smile at the future.

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