HEALTH, HYGIENE AND HAPPINESS
W L
DENTISTRY
HEALTH, HYGIENE AND HAPPINESS
BY RICHARD GIBSON
Richard Gibson, Principal of Wallasey Orthodontics and Consultant to Liverpool University Dental Hospital talks to us about dental hygiene.
No matter how you feel about your teeth, the best investment you can make is to take care of them. No matter how clever dentistry gets, until we can grow and implant teeth – your natural gnashers are your best bet!
The cornerstones to excellent dental health for your teeth and gums are your mouth care regime and regular visits for you and your family to see your general dentist – as the mouth is the often the first place signs of general illness arise.
So, what does a good dental routine look like? A combination of techniques is the best approach; research suggests that an electric toothbrush with a small round head allows for good clearance of plaque around the necks of the teeth and when used with a full-strength adult toothpaste, bathes the teeth in fluoride which is absorbed into the tooth structure( hydroxyapatite) forming an even stronger surface layer( fluor-hydroxyapatite) – as long as you don’ t rinse after! Technique is important – and small circular movements around the gum and biting surface of each tooth is the best way. This mechanical debridement carried out twice a day, in conjunction with the added chemical benefits of the fluoride, provide an effective basis to work from.
The evening clean is the most important for a few reasons; firstly, you’ re not in as much of a rush and secondly your saliva flow is greatly reduced overnight in line with your bodies’ normal rhythm. Of course, there are extra bits you can do on top.
Mouthwashes have their place but are poorly understood.
There is good evidence supporting specific mouthwashes for certain functions. Essential oil mouthwashes like Listerene are clinically proven to help with plaque reduction and recolonisation but should probably be used before toothbrushing – otherwise will wash away the fluoride and its protective effect. Both fluoride mouthwashes and chlorhexidine gluconate( Corsodyl) should be used at different times to toothbrushing. Additional fluoride at the time of brushing adds no extra benefit and for Corsodyl, the calcium in the toothpaste actually deactivates it – vastly reducing its effectiveness.
Flossing has had bad press recently, and in truth is rarely done well, but with new air and water flossers available the technique is becoming more accessible. Personally, I prefer the water flossers because they have the added benefit of being able to add a mouthwash into the solution which is then fired through the contacts between your teeth.
Before you consider spending anything else on your mouth, make sure it’ s as healthy as possible!
56 wirrallife. com