The truth about teeth

Neglecting dental health can have varied repercussions

- Puja Awasthi

Understanding oral health: This is a state of wellbeing of teeth, gums and other structures within our oral cavity or mouth that help in proper eating, speaking and aesthetics. While dental health just denotes healthy teeth and gums, overall state of oral health encompasses maintenance of oral cavity, its structures, their functions and also facial features and aesthetics. So good oral health is when all the components of the oral cavity like teeth, gums, periodontium (tissues that support and surround the teeth) are functioning properly and in harmony with each other, supporting not just eating but also helping in digestion and maintaining proper alignment of facial features. 

Proper brushing: Brush for two minutes with adequate (not excessive) pressure; just enough to remove the plaque build-up. Rigorous brushing harms teeth in the long run. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle, move it in small circular motions and cover all surfaces. Wait for 30-40 minutes after brushing before eating or drinking anything. Some people tend to brush after every meal but do that only if you have had garlic/ onion or anything that gives you bad breath. Else brushing twice a day is fine.

Manual or electronic brushes?

Both are fine as long as brushing technique and pressure are proper.

What about mouthwash? It is not a necessity. It does complement your brushing, but, if your oral hygiene is good, skip it unless advised by your dentist.

The neglect of flossing: Dental health overall is neglected in India. It is not just about flossing. People find it a waste of time that there should be an added step to their oral hygiene routine. But it is highly recommended as a brush cannot reach between teeth and cleaning that area is important too. Flossing is technique dependent, so one needs to learn to do it correctly.