Preventive oral hygiene goes a long way in maintaining oral health. In an interactive lecture at the Periyar Nagar Public Library on Karthikeyan Salai on June 19^th, Dr. S. Jimson detailed how we can take control of our oral health to guard against oral diseases including oral cancer. Dr. S. Jimson is professor and head of the department of oral & maxillofacial surgery at Tagore Dental College. The event at the regular monthly meet of the Science & Nature Club of Periyar Nagar Public Library was organized by Dr. D. Navaneetham of the Science & Nature Club, who also moderated the talk, along with Mr. K. Venkatesan, the Chief Librarian and Mr. S. Subramaniam, President of the library’s Reader’s Circle.

Here are some salient points about dental hygiene from Dr. Jimson’s lecture.

1. Rinse mouth several times immediately after every meal to get rid of food particles in the mouth.

2. Brush twice a day – once in the morning and once before bed at night. The latter is just as important because the sleeping hours are the most active hours for the bacteria of the oral cavity and the cleaner the mouth is, the lesser their damage will be. Do not eat anything after brushing.

3. Brush for 2 minutes spending 30 seconds on each quadrant of the teeth. Over-brushing can damage the enamel (hard and mineralized surface of teeth).

4. Use toothbrushes with soft or ultra-soft bristles that are gentle on the gums and the enamel. Toothbrushes can be made softer still by soaking them in water (hard, medium, soft or ultra-soft labels are printed on toothbrush package).

5. Stay with one simple toothpaste instead of constantly trying out new ones. Labels like ‘herbal’ or ‘whitener’ or ‘salted’ do not add any value to the toothpaste and should be viewed as mere marketing gimmicks.

6. Avoid the use of sharp tools as pins for tooth picking to prevent injuries to the gums.

7. Use safe wooden tooth picks or dental floss (nylon-like thread that can be obtained over- the-counter at pharmacies) to dislodge food particles wedged between teeth,.

8. Do not use tongue-cleaners as they can damage the taste buds. To clean the tongue just use your finger of the grooved back of toothbrush heads.

9. Mouthwashes are not really necessary unless indicated by the doctor.

10. Use salt water gargle (rock salt recommended) instead.

11. Check out any dental caries (tooth decay) immediately with the dentist to prevent further progress.

12. Diabetics should be doubly careful about their oral hygiene as they run a higher risk of developing oral problems.

13. Do not feed older babies and children during the sleeping hours at night as it will encourage the growth of caries.

14. Early removal of wisdom teeth is recommended in youngsters as healing will be faster with them.

15. Visit to the dentist office periodically (recommended every 6 months) for a general dental check-up and teeth cleaning that involves removal of plaque (sticky colorless film of bacteria) and tartar (calcified or hardened plaque) that build up over time on the surface of teeth.

16. Avoid processed food (like chips, cookies and the whole lot) whose chemical content and stickiness can lead to early tooth decay. Instead opt for fresh and natural foods.

17. Bad breath can be a result of poor oral hygiene or diabetes or medication. Check it out at the dentist’s.

18. Avoid smoking, consumption of alcohol and chewing of ‘paan paraag’ as these can lead to oral cancer.

19. If there is any unhealed ulcer (laceration or open wound) in the mouth for over two weeks, check with a dentist as it may be a precursor to cancer. Any sharp tooth that constantly causes injuries to the tongue or the inside of the mouth also needs to be taken care of.

20. Genetic factors can also predispose certain people to oral cancer. But remember oral cancer is curable. Cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of these.

The oral cavity is a gateway to the body. Maintaining strong gums and strong teeth lead to health and happiness adding to a person’s quality of life.