Teeth are a gift of God that help you eat that crunchy apple and yummy pizza, and look your best when someone takes your picture. Not only that, but our teeth help us speak and give shape to our face. A sparkling set of teeth are the biggest asset you can own!

Teeth are formed even before a baby is born. But we can’t see them. God gives us milk teeth or baby teeth when we are young and they are then replaced by permanent teeth. In total, there are 32 permanent teeth, 12 more than the original set of baby teeth that are 20 in number. These 32 teeth also include the four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth that grow between the ages of 17 and 25. These complete the set of 32 teeth in an adult.

It is imperative that you learn to take proper care of your teeth during your growing years and later too. If you fail to do so you can develop cavities at a young age. In your mouth there are the teeth and the gums. Some diseases affect the gums while others affect the teeth.

Gums are the soft pink tissues that hold the teeth in place. If you don’t clean your teeth properly then your gums, will also be affected. They will become red, swollen and sore. This is a disease called gingivitis. It is caused by plaque in the teeth. Now let’s take a look at what plaque is and how it affects our teeth.

After you eat, the bacteria in the mouth go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, like ants at a picnic. They break the sugar down into acids and cause a film of bacteria to stick to your teeth. This film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth is called plaque. It eats away the tooth enamel and causes cavities and tooth decay. Enamel is a tough substance that acts a barrier and protects the inside part of the teeth.

If you don’t take care of your teeth at this age, you might lose your teeth when you grow up. After that, the only option is to go through lengthy, expensive and painful procedures at the dentist’s clinic to get an artificial tooth. Of course, an artificial tooth is not very desirable as it is expensive and the procedure is painful.

The idea is not to scare you but to make you realise that it is important that you brush your teeth twice a day: in the morning and before going to bed, if not after every meal. You should also visit your dentist once every six months. In addition to that, you should use toothpaste that has fluoride in it.

Going to a dentist

A dentist is a doctor who is trained to care for your teeth. When you visit a dentist he/she will ask you to sit on a comfortable, reclined chair. Your teeth will be examined with the help of a bright light right over your mouth. But feel comfortable and relaxed as there is nothing to worry about the check up.

Next to the chair there will be a small sink with a cup full of water, which is there for you to rinse your teeth when they are being cleaned. The dentist will clean your teeth with a special brush and floss. Sometimes brushes cannot reach the small spaces between our teeth. Floss is a special waxed thread that reaches out to food hidden in these spaces.

Your doctor will tell you how to clean your teeth properly; using a brush, floss or a combination of both. It is possible that he/she may only ask you to brush twice a day without the use of floss. And also don’t forget to ask your dentist to recommend you a good fluoride-rich toothpaste.

How fluoride works

There is fluoride in toothpaste s and even in water and air. Fluoride is a natural substance that helps prevent cavities. It mixes with tooth enamel when you are growing up and prevents tooth decay. When your teeth are formed, it works with saliva to prevent tooth enamel from plaque and sugars.

So how to get that fluoride? Of course your dentist can help you by recommending the right toothpaste for you. As mentioned before, fluoride is also found in water. Thanks to that many dentists say that some children between the ages 5 and 17 don’t get cavities in their permanent teeth.

When the toothpaste was not invented

Ever wondered what did people do to clean their teeth when toothpaste was not invented? It’s only 100 years back when someone thought of the idea of a minty cream to clean teeth. Often people back then would use charcoal, ground chalk, lemon juice or tobacco and honey mixed together.

Tooth brushing became popular as late as the Second World War, when US army gave toothpastes and toothbrushes to soldiers and they learned to brush their teeth twice a day. You would be surprised to know that at that time toothpaste tubes were made of metal. Now we have soft plastic tube and the paste can be squeezed out easily. We also have a wide variety of toothpaste brands to choose from, with special toothpaste flavours for kids.

Cleaning your teeth twice a day should be part of your daily hygiene. Many children don’t give importance to oral hygiene at this age. But you should realise that teeth are a precious gift of God that require proper care and maintenance.

How to brush and floss the teeth

The American Dental Association recommends the following techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth:

Brushing

• 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.

Flossing

• Break off the 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.

Courtesy: http://www.knowyourteeth.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 20th, 2015