The importance of oral hygiene in the prevention of dental diseases. What should oral hygiene be like? Message oral care

The human oral cavity is home to a huge number of different microorganisms. They settle on the teeth, gums, tongue and buccal mucosa. Colonies of microbes and their metabolic products lead to a number of dental problems. In addition, when bacteria enter the body, they provoke the development of gastrointestinal pathology.

To balance the ecosystem and improve overall health, regular and high-quality oral hygiene is necessary. The high effectiveness of such a procedure depends on the correctness of its implementation and some other nuances.

The importance of oral hygiene lies in the prevention of major dental diseases, as well as maintaining an attractive appearance of a person. By following the rules for conducting events, you can achieve significant results, including:

formation of strong teeth;
destruction of pathogenic microflora;
prevention of the development of caries and periodontal disease;
prevention of infectious diseases of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract;
snow-white smile;
fresh breath;
savings on dental services.

As medical practice has shown, people with weakened immune systems and smokers are especially in dire need of hygienic care.

Types of oral hygiene

To maintain the microflora of the oral cavity, in which the teeth and oral mucosa will always be healthy and aesthetically pleasing, there are a number of hygiene measures. They are divided into two main types: personal hygiene and professional procedures.

In the first case, oral care is carried out independently at home. According to the recommendations of dentists, the procedure should begin at an early age, when children have their first teeth.

If cleaning the mouth at home does not bring the desired result, the second method is used. Professional cleaning is carried out in a medical institution by a dentist.

Each method requires compliance with a number of rules. Therefore, in order for the procedures to be highly effective, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with them in more detail.

Rules for carrying out hygiene procedures

In order for individual oral hygiene to ensure thorough cleaning and create an attractive smile, you must purchase special cleaning products in advance and then follow the rules of the event.

Oral care is usually carried out using special cleaning products, including:

Toothbrush for cleaning teeth, cheeks, tongue.
Toothpaste for the prevention and treatment of diseases.
Brushes for removing food residues in interdental crevices.
Rinse to complete the procedure.

When it is not possible to brush your teeth, dental floss is used. To eliminate bad breath and small food particles after eating, it is recommended to use sugar-free chewing gum.

Rules for cleaning teeth

Oral hygiene rules depend on the choice of cleaning product. Using a toothbrush, the procedure is carried out as follows:

The cleaning attribute is rinsed with running water.
Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the bristly surface of the brush.
At an angle of 45 degrees relative to the gum, the attribute is located in the open mouth.

The upper teeth are cleaned from top to bottom using smooth, circular movements.
The lower jaw is cleaned from bottom to top.

The above manipulations are carried out within 3 minutes. After this time, the toothbrush is turned over and the tongue is cleaned with a rubber nozzle. At the end of the procedure, the oral cavity is rinsed with warm water or a special rinsing solution.

When using dental floss, proper oral hygiene is carried out in the following order:

For a one-time procedure, dental floss 40-50 cm long is cut.
The thread seeps into the interdental crevices with smooth movements.
Having reached the surface of the gum, the thread is directed in the opposite direction in a similar way without sudden movements.

Having cleaned one interdental gap in this way, move on to another. In this case, the thread must be clean for each section.

If the above hygiene measures do not get rid of plaque deposits on the teeth, dentists recommend professional cleaning.

Carrying out professional cleaning

Oral hygiene with professional help is carried out to eliminate accumulations of soft plaque, which over time develops into tartar. When a hard stone forms, a person loses his attractive appearance. In addition, against the background of this pathology, concomitant dental diseases develop.

To prevent these negative phenomena, the dental hygienist prescribes measures using medical instruments and special equipment.

Before proceeding with professional intervention, the dentist must first carefully examine the patient. Medical Oral hygiene methods depend on the following diagnostic indicators: caries intensity index, hygiene index, assessment of the condition of the mucous membrane, type of bite, presence of dental pathologies.

After assessing the condition of the oral cavity, the specialist must form a responsible attitude towards the prescribed procedure in the patient. It is important that a person understands that medical oral hygiene can completely get rid of periodontal disease and improve the external condition of teeth.

Carrying out procedures

A medical complex of measures to remove persistent dental tumors can be carried out therapeutically, orthodontically or surgically. Each event is conducted by a dentist in a medical office.

In order for professional oral hygiene to go smoothly, before it begins, the patient is prescribed rinsing the nasopharynx with an antiseptic solution.

For major operations, anesthetic medications may be used, in the form of sprays or injections. The professional cleaning complex includes several stages.

Removing plaque and tartar. An ultrasonic device is used for this. In some cases, manual mechanical cleaning with dental instruments is used.

