The two most important weapons in the fight against dental disease are brushing and flossing. By taking the extra few minutes each day to properly brush and floss your teeth you could save yourself a lifetime of complicated, painful and costly dental procedures. It sounds like a fairly straightforward deal but many patients do take dental hygiene for granted.
Unlike the rest of the body where disease can strike at any time and can be unpreventable, almost all forms of dental disease are caused by our own oral hygiene deficiencies. By failing to brush and floss regularly we allow plaque to build up in the mouth. Plaque is a filmy substance made up of bacteria and other debris such as food particles. This acidic film breaks down the protective layer of tooth enamel that coats the teeth and causes cavities. These cavities penetrate to the heart of the tooth where infections can take hold in the incredibly sensitive inner part of the tooth. This can lead to toothache, abscesses and eventually tooth loss. All of this can be prevented by stopping the build up of plaque in the first instance. Effective brushing with a suitable brush and paste can remove the majority of plaque.
Another concern if plaque is allowed to build up is tartar. This is a hardened form of plaque that cannot be removed by conventional brushing and will need a dentist to remove using a process called scaling. Tartar also attacks enamel and leaves brown/yellow stains on the surface of the teeth.
It is hard for brushes to reach all parts of the mouth, such as the difficult gaps between the teeth. Plaque can build up here and food particles can get stuck. If these food particles start to decay they release foul smelling sulphurous compounds which are the cause of over 90 per cent of cases of bad breath. By flossing each day you can remove these particles and prevent the build up of plaque in these hard to reach places.
By brushing and flossing properly, and by making sure to visit the a central Leeds dentist every six months you will be able to keep your teeth clean and free form any nasty and painful dental problems.
Tags: brushing and flossing, dental hygienist, plaque, tooth ache
