Personal Dental Health >> Personal Dental Care

This section is about what you need to do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

  • Flossing and Brushing
  • Nutrition
  • Prevention
  • Spot Trouble Early
  • Regular Checkup

Flossing

Flossing removes plaque and bacteria that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. If you don't floss, you are missing more than one-third of your tooth surface. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease. It is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day.
Within 24 to 36 hours, plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which can only be removed by professional cleaning. Floss at least once a day, and plaque never gets the chance to harden into tartar.

Be sure to ask your dentist how to floss with ease.

Brushing

Regular, thorough brushing is a very important step in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing removes the bacteria that promote tooth decay and the plaque that can cause gum disease.

Ideally, you should brush after every meal, because the bacterial attack on teeth begins minutes after eating. At the very least, brush once a day and always before you go to bed.
Be sure to ask your dentist, the correct manner to brush your teeth.

Nutrition

A balanced and nutritious diet is good for your general health and your dental health. Without the right nutrients, your teeth and gums can become more susceptible to decay and gum disease.

Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems.

  • Try to choose sugar-free snacks - see the snacks listed below.
  • Add less sugar to coffee or tea (or use sugar substitutes).
  • Avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
  • Look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar.
  • Honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar, glucose, and fructose are all types of sugar.
  • When you do eat sweets, avoid sticky sweets. They cling to teeth and are harder to brush away. Eat sweets with a meal, not as a snack. The increased flow of saliva during a meal helps to wash away and dilute sugar.

Prevention

Research now shows there may be a link between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. While this research is ongoing, there is increasing evidence to support that a healthy mouth is an important part of a healthy life.

Help keep your mouth healthy by following these five steps:

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene:

  • Using a soft bristle toothbrush, brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Choose a size and shape that allow you to reach all the way to your back teeth.
  • There are many different types of brushes, so ask your dentist to suggest the best toothbrush for you.
  • Floss everyday. If you don't floss, you are missing more than one-third (1/3) of your tooth surface.
  • When choosing oral care products, look for the IDA Approved Seal of Recognition.

2. Eat a well-balanced diet.

  • Healthy food is good for your general and oral health.
  • Without the nutrients that come from foods, your teeth and gums cannot fight cavities and gum disease.
  • Avoid excess sugar, as it is one of the main causes of dental problems.

3. Check your mouth regularly.

  • Look for warning signs of gum disease such as red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums; bleeding when you brush or floss; or bad breath that won't go away.
  • Report any of these warning signs to your dentist.
  • Gum disease is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth.

4 Don't smoke.

  • Tobacco use is a major cause of tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious problems like oral cancer.
  • Tobacco can cause heart disease and a variety of cancers.

5. See your dentist regularly.

  • Regular check-ups and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop problems from getting worse.

Spot Trouble Early

Warning Sign The Problem?
Bad breath that doesn't go away The cause might be gum disease, food, drinking, smoking, medicine you are taking or a health condition. If you cannot get rid of bad breath with daily brushing and flossing, see your dentist.
Your gums bleed when you brush or floss If you just started to floss, a little bleeding is normal. But if you bleed almost every time you brush or floss your teeth, see your dentist.
Dry Mouth For women, menopause may be the cause. It is also a side effect of many common medicines. It does not feel good and it can make dental problems worse. You need to tell your dentist if you have this problem.
A tooth that is a little bit loose A loose tooth could be caused by gum disease or by a blow to the mouth. In any case, it is a serious problem. You should see your dentist.
A sore mouth A sore mouth might be caused by false teeth that don't fit well. It could also be from leaving false teeth in overnight. "Burning mouth syndrome" is a problem that affects some older women. Not eating the right kind of food may also be the cause.

Bleeding that you can't explain

Mouth sores that don't heal in 7 to 10 days

White or red patches in your mouth

Feeling numb or sore inside your mouth

These symptoms may be signs of oral cancer. See your dentist right away.

Teeth that are sensitive to:

  • Hot
  • Cold
  • Sweetness
  • Pressure

Teeth can become sensitive all of a sudden, or it can happen over time. In most cases, this kind of pain means something is wrong. Check with your dentist
  • Resources:
Canadian Dental Association