Teeth are important in the human being's whole body. Teeth are used for mastication, or breaking down the food we ingest into small bits for the nutrients to be absorbed by the body. These nutrients, vitamins will then be converted into energy that the body needs to keep functioning. Knowing how important teeth are, it is then essential to maintain their purpose and function by good dental hygiene.

Tooth brushing

Commercial advertisements are there for a valid reason. They give enough evidence to prove that proper tooth brushing techniques and procedures, and pastes that use the right formulations and rinsing methods are ways to prevent tooth decay and caries.

It is advised that brushing twice a day is important for caries prevention especially with the last brushing done after meals at night.

Toothpaste

Fluoride is for teeth strength and thus a major ingredient in dental paste and mouthwashes. Fluoride effectiveness is also dependent on frequency, concentration, and rinsing practice. It has been proven by studies and research that the higher the fluoride concentration the better is the protection against caries. The appropriate concentration of fluoride varies as it depends on the person's caries risk factor.

Adult fluoride concentrations are higher than that required in children. Low concentrations are recommended for children because they tend to ingest the fluoride, which can cause Fluorisis. The fluoride effect is reduced if rinsing vigorously is done with large volumes of water. Therefore, rinsing should be done with only a little water.

Fluoride toxicity

Fluoride is used in toothpaste and in some oral health care treatments for the prevention of tooth decay. It works very well as a decay prevention treatment. However, swallowing fluoride in large amounts is toxic. Some people have become very concerned about the toxic effects of fluoride in toothpaste and in some sources of drinking water. Children should be taught and encouraged to spit out the excess fluoride from toothpaste and in the dental office children should not be left alone with dental treatments containing fluoride.

Preventing tooth decay

Studies and research has shown that a class of sugar is mainly responsible for tooth decay and caries. Non-milk extrinsic sugar or NMES is a class of sugar which is present in food products such as table sugar and soft drinks. These high sugar content products are the main culprits in tooth decay and cavities.

A decrease in the consumption of foods rich in NMES therefore greatly affects tooth decay prevention. But diet modification is needed to achieve this. This will not be an easy task for the majority of the public since it involves changing eating habits.

A population based dietary intervention approach suggests that, given the right support, sugar consumption will be reduced. But dietary interventions should not result in consumption of foods such as saturated fats instead, which will affect the entire health of people.

Substitute for the NMES-rich food must be offered and made available. Family support and peer groups are important in changing diet with a view to improving dental health.