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Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and cleaning between the teeth.
Here's how you and your children can have healthy teeth and keep trips to the dentist to a minimum.
Brush your teeth twice a day
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Floss between your teeth
Floss or use an interdental brush every day to remove food, debris and plaque lodged between your teeth.
Cut down on sugar, and other lifestyle tips
Have a healthy lifestyle, including eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol and sugar intake. It's good for your whole body, including your teeth, gums and mouth.
Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through
Start brushing a baby's teeth as soon as they come through.
Get children into a teeth-cleaning routine
Help your child have healthy teeth for life by having a good dental health routine.
Straighten crooked teeth with braces
More and more teenagers (and some adults) are having braces and orthodontics to straighten their teeth.
Have regular dental check-ups
Have regular check-ups with your dentist. Don't put off going for a check-up. Detecting problems early can mean they're easier to treat.
If problems aren't treated, they may lead to damage that's harder, or even impossible, to repair.
Don't delay dental treatments
There are a wide range of dental treatments available. Some, such as fillings and root canal treatment, are readily available on the NHS.
Others, such as cosmetic dentistry, are only available on the NHS in certain circumstances.
Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected.
Most adults in the UK have gum disease to some degree, and most people experience it at least once. It's much less common in children.If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. This early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis.If gingivitis is not treated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place.If periodontitis is not treated, the bone in your jaw may be damaged and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth. Your teeth can become loose and may eventually fall out.Find out more about the symptoms of gum disease
What causes gum disease?
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria.Some bacteria in plaque are harmless, but some are harmful for the health of your gums. If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing them, it builds up and irritates your gums.This can lead to redness with bleeding, swelling and soreness.
Plaque
Your mouth is full of bacteria that combine with saliva to form a sticky film known as plaque, which builds up on your teeth.
When you consume food and drink high in carbohydrates (sugary or starchy foods), bacteria in plaque turn carbohydrates into the energy they need, producing acid at the same time.
Over time, acid in plaque begins to break down your tooth's surface and causes tooth decay.
Other bacteria in plaque can also irritate your gums, making them inflamed and sore.
Plaque is usually easy to remove by brushing and flossing your teeth, but it can harden and form a substance called tartar if it's not removed.
Tartar sticks much more firmly to teeth than plaque and can usually only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.
Who's most at risk?
As well as poor oral hygiene, a number of things can increase your risk of developing problems with your gums.
These include:
smoking
your age – gum disease becomes more common as you get older
diabetes – a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar levels to become too high
pregnancy – hormonal changes can make gums more vulnerable to plaque
a weakened immune system – for example, because of conditions like HIV and AIDS or certain treatments, such as chemotherapy
malnutrition – a condition that occurs when a person's diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients
stress
You may also be more likely to have gum disease if you're taking medicines that cause a dry mouth. These medicines include antidepressants and antihistamines.
Dental treatments
The best way to treat gum disease is to practise good oral hygiene, although additional dental and medical treatments are sometimes necessary. Some of the dental treatments described here may also be recommended if you have gum disease.
Scale and polish
To remove plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that can build up on your teeth, your dentist may suggest that you have your teeth scaled and polished.
This is a "professional clean" usually carried out at your dental surgery by a dental hygienist.
The dental hygienist will scrape away plaque and tartar from your teeth using special instruments, then polish your teeth to remove marks or stains.
If a lot of plaque or tartar has built up, you may need to have more than 1 scale and polish.
The price of a scale and polish can vary depending on what needs to be carried out, so ask your dental hygienist how much it'll cost beforehand.
Root planing
In some cases of gum disease, root planing (debridement) may be required.
This is a deep clean under the gums that gets rid of bacteria from the roots of your teeth.
Before having the treatment, you may need to have a local anaesthetic (painkilling medication) to numb the area.
You may experience some pain and discomfort for up to 48 hours after having root planing.
Further treatment
If you have severe gum disease, you may need further treatment, such as periodontal surgery.
In some cases, it's necessary to remove the affected tooth.
Your dentist will be able to tell you about the procedure needed and how it's carried out. If necessary, they can refer you to a specialist.
If you're having surgery or root planing, you may be given antibiotics (medication to treat infections). Your dentist will tell you whether this is necessary.