Keeping teeth clean

The first set of teeth in childhood is called primary teeth or deciduous teeth. This set has 20 teeth. Sometimes the primary teeth are also referred to as temporary teeth since they fall off with the eruption of the permanent teeth. The average time of eruption of primary teeth and their falling off is happen over several years. The permanent teeth begin to erupt from about the age of 6-7 years. With the eruption of permanent teeth the child will go into a mixed dentition period where the child will have mixture of primary and permanent teeth. The mixed dentition period lasts until about 12 years. Eventually a adult will have 32 teeth consisting of 8 teeth on either side , on the upper and lower jaws; these are 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolar and 3 molar. The last molar may not erupt in many persons for very long period.

Keeping teeth clean

Baby's teeth may be cleaned with a cotton bud or soft piece of cloth. A small brush can be used from about the age of 12 months. Parents should clean their children's teeth until they are about 4 years. The routine must be pleasant and enjoyable. In that way children will grow to accept oral hygiene as a part of daily life. Parents must set the example by brushing their own teeth with the child watching. The brush should be held in a pen or finger grip and the nylon bristles must be angled at about45 degrees where the gums meet the teeth. The reason for brushing is to remove plaque, which is the cause of the 2 main dental diseases, dental caries (cavities) and periodontal disease(pyorrhea).

Plaque

Plaque is an off-white, smelly, sticky, substance, which forms normally and adheres to the teeth towards the end of the day. On the smooth surfaces of teeth it starts forming at the gum margin and increases in thickness with time, while spreading out to cover a greater area of the tooth surface. It also forms inside the tiny pits and fissures on the biting surfaces of teeth, which the toothbrush may not reach. Plaque contains various types of germs (bacteria) and their products, including food particles. It can, to a large extent, be removed by regular tooth brushing, using a toothbrush or a chewing stick, once in the morning and again before retiring to bed. Whatever the brushing technique used,the important thing is to brush away the plaque at the margin. That is where plaque formation frequently commences and where it causes damage. Toothpaste is not an absolutely essential ingredient in tooth brushing; it is the toothbrush that is essential. The finger is not a substitute for a toothbrush. However it is advantageous to use a toothpaste containing fluoride, whenever possible except in certain areas where fluoride is high in drinking water to prevent dental carries. Fluoride toothpaste makes the surface enamel layer of the tooth harder and stronger, and thereby makes it more resistant to bacterial attack. 

How much toothpaste should be used on the brush at a time’? Answer: About the size of an average peanut (groundnut) for children - slightly more for adults. Additional amounts unnecessarily increase the cost incurred, and also has the disadvantage of causing ingestion (swallowing) of too much of fluoride. In situations where toothpaste is not affordable, a non-irritating wisp of soap would do.