Oral hygiene
04-12-2015
Oral hygiene
Diseases of the mouth and their symptoms
The mouth is a very important part of our body: the face owes much to smile and a mouth with teeth, stained, broken or missing, giving it a neglected and makes it look older. But it is not just a matter of aesthetics. Teeth in good condition is important for proper chewing, which in turn important for good digestion. For these reasons, oral hygiene is considered an act of preservation of health, so it is good to analyze what are the symptoms, diseases, and the remedies to be recommended.
Plaque
The responsibility for most of the damage to the oral cavity is attributed to bacterial plaque, a gelatinous substance, which consists of food waste and bacteria that form on the teeth especially a transparent coating and sticky for a few minutes after you wash them. Plaque adheres to the roughness of the tooth and, if the teeth are not cleaned every day with care, the plaque grows and accumulates particularly where it is more difficult to reach with the cleaning (at the collar teeth, where tooth and gum paste, or in the cracks of chewing surfaces). Bacteria, with their action, causing the fermentation of food residue and turn them into substances that cause acid nature highly erosive demineralization of the tooth.
Tartar
This plaque on the teeth, when subjected to hygiene, it is fairly easily removed and not very dangerous, the situation is different when there is an accumulation of plaque-standing, firmly attached to the tooth surface and containing food debris and dead cells. The salts of calcium in saliva hardens the plate, giving rise to the formation of tartar, a robust, color brown, which is no longer removed by simple brushing but can be removed only with the intervention of the dentist (scaling). Especially dangerous is the formation of subgingival calculus, which can cause the detachment of the gums from the tooth and the formation of pockets where they accumulate bacteria and small food particles are subject to real putrefactive processes.
Bad breath
Under normal conditions the smell of the mouth may record variations in its intensity as a function of some variables such as age, sex, eating habits, time of day. There are situations that cause bad odor but are transient and not pathological, dall'alitosi the morning awakening, encouraged by smoking, alcohol, hot and dry air at night, and most likely in the case of nasal obstruction, that by fasting or by period menstruation, and obviously food consumption alitogeni (garlic, onion). However, the main cause dell'alitosi oral hygiene is insufficient, and it is not in this case to eliminate a vexing problem, but only to catch a signal to prevent pathological consequences for the gums and teeth, in other cases the disorder may be linked to infections and diseases not directly related to the mouth, or by drugs details. Use a mouthwash masks the problem but does not fully resolve: the advice of the pharmacist, as well as state instruments and relevant products, may be to brush the tongue.
Caries
One manifestation of poor oral hygiene (prolonged) is the decay, a slow destructive process that affects the hard tissues of the tooth. The lesion is due to the dissolution of minerals that make up the enamel, which occurs at the beginning as a small painless brown stain which, if untreated, progresses to attack the innermost layer of the tooth (dentin). Then appear the first symptoms, pain, sensitivity to cold and heat. When the decay reaches the pulp, the pain becomes very intense. In this case, you need timely intervention of the dentist, the pharmacist may merely indicate an anesthetic / analgesic waiting.
Gingivitis
Although gingivitis and periodontal disease are consequences of poor or improper oral hygiene, usually prolonged. Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) is manifested by irritation, swelling, pain, easy bleeding (ie when you bite the food or while brushing teeth). If you can get the inflammation progresses to periodontitis (periodontal disease or vulgar), which is the same support structure of the tooth to be under threat: As the tissue destruction progresses, the tooth begins to swing first and then falls . The gums are struggling with the improvement of hygiene habits, both in terms of frequency and quality of the brushes. Of course you can recommend tools and products best suited as a soft toothbrush, floss and toothpaste antiplaque. The use of chlorhexidine mouthwash is indicated only for short periods. In the most severe (periodontitis), only the intervention (including surgery) the dentist can resolve the situation.
Prevention
Besides making good use of oral hygiene, there are a few tips that can help keep your mouth healthy.
Nutrition
Sugar is the main enemy of teeth as it is transformed by bacteria in plaque acid substances which attack the enamel. The habit of sprinkling of sugar or honey to pacifiers should be discouraged so as to make the child fall asleep ing bottle filled with milk, tea or sweetened fruit juices. These habits are the cause of so-called "caries from nursing. They must all be considered highly cariogenic foods high in sugar and high adhesiveness as snacks, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, jam, are moderately cariogenic: bread, pasta, rice, fruit, milk, little or no cariogenic meat, eggs , legumes, vegetables. It should also limited the intake of beverages "sour" (eg orange juice).
The fluoroprofilassi
Fluoride makes tooth enamel more resistant to attack of acids formed from sugars. It is important to provide fluoride during childhood and adolescence as the teeth are mineralize because then the structure will be strengthened. Fluoride supplementation is not justified before the three years of age, in order to avert the risk of fluorosis, mainly due to an accumulation of fluoride in the enamel during the pre-eruption of teeth. The dose of fluoride necessary to establish the dentist by age of the child. Some countries enrich fluoride drinking water where it does not, as in Italy, is used to supplements of fluoride salts (eg Zymafluor), except that the water you drink is already naturally rich fluorine. In this regard need to verify the quantity of this element on the labels of commercially available mineral waters.