Removing pigmented plaque. A popular device for cleaning teeth from soft plaque is the AirFlow device. As a result of the pressure of the emitted water, air and soda, the enamel becomes lighter by 2 shades.

Teeth polishing. This method uses professional products that contain zirconium microparticles.

Fluoridation. This method involves strengthening the enamel with fluoride-containing gel trays. The procedure lasts only a minute, but during this time the enamel has time to become saturated with fluoride ions, due to which it becomes stronger.

Fissure sealing. This method involves using composite resins to fill the grooves of the teeth on the chewing side using a special tool.

Many patients neglect professional procedures, as well as the visit to the dentist itself. However, this position is fundamentally wrong.

By contacting a specialist in a timely manner, you can avoid dangerous pathologies of the oral cavity, as well as receive recommendations for daily care so that individual oral hygiene brings significant benefits.

In medical practice, there are certain rules for the technique of cleaning the mouth. Compliance with them does not require much effort or difficulty.

To maintain the microflora in the mouth and the strength of the teeth, it is necessary to follow a balanced diet of dairy and legumes.
To brush your teeth, it is better to choose a brush with synthetic bristles.
The cleaning attribute should be replaced every 3-4 months.
Clean your mouth with a toothbrush and toothpaste 2 times a day. The first procedure is carried out in the morning, the second before bedtime.

Various oral hygiene practices should include cleaning the tongue and gums. This will be a good means of preventing periodontal disease.
After each procedure, the toothbrush must be thoroughly rinsed with running water.
It is recommended to clean the spaces between teeth after every meal. To do this, you can use dental floss or special wooden sticks.

It is better to entrust the monitoring of the condition of the oral cavity to the dentist.
Professional hygiene should be carried out 1-2 times a year by a qualified specialist.
For hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, it is advisable to purchase specialized tools, such as a brush and floss.
Don't neglect mouthwashes either. Their regular use contributes not only to fresh breath, but also to the strength of the enamel structure.

Failure to comply with the rules of oral hygiene, at best, will lead to bad breath and the development of caries. But, as medical practice has shown, such neglect will have more serious consequences.

A large accumulation of harmful bacteria in the absence of hygiene procedures or their improper implementation contributes to the development of the following pathologies:

. This is an inflammatory process of the gums, affecting the alveolar process of the jaw. The pathology is accompanied by putrid breath, bleeding gums when brushing teeth individually, itching and a negative perception of the taste of food.
Candidiasis. This inflammatory process develops when Candida bacteria enter the mouth. In pathology, swelling of the oropharynx and a white coating on the tongue are observed. In an advanced form of the disease, erosions may appear on the surface of the oral mucosa.

. This pathology affects periodontal tissue. Symptoms of periodontitis include the formation of hard stone, tooth mobility, and the presence of purulent or serous discharge.

. Such damage to the lining of the mouth occurs due to the proliferation of infectious microorganisms. When bacteria enter the human body, they destroy the surface structure of the gums, tongue and cheeks. Subsequently, ulcers appear on the affected areas.

As you can see, each pathology develops due to the entry of harmful bacteria into the oral cavity, where there is an optimal habitat for their growth and reproduction. Only careful daily oral care can correct this phenomenon.

Following the recommendations of specialists for individual procedures, as well as regular visits to the dentist, will help maintain a clean and healthy mouth, as well as provide fresh breath and a snow-white smile.

DENTAL DISEASES...........................265

Individual oral care....................................................265

From the history of the emergence of oral hygiene products...................265

Oral care products and methods....................................266

Toothpastes........................................................267

Biologically active components of toothpastes.................................268

Combination of fluoride preparations...................................270

Antimicrobial components of toothpastes....................................271

Controlling the safety of toothpastes...................................272

Mouth rinse solutions............................................275

Toothbrushes........................................................277

Teeth brushing methods...................................................282

Electric brushes...................................................283

Dental floss....................................................284

Toothpicks...................................................284

Irrigation devices...................................285

Professional hygiene...................................................285

Technique..........................................................287

Air driven scalers...................................288

Hand tools.............................................288

Polishing the surface of the teeth...................................288

Professional hygiene for patients with implanted teeth

and in HIV patients...................................290

Preventive treatment.........................................290

Identification of patients for preventive treatment....................................291

Treatment of active dental caries and choice of material.................................292

Sealants (sealants) for enamel fissures....................................294

Antimicrobial agents and their use to suppress infection.........296

Chlorhexidine........................................296

Fluorides for topical use...................................297

Fluoride varnish........................................298

Phosphate Acidified Sodium Fluoride Gels...................................300

Market for preventive services in dentistry....................................301

