Transcript Community Health Forums Presents

Community Health Forum
Presents
Dental Health
and You
Proper dental care
can prevent:
Tooth decay
Gum disease
Bad breath
6 months
Oral Anatomy
Baby teeth
 Babies usually
have no visible
teeth when they
are born
Baby teeth
 First teeth begin
to erupt at 6
months
 An additional pair
are added each
month
– Total of 20 milk
teeth
Baby teeth
 Baby teeth begin
to fall out around
age 6 when your
adult teeth start to
come in
 Baby teeth are
usually gone by
age 12
Adult teeth
 Average adult has
32 teeth
 16 on top and 16 on
the bottom
Adult teeth
 4 incisors
– for cutting
food
Adult teeth
 2 canines
– for tearing
food
Adult teeth
 4 premolars
– for crushing
and grinding
food
Adult teeth
 6 molars
– for grinding
food
 last pair of
molars are the
wisdom teeth
Tooth Anatomy
 Teeth are
composed of
three principal
regions
– Crown: the
exposed
portion above
the gums
Tooth Anatomy
Neck: point
where the
gums contact
the tooth
Root: portion
below the
gum line
Tooth Anatomy
 Inside each tooth
is composed of
three layers
Tooth Anatomy
 Enamel: hardest
substance in the
body (A)
– To protect the
tooth when you
chew
Tooth Anatomy
 Dentin: calcified
connective tissue
that is harder than
bone (B)
Tooth Anatomy
 Pulp Cavity:(C)
Contains blood
vessels & nerves
(D) and the root
canal
 Filled with pulp(E)
 Your teeth are
alive!
Oral Disease
Plaque
 Plaque is the sticky
film of bacteria that
coat your teeth
 These bacteria
secrete acids as a
waste product that
can dissolve enamel
Cavities
 Formed when the
enamel is dissolved
by the acid from the
bacteria
– These bacteria
live on sugars
Cavities
 Cavities must be
drilled first and then
filled.
 The deeper they
penetrate into the
tooth, the more
difficult the repair.
Plaque
 Plaque left in place
long enough forms
tartar
 Tartar provides a
permanent home for
harmful bacteria
Periodontal disease
 Plaque accumulates
forming tartar
 A build up of tartar
can lead to disease
of the teeth or gums:
periodontal disease
Periodontal disease
 Bacteria begin the
process that
creates toxins
that destroy bone
Periodontal disease
 Bone that
recedes from
teeth and does
not come back
Periodontal disease
 Tooth loss can occur
Dentures
 Sometimes the
damage is so bad,
the teeth must be
removed.
 False teeth called
dentures will take
their place
Signs of periodontal disease
 Persistent bad
breath
 Swollen or
shrinking gums
Dental problem to avoid
at all costs
 Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco
and your teeth
 Contains more
sugar than candy
Chewing tobacco
and your teeth
 Chewing tobacco
can lead to:
– periodontal
disease
– cavities
– cancer
Oral Hygiene
How to keep your
teeth clean
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Get a soft brush
and toothpaste
with fluoride
– Fluoride helps
to harden your
enamel
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Start with brush at
45o angle to gums
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Allows bristles to
clean under gum
line
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Continue with a
circular motion over
the fronts of each
tooth
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Brush all of your
teeth!
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Brush inside and
back of each
tooth
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Brush the
chewing surfaces
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Brush your
tongue and roof
of your mouth
Steps in brushing your teeth
 Brush at least
twice a day
Flossing your teeth
 Most cavities and
periodontal
disease begin inbetween your
teeth.
Flossing your teeth
 Flossing removes
the plaque and food
particles that your
tooth brush cannot
reach.
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Take out about 18”
of floss
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Wrap around
middle fingers
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Work in between
teeth
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Form a C shape
around each tooth
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Move up and
down on sides of
every tooth
Steps in flossing your teeth
Gums may
bleed at first
but will
improve as
you continue
to floss
Steps in flossing your teeth
 Floss at least once a day
Good Dental Hygiene
Brush teeth at least twice a day
Floss your teeth at least once a day
See your dentist twice a year
You will have
– healthy teeth
– fresher breath
– winning smile