It is important to care for all elements that compose the oral cavity. Carelessness (deficient oral higiene) with regards to any part of this area may result in illnesses such as dental decay or periodontitis and in the long run, may also cause the loss of teeth. For this reason it is important to implement strict control of oral hygiene from the arrival of one´s very first tooth.

Dental Paediatrics

Correct oral higiene begins with the appearance of the first tooth. If one´s baby teeth are not cared for carefully there is a risk of dental decay, infection and also premature tooth loss that may affect one´s permanent teeth.

Correct infant oral hygiene includes:

• The use of a small brush with soft bristles from the arrival of the first tooth. When the child is very small it is a good idea to give him or her one to play with and familiarise him or herself with.

• The daily application of tooth paste with flouride from 3 years of age and always under the supervision of an adult – until the child learns not to swallow the tooth paste.

• A diet low in sugars.

• Periodical visits to the dentist.

Brushing

Oral hygiene is important to maintain a healthy mouth. Correct brushing three times a day serves to eliminate bacterial plaque that causes:

• Dental decay.

• Periodontal illnesses.

• Tooth loss.

• Halitosis (bad breath)

• A small head with a rounded end that eases the process allowing the brush to reach all areas of the mouth

• Tynex bristles with rounded edges and texturized so as to not damage the enamel and gums.

• A Monotip “attacking part” which breaks up the most resistant plaque.

• Waved or smooth bristles according to each patient´s needs (smooth in the case of patients with sensitive teeth or delicate gums and waved in the rest of patients).

• An anatomically designed, flexible handle adaptable to the mouth´s shape

• A protective cap which maintains the bristles together and in optimum condition while isolating it from external contact.

Spaces between teeth

Oral higiene should not only include the visible part of the teeth but must also eliminate plaque accumulated between teeth. For that we may find assistance in dental floss and ribbons and interproximal brushes.

Flosses and Ribbons:

• Eliminate bacterial plaque in the narrowest spaces.

• Eliminate residual food between teeth especially near the edge of the gums, precisely where the majority of dental decay originates.

Interproximal Brushes:

• Effectively clean the widest spaces between teeth.

• Protect against dental decay and periodontal disease.

• It is an easy-to-use instrument for patients with braces or dentures.

Dental Hyperesthesia or Dental Sensitivity

Dental Hyperesthesia is a transitory pain derived from the exposure of the dentin that appears in relation to external stimulus and that is not associated with any other type of dental pathology.

Factors that cause Hyperesthesia include:

• Abrasion

• Chemical erosion

• Gingival retraction through ageing.

• Incorrect dental positioning.

• Gingivitis and periodontitis.

• Incorrect brushing

• Acids or sweets

• Heat or cold

• Those produced by bacteria: they may enter via tubulus producing irritation and dental hypersensitivity.

The treatment of Hyperesthesia is with toothpastes and collutorium with the following active ingredients.

POTTASIUM NITRATE at 5%

• This is the fastest and most effective desensitizing agent

• It blocks the neural transmission decreasing pain

• it is accepted by the ADA (American Dental Association)

SODIUM FLOURIDE:

• Is the coadjutor in the desensitizing effect of pottasium nitrate

• It acts as a strengthening element for the enamel, protecting it against dental decay.

Dental Decay

Dental decay is a bacterial affliction produced by acidogenic germs which unchain a destructive process of the dental hard tissue, progressing in depth and able to reach the dental soft mass, causing pain. We all run the rick of dental decay if we are not careful.

To prevent dental decay it is important to:

• Maintain flouride intake which strengthens the enamel and produces an important reduction of dental decay: collutorium, toothpastes

• Eliminate plaque through brushing, flossing, interproximal brushing and other methods of oral hygiene.

• Modify one´s diet, avoiding cariogenic food such as biscuits, sweets or sweetened drinks.

• Regularly visit a dentist.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics is the speciality of dentistry involved in the correction of the position of the teeth or with the problems in the fitting of teeth (Dental Occlusion).
Orthodontic treatment is important to avoid disease such as dental decay, periondontal disease or bad breath. Incorrect positioning of teeth affects our external features, damaging the facial image, producing unnecessary wear and tear of the teeth and molars or difficulty in movement when speaking, swallowing or chewing

Advice for correct care of orthodontal apparatus:

• Maintain a strict hygiene regime with flouride tooth paste after each meal.

