teeth and gums,oral hygiene

Healthy teeth and gums are important for general health as bad oral hygiene can lead to diseases of other systems of the body. Man gets two sets of teeth during his lifetime.

Healthy teeth not only help us to grind food so that it can be easily digested but also enhance the beauty of the face. Teeth are also needed for proper pronunciation of words.

There are four types of teeth serving different purposes. They are incisor, canine, premolar and molars. The incisors are used for cutting food. The canines are used for tearing food. They are more developed in carnivorous animals.

The premolars are used for crushing and tearing food and the molars are used for grinding food. In primary dentition there are no premolars.

The first set also called as milk teeth, baby teeth, primary teeth or deciduous teeth start erupting after about six moths. There are twenty teeth in the primary dentition ten in each jaw-upper and lower.

Each jaw will have two central incisors, two lateral incisors, two canines and four molars once all the teeth have erupted. They usually erupt in the following order-central incisor, lateral incisor, first molar, canine and second molar. Usually mandibular teeth erupt before maxillary teeth.

Permanent teeth start erupting at about six years. From that time till about eleven to twelve years when the last primary tooth is shed children will have mixed dentition (both primary and secondary teeth are present at the same time).

The order of eruption of permanent teeth on the maxilla (upper jaw bone) is slightly different from that of permanent teeth on the mandible (lower jaw bone). The order of eruption of maxillary teeth is-first molar, central incisor, lateral incisor, first premolar, second premolar, canine, second molar and third molar.

The order of eruption of mandibular teeth is- first molar, central incisor, lateral incisor, canine, first premolar, second premolar, second molar and third molar. Usually by the age of 21 years a person will have all the 32 teeth.

Structure of tooth: The part of the tooth visible above the gum is known as the crown. The part of the tooth that is below the gum line is called root. Incisors and canines have only one root whereas premolars and molars have four roots per tooth. Neck of a tooth is that portion at the gum line between the crown and the root.

The crown of a tooth is covered by a very hard substance called the enamel. In fact it is the hardest structure in the body harder than even bone.

It is made up of calcium and phosphorus crystals enmeshed in protein matrix. The enamel is almost like a dead structure with no turnover of its elements.

Beneath the enamel is a layer of tissue called dentine. This is softer than enamel and is slightly elastic and compressible in nature. It is a live tissue and is sensitive.

Underneath the gum the dentine of the root of the tooth is covered by a layer which is different from the enamel and is called cementum. In between the bony socket for the tooth and the cementum there is a membrane called the periodontal membrane.

The innermost layer of a tooth is called the pulp. It is made up of soft tissue containing blood vessels, nerves and lymph vessels. The part of the pulp inside the root of the tooth is referred to as the root canal. The cementum has an opening at the tip of the root to allow blood vessels and nerves to enter the pulp.

Taking care of teeth and gums: It is important to take proper care of teeth and gums in order to prevent gum disease and caries. Poor oral hygiene can have adverse impact on systemic health. There seems to be a direct link between poor oral hygiene and cardiovascular diseases.

It is necessary to eat the right food to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Frequent consumption of sugars predisposes to caries. Soft drinks which are acidic can cause damage to the enamel and lead to cavities.

Frequent snacking should be avoided. Foods which tend to stick to the teeth like potato chips are not good for healthy teeth. Hard candies stay in the mouth for long and predispose to caries.

Consumption of adequate fluoride is necessary for strong teeth. Vitamin C is necessary for healthy gums. Vitamin C deficiency can cause bleeding gums. Hence consumption of balanced diet with all the vitamins and minerals is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Flossing is very effective in removing bits of food in between teeth. Daily flossing goes a long way in preventing diseases of gums.

Teeth should be brushed at least twice daily using a scientifically designed tooth brush. Brushing helps to remove plaque which is a thin layer containing many bacteria. These bacteria break down the food in the mouth producing acids which damage the enamel.

SBI!

Teeth and gums