First and foremost to a healthy mouth is good oral hygiene. Oral hygiene is maintained by minimizing the damage of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film on the gums and teeth. Bacteria in plaque causes cavities and gum disease. Cavities and gum disease can lead to toothache, abscesses, and tooth loss. Plaque can be prevented by minimizing the sugary foods and drinks that bacteria thrive off of. You should also minimize the amount of acidic foods that you consume that promote cavities such as soda pop and some juices (e.g. orange juice). Rinsing your mouth after eating and preferably brushing can decrease the bacteria/food buildup that causes damage. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has been used historically because it combats the acidity of foods and the acids bacteria produce to cause cavities. Regular flossing is also important to clean plaque between teeth and keep gums healthy. If your gums bleed when you floss you are not flossing often enough.
It is recommended that you see a dentist at least twice a year for tooth cleaning. This often involves scaling, polishing, fluoride, and checking for cavities. If you get a cavity, you should have it filled as soon as possible to prevent it from getting larger. The last thing you want is a root canal, which is usually a last ditch effort to save you from losing a tooth.
Other recommendations include: Cleaning your tongue regularly to decrease the amount of bad breath causing bacteria. The fluoridation of water is known to prevent tooth decay and is considered by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention as "one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. There are
critics to water fluoridation but one has to look at the dental hygiene of countries that do not fluorinate to see the benefits (e.g. England).
Dental Sealants also have been shown to prevent dental caries. Sealants are a plastic resin that a dentist places on the teeth to protect the enamel. It is usually recommended for children to get sealants once they have their adult molars.
A quick note on canker sores. Canker sores are small ulcers in the mouth that can often be painful. These can be caused by infections (viral), acidic foods, or can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If you get Canker sore a few times a year this could be a sign of a gluten sensitivity and you may want to be checked for celiac disease.
A quick note on tonsils. Tonsils are disease fighting lymphatic tissue. They serve an important role in fighting infections. It used to be commonplace to have your tonsils and adenoids removed but this is no longer the case. The only reason to have tonsil removed nowadays is for recurrent streptococcal infections or if the tonsils are so large that they cause you to snore and cause sleep apnea.
A quick note on oral cancers. It is relatively uncommon cancer. Anything that causes chronic irritation can increase the risk of oral cancers. However, well known risk factors include: tobacco, alcohol, and the HPV virus (the same virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer).
A quick note on cold sores. Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus (a different strain from the genital herpes). Once you have this virus you will always have it. Fortunately, the virus will go dormant in the 5th cranial nerve (trigeminal). It will only rear its ugly head when you are under stress and your immune system is weakened. This can be from illness or mental stress. Once you have a cold sore you will shed the virus and can give it to others so be careful (no kissing babies). Otherwise, if you do not have a blister you cannot give it to others.
As always, I am willing to answer any questions you may have as it relates to the mouth.
