Good Health And The Mouth}

Good Health and the Mouth

by

Jamie K Oliver

I find that one of the most important, but sadly neglected portions of human hygiene and fitness is oral hygiene. My pearly whites are the oh-so-important parts of my body that not only break down food and get the digestive process rolling, but also aids in speech, which is rather important in daily living. Nasty things like gingivitis can cause inflammation and damage my gums while plaque and bacteria can eat away at the teeth themselves.

In an effort to combat the plaque as well as the various bacteria that love taking residence in warm dark spaces (i.e. my mouth) I go through my teeth cleaning regimen twice a day (morning and night), as well as a smaller follow-up in the middle of the day.

To start my battle with gingivitis off I brush intently, covering the back of the mouth, the front, behind every nook and cranny using an angled toothbrush that I replace every two months or so as well as lightly scraping my tongue with the back of the toothbrush (I always buy one that has a built in tongue scraper) to dislodge bacteria and food particles from the tongue. I generally use toothpastes approved by the American Dental Association as it would seem to make the most sense to use the toothpaste the experts recommend. When I’ve finished brushing I floss, inserting the thread between each tooth and gently removing anything the toothbrush may have left behind. I take care not to floss too hard, as this can damage the gums which can cause inflammation. When finished with flossing I swish a small mouthful of mouthwash around to clear out any remaining gunk in my mouth (and to freshen my breath) and spit it out after about thirty seconds. Usually after this I look at my reflection in the mirror, flash my clean teeth, and wink at myself. This is entirely optional, but it makes me feel good.

The entire procedure is repeated in the evening before going to bed to ensure that my teeth stay protected while I’m sleeping; but between then is twelve to sixteen hours of activity in which I’ll be consuming food and drink and encountering plenty of bacteria during my day. It is impractical to bring all of my dental health supplies with me to work, so instead I keep a little “tooth survival kit” in my desk. This includes a small travel toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, as well as oral care strips that maybe antiseptic and mouth freshening capabilities. Occasionally I use disposable pre-pasted toothbrushes instead of my travel brush, but either one works well to give my mouth a perk-up in the middle of a busy day. I generally do not floss in the middle of the day, as over-flossing can cause my gums to become overly sensitive.

Every six months or so I head out to my dentist’s office for my check-up. While I do a thorough job in my teeth cleaning, there is always room for improvement, and at the dentist’s office I get my teeth cleaning done by the professionals to ensure maximum cleanliness. The dentist then takes a look at my teeth to ensure that they are in the condition they should be in. It’s been years since I’ve had any problems, mainly because the last time I did have a cavity is resulted in a very uncomfortable root canal which provided me with the “push” I needed to take better care of my teeth.

So, to avoid gingivitis or cavities, and to ensure good oral hygiene all around, I recommend taking the same steps to ensure your teeth stay in great condition as well. If you take care of your teeth, they will continue to serve you well for the rest of your life.

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Good Health and the Mouth

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