There is more to a mouth than just a set of teeth, some gums, and two jawbones. A lot goes into daily maintenance of a dental hygiene regiment. Selecting the proper tooth brush and toothpaste to use on teeth is a
component, as is learning what types of foods make up the best nutritional diet for healthy dental care. Each of these factors, along with others, is components for essential healthy dental care.
Holistic dentistry recognizes the need that the mouth and teeth play a vital role in a person achieving whole body health. This dental practice utilizes non invasive dental techniques when treating a person. In addition, non toxic dental restoration materials are utilized when repairing or replacing existing mouth structures. Holistic dentistry focuses on conducting dental treatments in ways that will not induce any amount of additional stress upon a person. This is accomplished through education and communication with the person to determine the best course of action to be taken. Full medical and dental backgrounds are taken into consideration.
One component in dental care is an understanding of the dental anatomy. Basically stated, dental anatomy is dedicated to the structure of teeth. In addition to this, it remains focused on the naming, classification and appearance of teeth. There is an understanding that initial tooth formation begins before birth. The placement of the teeth is also determined before birth. To begin, there are 20 primary or baby teeth and 32 permanent teeth. Each tooth contains an identifying character that separates it from the tooth on either side.
Teeth development occurs by a wide array of activities mostly before a person is born. The first part of tooth development is the formation of embryonic cells. These cells grow into teeth that eventually erupt through the gums. This first occurs in a toddler and is commonly referred to as teething. Beginning in about the sixth to eighth week in utero, the primary, or baby teeth, begin to take shape. By the twentieth week in utero, the permanent, or adult teeth, begin to form into shape. If these events do not take place in utero, there is a likelihood that tooth development will never occur.
Once a healthy set of teeth have appeared the next step in dental care is learning the proper technique for tooth brushing. A proper tooth brushing regiment can prevent such dental problems as cavities, gingivitis,
and periodontal disease. This disease is responsible for tooth loss in approximately one third of the adult population. In addition to these problems, tarter build up could occur as a result of poor tooth brushing. A proper tooth brushing regiment is essential to maintain a healthy set of teeth and gums.
To begin, a soft nylon tooth brush with rounded edges should be selected. The brush should be placed at a 45 degree angle against the gum line. Brushing of the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of the teeth should be done using tooth wide strokes in back and forth motions. The “toe” section of the tooth brush is ideal for cleaning inside teeth surfaces in an up and down motion. Finally, the tongue should be cleaned as well. This removes bacteria from the area and aids in freshening breathe.
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is the process of clenching the upper and lower jaw together while grinding the upper and lower teeth together. This dental problem occurs most often when a person is asleep. However, it has been known to exist during daylight hours in select people. The symptoms of bruxism include waking up with headaches, painful jaws and unexplained sensitivity of teeth. Approximately 10 to 50% of people suffer from this problem. It is subconscious in nature so a person does not realize it is an issue until a second party relates the information.
Stress, anxiety and poor diet are just a few known factors that cause bruxism. Additional causes are hypoglycemia, allergies and a dysfunction of the nervous system. If left untreated, bruxism can result in an unbalance of teeth on either side of the mouth. This is due to the grinding action wearing down the right and left sides at different rates. The constant grinding action can cause significant pain in the jaw and ears.
A person suffering from bruxism is advised to find ways in which to alleviate stress from daily life. This can be achieved through a change in diet, and establishing a daily exercise regiment. Breathing techniques, mediation and other calming techniques can also be employed for stress relief. For children suffering from bruxism, behavior modification techniques are usually suggested. A person is also advised to avoid chewing on anything other than food substances. Not doing so could result in permanent damage of dental work.
Tooth decay is a form of dental care imbalance that occurs when the enamel of the tooth becomes infected with bacteria known as plaque. The bacteria forms when saliva in the mouth is combined with sugary substances found in unhealthy foods. The plaque sticks to the tooth enamel using the saliva and sugar to form an acid. This acid begins to slowly eat away at the tooth enamel. This results in causing damage known as tooth decay.
In the treatment of tooth decay, a dentist begins by removing the existing decay from the surface of the tooth. Once completed, the hole where the decay was present is filled with a composite resin. Holistic dentists believe in using composite resin filling versus the more popular metal fillings of traditional dentistry. This is based on the belief that when metal is placed inside the mouth, it is absorbed into the tissue and the gums. This results in a compromise of the body’s immune system. Therefore, composite resin mixtures are the more desirable holistic choice.
There are many components of effective dental care health. No matter what method is favored, each one plays an integral role in maintaining an effective dental care regiment. Working together, each aspect of dental care treatments have a hand in how the next treatment is affected. One slip in either direction of dental care can result in damage to not only the mouth but to whole body state of being.