It has been proven that plaque is the primary causative factor in tooth decay and an important factor in periodontal disease. Therefore, the removal of plaque is the very main goal in oral health care. There are many aspects, means and methods of removing plaque and almost all of it can be controlled by the individual and thus become his responsibility. Presented below is a short description of the basic oral care regimen.
Tooth and Tongue Brushing
Tooth brushing is one of the mechanical means of removing plaque. Aside from removing plaque, an added benefit is the reduction of the population of bacteria that causes bad breath specially if accompanied with tongue brushing. Among the many methods of tooth brushing the Modified Bass Method coupled with tongue brushing is highly recommended.
Areas to be considered when choosing a toothbrush are the following: 1) diameter, flexibility and strength of the bristles and 2) comfort, rigidity and lightness of the handle. The size and style of the toothbrush depends largely upon the toothbrushing method employed and the size of the individual's mouth. Toothbrushes are to be replaced regularly at least every 3 months or as soon as the bristles begin to fray.
Flossing
Flossing effectively removes plaque found in between teeth where a toothbrush bristle cannot reach. Flossing once a day promotes cleanliness and health by stimulation of the soft tissues in the area. As there are many available products in the market, recommendation is based on the individual's dentition, age and manual skills.
Oral Rinsing
Oral rinsing is a supplement to thorough mechanical cleansing of teeth, gums and other oral tissues. Most commercial oral rinses mask odors as well as provide antiseptic properties. A word of advice is that most oral rinses cannot kill all the offending microbes that cause tooth decay, gum problems and bad breath.
Oral prophylaxis
Oral prophylaxis refers to the prevention of oral disease through the mechanical removal of calculus and stains, polishing of teeth and thorough examination of all intraoral and extraoral tissues. This is done as part of the routine dental visit of the individual every 6 months to promote prevention oral disease through early detection.
Patient Education
Patient education is done by the dental personnel which include: 1) presenting a program of personal oral care that the patient will carry out at home on a routine basis, 2) counseling to increase the patient's awareness of the role of nutrition in achieving best results and 3) creating awareness of the need to return regularly for oral prophylaxis, oral examination and treatment.
Teaching the patient about oral health care should include active learning participation. This entails: 1) presenting the skills to be learned one at a time as simple as possible, 2) giving the patient time to practice the new skills, 3) providing reinforcement and encouragement and 4) to encourage the patient to continue these new actions at home until the desired habit patterns are acquired.
For more details about the aspects, means and methods of oral health care suited to your individual needs, please visit us at the College of Dentistry, Southwestern University, Urgello Street, Cebu City 6000 during clinic hours: 8:00 am-12:00 noon Mondays to Saturdays and 2:00-6:00 pm Mondays to Fridays.