Life Skill Foundation organized workshop on Oral hygiene at DPS Bopal Ahmedabad on 2nd September 2011 .This workshop was attended by 800 students of 1st and 2nd standard . Importance of oral hygiene was communicated to students through power point presentation and animation movie.this was 2nd workshop organized by Life skill at DPS bhopal.(First Workshop)
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, especially the common dental caries and gingivitis, and bad breath.following topics were covered during the workshop
Teeth cleaning
Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent cavities and gum disease. Severe gum disease causes majority of adult tooth loss.
Tooth Decay is the most common disease affecting every family.
Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissures on surfaces
where brushing cannot reach food left trapped after every meal or snack
and saliva or fluoride have no access to neutralise acid and
remineralise demineralised tooth like on easy to reach surfaces where
few cavities occur.
Since before recorded history, a variety of oral hygiene measures
have been used for teeth cleaning, in which chew sticks,tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones etc. Many people used different forms of teeth cleaning tools. Indian medicine (Ayurveda) has used the neem tree (daatun). A person chews one end of the neem twig until it somewhat resembles the bristles of a toothbrush, and then uses it to brush the teeth. In the Muslim world, the miswak, or siwak, made from a twig or root with antiseptic properties has been widely used ..
Between cleanings by a dental hygienist, good oral hygiene is
essential for preventing tartar build-up which causes the problems
mentioned above. This is done by carefully and frequently brushing with a
toothbrush .
Plaque
Plaque is a yellow sticky film that forms on the teeth and gums and
can be seen at gum margins of teeth with a food dye. The bacteria in
plaque change carbohydrate like sugar in food to acid that demineralises
tooth eventually causing cavities after repeated attacks over a number
of years where demineralisation exceeds saliva and fluoride
remineralisation. Thorough daily brushing and flossing can prevent
tartar from forming on the teeth.
Plaque can also cause irritation to the gums, making them red,
tender, or bleeding easily. In some cases, the gums pull away from the
teeth, leaving cavities inhabited by bacteria and pus. If this is not
treated, bones around the teeth can be destroyed. Teeth may become loose
or have to be removed as with periodontal (gum) disease in mostly
adults. Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks can prevent tooth
decay and periodontal disease.
Flossing
The use of dental floss
is an important element of oral hygiene, since it removes the plaque
and the decaying food remaining stuck between the teeth. This food decay
and plaque cause irritation to the gums, allowing the gum tissue to
bleed more easily. Acid forming foods left on teeth also demineralise
teeth eventually causing cavities. Flossing for a proper inter-dental
cleaning is recommended at least once per day, preferably before
brushing so fluoride toothpase has better access between teeth to help
remineralise tooth, prevent receding gums, gum disease, and cavities between the teeth.
Tongue cleaning
Cleaning the tongue
as part of daily oral hygiene is essential, since it removes the
white/yellow bad-breath-generating coating of bacteria, decaying food
particles, fungi (such as Candida), and dead cells from the dorsal area
of the tongue. Tongue cleaning also removes some of the bacteria species
which generate tooth decay and gum problems.
Gum care
Massaging gums
with toothbrush bristles is generally recommended for good oral health.
Flossing is recommended at least once per day, preferably before bed,
to help prevent receding gums, gum disease, and cavities between the teeth.
Food and drink
Foods that help muscles and bones also help teeth and gums. Breads
and cereals are rich in vitamin B while fruits and vegetables contain
vitamin C, both of which contribute to healthy gum tissue.its recommend to brush after every meal and at bedtime, and
flossed at least once per day, preferably at night before sleep.
Beneficial foods
Some foods may protect against cavities. Fluoride
is a primary protector against dental cavities. Fluoride makes the
surface of teeth more resistant to acids during the process of remineralisation.
Drinking fluoridated water is recommended by some dental professionals
while others say that using toothpaste alone is enough. Milk and cheese
are also rich in calcium and phosphate,
and may also encourage remineralisation. Foods high in fiber
may also help to increase the flow of saliva and a bolus of fibre like
celery string can force saliva into trapped food inside pits and
fissures on chewing surfaces where over 80% of cavities occur, to dilute
carbohydrate like sugar,
Detrimental foods
Sugars are commonly associated with dental cavities. Other carbohydrates, especially cooked starches, e.g. crisps/potato chips, may also damage teeth, although to a lesser degree since starch has to be converted by enzymes in saliva first.
It is important therefore to try to encourage infrequent
consumption of food and drinks containing sugar so that teeth have a
chance to be repaired by remineralisation and fluoride. Limiting
sugar-containing foods and drinks to meal times is one way to reduce the
incidence of cavities. Sugars from fruit and fruit juices are likely to cause cavities.
Another factor which affects the risk of developing cavities is the
stickiness of foods. Some foods or sweets may stick to the teeth . It is important that teeth be cleaned at least twice a day,
preferably with a toothbrush
and fluoride toothpaste, to remove any food sticking to the teeth.
Regular brushing and the use of dental floss also removes the dental
plaque coating the tooth surface.