• Supervise the hygiene technique by means of plaque checks once a month.

• Use irrigatory water jets for difficult to reach areas.

• Avoid sweetened food that increases the possibility of dental decay.

• Avoid sticky and hard food that may distort or break dental apparatus.

• Use a protective orthodontic wax to avoid abrasion and relieve discomfort

Dental Plaque

Dental plaque is a soft substance composed of more than 500 bacterial species that acumulate on the surface of the teeth and other sufaces of the mouth.

Maturing of plaque leads to the formation of calculus and fur and an irregular surface which favours even more accumulation. With its maturing plaque changes, creating an inflammatory response from its “guest” causing periodontal disease.

To prevent this accumulation of plaque, it is important to carry out a strict, daily regime of oral hygiene by means of:

• Brushing 3 times a day

• Use of dental floss and ribbons and/or interproximal brushes

• Use of water jets (irrigators)

Gingivitis: The first phase of Periodontal Disease.

Periodontal diseases are due to the accumulation of bacterial plaque and dental fur on the teeth´s surface and in the gingival furrow. Gingivitis is the first phase of the process and may be detected by observation of:

• Inflammation and reddening of gingival tissue

• Gingival bags of 3-4mm deep

For its prevention, it is important to follow a strict, daily hygiene routine. The following is recommended:

• Brushing three times a day

• Water jets, flosses or ribbons and interproximal brushes to eliminate left over food between teeth.

The main objective in the treatment of gingivitis is the elimination of bacteria that cause the disease. For that purpose it is advisable to:

• Visit a periodontist to have a professional cleaning.

• Apply antiseptic collutoria

• Maintain optimum oral hygiene at all times.

• Give up smoking.

Is an inflammatory or degenerative disease that affects both soft tissues of the periodontium as well as tissue that form the apparatus that supports the bone.

Gingivitis does not always develop into periodontitis though determing factors that may cause periodontitis do exist:

• Inadequate oral hygiene

• Personal habits (smoking).

• Genetic predisposition

• Weakened immune system of the host.

• Stress.

• Abnormal occlusion.

Treatment of periodontitis is different for each patient, depending on the type of periodontitis, its gravity and determining risk factors that play a part in its development. Treatment may include:

• Professional attention (gingival prophylaxis, periodontal surgery, use of specific antimicrobians to erradicate the causes of the disease).

• Application of antiseptic collutoria (clorhexidinia).

• Rigorous control over oral hygiene.

• Use of specific brushes for wide spaces between teeth where pathogen bacteria tend to accumulate after periodontal surgery.

Halitosis

Bad breath? Halitosis or bad breath is a disagreeable smell that is emmited from the mouth and which can affect us at any moment in our lives. In the majority of cases it is a result of dental decay and is caused by an excessive accumulation of bacteria to the rear of the tongue.

It is very important not to confuse halitosis with temporary bad breath. That is, a bad smell from the mouth caused by the consumption of food such as garlic, onions, spicy food or that produced by smoking or alcohol etc.

To prevent bad breath it is important to:

• Clean the tongue: straightforward elimination of accumulated bacteria.

• Treat dental decay and periodontal disease

• Improve oral hygiene.

• Use a specific oral rinse to keep in check the development of micro-organisms generated by VSC

• Reduce or eliminate caffeine, tobacco and alcohol.

• Avoid aromatic food such as garlic etc.

• Drink water between meals.

• Reduce stress

Dental Prosthesis

A lack of dental pieces is usually solved by the use of dental prosthesis which can be fixed or removable.

A prosthesis must be adjusted correctly to the patient´s mouth. In some cases the teeth might fall out of line due to changes in the anatomy of the mouth, brusque movements of the tongue, etc. In these cases the use of adhesives to fix the prosthesis and avoid uncomfortable movements is of great assistance.

The use of these adhesive substances also presents a series of advantages such as less effort in chewing food, ensuring the space below the denture is clean and sealed impeding the accumulation of certain substances such as left over food, bacteria, etc.

Advice towards care of prosthesis:

• Daily cleaning of each piece.

• Periodical visits to the dentist.

• Begin consuming semi-liquids.

• Slow chewing of small pieces on each side of the mouth.