Hygiene

Oral hygiene is essential to prevent the onset of cavities and periodontal disease, both diseases that cause irreversible damage to the oral cavity.

Oral hygiene avoids the accumulation of plaque and tartar and the onset of halitosis, a condition that causes unpleasant breath.

It is necessary to brush your teeth 2-3 times a day; the most important time is in the evening, before going to sleep: during the night the production of saliva decreases and the teeth and gums are more susceptible to the irritating action of bacteria; precisely for this reason, before going to bed it is necessary to remove all food residues with the use of a brush and dental floss.

Electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes are superimposable in terms of effectiveness; mechanical ones are indicated in subjects who cannot use manual toothbrushes correctly. The bristles of the toothbrushes must be synthetic and of a soft or medium consistency; hard bristles are not recommended because if used too forcefully they can cause gum recessions and neck injuries that will require composite fillings.

the bristles of the toothbrushes must be synthetic and of a soft or medium consistency

The prevention of dental caries can also be implemented with the intake of systemic fluoride as a child, a procedure called fluoroprophylaxis; fluorine binds to the components of the tooth in the development phase and strengthens its structure making it more resistant to acid attack by bacteria. The intake of systemic fluoride (in tablets) by adults, after the eruption of the teeth, is useless therefore it is advisable to start it early, at the age of 6 months, and stop it as soon as the second molar erupts, at 12 years.

It was observed that the incidence of caries in patients who had taken fluoride compared to the general population was 80% lower.

Regular check-ups are useful for early interception of oral pathologies and allowing the intervention of the dentist when the disease is still in its initial phase. The standard scheme is to perform a scaling and two x-rays of the posterior teeth every year; obviously, based on individual variability, there are more susceptible patients who will require professional hygiene sessions and more frequent checks.