The Importance of Oral Hygiene and How It Has Progressed

“Approximately 91 percent of U.S. adults aged 20-64 had dental caries in permanent teeth in 2011-2012 and 96 percent of Americans have tooth decay by age 65 because people do not take good care of their teeth,” found in the report from the CDC’s National Career for Health Statistics. Having poor oral hygiene can cause many health problems and could worsen existing health problems. Poor oral hygiene could cause cancers, such has kidney, pancreatic, or blood cancers. It could also make diseases such as diabetes harder to control.

Dental hygienists play an essential part in maintaining the overall health of their patients.

Section one of this paper will be talking about the history of dental hygiene and how far dental hygiene has come. Section two of this paper will be talking about the steps in becoming a dental hygienist. Section three of this paper will be talking about diseases and trauma that having poor oral hygiene can cause. Section four of this paper will be talking about how to keep good oral hygiene and what foods and drinks are healthy and those that are not recommended.

Dentistry has been around since about 3000 B.C. The first known dentist was an Egyptian named Hesy-Ra. He drilled holes in teeth to help prevent and drain infection (‘Fun Dental Facts’). Skulls were found from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic ages (about 2.8 million years ago) that had signs of cavities. Cavities began to get worse with the consumption of carbohydrates and rice. A Sumerian believed it was a tooth worm that caused the cavities which they tried to fix with drills.

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Teeth from 5500 B.C. to 7000 B.C. were found from Pakistan with dental drills. (‘History of Dental Caries and Cariology’). The Romans had used a mixture of bones, eggshells, oyster shells, and honey to clean their teeth in 200 A.D. (‘Fun Dental Facts’). It is also known that they used donkey teeth, extracts of mouse brain or hare, bicarbonate sodium, powdered charcoal, bark, ox hooves, pumice, urine, and goat milk (“Ancient Romans Loved White Teeth.”). In about 700 A.D., a Chinese medical texted had noted the use of silver paste to maintain a healthy oral hygiene (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). It is a substance similar to amalgam in the modern dentistry (‘A Fun Timeline of Early Dental History’).

In the 1700s, dental work started to become more involved with everyday things. A book called The Surgeon Dentist was published by Pierre Fauchand known as the “Father of Dentistry,” in 1723. The book includes details of oral health that are the foundation of modern dentistry (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). He was known as “Father of Modern Dentistry.” The book includes oral anatomy, functions, signs, and symptoms of pathology, methods for removing tooth decay and restoring teeth, periodontal disease, orthodontics, replacement of missing teeth, and tooth transplantation (“Pierre Fauchand”). In 1746, Frenchman Claude Mouton recommended white enamel for gold tooth crowns (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). In 1790, the first known patent was granted for porcelain teeth as part of an oral health strategy (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). In 1790, Josiah Flagg invented a dental chair. The chair consisted an extended arm rest to hold all the oral instruments. It also had an adjustable headrest to make the patients more comfortable (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). A lot of new, helpful discoveries and inventions continued to come about in the 1800s.

In the 1800s, dental work continued to grow. In 1832, James Snell invented the first reclining dental chair according to ADA (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). Charles Goodyear invented volcanized rubber in 1839. Volcanized rubber was adopted for oral health to be used in a foundation for false teeth (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). Vulcanized rubber could be shaped to the patient’s jaw and once the base outfitted the porcelain teeth, it would fit perfectly, was comfortable, and cheap (‘From dentures to death: Where the rubber met the road for one patent troll’). Horace Wells, a Connecticut dentist, began using nitrous oxide as an anesthesia in oral health care in 1844 (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). In Boston, Massachusetts, January 1845, he tried using nitrous oxide gas to prevent pain which was unsuccessful. After a few trial and errors, he was able to get the gas to work. “I was subsequently that his operations in Hartford, prior to 1845, were uniformly successful under the influence of gas.”- Daniel T. Curtis (“Rajesh P. Haridas.”). According to ADA, tube toothpaste (vs tooth powder) became available in 1880 (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). The first tube of toothpaste was invented by Dr. Sheffeild. Shortly after, Colgate began selling their product in tubes (‘The First ‘Tube’ of Toothpaste was Invented by Dr. Sheffield, called Crème Dentifrice’). There were a lot of new discoveries but during the 1900s, dental work really began to make an advancement.

