Dental hygiene

Dental hygiene or oral hygiene is the process of maintaining proper dental care to avoid oral health problems.

It includes brushing the teeth, flossing, cleaning the tongue, and visiting the dentist regularly. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. It is recommended that you see your dentist and dental hygienist at least twice a year however the dental care that you provide on your own in-house is an integral part of maintaining good oral health. A good in-house regimen

supplemented by regular dentist check-ups and cleanings is the best way to prevent dental emergencies.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is recommended at least twice a day to remove plaque and the remnants of food and drink from our teeth and gums. Flossing once a day is an essential practice to avoid gum disease and preventing tooth decay. An oral rinse also helps promote good oral hygiene as it will reduce oral discomfort, provide moisture to oral tissues and help with bad breath.

Good oral hygiene helps to prevent dental problems - mainly plaque and calculus which are the main causes of gum disease and caries (tooth decay). Dental plaque is a soft whitish deposit that forms on the surface of teeth. It forms when bacteria combine with food and saliva. Plaque contains many types of bacteria. You can remove plaque by good oral hygiene. Calculus, sometimes called tartar, is hardened calcified plaque. It sticks firmly to teeth. Generally, it can only be removed with special instruments by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Practicing the oral hygiene habits are great ways to maintain proper oral health however good habits alone will not remove all the plaque that builds up over time. This is why it is necessary to see your dentist and dental hygienist regularly to remove the plaque to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease or even the loss of all your teeth. By removing plaque you reduce your chances of needing root canals, tooth extractions, dental bridges, crowns and more. Your dentist and dental hygienist will ensure that you will receive the necessary treatment to maintain good oral health of your teeth, mouth and gums and keep you smiling.

Ex.11. Translate the following words and word-combinations into English:

Карієс, зубний камінь, мікробна бляшка, невід’ємна частина, запобігти, видалення зубів, регулярний огляд, залишки їжі, поверхня зубів, раз на день, двічі на день, чищення зубів за допомогою зубної нитки, зменшити дискомфорт, неприємний запах з рота, звичка, ясна, втрата всіх зубів, отримати необхідне лікування, зубний біль.

Ex.12. Answer the following questions:

1. What does dental hygiene include? 2. How often is it recommended to see the dentist and dental hygienist? 3. What is the best way to prevent dental emergencies? 4. What is the purpose of brushing with fluoride toothpaste? 5. Why is flossing recommended? 6. What is the benefit of oral rinse? 7. What dental problems can good oral hygiene help to prevent?

Ex.13. Complete the following sentences with the words given below:

The practise of _____ hygiene is important because it ________ the build up of dental ______. Plaque causes the two most common ________ found in the mouth, dental decay and ____ disease. The longer dental plaque is permitted to _____ to the teeth, the greater is the risk of dental disease. To prevent and _____ these diseases, dental plaque must be removed every day, by thorough _________ and flossing.

(brushing, stick, diseases, prevents, oral, plaque, gum, treat)

Ex.14. Read the following abstract and translate it:

Some common dental problems related to poor oral hygiene include caries (tooth decay), gum diseases, tooth erosion. Caries is when holes form in parts of the enamel of a tooth. A main cause of caries is due to a build-up of plaque. If you have tooth decay you may need fillings, crowns or inlays. Gum disease means infection or inflammation of the tissues that surround the teeth. Most cases of gum disease are plaque-related. Plaque contains many different types of bacteria and a build-up of some types of bacteria is associated with developing gum disease. Tooth erosion is a common problem. It is the gradual erosion of tooth enamel by the action of acid on the teeth. This is different to damage caused by bacteria resulting in tooth decay and caries. Tooth erosion affects the entire surface of the tooth.

Ex.15. Make up the sentences using the following words and word-combinations:

1. day /teeth/ your/ fluoride/ every/ with/ a/ Brush/ toothpaste. 2. Clean/ day/ floss/ between/ teeth/ every/ with/ your. 3. Tobacco/chew/ Don't/ or/ smoke. 4. your/ health/ dentist/ regularly/ See/ or/ oral/ professional. 5. Fluoride/ a/ Rinse / daily/ mouthwash/ with.

Ex.16. Read the following text and retell it: