Brush, floss, rinse, spit.
Though these rituals of dental hygiene are ingrained in our consciousness from childhood, our teeth may still fall victim to sugary foods, sodas, daily coffee and even laziness or apathy.
Still, no one can deny the importance of healthy teeth. Stefan Ruhl, assistant professor of oral biology at the School of Dental Medicine, discussed the significance of keeping those pearly whites clean and plaque-free.
"There are basically two major problems and diseases in dentistry - cavities and inflammation of the gum tissue, known as gum disease or gingivitis," Ruhl said. "Dental hygiene is very important because you can prevent the formation of dental diseases."
According to Ruhl, only a small number of people have genetic predispositions to dental diseases. Most appearances of these diseases may be traced back to one's diet.
"We all have lots of bacteria in our mouths, which are harmless and may even be beneficial, but we get too much sugar in our daily intake," Ruhl said. "This wasn't a problem several thousand years ago and people did not get a lot of cavities, but today there is sugar in everything, from soft drinks to ketchup."
Ruhl observed that this modern accretion of dietary sugar changes the bacteria and bacterial flora in the mouth, which alters the formation of acid that leads to cavities.
"Certain bacteria produce acids that dissolve the tooth mineral, or enamel," Ruhl said. "If the bacteria stay in your mouth a long time, cavities may develop."
If students want to prevent cavities, Ruhl said that they should avoid any sweets that stick to the teeth or stay in the mouth for a long time.
Drinking soft drinks and chewing or sucking on sugary candy can have negative effects on teeth, according to Ruhl. The longer a person keeps sugary products in the mouth, the more bacteria can metabolize the sugar within the mouth, which produces acid that could threaten the integrity of the teeth.
"By brushing daily, you remove the bacterial layer of dental plaque that grows after several days," Ruhl said. "Flossing is very important because brushing doesn't get to the bacteria in between the teeth."
Ruhl stated that people should brush their teeth two to three times a day, including after breakfast, lunch and before bed.
"Don't brush too close to your meal because there is always a natural acid in food," Ruhl said. "After half an hour saliva has the chance to repair the tooth enamel."
Since there is an expansive variety of toothpastes on the shelves today, Ruhl offered advice for picking the best for your teeth.
"Toothpaste should not contain abrasive material and shouldn't have a grinding or sandy feeling," Ruhl said. "Abrasive material damages the teeth."
Even though there is already fluoride in the drinking water in the U.S., one should buy toothpaste that contains fluoride because it hardens your teeth, according to Ruhl.
Many students regard dental hygiene as an essential part of one's personal health.
"I don't want my teeth to rot out - dentures are expensive," said Bill King, a junior electrical engineering major. "I brush, floss and rinse every day. It's just routine."
Asaf Nisim, a senior music performance major, also revealed his hygienic preferences.
"Although it may seem tedious, a beautiful smile goes a long way because it's an aesthetic world," Nisim said. "Of course I think [dental hygiene] is important - let's face it, no one wants to get down with someone who looks like Sloth from The Goonies."
Nisim noted that he flosses every day, but does not believe that most people do.
Ricky Khy, a junior electrical engineering major, said that even though he doesn't floss often, keeping a healthy mouth is necessary because it is something people notice during first impressions.
In regard to now-common procedures of teeth whitening, Ruhl quelled some general misconceptions.
"Whitening of the teeth is a purely aesthetic and cosmetic procedure," Ruhl said. "Teeth are naturally more yellow, and this whitening trend is a cultural thing, particularly with the U.S."
Ruhl observed that teeth whitening is propelled by the Hollywood image, but that teeth's whiteness has nothing to do with their health.
"Whitening is fine as long as you don't do it excessively," Ruhl said. "There are people who have sensitive teeth and for them whitening can be painful - in that case they should have it done by a professional."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
