Dentistry

What can I do to maintain good oral hygiene?

To maintain good oral hygiene, follow these tips:

Brush your teeth before going to bed- As a result of inactivity, germs and plaque actively damage the oral structures during the night. If you brush your teeth before sleeping, you will remove all the plaque and bacteria, and your teeth will remain healthy.

Follow the proper brushing technique- It's useless to brush your teeth if you don't know what you're doing. The Modified Bass technique is the most accepted brushing technique: place the brush at a 45o angle to the gums and gently brush back and forth in short strokes. Brush your outer, inner, and chewing surfaces as well after this.

Clean your tongue as well- In addition to its filamentous nature, the tongue is a prime spot for plaque accumulation, resulting in oral malodor, bad breath, oral candidiasis, etc. Using a quality tongue cleaner every day will help you avoid these problems.

Use the right toothpaste- If you are prone to caries, fluoride toothpaste is a good choice, but if you have sensitive gums and teeth, you may need a different toothpaste.

Floss at least once a day in addition to brushing- In a hurry, we often forget to clean the surfaces between the teeth. Flossing helps clean these areas and protect them from plaque and cavity buildup. Learn the proper flossing technique so that you can floss without damaging your gums.

Get a mouth face- A lot of people think mouthwashes are a waste of time or a substitute for brushing. However, mouthwash is a great complement to a dental hygiene routine, in addition to brushing and flossing. A good mouthwash helps reduce the amount of acid in the oral cavity, remineralize the various areas, and cleans the hard-to-reach areas of the teeth.

Drink plenty of water- Especially after meals, drink plenty of water to remove acidic and sticky food bits and sugary drinks from the teeth.

Follow a healthy diet- Children's diets should include crunchy fruits and vegetables that promote early jaw and tooth development, and sugary and acidic foods should be avoided as they wear down enamel and cause dental caries.

Get a dental check up at least 1-2 times a year- Ideally, everyone should see their dentist every six months for proper dental cleaning, a dental caries checkup, and to ensure proper dental hygiene. If you don't have any oral issues, you should see your dentist every year for a regular checkup.

What are the effects of missing and misaligned teeth on a person?

Crooked or missing teeth may not seem harmful on the surface, but they can negatively affect your oral hygiene and health in a number of ways, including:

Gum disease and tooth decay: When a tooth is missing or misaligned, it can cause neighbouring teeth to shift in the delta arch. This can alter a person's bite and lead to uneven distribution of occlusal forces onto the gums, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. In addition, maintaining proper oral hygiene becomes challenging when dealing with missing, bent, or misaligned teeth. These conditions also create a favourable environment for plaque and bacteria buildup. As a result, missing and crooked teeth significantly contribute to the development of gum disease and tooth decay.

Speech difficulties: Missing or misaligned teeth can lead to a lisp, and in developing children, they can even cause irreversible learning disabilities.

Oral malodor and fungal infections: Bad breath and fungal infections like oral candidiasis can result from excessive plaque buildup in people with crooked or misaligned teeth.

Bone Loss- If someone has a bad occlusal bite due to missing or misaligned teeth, their jawbone will eventually erode away.

TMJ disorders- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders can also be prevented by proper occlusal forces. In the absence of proper dental alignment, TMJ disorders can easily develop, leading to symptoms like jaw pain, popping or clicking sounds from the jaw, earache, popping sounds in your ears, headaches, and locking of your jaw joint.

Facial deterioration- Dental alignment caused by missing or misaligned teeth can cause facial symmetry to be distorted and cause the skin to sag prematurely, causing it to look old and wrinkled. When the cheeks lack teeth to hold them in place, they appear hollow, changing the patient's appearance dramatically.

Dietary restrictions- If your biting force is not optimal (occlusal force), you will have difficulty chewing and will not be able to eat different foods. It is common for people with many missing teeth to eat only liquid (or semi-liquid) food, such as soft or processed. As a result, they miss out on a lot of nutritious foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, meats, etc., that are an important part of the daily diet.

Poor facial aesthetics and self-confidence: Self-confidence can be damaged by poor facial appearance and dietary problems. In addition to making it difficult to share meals with family and friends, it can cause them to feel self-conscious during group shots. It can even result in social anxiety and depression in some people. All of this can result in them avoiding social interactions altogether.

To avoid any such dental problems in the future, schedule an appointment with an expert dentist near you as soon as possible if you have missing or misaligned teeth.