System of diagnostics and preventive treatment......302

Sample text of letters to patients..................................303

CHAPTER 14. PREVENTION OF CAVITY CANCER A...................309

Prevalence of oral cancer...................................309

The main causes of oral cancer...................................310

Smoking tobacco........................................310

Smokeless tobacco.........................................311

Other causes of cancer...................................................313

The role of the dentist in diagnosis and prevention....................................314

Screening examination of the mucous membrane....................................314

Diagnosis of oral cancer using toluidine blue.........316

Factors that prevent the development of oral cancer....................................316

CHAPTER 15. PREVENTION IN OLDER AGE....................................319

Level and significance of the problem...................................319

Prevention is the main way to achieve health................................324

Cervical caries...................................................325

Periodontal diseases...................................................327

Abrasion of hard dental tissues...................................328

CHAPTER 16. SANITARY AND HYGIENIC EDUCATION OF THE POPULATION -

AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS.........330

Definition and principles...................................330

Positive Communication........................................................333

Motivation for the formation of health needs.................................... 333

Obtaining medical knowledge - the process of cognition.................................... 334

Hygienic education of children of primary preschool age...................336

Hygienic education of schoolchildren...................................341

Main results of the study.............................343

Methodology for conducting health education for parents...................................348

Features of medical education of the adult population................350

CHAPTER 17. MAIN DIRECTIONS AND METHODS OF PREVENTION

DENTAL ANOMALIES AND DEFORMATIONS...................352

Occlusion and developmental anomalies...................................352

The main reasons for the development of dentofacial anomalies and deformations...........355

Artificial feeding...................................................357

Pathology of the upper respiratory tract...................................357

Bad habits........................................................357

Diseases of the teeth and jaws...................................358

Violation of the physiological balance of muscles ........................... 358

Prevention of dental anomalies and deformations depending on the causes

their development........................................................358

Prevention of dental anomalies during intrauterine development.....362

Prevention of dental anomalies associated with artificial

breastfeeding.........................................364

Prevention of dental anomalies and deformations associated with harmful

habits........................................366

Dysfunction of nasal breathing...................................366

Prevention of dental anomalies and deformations associated with destruction

and lack of teeth...................................................369

Hygienic education in the process of orthodontic treatment.................................371

CHAPTER 18. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS

PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS....................................377

Historical experience and perspectives...................................377

Situation analysis.............................................380

Setting Measurable Goals for a Prevention Program...................................385

Planning preventative measures.........................389

Prevention of dental diseases among the population of Belarus.....389

Results of the program implementation.............................393

Implementation of a project to make fluoride-containing toothpastes affordable......394

Justification of the project.............................................394

Efficiency of using the new paste........................395

Using Toothpaste in a Community Project................................396

CONCLUSION...................................................398

Dental health of the future...................................398

APPENDIX...................................................402

Card for assessing dental status (WHO. 1997)................... 402

Introduction

Numerous reports, including data from the World Health Organization, indicate that the end of the 20th century saw a decline in the prevalence of dental diseases in a number of Western countries.

In recent decades, prevention as an independent discipline has received exceptionally rapid development in world practice. This was facilitated by the active position of WHO and the successful implementation of a number of disease prevention programs, on the basis of which practical approaches were formed and methods of preventive work were developed. These include the doctrine of a healthy lifestyle, the transitional state between health and disease (pre-disease), risk factors for diseases, adaptation and maladaptation. These areas of research, a significant part of which were carried out in the USSR and Russia, became the basis of the subject of prevention as a scientific discipline. They arose in connection with the real need of the population, determined by the level of its health, the frequency of detection of initial forms of diseases associated with an increased risk of their occurrence.

Not so long ago, the objects of study in dentistry were dental caries and gum disease. As science developed, the list of problems and subjects of study related to dentistry expanded. This is due to the unique characteristics of the oral cavity, which includes, in addition to the teeth and gums, the connective tissue and bone structures that support them, the hard and soft palate, mucous membrane, tongue, lips, salivary glands, masticatory muscles, upper and lower jaws, masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint. At the same time, an important component of the oral cavity is also an extensive network of blood and lymphatic vessels, nerve endings that nourish and protect tissues, ensuring their connection with the brain and with the entire human body. In this regard, the authors showed that dental health means much more than maintaining teeth in good condition. It indicates the absence of any pain in the maxillofacial area, symptoms of common diseases and neoplasms, congenital defects of the palate or lips. The healthy state of the organs and tissues of the maxillofacial complex ensures the comfortable performance of vital functions, including speech, breathing, chewing and swallowing food, as well as the expression of a person’s psycho-emotional state.

