vrijdag 11 mei 2012

Keeping Teeth Clean to Keep Them

By Amy Sue Larson


Daily dental care is essential to keeping the teeth that came with your head. Most people go to the dentist fairly regularly (but often far less than the recommended two visits per year), but this is not enough. If your teeth only get cleaned two days a year, the other 363 days will take an irreparable toll.

Humans tend to have too many teeth. Chimps and other apes have long jaws compared to the rest of their heads, leaving plenty of room. By contrast, people have shorter jaws and a large brain cavity. These short jaws are still packed with teeth, and many people do not have room for all of them. It's common for the third set of molars, colloquially known as wisdom teeth, to grow in impacted or not at all, necessitating pulling.

In ancient times this overcrowding was probably partly a blessing in disguise. Dental care was primitive, and people lost teeth more often than now. But today, most people don't want to resort to hoping some of their adult teeth rot and fall out before their wisdom teeth grow in. Also, there is no guarantee that the wisdom teeth will grow in properly.

In modern times, brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly should be a habit for anyone who still has a full set of teeth and wishes to keep them. Parents often encourage brushing, but often neglect to teach flossing. This may be because flossing is harder to teach to young children, or because young children don't enjoy it as much, or because the parents don't realize the importance of both practices.

Regardless of childhood habits, brushing and flossing are both essential for a healthy mouth. This is because they address slightly different areas. Brushing teeth cleans the flat surfaces, and indentations in the grinding surface of the molars. By removing bacterial buildup, brushing can keep the surface of the tooth less likely to develop cavities.

Flossing is not simply a way to clean the parts of the tooth that cannot be addressed with a brush. While it certainly serves this function, floss more importantly cleans the area below the gumline, and keeps the gums healthy. Unhealthy gums tend to recede in conditions known as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Cavities and gum disease can independently lead to decay of the dentin, or soft inner pulp of a tooth. If this happens, a root canal may be necessary. If a root canal is not performed in time, the tooth may be lost. For those in the Phoenix area, Paul Varda, a local Chandler dentist, is a good choice.




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