The dentist
The visits to the dentist are very important and should be done at least twice a year, all ages. Regular checks allow you to discover early caries, orthodontic anomalies and malformations and remedied as soon as possible. Dental care is intensified when you are most at risk of tooth decay: for example, during pregnancy or in cases of specific diseases like diabetes. Although drugs can have adverse effects. Some reduce the production of saliva (eg, anti-Parkinson drugs, antidepressants) that no longer exercises the function of washing and remineralization of the tooth. Others cause the swollen gums with pain, redness and bleeding, effect long known for an anti-epileptic, phenytoin, and more recently to a group of antihypertensive drugs belonging to the family of calcium-channel blockers.
Instruments of Oral
Instruments for oral hygiene available commercially are manifold, but not all have the same importance, in addition, their effectiveness is subject to proper use. It is to point out, however, that the mechanical brushing is the only way to maintain a healthy mouth: hence the choice of a good toothbrush is much more important than choosing a toothpaste.
Manual toothbrush
It is the most important tool for the prevention of dental caries, because the modomeccanico removes food debris and plaque. To be effective, must have very specific charac teristics: first, to easily reach any part of the mouth, and then have a head compact, then distinct tufts of bristles artificial moderate hardness and rounded at the tip. The bristles should be undamaged, of equal length and perfectly straight: As soon loses these characteristics, but no later than 3 months, the toothbrush should be changed. The technique of brushing is very important: the toothbrush should be used as a comb, moving the collar towards the apex of the teeth, by bringing the bristles gently into the gingival sulcus. Proper brushing takes at least 5 minutes. But be careful because brushing too vigorously or use toothbrushes with bristles too hard or of poor quality (which under the microscope reveal dangerous spikes) can provide abrasion to the teeth, gums and minor injury to the lining of the mouth, which can promote the formation of ulcers ( sores).
Electric toothbrush
Provides results of plaque removal significantly higher than the manual. It also represents a valuable aid for people with limited manual dexterity, because the reciprocating motion of the head allows for a good cleaning dento-gingival in a short time and allows you to reach the interstitial spaces are difficult to reach with the manual toothbrush.
Floss
It is essential to perfectly clean the spaces between the teeth where the toothbrush does not pass. It is available in different types: unwaxed, waxed (for people who has heaped so many fillings or teeth slide better), a spongy strip (to remove more plaque, particularly suitable for young people) or to different segments (for use in space interdental difficult to access).
Interdental brush
Need to remove plaque from areas difficult to reach, such as the spaces under the bridges (fixed prosthesis). The brush, cylindrical or conical with bristles arranged in spiral, can be mounted on a rigid support and different sizes to fit different spaces in which to penetrate. Some types are suitable for cleaning orthodontic braces.
Pads revealing
The plaque is barely visible to the naked eye. For individual can use special pads that contain a harmless dye: dissolved in the mouth, the color red plaque highlighting the areas not completely clean. The inner surface of the teeth can be checked with a dentist's mirror. Once identified areas of presence of plaque, it can be cleaned more specifically with the right tool. The idropulsore
It is a water-jet equipment that should be considered an auxiliary means to supplement but not replace, the most common means of oral hygiene. It allows the removal of food debris that accumulate under the fixed prostheses and orthodontic appliances and can be a good vehicle for antibacterial agents (eg chlorhexidine) for irrigation and disinfection on medical indication of deep periodontal pockets.
Products for oral hygiene
Toothpaste
Promotes the removal of plaque during brushing and plays a disinfectant and deodorant effect: major presence of fluoride which is fixed to the enamel making it more resistant to decay. The toothpaste should be a little abrasive. The usual abrasive toothpastes are all low and, in theory, the gel formulations less. Antiplaque toothpastes have antibacterial and can be used constantly and by anyone. Desensitizing ones, however, contain certain substances (such as salts of potassium) which play a protective action on the teeth sensitive to mechanical cleaning: they are designed for those who are sensitive to hot and cold.
The mouthwash
Those that contain antiplaque or fluorine must be considered ancillary products that can be used after you brush your teeth (not "instead of brushing your teeth"). Being liquid, in fact, reach areas not well-brushed and complete oral hygiene. The chlorhexidine-based mouthwashes are recommended after dental work or in case of infections, and for limited periods of time. Continued use causes darkening of the teeth and implants.
Whitening products
There are techniques for professional tooth whitening techniques and home care. The former have the advantage of achieving a good result with a minimum commitment of time and without side effects., While the advantage of home treatment is to lower cost. Today we can recommend effective products with which you can get a good whitening effect, no longer wear their masks for long periods, but on average just half an hour of application per day for 5 / 6 days. The risks are usually minimal and transient.
The hygiene of dentures (removable dentures)
A denture is not clean, as well as being aesthetically unpleasant, with the passage of time holds the food wastes, settling, are the ideal ground for the development of bacteria and microorganisms harmful to the health of the mouth and conferisconocattivo smell the food. For good hygiene of the prosthesis is good to follow some rules: when you are not wearing dentures, it should be kept in a suitable container (preferably the tray door dentures) immersed in a special solution, the regular use of effervescent tablets sanitizing allows to obtain optimal hygiene. The effervescent tablets should be left to act for 10-20 minutes every morning before putting on the prosthesis, wash your gums, tongue and palate with a soft bristle brush to stimulate circulation in the tissues and remove the plaque that is still form; after meals is important to clean his teeth with a toothbrush, rinse to remove food scraps and to avoid the stain and plaque from forming.
Sources: Ministry of Health - Direz. Prevention January www.paginesanitarie.it www.farmasalute.it www.saninforma.it www.dica33.it
back
|