Tooth decay and gum disease are among the commonest conditions there are, they cause pain that stops people working, and a dental abscess can become a serious infection. Nearly all of it is prevented with a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and less sugar.
The basics
- Brush twice a day, two minutes, with fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride is what protects; check the tube says it contains it.
- Brush last thing at night. This is the more important of the two.
- Spit, do not rinse. Rinsing washes the fluoride away.
- Clean between the teeth daily with floss or an interdental brush where you can.
- Replace the brush every three months, or when the bristles splay.
Sugar is the whole story on decay
It is how often sugar is in the mouth, not how much at once. Sipping a sweet drink across an afternoon does more damage than the same drink at one sitting. Keep sweet things to mealtimes, and make water the drink between meals.
Chewing stick and traditional cleaning
A chewing stick used properly does clean teeth, and some woods have real antibacterial effect. What it does not provide is fluoride, which is what actually strengthens enamel against decay. If you use a chewing stick, use fluoride toothpaste as well.
Children
- Start cleaning as soon as the first tooth appears, with a soft brush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Never put a baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice in the mouth.
- Help or supervise brushing until about seven; small children cannot do it properly alone.
- Milk teeth matter. An infected milk tooth is painful, can damage the adult tooth forming beneath, and affects eating.
Go to a health facility now if
- Swelling of the face or jaw with a painful tooth.
- Difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing or breathing.
- Fever with tooth pain.
- Swelling spreading under the jaw or towards the eye.
A dental abscess can spread into the neck and become life-threatening. Painkillers and antibiotics from a shop do not drain it, and delay is what turns it dangerous.
Gums
Gums that bleed when you brush are inflamed, not fragile. The answer is more careful brushing and cleaning between the teeth, not brushing less. Persistent bleeding, receding gums or loose teeth need a dentist. Bleeding gums with easy bruising elsewhere, or in pregnancy, should be mentioned to a clinician.
