More than just brushing your teeth

Clever teeth cleaning aids for healthy teeth

08/09/2011

„Healthy starts in the mouth - the sooner the better“ - Under this motto is this year's Dental Health Day. A motto that many should not take to heart only one day a year. Because studies prove that with the right dental care, your own teeth perform well into old age. In childhood, it's all about not causing caries at all, and for adults, tackling plaque on every tooth and every space.

From the first tooth
Many parents think that tooth care for deciduous teeth is not so important, because they will fail anyway. But healthy milk teeth are the basis for healthy teeth in adulthood. Jens Thomsen, prophylaxis dentist from Hamburg, therefore advise: „It is best for mothers to get used to the right, thorough dental care at an early stage, ie with the first tooth. Almost all cases of adult tooth decay are an old tooth decay that breaks out again. If you did not have tooth decay as a child, you usually will not get it later.“ Milk tooth wipes (eg from Oral Prevent) are well suited for the care of first teeth. After each meal, parents gently clean the teeth and gums with a cloth wrapped around their fingers. Substituted with xylitol as a mouthwash substance, they effectively protect against tooth decay. Even after the change of teeth in school age, it is important to anchor tooth brushing as a ritual in the daily routine. As soon as ABC shooters have mastered toothbrushing, the cleaning of interdental spaces is also part of the program.

Periodontitis & Co. always start in interdental spaces
„Teeth and gums change with age“, leads Dr. Thomsen continues. „However, today we can say with certainty that properly groomed teeth will not simply fail due to age.“ A 30-year study from Sweden also provides scientific proof. Within 30 years of thorough dental care, less than one tooth was lost per patient - although the subjects were between 50 and 80 years old at the end of the exam. In addition to dental floss, there are so-called interdental brushes. With their microfine bristles, they penetrate into almost all interstices and are easier to use than dental floss. Whether interdental brush or dental floss, little helpers make much less effort than expected and worthwhile in two ways. Who integrates them consistently and early in the daily dental care, not only minimizes the risk of bleeding gums, painful inflammation, bad breath and tooth decay, but also expensive medical bills. (Pm)