Introduction

The textbook emphasizes that by carefully studying the condition of the maxillofacial complex, it is possible to identify symptoms of malnutrition, various systemic diseases, including infectious and immune diseases, as well as some malignant tumors. Therefore, the ancient expression “the mouth is the mirror of the body” most accurately reflects the importance of information about the state of health that can be obtained through a comprehensive dental examination.

Medical professionals, including dental personnel, play a significant role in ensuring dental health. However, it is important that recommendations and information from their side are not only heard, but also put into practice by each person. These recommendations include regular visits to the dentist, daily oral care, stopping tobacco use and other tips to reduce the risk of dental disease by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A significant part of this textbook is devoted to these issues.

There is no doubt that the concept of general and dental health in the 21st century will undoubtedly be the promotion of human health and disease prevention, since major dental diseases can be eliminated through the implementation of adequate social policies. One of the tasks of dental personnel is to convince political and public figures at various levels to take the necessary social measures aimed at solving the problems of strengthening general and dental health, and to take part in their implementation themselves. A number of domestic researchers have noted a stabilization and even a decrease in the level of dental diseases in some regions of the country.

The authors of this publication considered their main goal to focus the attention of students and dentists on the possibility of significantly improving the dental health of the population through the introduction of community and individual prevention methods. This has now become a reality thanks to the accumulated international experience in studying data on the prevalence of dental diseases and a clear clinical understanding of the mechanism of their development.

When presenting Chapter 17 “Main directions and methods of preventing dentoalveolar anomalies and deformations”, the works of V. G. Suntsov were used, and in a number of chapters of the preventive profile - the works of A. G. Kolesnik and P. A. Leus. The authors express their sincere gratitude to them.

Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor V.K. Leontiev, Professor G.N. Pakhomov

It goes without saying how important oral hygiene is. After eating, acids always form in the mouth, which negatively affect the enamel of the teeth - they corrode it. If acids are not cleaned in time, they form deposits and accumulations, which can result in the formation of stones and holes. And against the backdrop of weakened and bleeding gums, the situation becomes even worse. To avoid this, hygiene rules must be observed.

General rules of oral hygiene

Brushing your teeth isn't everything. Hygiene begins with proper nutrition and only then can you think about preventative measures. Here are a few important rules, failure to comply with which may put you at risk:

Reduce the use of lemons and acidic foods in their pure form to a minimum. You can drink tea with lemon, but do not eat the fruit in slices.
Avoid sticky sweets such as toffee. Such sweets are difficult to clean from teeth. They also often cause toothache: .
Lightly brush your teeth and rinse after every snack. It is not necessary to use toothpaste every time - just rub your teeth with a soft brush.

It is equally important to know that you need to brush your teeth 2 times a day: the first time after the first meal, and the second time at night.

After you have had a snack, use the following modern means as a preventive measure:

Chewing gum without sugar (with its help you can additionally clean your teeth);
Teeth rinse (cleanses plaque and food debris);
Plain water (for rinsing if no other means are available).

Choosing a toothpaste and brush

To ensure that a visit to the dentist does not result in gum treatment or tooth extraction, choose a good toothpaste. They are usually divided into two types:

Hygienic . Serve only to clean teeth from plaque. Some of them additionally freshen your breath. But that's where their advantages end.
Preventive . They are more extensive in their effect - they save from caries, protect enamel, strengthen gums. There are a number of herbal-based anti-inflammatory toothpastes available. There are series of pastes with a whitening effect; it is better to use them rarely so as not to damage the enamel. You can also read the article about.

Instead of toothpaste, you can use powder. Its effect is no worse, and often better, because the composition uses natural ingredients. By the way, the cost of the powder is an order of magnitude less.

Choosing a quality toothbrush is another way to keep your teeth perfectly clean. All brushes differ in degree of hardness:

the toughest (for removable dentures);
medium hard;
soft (for weakened gums and for children).

The toothbrush is changed every 2 months and is used by only one person. If you want a more serious approach, you can also invest in an electric toothbrush, but even then, it's not so much the brush that's important, but the brushing technique.

Proper brushing of teeth

How to brush your teeth correctly? This has been written about in detail. In short, the training is simple: to do this, the brush must move from the gum to the edge of the tooth in a sweeping motion.

If food gets stuck in your teeth, use dental floss. This is the best remedy to get rid of food particles in the interdental spaces. Sometimes only after flossing you get the feeling that your teeth have been cleaned, it copes so well with food residues.

If you don't have dental floss, try using a toothpick. With its help, you can remove pinpoint accumulations of food debris. Its only downside is that it can damage your gums, so proceed with extreme caution.

To remove food debris, hold the toothpick at a 45-degree angle to the tooth.

If problems with gums arise, dentists advise using irrigators - devices for removing food debris using streams of water. The irrigator removes plaque and massages the gums.