During the 1900s dentist work and inventions really started to improve. Irene Newman is the first known dental hygienist and was trained to clean teeth in 1905 (‘Fun Dental Facts’). Alfred Fones, Irene’s cousin, was a dentist who had Irene be his assistant and to do the delicate work. She performed her fist dental hygiene duties in Bridgeport. By 1913, Alfred and Irene had worked together to open a school to help other students become dental hygienists (‘Alfred Fones, Irene Newman, and the Dental Hygiene Revolution’). The first toothbrush with nylon bristles was marketed in 1938 (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). Nylon toothbrushes became popular during World War II because the soldiers were disciplined with their hygiene (‘Who invented the toothbrush and when was it invented?’). Fluoride toothpastes were marketed in the 1950s (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). A Swedish dentist and a university professor, Yngve Ericsson, had invented fluoride toothpaste to improve dental health (‘Fluoride Toothpaste – An Invention of Great Importance for Dental Health’). The first fully reclining chair appeared in the U.S. in 1960 by Dr. Cobum (‘History of Dental Hygiene’) (‘The History of Dental Chairs’). According to the ADA, commercial teeth-whitening products for home use were marketed in the U.S. in 1989 (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). In the 1990’s, the introduction of tooth-colored fillings and crowns as well as an increase in the popularity of cosmetic dentistry began around (‘History of Dental Hygiene’). Dentistry in the modern day is better than it has ever been and will only continue to grow.

Section two

Becoming a dental hygienist will take time and effort. Getting a high school diploma and taking all the necessary classes is the first step in becoming a dental hygienist. Classes to take in high school would be biology, chemistry, algebra, English, health occupations, geometry, computer skills, physical education, and speech (“Health Care Center”). Knowing what goes on in the everyday life of a dental hygienist is an important step of becoming a successful dental hygienist. It gives people a good idea before they decide whether it is a profession they would like to keep or not. Completing a dental program is the next step. Dental hygienists usually only need an associate’s degree. Most programs take two to three years to complete, depending on the school. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are also available but are not as common as an associate’s degree for dental hygiene. A complete license is required. All of the educational requirements must be licensed at the state level. Most employees will be satisfied by showing proof of a diploma from a CDA-accredited program, a successful passage from the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, or a completion of state-level or regional clinical board examination. Completing additional training is the last step into becoming a dental hygienist. It is good to stay up to date on the best and modern day work of dental hygiene (‘Dental Hygienist Schools & Careers | How to Become a Dental Hygienist’).

Section three

Proper dental hygiene is not only important for teeth and mouths, but for the overall health of the human body. There are many diseases caused by poor dental hygiene. Different forms of cancer can be caused, such as kidney, pancreatic, oral, throat, and blood cancers, by poor oral hygiene. Smoking and tobacco will cause the oral and throat cancers. Poor dental hygiene can lead to gum disease which will lead to other cancers. It can cause respiratory infections because bacteria in the mouth from infected teeth and swollen gums can be breathed into the lungs or travel through the blood stream. This could also lead to pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and COPD. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be caused by poor oral hygiene if the mouth contains gingivitis. The bacteria in the mouth spreads to the nerve channels or enters the bloodstream. If substances from gums that are inflamed are released, brain cells will be killed which will lead to memory loss. Cardiovascular disease can be caused by it as well. The bacteria can inflame the gums, causing periodontal disease. This bacteria can then enter the bloodstream and plaque begins to build up and harden in the arteries. This causes blood flow problems, heart blockage, a higher risk of heart attacks, hyperextension, and a higher risk of strokes.

The lining of the heart can also become infected which is a fatal condition called Endocarditis. Rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by poor oral hygiene because of gum disease. The bacteria causing the gum disease will cause inflammation throughout the whole body, which makes the risk of rheumatoid arthritis higher. Poor oral hygiene could also cause kidney disease because of gum disease and periodontal disease. These diseases weaken the immune system and people are at higher risk of infections (’10 Health Issues Caused by Bad Oral Health’). Tooth decay is the 2nd most common disease. The cause of tooth decay is plaque (‘Fun Dental Facts’). Newborns don’t have tooth decay bacteria. Most of the time the bacteria are transmitted from its mother or father to the baby (‘Interesting Dental Hygiene Facts’). Almost 65 million adults in the U.S. have some form of periodontal disease. 38.4% are women and 56.4% are men (‘Fun Dental Facts’). People who tend to drink 3 or more glasses of soda daily have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than others (‘7 Interesting Oral Hygiene Facts You Probably Didn’t Know’). There are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people on earth. It’s easy to develop poor oral hygiene. Having bad oral hygiene can also worsen current existing diseases.

Poor oral hygiene can make situations more complicated and make your health worse. Poor oral hygiene could cause complications with pregnancies. They are more likely to deliver premature and low birth weight babies and could also cause infertility. Gum disease can cause health issues for the mother and the baby (‘Fun Dental Facts’) (’10 Health Issues Caused by Bad Oral Health’). Periodontal disease will make diabetes harder to control and cause blood sugars to rise. Gum disease can also cause diabetes or make existing diabetes worse (’10 Health Issues Caused by Bad Oral Health’). 25% of adults don’t brush their teeth twice a day, which will lead to 33% higher risk of tooth decay. 90% of system diseases have oral manifestations (‘Fun Dental Facts’). People should continue to practice good oral hygiene to prevent diseases to happen and other difficulties.

