There is hardly any other area in the body to which this rule applies as much as it does to the mouth: Prevention is the best protection. We’ll show you what is possible here.
If it hurts, then the child has usually already fallen into the well. Because severe toothache means: There is a hole in the tooth and the nerves are already affected, maybe even the root. Then the damage is already so great that only a more or less complex treatment can help, and it goes straight to the substance: parts of the tooth are irretrievably lost and must be repaired.
Effective prophylaxis begins within your own four walls
The problem: The first signs of damage to the teeth are neither visible nor palpable. The exception is tartar. The hard, rough deposits on the edges of the teeth, especially in older people, also on the exposed tooth necks, are easy to see. If plaque and the acids it contains have already attacked the enamel or the gums have become infected, you usually do not even notice it. The enamel, the outer layer of the teeth, gradually becomes porous, but the body cannot replicate the enamel. The good news is: As long as the damage is still superficial, it can be compensated for and strengthened – with regular prophylaxis. The preventive measures that are taken are diverse and are constantly evolving.
Clean with fluoride toothpaste and strengthen the tooth enamel
Most people understand prophylaxis as going to a check-up once or twice a year, combined with professional teeth cleaning (PZR). But prophylaxis begins much earlier, within your own house. There are now numerous means to choose from: In addition to toothbrushes, interdental brushes for the spaces between the teeth and tongue scrapers, there are special toothpaste containing fluoride (e.g. LACALUT® aktiv toothpaste ) that strengthens the tooth enamel and thus protects against tooth decay – this is caused by acidic Food and sweet drinks such as lemonades or fruit juices are softened and destabilized. There are also various mouthwashes that can and should be used in daily oral hygiene.
The professional prophylaxis in the dental practice
In an ideal world, we would not consume any sugary foods or fruit juices and would brush our teeth or at least rinse our mouths thoroughly after every meal. But most of them fail, and so at least a visit to the dentist can prevent the worst and uncover problems before they become a real disease of the teeth and gums.
This is what happens:
- first of all, plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth. Both hand instruments such as scalers and curettes as well as airflow and ultrasound devices are used. In professional tooth cleaning, too, dental floss, interdental brushes and scrapers are used to remove deposits and also to clean hard-to-reach areas and the edges of the teeth.
- A lot is also possible cosmetically when cleaning teeth: the use of a powder jet device helps against discoloration of the teeth from coffee or tea.
- A water jet is then used to thoroughly rinse all of the spaces in between and then the teeth are dried with air
- Now that the teeth are really clean, the tooth surfaces are polished with a special polishing paste, which also seals any exposed tooth necks and fine cracks, thus protecting the tooth substance from bacteria
- Finally, a fluoride gel offers the best protection against tooth decay. It is applied after the teeth have been polished, this prevents the rapid formation of new plaque, as the plaque is more difficult to deposit on smooth tooth surfaces.
Prophylaxis is a long-term project and must be repeated
However, “preventing” does not mean that plaque and tartar do not come back. The PZR only brings something if it is carried out again and again at intervals. The main aim is to prevent tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. This is achieved by lowering the bacterial load in the mouth. What many do not know: Diet also plays a major role in maintaining healthy teeth. While acids and sugar damage teeth because they quasi “feed” harmful bacteria and destroy tooth enamel, raw vegetables, i.e. raw vegetables, encourage the flow of saliva when chewed. This is important because the teeth are flushed with the saliva and harmful bacteria and germs are removed in the process. A dry mouth, on the other hand, promotes reproduction and accumulation on the teeth and in the often narrow spaces between the teeth.
The bacteria in the mouth can be dangerous
First and foremost, professional prophylaxis offers great advantages. In addition to protection against tooth decay and periodontal disease (an inflammation of the entire tooth support system, with regression of the gums and breakdown of the jawbone up to tooth loss), it leads to a mineralization and smoothing of the teeth and contributes to a healthy oral flora. After the PZR, the teeth look radiant, brighter and smoother again, and people with braces and dentures in particular should schedule an appointment for prophylaxis at least twice a year, as bridges and crowns last significantly longer if they are professionally cleaned and checked. Bacteria can collect again in the fine crevices if you let it grind and, in the worst case, penetrate them.
In addition, tooth necks that are sensitive to pain can be sealed so that cold and hot dishes no longer trigger unpleasant pain reactions. The importance of removing harmful microorganisms in professional tooth cleaning is also demonstrated by people with chronic diseases for whom inflammation of the gums can be particularly dangerous. For them, prophylaxis is crucial, as oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and the body via the gums. This is also the reason why high-risk patients must be given an antibiotic before treatment to prevent infection. Because under certain circumstances the prophylactic treatment can lead to small injuries (microcracks) of the gums. Bacteria released when cleaning gum pockets, for example, could get into the blood, which can be very dangerous for pre-stressed patients. For all other patients, rinsing with a disinfecting solution is sufficient. One of the best known is Chlorhexamed, but also essential oils from naturopathy such as tea tree oil have an antibacterial effect and prevent inflammation caused by germs from the oral cavity.
Pain during professional teeth cleaning?
As a rule, professional teeth cleaning is as good as painless. Depending on how dirty the teeth are, removing tartar and plaque from the gum line can be a bit uncomfortable; if in doubt (talk to the dentist), surface anesthesia can provide relief. A gel is applied for this. Here, too, the following applies: With good prophylaxis at home, less tartar and plaque will form – and the less pain the removal will be.