Oral hygiene: Interview with Dr Odette Sikavi Fagbégnon, Dental Surgeon

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Extract from the article: The increase in dental diseases, dental infections and their repercussions on the whole organism, the problem of eating "too hot and too cold" and how to maintain the teeth... Dr Odette Sikavi Fagbégnon talks about good tooth brushing techniques, whe

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« Poor oral hygiene can affect the whole organism and lead to serious diseases. Therefore, we ask you to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially in the evening before going to bed. »

 

The increase in dental diseases, dental infections and their repercussions on the whole organism, the problem of eating "too hot and too cold" and how to maintain the teeth... Dr Odette Sikavi Fagbégnon talks about good tooth brushing techniques, whether with the industrial toothbrush or with the vegetable toothbrush commonly called toothpick.

Santé-Education: What is oral hygiene?

Dr. Odette Fagbégnon: Oral hygiene has three (3) components: food hygiene, tooth brushing and systematic visit to the dentist. First of all, food hygiene means "eating a balanced diet", i.e. eating the three types of food: carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. We recommend eating fresh fruit to get the maximum amount of vitamins, such as vitamin C, which strengthens the gums. Then, brushing the teeth is done by two (2) means: either with the industrial toothbrush, associated with toothpaste, or with the vegetable toothbrush or the toothpick, a very effective plant for the teeth. Finally, a systematic visit to the dentist means that you should not wait for tooth pain to occur before going to the dentist. We recommend a systematic visit to the dentist, once every six months or, in the worst case, once a year. The purpose of this visit is to scale the teeth, i.e. to remove the pathogenic mass, the tartar that forms on the teeth in order to clean the mouth. These tartars are the cause of oral diseases such as gingivitis. This visit will also help to detect possible illnesses or allow the dentist to tell you what type of toothbrush or toothpaste you need.

What is the relationship between good oral health and the health of the body in general?

The principle is simple: The tooth is a living organ that communicates with the whole body through vessels and nerves.  Thus, the bacteria (microbes) of an oral infection pass through the vessels to enter the blood (bacteremia).

This can lead in the medium to long term to the spread of bacteria in the body through the bloodstream (septicaemia). The organs likely to be affected in this case are: firstly, the surrounding organs, i.e. the eyes, the ear, the brain; secondly, the heart, the lungs, the kidneys and the joints. Thus, poor oral hygiene can affect the entire body and lead to serious diseases such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, eye diseases, brain abscesses and sinusitis.

What are the most common dental diseases?

Tooth decay is the most common dental disease. Tooth decay is a hole that forms in the crown of the tooth. It starts at the enamel and progresses step by step towards the inside of the tooth. It occurs under the influence of microbes in the mouth that transform sugary products into acidic substances that attack the enamel of the teeth and then progress to the dentin, ivory and pulp. Poor dental hygiene and the abuse of sweets are the main causes.

In addition to tooth decay, there is gingivitis, the inflammation of the gums by bacterial plaque in the absence of oral hygiene. It results in an often painful swelling of the gums, which then appear red and can bleed at the slightest touch. Other causes include mouth sores, dental trauma, oral cancer, tooth discolouration and tooth hypersensitivity.

How should we brush our teeth properly?

We brush our teeth every day, but we often do it badly. The correct brushing technique is to always brush from the gum to the tooth (top to bottom, i.e. red to white), when brushing the teeth of the upper jaw, and from the bottom to the top when brushing the lower jaw. The technique of rubbing the tooth with a toothbrush or toothpick in a horizontal direction is not only wrong, but also has consequences for the teeth and gums. It is better to use vertical, not horizontal, movements. To do this properly, you should not clench both jaws before brushing. Open your mouth slightly, brush the upper teeth separately, and then the lower teeth (always from the gum to the tooth). Using the same technique, clean the inside of the teeth. Afterwards, clean the side of the tooth that is used for chewing, both the top and the bottom. Finally, clean the tongue and rinse the mouth with clean water. We ask people to brush their teeth at least twice a day, in the morning but especially in the evening before going to bed.

We recommend brushing for 3 minutes with an industrial toothbrush. Often less is done. After each use, the brush should be cleaned thoroughly, protected and kept in a clean place. The recommended life span of a toothbrush is three (3) months provided the bristles remain perpendicular to the shaft.

Why is it not good to brush your teeth horizontally?

When you brush your teeth horizontally, the tips of the gums that meet the teeth (the papillae) are removed over time. This often also wears away the enamel and gums, often leaving them sensitive and vulnerable to disease.

How do I use a vegetable toothbrush or toothpick?

The same brushing technique is applied when using the toothpick. With the toothpick, we ask that people put a lot more hygiene into it, as this is not often the case. When toothpicks are bought, they have to be washed (because they are often in the open and exposed to germs); they are peeled, cleaned, cut into pieces for single use, and put in a box after drying. Brushing with the toothpick as well as with the industrial brush must be meticulous. Take the single-use length of the toothpick. Chew it well to get the tuft formed, brush the teeth one by one. Start on one side and finish on the other outside and inside and make sure that all sides of the teeth are cleaned. With the toothpick, it is recommended that 15 minutes be spent brushing and not doing this or that or touching this or that object and then holding the toothpick again. The rest of the toothpick after brushing should be thrown in the bin and not put aside to be used again. Remember to wash your hands before and after brushing your teeth.

Eating too hot or eating too cold: what are the risks to your teeth?

It is not good to eat too hot and too cold. What is especially serious is when you alternate between the two within a short period of time: for example, you eat a hot dish and drink ice water at the same time. It is this temperature difference that causes the problem. These shocks deteriorate the pulp over time.

Your final word

It is recommended to brush your teeth after every meal. But it's not easy because when you go out in the morning, you come back in the evening. So we ask people to brush their teeth in the morning and especially in the evening before going to bed. In addition, we must take care to go to the dentist at least once a year. And when you have a toothache, you should go and see a real dental surgeon and not "quacks" who can cause you serious health problems.

Interview by William O.