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The teeth have the most important role
and the hardest structure in human's jaws and many other spinescent
animals. The main function of the teeth is cutting and grinding the
food pieces. Further more, they help us in speaking properly.
Two kinds of teeth grow during every human's life cycle:
1-primary
teeth.
2-permanent teeth .
The number of primary teeth is 20 which are
distributed equally in the two jaws.
After a while, the 32 permanent teeth are replaced the primary ones
gradually.
As the primary teeth are the base of the permanent teeth, having
good oral hygiene is necessary.
Incisors: The four front teeth in both your upper and lower jaws (a
total of eight) are incisors. The pair of teeth at the center of
your mouth, top and bottom, are called the central incisors. And the
teeth on each side of the central incisors are the lateral incisors.
All the incisors are broad, flat teeth with a narrow edge good for
cutting or snipping off pieces of food. They have a single root.
Canines: On both sides of your upper and lower incisors are the
canines (a total of four). Sometimes called eyeteeth or cuspids,
canines are the longest and most stable teeth in the mouth. They are
thick and come to a single sharp point, ideal for ripping and
tearing at foods that might be tough, such as meat, and for piercing
and holding. They have a long single root.
Premolars: Next to each canine are two premolars (a total of eight).
Also called bicuspids, premolars are a cross between canines and
molars. They have sharp points for piercing and ripping, but they
also have a broader surface for chewing and grinding. On the upper
jaw, the first premolars (directly next to the canines) have two
roots, and the second premolars have one root. On the lower jaw, all
premolars have one root.
Molars: The last three teeth on both sides of your mouth, upper and
lower, are the molars (a total of 12). They are numbered first,
second or third molars depending on their location. The first
molars, also called 6-year molars, are those closest to the front of
the mouth, directly next to the second premolars. Wisdom teeth are
the last and third molars on each side of the jaws. They are also
the last teeth to emerge, or erupt, usually when a person is between
16 and 20.
Since wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to come in, or
erupt, there is often not enough room left in your mouth to
accommodate them. This can lead to wisdom teeth that are impacted -
teeth that are trapped beneath the gum tissue by other teeth or
bone. If teeth are impacted, swelling and tenderness may occur.
Wisdom teeth that only partially emerge or come in crooked can also
lead to painful crowding and disease
In between of the first and third morals are the second molars, also
called 12-year molars. Molars are large teeth with broad surfaces
designed for crushing, grinding and chewing food. On the upper jaw,
the molars have three well-separated roots; on the lower jaw, the
molars have two roots.
What Are the Different Parts of a Tooth?
Crown: the top part of the tooth, and the only part you can normally
see. The shape of the crown determines the tooth's function. For
example, front teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting, while
molars have flat surfaces for grinding.
Gumline: where the tooth and the gums meet. Without proper brushing
and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up at the gumline, leading
to gingivitis and gum disease. Root: the part of the tooth that is
embedded in bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth
and holds the tooth in place.
Enamel: the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel is the hardest,
most mineralized tissue in the body , yet it can be damaged by decay
if teeth are not cared for properly.
Dentin: the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If decay is able to
progress its way through the enamel, it next attacks the dentin ,
where millions of tiny tubes lead directly to the dental pulp.
Pulp: the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth, where the
nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth decay reaches the pulp,
you usually feel pain.
Common Oral Diseases:
(1)Tooth Decay
If you never ate any food and brushed your teeth twice a day, the
decay process would never get started. Tooth decay is heavily
influenced by lifestyle , what we eat, how well we take care of our
teeth, the presence of fluoride in our water and toothpaste.
Heredity also plays a role in how susceptible your teeth may be to
decay. In a clean mouth, the pellicle, a microscopically thin, clear
coating on the teeth formed by certain proteins in the saliva,
starts forming immediately after brushing. Soon after,
microorganisms attach themselves to the pellicle and begin to form
plaque on the teeth. At this point, mouth tissues and plaque have a
pH of about 6.2 to 7.0. If the pH drops below 5.5, the enamel that
covers the portion of the tooth above the gums starts to
demineralize, which means it loses some of the minerals in its
structure and begins to break down. Between a pH of 5.5 and 6.0, the
acid can begin to destroy the roots of the teeth under the gumline.
All carbohydrate foods, as they are digested, eventually are broken
down into simple sugars: glucose, fructose, maltose and lactose.
Some of this digestion begins in the mouth with digestive enzymes in
saliva. Foods that break down into simple sugars in the mouth are
called fermentable carbohydrates. What's worse is that bacteria love
sugar, and they thrive and multiply in an acid environment. So the
more sugar you eat, the more acidic your mouth and the more bacteria
will grow. The more bacteria you have, the more acid will be
produced when you eat sugar.
The types of cavities include:
Coronal cavities : the most common type occurring in both children
and adults, coronal cavities usually are located on chewing surfaces
or between the teeth.
Root cavities : as we age, our gums recede, leaving parts of the
tooth root exposed. Since there is no enamel covering tooth roots,
these exposed areas easily decay.
Recurrent decay : decay can form around existing fillings and
crowns. This is because these areas may have a tendency to
accumulate plaque, which can ultimately lead to decay.
Cavities are very serious. Left untreated, a cavity can destroy your
tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its center, which may result
in an abscess, an area of infection at the root tip.
How Do I Know if I Have a Cavity?
Only your dentist can tell for sure whether you have a cavity.
