A tooth is basically made up of two parts: the crown and the root. The crown is what you see when you smile or open your mouth. It’s the part that sits above your gumline. The root is below the gumline. It makes up about 2/3rds of the tooth’s total length. Four different tissues make up each tooth. The enamel is the durable, white covering. Enamel protects the tooth from the wear and tear of chewing.

Dentin supports the enamel on your teeth. It’s a yellow bone-like material that’s softer than enamel and carries some of the nerve fibers that tell you when something is going wrong inside your tooth.

The Pulp is the center of the tooth. It’s a soft tissue that contains blood and lymph vessels, and nerves. The pulp is how the tooth receives nourishment and transmits signals to your brain.

Cementum is what covers most of the root of the tooth. It helps to attach the tooth to the bones in your jaw. A cushioning layer called the Periodontal Ligament sits between the cementum and the jawbone. It helps to connect the two.

Thanks to fluoride in toothpaste and drinking water, better nutrition and improved dental care, Americans’ teeth are healthier than ever. But that doesn’t mean you can neglect yours.

Brushing

ToothbrushBrushing removes food particles and plaque from your mouth, making your teeth look cleaner and breath feel fresher. Brush at least twice a day with a fluorinated toothpaste that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance. Use a toothbrush with soft, rounded bristles and replace it every three months. Follow theses steps to clean all surfaces.

1. First
To clean outer surfaces, tilt the brush so its bristles point toward the gums. Use short, side-to-side strokes, moving across your teeth in a circular motion. Also clean the gums.

2.Nex
To clean chewing surfaces of the molars, hold the brush flat. Gently scrub your teeth by moving the brushed back and forth.

Then
To clean inner surfaces of your back teeth brush in a circular motion at a 45-degree angle. And don’t forget the gums. To clean the inner surfaces of your front teeth, hold the brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes.

More Tips For Dental Care

Use fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent the bacteria in plaque from causing cavities. Some drinking water is fluoridated, and toothpastes and mouth rinses with the ADA seal contain proper amounts of fluoride.
Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, cereals, dairy products, and meat. Calcium is essential for strong teeth and bones. Good sources include milk, cheese, yogurt, and tofu.
Don’t chew on hard substances like ice or popcorn kernels and don’t grind your teeth. These habits can damage to the enamel.
Cigarettes and chewing tobacco can stain your teeth, and contribute to gum disease or even cause oral cancer.
Excessive amounts of coffee, tea or red wine may stain in your teeth.
See your dentist every six months for a general check up and cleaning.
Replace That Old Tooth Brush! — Dentists and hygienists recommend changing your toothbrush at least three times a year. Most Americans replace their toothbrushes every 9 to 12 months. But dentists recommend replacing a toothbrush every three to four months, because worn bristles may not clean teeth and gums effectively. So if your current brush has seen better days, make a change. And while you’re at it look for a toothbrush that has dual bristles to remove bacterial plaque between teeth at the gum line.

Quit smoking to save teeth and gums

Smokers who are able to kick the habit are more likely to heal chronic gum disease, than if they did not quit. Smokers are six times more vulnerable to gum disease than non-smokers.

Researchers at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England have found that if smokers have chronic gum disease, their disease improves significantly after they quit. According to Dr. Philip Preshaw, a gum specialist, “our study shows that people should stop smoking now if they want to increase their chances of keeping their teeth into old age.”

The study consisted of 49 smokers who have had gum disease for at least a year. The scientists noticed improvement in the disease in about one fifth of the smokers that quit.

Smokers are more likely to develop gum diseases because their bodies are less equipped to fight the bacteria in plaque that can accumulate on the teeth. The bacterium then causes the gums to become inflamed and they in turn recede or bleed. If these diseases go untreated, the bones that hold teeth in place can erode and eventually the teeth may fall out.

Dr. Preshaw said, “dentists have known for some time that smokers have worse oral and gum health than non-smokers but for the first time we have shown that quitting smoking together with routine gum treatment results in healthier gums.”