Community Health Forum Presents Dental Health and You

Proper dental care can prevent: 4 Tooth decay 4 Gum disease 4 Bad breath

6 months

Oral Anatomy

Baby teeth 4 Babies usually have no visible teeth when they are born

Baby teeth 4 First teeth begin to erupt at 6 months 4 An additional pair are added each month –Total of 20 milk teeth

Baby teeth 4 Baby teeth begin to fall out around age 6 when your adult teeth start to come in 4 Baby teeth are usually gone by age 12

Adult teeth 4 Average adult has 32 teeth 4 16 on top and 16 on the bottom

Adult teeth 4 4 incisors –for cutting food

Adult teeth 4 2 canines –for tearing food

Adult teeth 4 4 premolars –for crushing and grinding food

Adult teeth 4 6 molars –for grinding food 4 last pair of molars are the wisdom teeth

Tooth Anatomy 4 Teeth are composed of three principal regions –Crown: the exposed portion above the gums

Tooth Anatomy 4 Neck: point where the gums contact the tooth 4 Root: portion below the gum line

Tooth Anatomy 4 Inside each tooth is composed of three layers

Tooth Anatomy 4 Enamel: hardest substance in the body (A) –To protect the tooth when you chew

Tooth Anatomy 4 Dentin: calcified connective tissue that is harder than bone (B)

Tooth Anatomy 4 Pulp Cavity:(C) Contains blood vessels & nerves (D) and the root canal 4 Filled with pulp(E) 4 Your teeth are alive!

Oral Disease

Plaque 4 Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that coat your teeth 4 These bacteria secrete acids as a waste product that can dissolve enamel

Cavities 4 Formed when the enamel is dissolved by the acid from the bacteria –These bacteria live on sugars

Cavities 4 Cavities must be drilled first and then filled. 4 The deeper they penetrate into the tooth, the more difficult the repair.

Plaque 4 Plaque left in place long enough forms tartar 4 Tartar provides a permanent home for harmful bacteria

Periodontal disease 4 Plaque accumulates forming tartar 4 A build up of tartar can lead to disease of the teeth or gums: periodontal disease

Periodontal disease 4 Bacteria begin the process that creates toxins that destroy bone

Periodontal disease 4 Bone that recedes from teeth and does not come back

Periodontal disease 4 Tooth loss can occur

Dentures 4 Sometimes the damage is so bad, the teeth must be removed. 4 False teeth called dentures will take their place

Signs of periodontal disease 4 Persistent bad breath 4 Swollen or shrinking gums

Dental problem to avoid at all costs 4 Chewing tobacco

Chewing tobacco and your teeth 4 Contains more sugar than candy

Chewing tobacco and your teeth 4 Chewing tobacco can lead to: –periodontal disease – cavities – cancer

Oral Hygiene How to keep your teeth clean

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Get a soft brush and toothpaste with fluoride –Fluoride helps to harden your enamel

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Start with brush at 45 o angle to gums

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Allows bristles to clean under gum line

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Continue with a circular motion over the fronts of each tooth

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Brush all of your teeth!

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Brush inside and back of each tooth

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Brush the chewing surfaces

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Brush your tongue and roof of your mouth

Steps in brushing your teeth 4 Brush at least twice a day

Flossing your teeth 4 Most cavities and periodontal disease begin in- between your teeth.

Flossing your teeth 4 Flossing removes the plaque and food particles that your tooth brush cannot reach.

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Take out about 18” of floss

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Wrap around middle fingers

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Work in between teeth

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Form a C shape around each tooth

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Move up and down on sides of every tooth

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Gums may bleed at first but will improve as you continue to floss

Steps in flossing your teeth 4 Floss at least once a day

Good Dental Hygiene 4 Brush teeth at least twice a day 4 Floss your teeth at least once a day 4 See your dentist twice a year 4 You will have –healthy teeth –fresher breath –winning smile