Section four

Avoiding the different types of foods and drinks that are not recommended for teeth is a good step to healthy dental hygiene. Coffee, tea, red wine, brightly colored sweets, soft drinks, and berries can stain your teeth (‘Interesting Dental Hygiene Facts’). Teeth contain tiny pits where the pigments from dark drinks get caught in, which can cause permanent stains (“How Does Coffee Stain Teeth?”). About 20 minutes after eating something sugary or starchy, saliva begins to reduce the effects of acids and enzymes begin attacking teeth. Sticky candies and sweets are unhealthy for your teeth. Sticky candy tends to stay on teeth until they are properly cleaned. Sweets contain a lot of sugar, which are unhealthy for teeth. If sweets are consumed, try to eat them as quickly as possible. Starchy foods that get stuck in your teeth such as soft bread and chips are bad for your teeth. Carbonated soft drinks are the leading source of added sugar. Not only do they have added sugar, but most soft drinks contain phosphate and citric acids that wear away tooth enamel. Alcohol and medicines are bad for the mouth because they tend to dry out the mouth (‘The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth’). An apple a day makes it three times more likely to develop dental decay. Apples are very acidic and will wear away the enamel on teeth. The natural sugars will neutralize harmful acids in the mouth though. A single can of soda contain 10-12 teaspoons of sugar. The recommended daily dose of sugar is four teaspoons. (‘Fun Dental Facts’)

To help keep good oral hygiene, it is good to maintain a healthy diet. Drinking lots of water is important to healthy oral hygiene. It is a good idea to check the label on bottled water for fluoride content. (‘The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth’). Fiber-rich foods have a detergent effect in the mouth. They also get saliva flowing which is the best natural defense for healthy oral hygiene. Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products are also good for your teeth. Cheese is a saliva maker. The calcium in cheese as well as the calcium and phosphate in milk, help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to other foods. Green and black teas have polyphenols that kill or hold back bacteria, which prevents them from growing or producing acid that attacks teeth. A cup of tea could also be a source of fluoride, depending on the type of water you use. Sugarless chewing gum is a great saliva maker that removes food particles from your mouth. Foods with fluoride are good for the teeth. Fluorinated water, or any product with fluorinated water, powdered juices without sugar, and dehydrated soups are all substances with fluoride. Poultry products, sea foods, and powdered cereals can also give fluoride (‘The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth’). Coconuts are a natural anti-bacterial food and can help reduce the risk of developing gum disease and cavities (‘Fun Dental Facts’). Strawberries contain malic acid which is a natural teeth whitener and will keep teeth stainless. Eating onions will kill of any harmful bacteria on teeth and in the mouth. There are many ways to help prevent poor oral hygiene.

It is easy to keep a good, healthy oral hygiene, one just has to want to have good oral hygiene. Eat sugary foods with meals; the mouth makes more saliva during meals, which helps reduce the effect of acid production and to rinse food pieces out of the mouth. Limiting meals snacks between meals will help with a healthy oral hygiene. Eating something nutritional for a snack would be better for your teeth than eating something sweet (‘The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth’). It is important to replace tooth brushes regularly because they hold viruses and bacteria for several weeks (‘Interesting Dental Hygiene Facts’). Putting a cap on a toothbrush is bad because it is actually detrimental. The moisture trapped in the cap favors bacterial growth. Replacing a toothbrush after a sickness such as the flu, cold, or other viral infections is a good idea so that the bacteria will not be put back in the mouth every time the toothbrush is used (‘7 Interesting Oral Hygiene Facts You Probably Didn’t Know’). A lot of toothpaste is unnecessary to brush teeth (‘Interesting Dental Hygiene Facts’). It is healthy to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day (it would be better to do it at night), use mouth wash, and brush your tongue without toothpaste (‘The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth’).

Section five

Dentists and dental hygienist do their best to help keep people’s overall health good. They clean teeth, find diseases to help cure, and give tips on how to have good oral hygiene. The history of dental work, inventions, discoveries, and people who work in the dental field have only improved. Being able to become a dental hygienist is not too hard if the passion for dental hygiene is real. The least amount of years of going to college to become a dental hygienist is two and the most is four years of school. Having bad oral hygiene could lead to major health issues or make existing health issues, worse. It is not hard to keep good oral hygiene. Make sure to go to the dentist, and follow their instructions and take advantage of the tips they give you. Know what foods and drinks are bad and good for you and clean your teeth every day, twice a day. Keeping your teeth and overall mouth clean is good for your body health. It is an easy solution to keep a good oral hygiene. Everyone has different mouths and teeth. Know your limits on sugary substances and take proper care of your teeth. Getting a dental checkup at least twice a year could help keep good oral hygiene.