Stomatološka Poliklinika dr. Jelušić

HOW TO PRESERVE HEALTHY TEETH

Proper nutrition                     Teeth cleaning                    Professional maintenance

Proper nutrition as an imperative

Proper nutrition is the foundation for a healthy body, including the oral cavity. The lack of certain nutrients can weaken the gums and cause the teeth to become porous and influenced by the effects of bacterial, ultimately resulting in cavities. Sugar is the main culprit against healthy teeth, and special precautions are necessary when consuming sticky sweets such as chocolates or caramels, which remain on the surface of the teeth. Slowly sipping sweet and sour carbonated drinks is harmful not only because of the damage it causes to tooth enamel, but it enables bacteria that feed off of sugar to easier penetrate the tooth.

Clean teeth – healthy teeth

The first step in maintaining the health of teeth and the oral cavity is certainly proper hygiene. Regularly and thoroughly cleaning the teeth and areas in between is the least you can do for your smile. From choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste, the CLEANING TECHNIQUE is much more important; the toothbrush must be rested on the junction between the tooth and gums in a manner that the teeth are brushed and the gums are massaged with mild circular motions of the toothbrush. Exerting too much pressure with the toothbrush or using a toothbrush with bristles that are too firm can cause a receding gum line. Soft deposits on teeth that are thriving with bacteria remain most easily in hard to reach places (inside portion of teeth, corners, places where teeth are overcrowded) and additional hygiene is thus necessary; using dental floss or special interdental brushes. When choosing dental floss, as well as an interdental brush, the specifications of each individual space must be taken into account, as the gap between teeth is different for each person and hence, cleaning tools with appropriate dimensions must be chosen.

Professional maintenance – the best prevention

In addition to regular and adequate hygiene, our teeth require additional, professional care. Regular dentist visits, every 3-6 months, are the best ally in maintaining healthy and beautiful teeth. Other than a check-up and determining whether the necessity for any treatments exists, it is advised to allow your dentist to thoroughly clean the teeth and areas in between the teeth. Removing plaque and tartar, polishing teeth and applying a protective coating to the teeth do not exclusively serve an aesthetic purpose – with these actions, soft and hard deposits, pigmentations, etc. are removed and the amount of bacteria in the oral cavity is drastically lessened, and with it the risk of developing tooth defects. Such tooth maintenance is called prophylaxis and is recommended at least three to four times a year.