7 Tips to Preserve your Family's Oral Health

by Dr Voutilainen
(Marbella)

Our oral health is essential to preserving our general health and affects us physically and psychologically. It influences how we chew, taste food, speak, grow, enjoy life and socialise at every stage of life.

Our mouth is full of bacteria and it works as the gateway to the body. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infection, such as tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis). Oral bacteria can also spread to the cardiovascular system and cause infection in other parts of the body. For example, untreated periodontitis (gum disease) may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other health problems.

How can I preserve my family´s oral health?

To protect you and your children´s oral health, it is important to practice good oral hygiene every day.

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride enriched toothpaste.
You can start to use fluoride toothpastes for your children when they learn to rinse and spit. Fluoride is safe and necessary to keep teeth strong, but excessive amounts of fluoride may lead to fluorosis, which causes discoloration of the permanent teeth.

2. Use dental floss, interdental brushes or Water-piks to clean the spaces between teeth where many problems begin.
This tip alone will save you a lot of time and money for the future, trust me!

3. Clean your tongue by using a soft toothbrush or a professional tongue scraper.
Bacteria on the surface of the tongue can contribute to bad breath (halitosis).

4. If you have removable dentures, clean them every day with a specially-designed toothbrush and water.
It is recommended to keep dentures out of the mouth during the night so to decrease the rates of bone wear underneath and to keep your mouth fungal-infection free!

5. Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks, especially sticky and sugary ones.
Early childhood caries is a common and severe form of cavities found in very young children, 0-4 years of age. Without treatment, decay can spread deeper into the tooth, causing pain and infection and can even damage the underlying adult tooth. If a baby tooth is missing too early other teeth may move into its space and block the way for the permanent tooth.

6. Use Xylitol.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener and it is safe and available in ready-to-consume forms (chewing gums, candies etc.) for both children and adults. It is a great sugar substitute for people with diabetes, and safe for use in pregnancy and for nursing mothers. Xylitol also prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth(!) and this way it protects the teeth from tooth decay. Research has also shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the tooth enamel.

7. Schedule regular dental check-ups, cleanings and fluoride treatments.
Through regular examinations your dentist will monitor the development of your child’s teeth and gums to catch problems early and prevent disease.




Preventive dentistry (daily cleaning and regular check-ups) is the best way to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. At the end of the day, it's all about decreasing the bacterial load your mouth can put your body under. So give your overworked immune system a well-deserved rest by implementing these simple strategies.

NOTE: This article was contributed to MarbellaFamilyFun.com by Dr. Päivi Irene Voutilainen, Bachelor in Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland, in 1996. Dr Voutilainen has 20 years of dental experience in general dentistry in private practices, 12 years in Finland and 8 years in Spain. She attended numerous dental courses, especially related to aesthetic dentistry, implantology and advanced root canal therapy.

Dr Voutilainen Senior dentist at R&H Clínica Dental on the main street of Marbella, www.rhclinicadental.com