That's because cavities develop below the tooth's surface, where you
can't see them.
(2) Plaque
Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that
constantly forms on our teeth. It is the main cause of cavities and
gum disease, and can harden into tartar if not removed daily.
How Do I Know If I Have Plaque?
Everyone develops plaque, bacteria are constantly forming in our
mouths. These bacteria use ingredients found in our diet and saliva
to grow. Plaque causes cavities when the acids from plaque attack
teeth after eating. With repeated acid attacks, the tooth enamel can
break down and a cavity may form. Plaque that is not removed can
also irritate the gums around your teeth.
(3)Tartar
Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on
your teeth. Tartar can also form at and underneath the gumline and
can irritate gum tissues.
Not only can tartar threaten the health of your teeth and gums, it
is also a cosmetic problem. Because tartar is more porous, it
absorbs stains easily. So if you are a coffee or tea drinker, or if
you smoke, it is especially important to prevent tartar buildup.
How Do I Know If I Have Tartar Buildup?
Unlike plaque, which is a colorless film of bacteria, tartar is a
mineral buildup that's fairly easy to see if above the gumline. The
most common sign of tartar is a yellow or brown color to teeth or
gums.
(4)Gingivitis
Gum disease begins as gingivitis, which in this early stage is still
reversible. Symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen or tender
gums that tend to bleed when you brush them. If you notice any of
these symptoms, see your dentist-before serious problems develop.
Advanced stages of gum disease may lead to tooth loss.
The health of your gums can also affect your overall health. Recent
studies have shown a possible link between periodontitis (a gum
disease) and other diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and a
possible link to premature births.
(5)Halitosis
Halitosis simply means bad breath, a problem that many people
experience at one time or another. It is estimated that 40% of the
population suffers from chronic halitosis at some time.
Many things can cause bad breath, including:
Food: The breakdown of food particles in and around your teeth and
eating foods containing volatile oils like onions and garlic can
cause a foul odor. Alcohol behaves in the same fashion.
Dental problems: Poor dental hygiene and periodontal disease can be
a source of bad breath.
Dry mouth: A dry mouth enables dead cells to accumulate on your
tongue, gums and cheeks. These cells then decompose and cause odor.
Disease: Chronic lung infections and abscesses, kidney and liver
failure, uncontrolled diabetes, Chronic reflux of stomach acids from
your stomach into your food pipe and hiatal hernia can produce bad
breath.
Mouth, nose and throat conditions: Bad breath is also associated
with sinus infections because nasal discharge from your sinuses into
the back of your throat can cause mouth odor. A child with bad
breath may have a foreign object lodged in his or her nose.
Bronchitis and other upper respiratory infections in which you cough
up odorous sputum are other sources of bad breath.
Tobacco products: Smoking dries out your mouth and causes its own
unpleasant mouth odor. Tobacco users are also more likely to suffer
from periodontal disease, an additional source of bad breath.
Severe dieting: Dieters may develop unpleasant "fruity" breath from
ketoacidosis, the breakdown of body chemicals during fasting.
What Is Good Oral Hygiene?
Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy.
This means:
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Your teeth are clean and free of debris
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Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
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Bad breath is not a constant problem
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How Is Good Oral Hygiene Practiced?
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things
you can do for your teeth and gums.There are simple steps that each
of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth
decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:
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Brushing thoroughly twice a day and flossing daily
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Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks between meals
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Using dental products that contain fluoride, including
toothpaste |
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Rinsing with a fluoride mouthrinse if your dentist tells you to
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Making sure that your children under 12 drink fluoridated
water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a
non-fluoridated area. |
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral found throughout the earth's crust and
widely distributed in nature. Some foods and water supplies contain
fluoride.
Fluoride is often added to drinking water to help reduce tooth
decay. researchers found that people who grew up drinking naturally
fluoridated water had up to two-thirds fewer cavities than people
living in areas without fluoridated water.
Fluoride isn't just for children.
Everyone should have fluoride every day. Some adults think they're
naturally going to get cavities or lose their teeth as they get
older.They don't have to.
Fluoride helps prevent cavities in two different ways:
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Fluoride concentrates in the growing bones and developing
teeth of children, helping to harden the enamel on baby and adult
teeth before they emerge |
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Fluoride helps to harden the enamel on adult teeth that have
already emerged |
Proper Brushing Technique
(1)Tilt the brush at a 45º angle against the gumline and sweep or
roll the brush away from the gumline.
(2)Gently brush the outside ,inside and chewing surface of each
tooth using short back-and-forth strokes.
(3)Gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.
How Often Should You Go to The Dentist?
According to the Dental and health organizations ,on average ,seeing
a dentist twice a year works well for most people.
What Is Proper Nutrition?
Proper nutrition means eating a balanced diet so your body can get
the nutrients needed for good health. If your diet is low in the
nutrients your body needs, your mouth may have a more difficult time
resisting infection.
If children do not eat a balanced diet, their teeth may not develop
properly. In order for them to develop strong, decay-resistant
teeth, children need a balanced diet with emphasis on calcium,
phosphorous, and proper levels of fluoride.
What Are the Different Types of Nutrients?
A balanced diet consists of the following nutrients:
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some carbohydrates
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the essential fatty acids (found in fats)
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the essential amino acids (found in proteins)
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fifteen vitamins
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approximately twenty-five minerals
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water |
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