Um Wellness -oral Health Quiz 2

Some studies have linked common oral problems to illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature birth, osteoporosis, and even Alzheimer's disease. In most cases, the strength and exact nature of the link is unclear, but they suggest that dental health is important for preserving overall health.

Oral cancer presents as a mouth sore that doesn't go away and is accompanied by unexplained numbness in the face, mouth, or neck. There may be problems chewing, speaking, or swallowing. Don't let fear keep you from the doctor -- oral cancer that is caught early is treatable and curable.

Cleaning our teeth better is achieved by using the correct brushing technique, which involves using the right amount of pressure, brushing all surfaces of the teeth, and using a proper brushing motion. Using a hard toothbrush or increasing the force of brushing may actually cause damage to the teeth and gums, leading to oral health problems. Therefore, the most effective way to clean our teeth is by practicing correct brushing techniques.

The recommended time to brush our teeth is 2-3 minutes. This duration allows for proper cleaning of all surfaces of the teeth and removal of plaque and food particles. Brushing for less than 2 minutes may not be sufficient to effectively clean the teeth, while brushing for more than 3 minutes may cause unnecessary wear on the enamel. Therefore, 2-3 minutes is the ideal duration for brushing our teeth.

Even though 3 out of 4 patients don't change their toothbrushes as often as they should, toothbrushes should be replaced every 2 to 3 months and after illnesses like a cold or flu.

Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental hygiene and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath can also be made worse by the types of foods you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.

Brushing twice daily and flossing once a day is the best option for maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping teeth healthy. Brushing helps to remove plaque and food particles from the surfaces of the teeth, while flossing helps to clean between the teeth and along the gum line where a toothbrush cannot reach. This combination of brushing and flossing helps to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Rinsing with mouthwash after each meal can be beneficial, but it should not replace the regular brushing and flossing routine.

It is generally recommended that an infant be seen by a dentist by 1 year of age or within 6 months after the first tooth comes in.

"Although tooth loss is common, it's not an inevitable part of aging," says Richard H. Price, DDS, a retired dentist in Newton, Mass., and spokesman for the American Dental Association."Teeth do not die a natural death -- we kill them. Exactly how do we do that? In short, by disease or trauma," he says.

Tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries.