Don't rush when you brush

Everyone wants the brightest, whitest, smile in town. We’re all buying into the latest DIY whitening kits that promise amazing results in just one use, or splurging out at the dentists to remove those deep rooted stains that will not come off no matter how hard you scrub. However, if we just took a closer look at some of the causes of tooth erosion/decay, we would find that there are many lifestyle changes we can make at home to keep our teeth as healthy as possible. Not only would this save us hundreds of pounds but it will also help our teeth in the long run.

Oral hygiene is vital, despite the constant reminding of the “two times a day for two minutes” it is rarely done. Most people spend less than half the recommended two minutes of brushing their teeth and some even fail to brush their teeth at all. Although the most obvious reason for oral health issues being not effectively brushing the teeth there are other ways in which oral problems occur. Such as teeth wear- the three main types of teeth wear being:
v  Erosion-The loss of tooth tissue by a chemical process that does not involve bacteria, acids are most commonly involved in the dissolution process. Internal acids can erode teeth such as when acid reflux occurs. External erosion is down to our diets, acidic food such as citrus food are an example. Another is fizzy drinks. These liquids cause the enamel to weaken and begin to wear, which is indicated by white marks that overtime decay turning yellow and then brown.
v  Abrasion-The abnormal wearing away of tooth tissue by a mechanical process, by abrasive forces being used on the teeth. An example is brushing vigorously; resulting in the enamel becoming weak and wearing down.
v  Attrition-The physiological wearing away of the tooth surface as a result of tooth to tooth contact. The main causes are clenching and grinding, this causes the enamel to wear away and overtime could lead to the dentine to be stained and exposed. If this is done consciously then it should be prevented. However, in many cases this occurs whilst sleeping and therefore mouth guards should be worn to prevent this. 

Oral problems can lead to many effects on the teeth. Less problematic problems can result in fillings, which are often a mixture of metal that are placed to cover holes or prevent them from occurring. Whereas more severe problems could lead to teeth extractions.

Preventing oral problems can be made easy by knowing what to do. Making sure you brush at least two minutes twice a day will be of great benefit. When brushing your teeth it is important to not miss out the gums, tongue and roof and base of the mouth making sure you don’t use too much pressure is also vital. Flossing is also key, as it prevents the build up of plaque, this should be done gently yet if bleeding does occur it is not always abnormal. Furthermore, cutting down on sugary foods and fizzing drinks stop the teeth from wearing. Many dentist also recommend the use of electrical toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste and mouthwashes.  

Hope you found this insightful. Thanks for reading.
Written by Aarti Chopra
Universal Medicine

Sources:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Dentalhome.aspx

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