It is recommended to visit a dentist once every six months to consult about the condition of your teeth and detect problems in time. Don't wait until pain occurs - go to the doctor if stone, plaque, caries or an unpleasant odor appears. It is better to deal with diseases in the early stages. Especially if it's .

Oral hygiene in children

There is no fundamental difference between brushing the teeth of children and adults, but there are still subtleties and some nuances.

In the very first months of a baby's life, parents should take care of their gums. After feeding, the gums are wiped with napkins soaked in soda solution or fingertips with the same composition.

When baby teeth appear, it's time to learn. Buy your child some children's toothpaste and a brush. The first tests should be short - 20 seconds each. Subsequent cleanings should be increased in duration.

To encourage a child to become interested in brushing their teeth, special games, calendars and fairy tales are used.

The manufacturer will tell you which teeth cleaning products to choose for your child. Typically, a baby brush has a short handle and soft bristles, and the toothpaste has a pleasant taste.

Teach your child to take no more toothpaste than the nail of his little finger. This way he will learn to dose the paste correctly.

As additional care for babies, you can use special wipes. They contain xylitol, which kills bacteria that grow on the gums and tooth enamel. Such napkins should be kept in the refrigerator so that their cold relieves possible pain.

Over time, the child becomes accustomed to dental floss, learning to use it between meals.

How to take care of your mouth with removable dentures?

When a patient is fitted with a prosthesis, the rules for caring for the oral cavity change slightly. You cannot neglect the recommendations of doctors, otherwise the prosthesis will not last as long as it can and will very quickly lose its aesthetic appearance.

The main problem with removable dentures is that you still need to get used to them. At first, while addiction is underway, you can acquire protection against irritation in the oral cavity. Special preparations help cleanse the oral cavity additionally. As soon as the unpleasant sensations during habituation pass, the aids can be discontinued.

There are disadvantages to using removable structures. Due to the prosthesis:

natural cleansing of the oral cavity is disrupted;
the circulation of the mucous membrane in the mouth changes;
heat exchange, even diction and taste properties of products are disrupted.

The gums are the first to suffer from improper oral hygiene with dentures. Due to bacterial plaque, the gums become inflamed, hence the unpleasant odor. You can read about the causes of bad breath. To prevent this from happening, your bathroom shelf should always have:

Fixing creams and pads (special products for artificial teeth);
Powders with a cleansing effect (can also be purchased in tablet form);
Cleaning brush for cleaning the prosthesis;
Additional means for cleaning artificial teeth.

You must also purchase:

A special paste that is used to clean the interdental spaces;
Brush for cleaning interdental spaces;
A toothbrush with the softest bristles;
Dental floss;
Rinse to strengthen gums;
Tablets to detect dental plaque.

Good care of the denture means that it is free of plaque and food particles. To achieve this, do the following:

Clean your denture 2 times a day;
Rinse your mouth after each meal and rinse your denture under running water;
Clean your removable teeth in a disinfectant solution;
Remove dentures at night.

Be especially careful with the inner surface of the denture – the place where it contacts the gums.

When the prosthesis needs to be transported, use a special container for this.

What are oral hygiene indices?

Why do you need to know the oral hygiene index? This information is important for the dentist to reflect on the patient's treatment picture. There are quite a lot of such indices, each is needed to determine a narrower direction in treatment, for example, periodontal disease.

The most common index reflects dental caries damage. This takes into account:

Carious teeth;
Filled teeth;
Extracted or to be extracted teeth.

The dental scores are added up, and then the indicator gives an idea of the intensity of caries development in a particular patient.

The level of intensity of caries development is expressed as a percentage, where from 80% the intensity is high, and up to 30% is the lowest.

To evaluate the effectiveness of oral hygiene, a special test is performed - tooth staining. The index is calculated for each tooth in a special code, and then the data is displayed in a total amount. In the same way, bite, gum condition, aesthetic index, etc. are assessed.

How can you use the hygiene index at home and why is it needed? You will be able to evaluate for yourself how well you are taking care of your teeth. For the test and objective assessment, you need to purchase a special dye. It stains deposits on teeth. The more intense the staining, the lower the assessment of the hygienic condition of the teeth.

What are the consequences of poor oral hygiene?

Even if you think you take good care of your teeth and brush them thoroughly every day, reconsider your rules. An indicator of quality hygiene is always the absence of dental problems, healthy gums and a pleasant breath. If at least one of the conditions is absent, then care is carried out poorly or incorrectly.

Most dental diseases occur solely due to poor hygiene.

Caries and tartar are a consequence of the accumulation of plaque on the teeth. It is located even in non-obvious places:

In the incisor pits;
Between teeth;
Under the gum in the neck of the tooth;
On the gums.

