During its evolution, dentistry contributed many innovations that are vital to the field of oral health as we know it today. Toothbrushes similar to the ones we use today originated in the 17th century. The first depiction of modern toothbrushes appeared in a 17th century Chinese encyclopedia, while the earliest records of toothbrushes in Europe date to the same time. Ebers Papyrus, the earliest known medicinal text dating back to 4000 B.C., includes the first known recipes of toothpaste. Such recipes have appeared in the writings by Hippocrates as well, as early as the 4th or 5th century.
With the rapid advancement in the field of oral health care, dentistry can now accomplish things the barber-surgeons of the 18th century probably never dreamed of. Dental care has evolved from a primitive and often painful form of medicine to modern day state-of-the-art diagnostics and preventative care.
Why Healthy Teeth Are Important
How does taking care of your teeth help with you health? Taking care of your teeth helps prevent plaque. After you eat, bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, like ants at a picnic. The bacteria breaks down the sugar into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis, which is a gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Your gums are the soft pink tissue in your mouth that hold your teeth in place. If you don't take care of your teeth, cavities and unhealthy gums will make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult and you won't feel like smiling so much.
Before Toothpaste Was Invented
We are lucky to know so much now about taking care of our teeth. Long ago, as people got older, their teeth would rot away and it would be very painful. To get rid of a toothache, people would have to get their teeth pulled out. Finally, people learned that cleaning their teeth was important, but they didn't have toothpaste right away.
While you're swishing that minty-fresh paste around your mouth, think about what people used long ago to clean teeth: ground-up chalk or charcoal, lemon juice, ashes (you know, the stuff that's left over after a fire), tobacco and honey mixed together.
It was only about 100 years ago what someone created a minty cream to clean teeth with. Not long after that, the toothpaste tube was invented, so people could squeeze the paste right onto the toothbrush! Tooth brushing became popular during World War II and the U.S. Army gave brushes and toothpaste to all soldiers and had them brush twice a day. Back then, toothpaste tubes were made of metal whereas today they are made of soft plastic and are much easier to squeeze!
Today there are plenty of toothpaste choices: lots of colors and flavors to choose from, and some are made just for kids. When you're choosing a toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth strong and protects them from cavities.
Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and is considered to be the best means of prevention of cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, periodontitis, and other dental disorders. It also helps to prevent bad breath (halitosis). Oral hygiene is necessary for all persons to maintain the health of their teeth and mouth. Healthy teeth have fewer cavities. They are clean and have minimal or no plaque deposits. Healthy gums are pink and firm. Oral hygiene consists of both personal and professional care.
Why do I need to see a Hygienist?
Regular tooth cleaning by the dentist or dental hygienist is important to remove plaque that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach on their own at home. Professional cleanings include tooth scaling and tooth polishing and debridement if too much tartar has accumulated. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth. Most dentists recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned every six months.
Even if you do a great job of cleaning your teeth yourself and are religious about using dental floss, you still need professional cleanings. Dental hygienists use special techniques, instruments, and their professional training to complete oral hygiene that is impossible to do yourself. In addition, these professionals will examine your mouth as well as your teeth.
How can I prevent tooth decay?
The best way to prevent tooth decay and remove plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces. Brush your teeth twice per day with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your toothbrush should fit your mouth and allow you to reach all areas easily. Use an antimicrobial toothpaste containing fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. Clean between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners to remove plaque from between the teeth, where the toothbrush can't reach. Flossing is essential to prevent gum disease.
Proper Brushing and
Flossing Techniques
The American Dental Association recommends the following techniques for brushing your teeth:
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
The American Dental Association recommends the following techniques for flossing your teeth:
Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
Bring the floss back toward the contact point between the teeth and move the floss up or down the other side, conforming the floss to the shape of the tooth.
Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions.
Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
Use mouth rinse for added protection!
A mouth rinse, in addition to daily brushing and flossing, can increase the cleanliness of your mouth. Antimicrobial mouth rinses reduce bacteria and plaque activity, which cause gingivitis and gum disease. Fluoride mouth rinses also help reduce and prevent tooth decay. Always talk to your dentist about any new products you are interested in trying. Not everyone should use a fluoride mouth rinse. For instance, fluoride rinses are not recommended for children ages 6 or younger because they may swallow them. Always check the manufacturer's label for precautions and age recommendations and talk with your dentist about the use of fluoride mouth rinse.
Dentist Recommended Toothpastes
Shopping for toothpaste can be overwhelming. There are many different brands and types of kinds of toothpaste out there and making a wrong choice could end in a trip to the dentist. How can you determine which one is best for you? To help you answer that question and to simplify things a little, below is a look at the top toothpastes recommended by dental professionals.
