Dentistry: Art or Necessity?

How To Keep Healthy Teeth For A Lifetime

A smile can last a lifetime-if you take care of it. For that reason, it's important for parents to instill good oral health habits in children as early as possible.
 
According to U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona's "National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health" report, children lose more than 51 million school hours and adults lose more than 164 million work hours each year due to dental disease or dental visits. The nation's total bill for dental services was estimated to be more than $70.1 billion in 2002.
 
"Oral health disease is making disturbing inroads into communities across the country," Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate-Palmolive's Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations, explains. "For children between the ages of 5 and 17 here in the U.S., tooth decay is more common than asthma, more common than hay fever, and it poses a significant threat to our children's overall health and well-being."
 
 Recently, during the celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month, Colgate and Dr. Carmona unveiled "The U.S. Surgeon General's Seven Steps to a Bright Smile," tips that were developed, with a grant from Colgate-Palmolive, to help keep teeth and gums strong and healthy:
 
 1. Brush teeth and gums with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime.
 
 2. Visit the dentist regularly.
 
 3. Floss your teeth daily.
 
 4. Use fluoride rinse for strong, healthy teeth and gums.
 
 5. Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day-and remember to practice healthy eating and get plenty of calcium.
 
 6. Wear a mouthguard when playing sports.
 
 7. Ask your dental professional about dental sealants.
 
 Through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, Colgate has reached more than 50 million children with free dental screenings, treatment referrals and oral health education. The company is more than halfway to meeting a public commitment it made to reach 100 million children with these services by the year 2010. Bright Smiles, Bright Futures empowers children to take control of their oral health and helps to generate greater awareness about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.

Good Dental Care Means Regular Brushing & Flossing

Face it, as we age, our teeth become worn and dull. One way to limit the dull look is to take control and develop a consistent oral hygene regimen. This effort should include brushing your teeth regularly with a quality, soft bristle toothbrush and the use of dental floss. Nothing else can do more for your overall outlook than a healthy and clean mouth.
 
Over time and through use, we wear down the protective enamel or outer coating of our teeth. Like almost anything else that ages, this leads to a worn and less then beautiful smile. Unfortunately, this wearing away of the enamel also creates small ridges where food and beverages act to discolor your teeth.
 
You can decrease your chances of having tooth decay by cleaning your teeth on a regular basis. Chronic gingivitis (bleeding gum disease) will heal as long as you are able to keep plaque under control. For some adults however, the buildup and retention of plaque is much more of a problem. For some reason, plaque seems to adhere much better to their teeth and builds up quickly even if brushing and flossing regularly.
 
Your daily diet is one of the numerous contributing factors to plaque, and also the consistency of your diet. Good oral care demands a proper brushing of your teeth at least twice and preferably three times a day. Of course, dental care professionals have recommended brushing after every meal or snack.
 
It's also important to remember to brush properly in order to remove plaque. The elderly and children often need to use utensils other than a simple toothbrush to do this. Plaque cannot be "prevented" necessarily; but it can be "controlled" by simply brushing correctly and brushing often. If you have a constant bad build up of plaque, you should probably consider one of the more popular sonic type toothbrushes. These do a great job at controlling plaque build up though are quite a bit more expensive than a regular toothbrush.
 
Sometimes people having hand eye coordination difficulties may benefit from a simple electric toothbrush. These handly gizmos are also great for older folks who might have problems with holding their hand up to use a regular toothbrush. Kids are another group that an electric toothbrush might help to get the job of oral hygeine done correctly in the least amount of time. Remember that there are a variety of tools that are used to clean hard to reach areas: dental floss that come in a variety of types like waxed, non-waxed, flat, round and textured, with baking soda, with fluoride and flavored. There's also dental floss holders. These items can be found at drug stores, grocery stores or through medical supply stores.
 
 There are many benefits to brushing and flossing your teeth. First and foremost, you can help prevent tooth decay by this practice. A good tooth brushing and use of a quality floss will keep dental plaque and other debris from becoming stuck between and on your teeth. Brushing and flossing also prevent gum disease, which is a primary agent in decaying and lost teeth.

On the next page we will discuss Family Dental Care and Dental Insurance.