If you do not monitor the plaque and do not clean it off in time, the accumulations form a microbial environment that has a destructive effect on the upper tissues of the tooth. Hence the caries.

Even if you regularly visit the dentist who treats your caries, prolonged untimely oral care threatens a relapse of the development of dental disease. Filled teeth will have to be re-treated, and with them gum diseases - periodontitis and gingivitis - will have to be thoroughly dealt with.

The accumulation of microbes in the oral cavity is not only an aesthetic problem. Bad teeth affect the functioning of the entire body, causing stomach diseases and allergic reactions.

What is required for proper teeth brushing? (video)

Watch an educational video about what is considered proper oral hygiene.

Dental health can only be guaranteed by proper oral hygiene. If you don't pay attention to it, problems will arise over time: caries, periodontal disease, loss of bone units. A clear symptom of poor hygiene is the smell, which is especially noticeable during a conversation. Diseases can develop due to ignorance of the rules of care.

Oral hygiene concept

If we talk about the definition of hygiene, then it includes measures for the care and removal of plaque from teeth, which help prevent oral diseases. The procedure must be carried out correctly, including superficial removal of deposits and deep cleansing of the interdental space and gingival grooves.

Proper hygiene includes:

brushing with a toothbrush and paste;
use of additional products (thread, rinse aid, etc.);
visiting a doctor for professional cleaning and evaluation of tissue condition.

A visit to the dentist should be scheduled every six months. Without cleansing with special tools, hygiene will be insufficient, which can provoke the occurrence of inflammation and diseases.

Types of hygiene

Home

High-quality home oral hygiene can reduce the impact of pathogenic bacteria on the body. The essence of individual dental hygiene is care using basic products:

brushes and pastes;
floss (dental floss) (we recommend reading: what is the difference between waxed and unwaxed dental floss);
rinse liquid.

Also included in the list of home oral hygiene measures is a self-examination to identify inflammation, plaque and caries. We'll talk more about hygiene products below.

Professional

Proper professional oral hygiene is carried out by a hygienist using special devices and materials:

hard and soft brushes with different bristle lengths;
irrigators;
ultrasonic devices;
abrasives;
therapeutic ointments.

Removing plaque from teeth is an excellent method of preventing periodontal disease. The specialist determines the level of hygiene; after cleaning the crowns, carious lesions and the natural color of the enamel become visible, which is important for the restoration of the bite. As a rule, the procedure is performed according to the algorithm:

Methodology for assessing the hygienic condition of the oral cavity

An assessment of the hygienic state of the oral cavity is carried out to select methods and materials for cleaning, caring for teeth and mucous membranes. The doctor uses special means (Lugol's solution, fuchsin, etc.) to identify dental plaque and evaluate the effectiveness of hygiene measures. The dye is applied to the enamel, after which the specialist determines the area occupied by plaque and its thickness.

Oral hygiene assessment is performed using a special table. The quality of hygiene is determined depending on the intensity of pigmentation of each tooth:

The enamel contamination index in each clinic is determined by its own methods. Scale used to measure deposits and coloring agents may vary.

Proper oral care

Dental care

Dental hygiene begins with the choice of toothpaste and brush. There are several types of pastes:

For proper oral hygiene, it is important to choose the right brush. It is better to buy a product with artificial fibers - the fibers in them have a smooth surface and the ends are rounded. You need to pay attention to such a parameter as the stiffness of the bristles - as a rule, brushes of medium hardness are suitable for most adults.

It is necessary to take care of your toothbrush, keeping it clean. After use, the product must be dried; it should not be left without a hygienic lid next to the toilet. It is advisable to purchase an ultraviolet sterilizer, which is designed to kill bacteria on the bristles.

To remove plaque and food particles between the teeth, flat and round threads are used in spools or on special holders. They are impregnated with a germ-killing composition and allow mechanical removal of deposits.

If there are orthopedic structures, implants, or wide gaps between teeth, interdental brushes and irrigators are used. These devices are selected by the doctor individually for the patient and allow you to remove plaque from all hard-to-reach places.

Mucous membrane care

Hygiene involves not only removing deposits from the interdental spaces, but also cleansing the oral mucosa. On the inner surface of the cheeks, between the villi of the tongue, microparticles of food accumulate, which create ideal conditions for the proliferation of bacteria.

To maintain a healthy mouth, it is necessary to clean the palate, buccal mucosa and tongue. To do this, you can use a regular toothbrush or a bandage wrapped around your finger.

Basic hygiene

Basic oral care products

The list of care products includes:

Your home arsenal can be replenished with hygiene aids - a tongue scraper and a toothbrush with a textured surface on the back of the head. These devices provide effective removal of plaque from soft tissues.

