1. Warm and moist environments of the mouth help the germs to grow and damage the gums & the teeth.
2. The gum is very close to the tooth surface and during chewing the food is forced to irritate gingiva.
3. The tooth itself is unique, in sense, once it is fully formed, it does not have repair power after injury.
4. The germs grow in the pockets of gums and teeth if they have space in between the teeth.
5. The systemic disease like diabetes, blood-pressure and chronic diseases have their shadows on the teeth, gums and tongue.
6. The nutritional deficiency causes oral ulcer in the mouth which will help the germs to grow.
7. Hereditary factors cause the teeth to have an abnormal foundation in the jaws.
8. The contents of fluoride in the water play havoc, specially in place like Rajasthan in India.
9. Economical background results in intake of improper diet consisting of vitamin deficiency specially vitamin C which causes gum bleeding.
10. An injury to the teeth from accidents cause indigestion of food.
11. Self inflicted injury from the chewing of betel nuts cause HIV disease etc.
12. Much guidance and literature in dentistry is unavailable and also there is unavailability of a dentist in village.
13. Using a very rough material like charcoal to clean the teeth causes damage to the teeth & gums.
14. Generally all the facilities are available but people are not willing to go to the dentist.
15. Avoid the food, drink which is very hot. Don’t use chilled water like drinking a hot tea followed by ice-cream.
16. Don’t crack nuts with the help of teeth. It is better to slice apple or hard fruits and then eat.
17. Eat fibrous food so that the teeth get cleaned. The cheapest way is to eat guava, black berry and a small piece of sugarcane.
18. The salivary flow should be increased to wash-away the food particles by first cleaning with water or using an orange slice. Older methods are to use cardamom (ilaichi).
19. Clean your throat, tongue and cheeks. Salt with a dash of lemon may be helpful. To clean the tongue a slice of ginger with a dash of salt may be gently scrubbed.
20. You should protect your teeth and the gum from extreme cold or hot drinks. Avoid insult from irritant causing gum injury.
21. “Chew thirty two times”, was the saying of old men. But atleast we can chew the food well before we swallow.
22. Never never chew tobacco or betel nuts and gutka. They may not harm the teeth but these may cause growth of cancer.
23. Just remember there is a greater role of your dentist in preserving and restoring the health of the gum & the teeth.
24. Do not hide anything from physician or dentist. You may feel ashamed of telling the truth but do not hesitate.
25. As you maintain your health by exercise and balanced diet also visit dentist every six months for dental check-up.
26. Remove the ill-fitting dentures, sharp edges to be smoothed, never use sharp pin to remove food debris.
27 Remove food particle that is wedged in between teeth with the help of flossing…(a silk thread).
28. Learn the correct way of brushing and help your children the same way.
29. A mouth rinse with normal water will remove a food particle. Make a habit of washing with water several times a day.
30. A moderation in eating with fruits, vegetables and vitamins and minerals is good. A well balanced diet contains all these but as the age advances, swallowing of vitamin pill on advice of physician may keep your health.
A Word of Advice to Dentists
A good dentist is one who uses dental drill only when it is necessary and for a very short period of time. I use drill for only 15 to 20 sec. then I tell patient to gargle.
1. Firstly, the dentist should do a thorough examination of gum diseases by measuring the space between tooth & the gum. He will find out with probe (an instrument to locate the space-called a pocket) how quickly your gums bleed on probing. This will decide the kind and extent of dental cleaning (scaling) you need to prevent further damage of your teeth and gums.
2. Secondly, the dentist should search for cavities, old filling about to break. He will advise accordingly. He will teach you how to brush and floss to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
3. Thirdly, an examination of oral cavity for any abnormal growth and ulcer is very important. He will advise you to contact the specialist.
A cooperation between you and the dentist is of utmost importance. A caring dentist is aware of the pain factor and anxiety of patient. The patient should not feel he is just sitting in dentist’s clinic at the mercy of the doctor.
A good dentist should inform all the procedure, the risks, benefits and costs; and how long the treatment may last.
Is it necessary to visit a dentist?
Of course not, provided you have done your sincere duty to follow the rules of oral hygiene i.e. to keep the teeth clean. We do not know that general body diseases like diabetes, blood pressure or arthritis have any indirect effect on our teeth. To rule out the cause initial visit may be very beneficial. After taking a due precaution, he will guide us for the future plan to keep excellent oral hygiene. Using the guidelines and secrets of oral hygiene you can keep the terrorist blow-away from your mouth to become smarter in dental department. So next time when you see in mirror, you would not be horrified with the word “Pyorrhoea”.
I have seen lots of people suffering from diabetes, arthritis and oral cancer having a tremendous zeal. They simply follow the natural laws & health care. From awareness comes knowledge and with that an urge and motivation to improve the dental health.
Examine your life and you will probably find somethings you would not mind missing or losing. But losing a tooth from your mouth cann’t be dreamt of. Can you imagine a woman or man without teeth at the age of 40?
Staying smart in regard to teeth takes lot of efforts because you have to be vigilent throughout your life. The main secret is to observe rules of oral hygiene and that means thoroughly brushing and flossing no less than twice a day. Do everything you can to get yourself motivated to charge. Force yourself to get out of bed and look into mirror and start following simple rules of oral hygiene. No one becomes successful by accident. Success requires making a plan & sticking to it. The good news is that once you begin, the result starts coming soon.
Once dental problems are recognised and appreciated by physicians a sound bridge can be built between dental health and general health.