Your teeth are hard-wearing, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t require some love and care. Soon after you’ve cleaned your teeth, they will develop a thin sticky layer of plaque, which is a bacteria which forms on the surfaces of all your teeth. When you eat sugary foods, this bacteria turns the sugar into acid – this can soften the hard enamel on your teeth, which is a process known as demineralisation. Over time, this process can lead to cavities in your teeth, which is known as tooth decay or caries. Because there are no nerves in the enamel, you won’t feel any pain initially while this process is occurring. However, when you get a cavity, you will feel the pain of it as it will lead to the dentine in the tooth – this is a yellowish substance under the enamel which forms the bulk of your teeth, and this part is sensitive to pain. Saliva helps to neutralise this acid and washes away bacteria in your mouth – it contains minerals which can replace those which are lost in a process known as remineralisation. Every time you eat something sugary, both demineralisation and remineralisation take place. This is why dentists recommend reducing the amount of sugar you consume.
Gum disease is another concern for the health of your mouth – gum disease is the inflammation of your gums which can cause damage to the bone which anchors your teeth to your jaw. This is a common problem, affecting over half of all adults who have their own natural teeth. It occurs by not cleaning the plaque off your teeth properly, which leads to your gums becoming red and swollen – they may even bleed. These symptoms are the early stages of gum disease known as gingivitis – it’s completely treatable, and if you remove the plaque, the health of your teeth will improve quickly. Good dental hygiene can prevent gum disease and gingivitis from developing. However, if you don’t treat gingivitis, the gums may begin to pull away from your teeth which leaves a pocket of space around each tooth. These pockets can lead to plaque getting trapped in places that your toothbrush can’t remove, and over time this develops into hardened tartar. Poor dental hygiene over a number of years can lead to serious problems with your teeth, resulting in them becoming rotten and even falling out. You can combat this by brushing regularly, flossing, giving up smoking and making regular trips to the dentist for check-ups.
Most people don’t brush their teeth for long enough, which means that much of the plaque on your teeth remains there. You should aim to use a synthetic-bristle toothbrush, as well as a fluoride toothbrush which will protect them against tooth decay. Starting at once side of your mouth, brush the surfaces thoroughly whilst you move around to the other side. Brush two times a day, morning and before bed, and allow a couple of minutes to really work the plaque away from the enamel. You should also replace your toothbrush every two to three months, so that the bristles remain firm enough to be effective. Follow this up with dental floss and mouthwash, to clean the areas in between the teeth that your brush can’t reach. In between cleaning, you can keep your dental hygiene in check by chewing sugar-free gum to neutralise acids in your mouth, and avoid sugar treats where possible to stop the plaque from building. You should also avoid excessive alcohol and give up smoking, as these have a negative effect on the health of your teeth.