everyday oral careroutines for alifetime of smiles

oral health through

everyday care

oral health through

everyday care

Everyday care routines are essential for maintaininggood health. A toothbrush, toothpaste and flossare the basic tools you need to keep your teethand gums healthy for life. Mouthrinses can provideadded benefits.

teeth & gums in health and diseaseThe crown of the tooth (the part that can be seen in the mouth)is covered with enamel. Enamel forms a hard, protectivecovering over the softer“dentine” that makes up thebulk of the tooth. Deep insidethe tooth are nerves andblood vessels.

Tooth decay is the result ofloss of minerals from enameland dentine. A white spot onthe tooth near the gums maybe an early sign of loss ofminerals. At the early stage,minerals can be replaced withthe help of fluoride. If mineralscontinue to be lost, a hole(cavity) forms in the tooth anda filling is needed to repair thedamage.

Beneath the gums, the root ofthe tooth is covered with athin layer called “cementum”. Normal tooth anatomy

Enamel

GumlineDentine

Periodontalfibres

Root

Pulp chamber

Crown

Gingiva

Bone

Cementum

Fibres between thecementum and bone holdteeth in place. Healthy gumsare pink, firm and do notbleed. “Gingivitis” means thegums look red and puffy(inflamed) and may bleedwhen brushed or flossed.Gingivitis can be reversed bycareful brushing and flossing.

“Periodontitis” means that thefibres that hold teeth to boneand the bone around teethare breaking down. When thefibres break down, “pockets”form between the gum andthe tooth, making it moredifficult to clean around thetooth. Damage to the boneand fibres may be permanentif not treated early. However,even severe periodontitisusually responds to treatmentand can be stopped fromgetting worse.

bacteria and plaque To keep your teeth and gums healthy, plaqueneeds to be removed each day.Plaque is the sticky, soft layer of bacteria that forms on teetheveryday. Bacteria in plaque form acids when we eat sugary orstarchy foods, when we drink sugary drinks, or when we takemedicines with high levels of sugar. These acids cause toothdecay.

The bacteria in plaque also produce chemicals that cause thegums to become inflamed and can affect the bone and fibres thathold teeth in place.

2

Plaque

Tartar

A B

Gum diseases (above):

Healthybone level

Pocket(6-7mm)

Loss ofperiodontal

fibres

Loss ofbone

Swollengums

A – Gingivitis: red, swollen, bleeding(inflamed) gums

B – Periodontitis: loss of bone andperiodontal fibres creating “pockets”between teeth and gums

3

If plaque is not removed each dayby brushing and flossing, the plaquecan harden to form calculus (tartar).Calculus cannot be removed bybrushing or flossing. Calculus trapsmore plaque and makes it moredifficult to keep teeth clean.

You can use disclosing tablets orsolution occasionally to help see the plaque you might be missing.These products are available inpharmacies.

toothbrushing Studies have shown that brushingtwice a day using fluoridetoothpaste reduces the risk of tooth decay much more thanbrushing only once a day. It is especially important to use fluorideat night because less saliva is available during sleep to protectteeth against tooth decay.

Place brush at 45 degree angle to the gum – use gentle circularmotion at the gumline

Brush the outside surfaces and the inside surfaces of all the lower teeth

Before disclosing

After disclosing (showing plaque)

Here are some tips to make toothbrushingmost effective:

n Always use a SOFT toothbrush (a hardbrush can damage teeth)

n Use a gentle, circular motion at thegum line (Don’t scrub!)

n Don’t apply pressure – let yourbrush do the work!

n Brush in a set pattern so that youdon’t skip around and miss anyteeth

n Brush every tooth surface –outside (the surface next to thecheeks/lips), inside (thesurface next to thetongue/roof of mouth) andthe chewing surface

n Change your toothbrushregularly

Brush the outside surfaces and the inside surfaces of all the upper teeth

For the chewing surfaces, usea firm back and forth motion

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flossing Floss is the best tool to clean between teeth wherea toothbrush can’t reach. If flossing provesdifficult, aids such as floss holders, interdentalbrushes and toothpicks may help.

How to use floss –

n Take about 45cms of floss and wind the ends around themiddle or index fingers

n Grip the floss firmly with the index finger and thumb

n Guide the floss betweenthe teeth using a gentlesawing motion. Becareful not to snap thefloss onto the gums.

n Gently scrape each tooth using an up and down motion butbe careful not to snap the floss onto the gums

5Up and down on one tooth Up and down on the other tooth

n Unwind the floss when needed to ensure that a clean pieceis used for every tooth

n Floss in a set pattern so that you don’t skip around and misssome teeth – don’t forget to floss behind the very back teeth

toothpaste With today’s diets, saliva alone is not enough to prevent toothdecay for most people. Fluoride is also needed each day. Formost people, using a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and drinkingwater that contains fluoride daily will provide enough protection.However, additional fluoride protection may be needed if your riskof tooth decay is higher due to:

n medical conditions that affect saliva

n frequent intake of sugary or acidic foods or drinks

n taking medicines that are high in sugar or that affect saliva

n conditions that interfere with daily oral hygiene routines

n lifestyle changes that affect diet or oral hygiene

Children under 6 years ofage should use a lowfluoride toothpaste suchas My First Colgate®.Toothpaste should alwaysbe stored out of the reach of children.

Some toothpastes, such as Colgate® Total,contain both fluoride and an antibacterial agent.Colgate Total contains a uniquetriclosan/copolymer formula to give 12 hourantibacterial protection.

how fluoride works

6

mouthrinses Mouthrinses are becoming increasingly popular. There aredifferent types of mouthrinses for different purposes.

n Some contain ingredients such as chlorhexidine,which kills bacteria that cause gum disease andtooth decay

n Some contain fluoride for additional protectionagainst tooth decay

n Some contain other ingredients such as hydrogenperoxide to freshen breath or help remove debrisaround teeth

Mouthrinses do not replace the need to brush and flosseveryday! Your dental professional can tell you more aboutmouthrinses and advise you on your needs.

Mouthrinses are not recommended for children under 6 years ofage. Rinses should always be stored out of the reach of children.

regular dental visitsIt is important to keep in mind that your risk of tooth decay andgum problems can change at different times in your life for manyreasons. You may need to use additional oral care products fromtime to time, as advised by your dental professional. Regulardental visits can help you stay on top of your changing needs andprevent little problems from becoming big ones.

This brochure is brought to you by the DentalHygienists’ Association of Australia Inc. and Colgate.

Information in this brochure is current as at October 2005

Partnering with health professionalsto keep you healthy throughout life.

TMs “Colgate Total”, “Savacol”, “Colgate Peroxyl” and “Neutrafluor” Reg