SAVING YOUR SMILE
Prevention saves time,
money and teeth
By Norm and Melanie DeJong
To the Blue Mountain Eagle
L
et’s save our teeth!
Prevention is cost effective, and
flossing and brushing may be the best
dental insurance available. Preventive pro-
fessional cleanings and checkups, daily
flossing and brushing will save you time,
money and your teeth.
Better oral health may mean
better overall health
Improper oral care may lead to plaque
buildup, and plaque formation may lead to
gingivitis, which may progress to periodon-
titis, a more severe form of gum disease.
Recent evidence suggests periodontitis
may be associated with heart disease, diabe-
tes and other health conditions.
A few things in your mouth:
Saliva: Your mouth and teeth are con-
stantly bathed in saliva. Although we never
give much thought to our spit, this simple
fluid is remarkable for what it does to help
protect our oral health. Saliva keeps teeth
and other oral tissues moist and lubricated,
washes away some of the food particles left
behind after we eat, and it lowers the acid
levels in the mouth. It also protects against
some viruses and bacteria. A moist mouth is
important. Dry mouth leads to tooth decay.
Plaque: Plaque appears as a soft, gooey
substance that sticks to the teeth a bit like
jam sticks to a spoon. It is, in fact, colo-
nies of bacteria, protozoa, mycoplasmas,
yeasts and viruses clumping together in a
gel-like organic material. Also in the mix
are bacteria byproducts, white blood cells,
food debris and body tissue. Plaque grows
when bacteria attach to the tooth and begin
multiplying. Plaque starts forming immedi-
ately after a tooth is cleaned; it takes about
an hour for plaque to build up to measur-
able levels. As time goes on, different types
of microorganisms appear, and the plaque
thickens.
Calculus or tartar: If not removed,
plaque begins to mineralize and harden into
calculus, or tartar, because the plaque ab-
sorbs calcium, phosphorus and other miner-
Contributed photo
Melanie and Norm DeJong stand outside their dental practice on West Front
Street in Prairie City.
als from saliva. These minerals form crys-
tals and harden. New plaque forms on top
of existing calculus, and the next layer can
also become calcified; then the cycle con-
tinues. If calculus is not removed, your gum
will back away or recede or retreat from the
bacteria-laden calculus, and gum disease is
the result.
Bacteria: We have many different
strains of bacteria in our mouths. Some
bacteria are good; they help control de-
structive bacteria. When it comes to decay,
Streptococcus mutans is the bacterial strain
that does the most damage. It attaches easi-
ly to teeth and produces acid that can cause
tooth decay or gum disease.
Types of tooth decay: Bacteria are
invisible troublemakers.
Tooth decay, also known as dental car-
ies, breaks into the tooth. A white spot ap-
pears first on the enamel where the tooth is
starting to weaken. At this stage, the tooth
can repair the weakened area with the help
of fluoride and minerals in saliva. If the
decay continues and breaks through the
enamel’s surface, the damage is permanent.
The decay must be cleaned out and the
cavity filled by a dentist. Untreated decay
will worsen and destroy a tooth all the way
through the enamel to the inside dentin lay-
er and down to the pulp, or tooth’s nerve.
Baby teeth recently emerged have weak
enamel and are highly susceptible to acid de-
terioration or decay. Baby bottle tooth decay,
or early childhood caries, destroys enamel
quickly. If milk from a bottle or nursing is
not swallowed and leaves a white milk line
across the lips and teeth of a baby, the en-
zymes in the saliva and acidity from the bac-
teria start breaking down the enamel. Babies
that fall asleep with a bottle or while nursing
before that last swallow is taken have more
chances of tooth decay. When baby teeth ap-
pear is the time to make sure the child’s teeth
are clean of plaque.
Preventing tooth decay is a lifelong en-
deavor.
Root surfaces are also vulnerable to de-
cay in older adults with recession from gum
disease or hard brushing. Dry mouth makes
one prone to root surface decay. Dry mouth
is often caused by some common medicines.
Be aware and always keep your mouth
moist. Talk to your dentist, medical doctor
and pharmacist about dry mouth.
And remember to brush and floss daily to
protect your smile.
Norm DeJong, DDS, MPH, PC, and Mel-
anie DeJong, RDH, operate a dental prac-
tice at 132 W. Front St., Prairie City. To con-
tact them, call 541-820-4369.
Family Health Guide 2017 || 13