Maintaining good hygiene helps maintain oral health. For each person, the rules presented below should become a habit:

Instructions for daily cleaning of the oral cavity

To properly perform oral hygiene, you need to adhere to a certain scheme. Taking care of your teeth comes down to simple instructions:

You need to brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes, and then start massaging your gums, making circular movements with a brush or finger for 30-60 seconds.

The next stage is cleaning the oral mucosa:

Using a toothbrush, brush the inside of your cheeks several times.
Lightly pressing the scraper or the back grooved side of the brush head, run along the tongue, first from root to tip, then across.
Rinse your mouth with water.

Tear off about 30-40 cm and wrap it around your fingers.
Having brought it into the interdental gap, press the floss to the tooth and move it up and down 3-5 times.
To clean the next gap, rewind the thread on your fingers to use the clean section.
It is important not to touch the gums - the soft tissue is easily injured.

Morning and evening oral hygiene ends with the use of a rinse. You should take 2 teaspoons of the product into your mouth and roll it for a minute.

The entire hygiene procedure takes no more than 10 minutes. Following the timing will help maintain the condition of your teeth at a high level. With careful care, most periodontal diseases and bone loss can be avoided.

Consequences of poor hygiene

The oral cavity is an ideal environment for the development of microorganisms. It is humid and warm, so poor oral hygiene leads to serious consequences:

Having appeared in the mouth, the infection spreads throughout the body, penetrating the internal organs. Toxic waste products of bacteria increase the load on the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and heart. An infection in the oral cavity can in the future provoke the development of arthritis, hearing, smell and vision disorders.

Interesting facts about maintaining dental health

Conscientious oral care involves brushing your teeth daily. However, a person practically does not think about other points:

The enamel is subject to stress during food intake. Acids, as well as bacterial waste products, are especially dangerous for her - this is a fact (we recommend reading:). Fluoride copes well with caries - it “seals” microcracks, restoring damaged areas. It is important to use fluoride toothpaste at least once a day (preferably after breakfast).
The frequency of meals has a stronger effect on enamel than diet. Snacking simply destroys hard tissue, since a person usually consumes foods and drinks containing starch and sugar during lunch. This provokes the proliferation of microbes that produce toxic acids. They have a destructive effect on the enamel.
Sweets on children's menus provoke the development of dental caries. A good option to combat the disease is to limit the consumption of sweets, cakes, sweet soda and replace them with fruits, homemade yoghurts and pancakes.

Everyone wants to have a snow-white, healthy smile, but not everyone knows what to do to achieve this. Some people limit themselves to buying commercial toothpaste and an expensive brush. However, this is often not enough. To keep your teeth healthy, your breath fresh, and gum problems never overtake you, simple but proper oral hygiene should become a daily ritual for you. What oral care should be like, what means exist for this today, and the rules for brushing teeth that everyone needs to know, you will find in the article.

Basics of oral hygiene

Even in ancient times, doctors insisted that a person is healthy as long as his teeth are healthy. If you take proper care of your teeth, pay proper attention to your gums, and carefully select oral products, you can keep your mouth healthy, prevent everyone from visiting an unloved dentist, and save a considerable amount of money on dental treatment. Oral hygiene should be carried out regularly and correctly. It should consist of:

Brushing teeth with a brush and paste.
Oral care after every meal.
Cleaning interdental spaces.

Oral care rules

Any girl should know the following rules and put them into practice. If you haven't done them all before, it's never too late to introduce them into your life. You will be surprised how easy it is to provide your teeth and gums with proper care, which will quickly become a habit:

Rule No. 1: teeth should be brushed 2 times a day, before going to bed in the evening and after going to bed in the morning.
Rule No. 2: do not forget about preventive examinations at the dentist once every six months. If you follow this rule, you will be able to prevent gum and tooth disease in the early stages of development.
Rule No. 3: choosing teeth cleaning products is a serious matter. You shouldn’t buy the first paste you come across, and the brush needs to be changed at least once every 3 months.
Rule #4: Oral care doesn’t end with brushing your teeth: don’t forget about your tongue, cheeks and gums.
Rule No. 5: After every meal, you must remove leftover food. Ideally, you should brush your teeth with toothpaste and a brush, but in practice this is most often impossible. Therefore, you can use an affordable alternative: mouth rinses cope with this task with a bang, removing food particles and freshening your breath. And at work or school, chewing gum will come to the rescue.
Rule #6: Use dental floss to clean the spaces between your teeth.
Rule No. 7: fluoride substances in the paste begin to “work” 3 minutes after contact with the tooth. You need to brush your teeth for at least this amount of time, because you want to not only cleanse, but also strengthen the enamel.

