Dental hygiene is vital. If we do not honor it, we could find ourselves with bigger problems. Poor dental health is connected to a plethora of problems, such as heart disease, stomach issues, and even pneumonia if you suffer from dysphagia also. Dental Health Care is vital.
However, there are some tips that you can stick to in the long run to ensure that you are
Choice of toothbrush
There is a wide range of toothbrushes on the market, manual, electric, with bristles of different strengths, heads of different dimensions, etc. In people with impaired oral sensitivity, such as patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, or those in whom manual dexterity has been impaired, brush selection may vary depending on the objective to be pursued.
It is often advisable to use an electric toothbrush that makes brushing easier. If oral sensitivity (tongue, lips, cheeks, gums) has also been reduced, the electric toothbrush is also an interesting option, as the vibrations produced by the device can be used to stimulate the mouth.
Traditional toothbrushes are divided into different categories, including stiffness. Rigid ones retain their properties longer, but only people who do not have problems with enamel and gums should use them, everyone else should opt for brushes of medium or low stiffness.
Bleeding gums, for example, is an occasion not only to use soft-bristled brushes (so as not to further damage the gums) but also to visit a dentist to be examined for gingivitis or periodontitis. If the disease worsens, the teeth begin to wobble in the weak gums, and they are increasingly at risk.
There is no particular difference in efficiency between standard and electric brushes: the latest electric models, such as oral-b, are more practical but need to be changed just as regularly.
Choice of toothpaste
As with the brush, the dentist can advise us on the selection of toothpaste. In general, toothpaste sold in supermarkets can offer basic hygiene if you do not have any oral disease. On the contrary, in the case of having sensitive gums, cavities, pyorrhea, etc. It is better to go to a pharmacy to guide us on the most suitable toothpaste for each case.
Choice of mouthwash and floss
There is a wide variety of mouthwashes, with and without alcohol, of different flavors, antiplaque, swollen gums, etc. In the case of people with dysphagia, it is preferable to use one alcohol-free or with a low concentration.
Mouthwash has a cooling effect, but its effect cannot be evaluated as definitely positive, and the alcohol in it can be simply dangerous. Before buying, pay attention to the warning label for the presence of a large amount of alcohol.
One of the most important reasons dentists want you to floss is to fight plaque. Plaque is a layer of bacteria that is stored on your teeth. The sugary foods in your food nourish plaque and it eats away at your tooth enamel.
This bacterial activity is what drives cavities and dental health problems as well as coronary health problems (mentioned above). Hence the warning that you don't have to eat a lot of sugar. If you floss after every meal, you will get rid of plaque before it starts to build up. But be sure to brush your teeth after flossing!
Clean tongues
Sometimes toothbrushes have a rough part on the back of the head that is used to clean the tongue. If this is not the case, there is a specific tool for this, “tongue cleaner”.
The only recommendation is that they be in one piece, that is, they should not be disassembled, since if any part was accidentally detached. Getting rid of bacteria on the tongue will help eliminate bad breath and generally improves oral hygiene. You can buy tongue scrapers online.
Process
The correct technique for proper oral hygiene requires practice and above all routine. It is very important to brush after every meal. If it is impossible, at least night brushing must be guaranteed, since it is then, when we sleep, that we do not have voluntary control over our swallowing, when any food particle that has been stored in the mouth may be a candidate for being aspirated into the lung (in very rare cases). This process is vital and should be continued every single day - twice a day.
The interrelation between oral hygiene and pneumonia
The oral cavity is made up of many structures, tongue, teeth, gums, mucosa, etc, and a liquid component called saliva. In it, countless bacteria coexist, some necessary to maintain the good health of the mouth and the stomatognathic system, and others "septic or contaminated" that can lead to common diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal diseases in humans.
The mouth is continually exposed to external agents, such as food, drink, tobacco, and environmental agents from the air we breathe, which can alter oral health. Likewise, the use of oral prostheses, such as teeth, orthodontic appliances, lack of original teeth, presence of cavities or gum disease, excess or defect of salivation, amount of plaque lodged in the teeth, generate a greater presence of bacteria harmful to the mouth.
One of the most severe risks of dysphagia is an aspiration, this is described as the passage of food, liquids, or saliva into the airway, and therefore, into the lungs. This event can generate aspiration pneumonia that reduces the ventilatory capacity of the person and that requires hospital admission to be treated.
If the definition of aspiration described above is taken into account, any substance found in the mouth, including saliva, maybe a candidate to end up in the lungs, if the mouth is not properly cleaned, and the saliva is infected with harmful bacteria For the body, the aspirated content becomes a great toxic to the lungs and can generate aspiration pneumonia of great severity.
At first, it may seem very complicated, especially if you are helping someone else with their dental hygiene, however, you should be well aware that it is a vital step. Take care of your teeth for a healthier tomorrow.
Leave a Reply