Oral care: Way beyond the sweet smile

CEBU, Philippines – The common notion of good oral health is simply having sparkling white teeth. Aesthetic value has seemed to replace the importance of thorough health. But often the beauty of the teeth easily cracks once the person opens his or her mouth.

Truth is, good oral health involves more than just brushing the teeth. To keep the teeth and mouth healthy for a lifetime of use, the health website www.webmd.com, recommends the following steps to follow:

1. Understand your own oral health needs.

Talk with your dentist, other oral health-care specialist, or hygienist about any certain conditions in your mouth or any ways by which your medical or health conditions affect your teeth or oral health. For example, cancer treatments, pregnancy, heart diseases, diabetes, dental appliances (dentures, braces) can all impact your oral health and may necessitate a change in the care of your mouth and teeth. Be sure to tell your dentist if you have experienced a change in your general health or in any medications you are taking since your last dental visit.

2. Develop, and then follow, a daily oral health routine.

Based on discussions with your oral health care provider about health conditions you may have, develop an oral health routine that is easy to follow on a daily basis. For example, people with special conditions, including pregnancy and diabetes, may require additional instruction and perhaps treatments to keep their mouth healthy. Make sure you understand the additional care and treatment necessary, commit to the extra tasks, and work them into your daily health routine.

3. Use fluoride.

Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Even tap water contains fluoride, albeit the fluoride levels may not be high enough without supplementation to prevent tooth decay. Talk with your dentist about your fluoride needs. Ask if you need fluoride supplements or a higher strength, prescription fluoride product.

4. Brush and floss daily.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and before bed time) and floss at least once a day. Better still, brush after every meal and snack. These activities remove plaque, which if not removed, combines with sugars to form acids that lead to tooth decay. Bacterial plaque also causes gum disease and other periodontal diseases.

According to experts, antibacterial mouth rinse can reduce bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease, and fluoride mouth rinse can help prevent tooth decay.

5. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking.

Eat a variety of foods, but fewer of foods that contain sugars and starches (for example, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, ice cream, dried fruits and raisins, soft drinks, potato chips). Starchy and sugary foods produce the most acids in the mouth, which begin the decay process. If you do snack, brush teeth afterward or chew sugarless gum.

6. If you use tobacco products, quit.

Smoking cigarettes - or even using smokeless tobacco products - increases the risk of oral cancer and cancers of the larynx, pharynx and esophagus; gum disease; bad breath; tooth discoloration; and other oral and general health problems.

7. Examine your mouth regularly.

Become familiar with the appearance of your own mouth and teeth by frequent examination. This way, you will be able to catch any changes at an early stage and have these changes examined by a dentist. Look for the development of any spots, lesions, cuts, swellings, or growths on your gums, tongue, cheeks, inside of your lips, and floor and roof of your mouth. Examine your teeth for any signs of chipping or cracking, discoloration, and looseness. If you experience a change in your bite or develop pain, call your dentist as soon as possible. An oral exam is particularly important to conduct if you are a tobacco user, since you are at an increased risk of developing oral cancer.

8. Visit your dentist regularly.

The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. Talk with your dentist about the frequency that is best for you.

9. Develop a partnership with your dentist.

Don't be afraid to ask your dentist for more information if you don't understand a treatment or procedure. You should be able to have a free and frank discussion with your dentist. The questions to ask may include:

. What are the treatment options for a particular dental condition?

. How do these options differ in cost and durability?

. Do all the options solve the problem? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each option?

. Of the dental treatments being recommended, which are absolutely necessary, which are less urgent, which are optional, and which are merely cosmetic?

. What are the consequences of  delaying treatment?

. How much will the treatment cost?

In the end, good oral health is not simply about looking good and having the same smile as the advertising models on TV. It serves not just the looks - but the overall health of the person as well. In other words, it goes way beyond the sweet smile it brings.