Treat your teeth well

Your teeth do an amazing and tough job so it makes sense to keep them healthy. Teeth help us to chew and digest our food, they help us to talk and pronounce different sounds. They also help to give our face it’s shape. Having a smile to be proud of will boost your confidence. These are important reasons for looking after our teeth but what if we don’t?

What happens if you don’t look after your teeth

If we don’t take good care of our teeth it can lead to tooth decay which can be painful and need dental treatment. The nerve of the tooth can become infected and die which results in an abscess. You may then need either root canal treatment which can uncomfortable and invasive or you may need the tooth to be extracted and lose it altogether.

Gum disease is another common problem that can lead to loss of bone around the teeth. It can also cause loose teeth and they may fall out. It can easily be prevented but can be treated with regular check-ups and cleaning sessions. For General dentistry Leicester, visit http://www.sjrdental.co.uk/

Plaque can build up on teeth and if left, can cause decay. Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth when we eat and drink. When you eat sugars and starches, the bacteria builds up and produces acids that attack the tooth enamel. This acid, if left stuck to the tooth, will lead to holes and cavities forming. Plaque can also lead to gum disease in that it eventually hardens to form tartar which as it approaches the gum line causes the plaque underneath to release harmful poison. The gums will become inflamed and sore and pull away from the teeth, leaving the gaps to become infected.

How to keep your teeth in good shape

How can you keep your teeth in good shape?

Brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is a great starting point. Problem areas can occur between teeth and so interdental brushes or floss are essential for cleaning these hard to reach areas. Regular check-ups and cutting down on sugary food and drink will also go a long way to keeping your teeth healthy.

Preventing gum disease

Preventing gum disease involves making sure plaque and food is removed from around your teeth and gums. If plaque is left and it becomes tartar then only a dentist will be able to remove it and you run the risk of having painful, swollen gums. Tests have shown that electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively but you do need to position them correctly. They work very well for children too due to the novelty of using a power brush, This should encourage regular brushing too.

To check whether you are getting rid of plaque properly, there is a special dye you can use after you have brushed which will highlight areas you have missed. They are called disclosing tablets and can be bought from your dentist. The staining is harmless but will show you where you need to pay some extra attention in your brushing.

Summary

This article explains why looking after your teeth matters, covering how neglect can lead to tooth decay, infection and eventually extraction, and how plaque build-up causes both cavities and gum disease. It recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, flossing or using interdental brushes, regular check-ups, and using disclosing tablets to check whether brushing is actually removing plaque.

Questions this article raises

• How often should disclosing tablets be used to check brushing technique?
• Are electric toothbrushes worth it for someone who already brushes carefully?
• How quickly can plaque turn into tartar if left untreated?