Types of Toothpaste
Before you learn about the top toothpastes, it’s important to know about the different types of toothpastes. One of the more common types of toothpaste is fluoride toothpaste. Because fluoride strengthens your teeth and prevents decay, dentists recommend it for children and adults. There are also toothpastes designed for tartar control. If the plaque on your teeth hardens, it turns into tartar. Combatting that, tartar control toothpastes remove plaque before it can harden.
Sometimes, people have issues with teeth sensitivity. Eating or drinking hot and cold foods can be painful. Teeth sensitivity is usually due to weakened enamel or an exposed root. That’s where toothpaste for sensitive teeth are useful. The toothpaste offers relief for the pain that comes with sensitivity issues. You can even find whitening or cavity protection toothpaste for sensitivity.
Finally, there are whitening toothpastes. Although they use different ingredients, they all have some whitening agent to make your teeth look whiter. The ingredients either fight stains or lighten the color of your teeth. Some whitening toothpastes also prevent tooth decay. One detail that you should be aware of is that no whitening toothpaste can replicate the effect of a teeth whitening procedure. No whitening toothpaste can live up to the dream of blindingly white teeth.
Today, you can find just about any type of toothpaste you can imagine. There are toothpastes that accomplish a single goal, and ones that do it all. You should pick a toothpaste that fulfills your oral health needs. If you are prone to cavities, you should look for one that offers great cavity protection. If whitening is your primary concern, you should opt for a whitening toothpaste.
The Top Toothpastes
Colgate Total: If you want a toothpaste that fights plaque, Colgate Total is a great option. It fights plaque for up to 12 hours. The formula is very effective at fighting gingivitis. Best of all, there are different types of Colgate Total that provide the same plaque-fighting ability while accomplishing other things. The Advance Whitening whitens, Daily Repair fixes damage to your teeth, and Deep Clean (not surprisingly) deep cleans teeth.
Crest Pro-Health: One of the only toothpastes accepted by the ADA in six categories, Crest Pro-Health, does it all. In addition to whitening teeth, it reduces sensitivity, prevents cavities, fights plaque, prevents gingivitis, and combats bad breath. For all-around oral hygiene, this toothpaste is a winner.
Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste: People with sensitive teeth shouldn’t be limited to one type of toothpaste. Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening toothpaste gives individuals with sensitive gums and teeth a chance to whiten their teeth. It also hardens weakened enamel, and in doing so prevents tooth decay.
Arm and Hammer Dental Care Advance Cleaning Mint Toothpaste w/Baking Soda: Preventing tooth decay is a tough job. But this Arm and Hammer toothpaste is up for the task. The fluoride in the toothpaste repairs damage done to your teeth and the baking soda adds another element that removes plaque. And, as a bonus, the mint flavor is refreshing.
Tom’s of Maine Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste: If you’re into natural ingredients, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste is a staple. Their Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste contains natural ingredients but doesn’t eliminate the one ingredient that is extremely effective- fluoride. It fights cavities and isn’t loaded with ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
Crest Tartar Protection: No one likes cavities. Crest Tartar Protection Toothpaste protects your teeth from tartar, the hard deposit that plaque can form on teeth. Tartar damages your teeth and can cause bad breath and gum inflammation. However, this toothpaste prevents plaque from calcifying and keeps your mouth healthy and fresh.
Tom’s of Maine Simply White Clean Mint Toothpaste: It’s not easy to make a natural toothpaste that whitens, but Tom’s of Maine has done just that. Their Simply White toothpaste provides a natural whitening ability, brightening your teeth while fighting cavities.
Brushing teeth daily with toothpaste is a fundamental tool in the prevention of gum disease, which impacts almost half of adults over 30 years of age in the United States, per the CDC.
Here are a few additional tips for maintaining healthy teeth and gums:
Reduce the daily amount of sweetened drinks.
Drink plenty of fluoridated water with meals, and along with sweetened beverages to wash away the sugar and acids.
Use a straw to help reducing the contact of sweetened beverages with your teeth.
Supplement (or replace) sugary drinks with milk, yogurt, or water.
The IDEA Club
dR. BERNARD KAHN
DENTAL ASSOCIATE OF MAITLAND, P.A.
Dr. Kahn is a life-long Central Florida resident active in the study and delivery of oral health care. He is a graduate of Florida State University and Emory University. He has restored smiles and taught prevention of dental disease since 1980.
Dental Associates of Maitland is a top tier provider with accolades from a multitude of organizations and publications, such as the American College of Dentists, Dental Society of Greater Orlando, Central Florida’s Top Dentists per the Orlando Magazine, USA Top Dentists, and many more.