Step-by-step instructions for daily oral cleaning

Teeth need to be brushed correctly, then oral care will be of high quality. By removing all plaque, you will protect your teeth from caries, and your gums from gingivitis, periodontitis and other diseases. The step-by-step scheme for cleaning the oral cavity is as follows:

The procedure begins with traditional teeth cleaning with paste and brush. Position the brush so that the bristles cover the outside of your teeth. Move the brush from the gum to the edge of the teeth in a sweeping motion.
The inner surface of the teeth must be cleaned with exactly the same sweeping movements using the same pattern.
Then position the brush so that the bristles cover the chewing surface. The back and forth motion will help clean the chewing surface.
Repeat this for the upper and lower jaw. Do not press the brush too hard.
Close your jaw and massage your gums with gentle movements using a brush.
Cleaning your tongue: you can use a special tongue scraper or a brush if it has a special cleaning surface. Make a couple of movements from the root to the tip of the tongue.
Cleaning the inner surface of the cheeks: repeat the procedure similar to cleaning the tongue now for the inner surface of the cheeks. Rinse your mouth with clean water.
Let's move on to thread floss. Take about 30 cm of dental floss and wrap the ends around your index fingers, leaving a 10 cm gap between them. Holding the floss firmly between your fingers, guide it into the tooth space, then press it against the surface of one of the teeth and move it up and down. To clean the adjacent gap, use a clean section of thread. When flossing, do not touch your gums. It is forbidden to use dental floss if you have periodontitis.
The final stage is rinse aid. There is no need to take a full mouthful of rinse liquid; about 2 teaspoons is enough. Rinse your mouth thoroughly for a minute.

Oral hygiene will not take you more than 10 minutes in the morning and evening. Do everything right and your teeth and gums will be healthy. Now let's learn more about oral hygiene products.

Choosing oral care products

Oral hygiene products are also important in quality care. We will help you make the right choice by telling you what to look for when purchasing.

Choosing pasta

Forget all the advertisements you saw on TV. When choosing toothpaste, it is not at all necessary to buy the most expensive one available in the store. Whether it is a domestic manufacturer or a foreign one also does not play a major role. The compositions of the pastes are most often identical. What you need to pay attention to is the fluoride content. Products with fluoride are only suitable for the prevention of caries, but if this scourge has already befallen you, fluoride-containing toothpastes will only worsen the condition of your teeth. Pay attention to the purpose of the product. For daily use, you need a therapeutic-and-prophylactic or complex paste, but be careful with bleaching ones. When choosing a whitening paste, it is better to consult your dentist.

Choosing a brush

Toothbrushes are primarily divided into electric and conventional for manual cleaning. The former cope with the task better, but are also more expensive. It is recommended to change attachments as often as a regular brush, so the question of choice quite often comes down to finances. An electric toothbrush can easily clean the furthest teeth without you having to make any effort: just move the brush from tooth to tooth. When choosing an electric brush, pay attention to the nozzle itself. It can be simply cleansing or whitening. The type of power is also important: battery-powered brushes are cheaper, but with a battery they are more convenient.

A regular hand brush comes in 3 levels of hardness: soft, medium and hard. Soft bristles are gentle on teeth and gums, but do not clean well, while hard bristles are too aggressive. Dentists advise choosing the golden mean - medium-hard bristles.

Choosing floss threads

All dental flosses are thin fibers twisted together. The choice of this oral care product is quite large. More expensive threads are made from silk fibers, while cheaper options are made from synthetic fibers. Floss threads can be lubricated, ungreased, fluoridated, flat, round, embossed, and scented. Dentists recommend choosing a flat, lubricated thread; it is more convenient to use and reduces the risk of injury to the gums. Waxed threads are suitable for beginners; they are more durable and therefore ideal for first attempts. If you want to provide your teeth with additional protection against caries, use fluoridated floss.

Choosing a rinse aid

The mouthwash has a wide range of effects: removes plaque, kills bacteria, freshens breath, heals wounds, and prevents caries. Different types of rinses are intended for different purposes: therapeutic and preventive. The main goal of preventive rinses is to keep your breath fresh. But medicinal ones can be intended to combat inflammation, bleeding gums, and tooth sensitivity. Initially, you need to decide on the task that the rinse aid will need to perform. Prophylactic products are suitable for daily use.

In conclusion, I would like to note the importance of regular visits to the dentist. For example, if you have a problem such as bleeding gums, rinsing with herbal decoctions and using special pastes will not solve the problem completely, but if you contact a specialist, it will correct the situation in half an hour. Take care of your oral cavity and be healthy!