Dental Hygiene

Regular brushing is recommended by healthcare professionals twice a day. A mirror may be used to see if the plaque is completely removed during brushing. The actual term 'brushing' is rather inaccurate. Though a toothbrush is used, it is not designed to deliver mechanical abrasive action. Rather, the surface of the brush is meant to be held at a forty five degree angle to remove plaque from the periodontal margin (the space in between the gum and tooth). Thus, the term 'cleaning teeth' is far more accurate.

In research, levels of plaque were recorded before and after brushing and found that plaque removal steadily improved as brushing times and pressure were increased. However, their results showed that when people brush for longer than two minutes, at a pressure higher than 150 grams (the weight of an orange), they are not removing any additional plaque, and may be causing permanent damage to the teeth and gums.

Brushing teeth immediately after eating acidic foods is not recommended, because acid softens the enamel, which can then be damaged by brushing. It is better to wait at least half an hour after eating acidic foods before brushing. Rinsing the mouth and eating non-acidic foods can also speed up this process.

Electric toothbrushes are no more effective than the manual variety, according to research. However, "rotation-oscillation" electric toothbrushes out-performed manual brushing, removing around 7% more plaque and leading to 17% less gum disease than manual brushes. Any kind of electric toothbrush does tend to help people who are not as good at cleaning their teeth and as a result have had oral hygiene problems.

Dietary modification
For dental health, the frequency of sugar intake is more important than the amount of sugar consumed.  In the presence of sugar and other carbohydrates, bacteria in the mouth produce acids which can demineralize enamel, dentin, and cementum. The more frequently teeth are exposed to this environment, the more likely it is that dental caries will occur. Therefore, it is recommended to minimize snacking, which creates a constant supply of nutrition for acid-creating bacteria in the mouth, to prevent dental caries. Also, chewy and sticky foods (such as dried fruit or candy) are more likely to adhere to teeth longer and consquently are best eaten as part of a meal. If possible, brushing the teeth after meals is recommended. For children, the American Dental Association and the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry recommend to limit the frequency of drinks with sugar and to not give baby bottles to infants during sleep.

In addition, it has also been found that milk or certain kinds of cheese like cheddar can help counter tooth decay if eaten soon after having eaten foods potentially harmful for teeth. Also, chewing gum containing xylitol, wood sugar, is widely used to protect teeth in some countries, being especially popular in the Finnish candy industry.  Its effect on reducing plaque is believed to be based on bacteria not being able to utilize it like other sugars.  Chewing and stimulation of flavour receptors on the tongue are also known to increase the production and release of saliva, which contains natural buffers to prevent the lowering of pH in the mouth to the point where enamel may become demineralised.

Professional hygiene care consists of regular dental examinations and cleanings. Sometimes, complete plaque removal is difficult, and a dentist or dental hygienist may be needed. Along with oral hygiene, x-rays may be taken at dental visits to detect possible dental caries development in high risk areas of the mouth.

In the future, tooth decay may be banished by treatment with a genetically modified bacterium, according to research at the University of Florida.

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