Oral Hygiene Honor

Science & Health

Requirements

1. Define oral hygiene.

   Answer: Practices for healthy teeth and gums: brushing 3x/day, dental floss, mouthwash, a low-sugar diet, dentist visits every six months. It prevents cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, and diseases. — Inadequate oral hygiene is related to heart, diabetic, and respiratory diseases according to WHO studies. Brazil has 70% of the population with dental problems according to the National Oral Health Survey (SB Brasil 2010-2020) currently in official national use.

2. How many sets of teeth does a human being go through?

   Answer: Two dentitions: deciduous (baby teeth) with 20 teeth (6 months-3 years) and permanent with 32 teeth (including 4 wisdom teeth) from ages 6-12. Wisdom teeth may erupt from ages 17-25. — The 20 deciduous teeth shed naturally, being replaced by permanent ones. The Federal Council of Dentistry (CFO) regulates care in both dentitions in Brazil, with eruption varying among children according to an officially current clinical reference table.

3. What are baby teeth for?

   Answer: Baby teeth serve to chew, speak, smile, and mainly guide the eruption of the permanent teeth. Early decay causes pain, infection, and harms the permanent teeth. Caring for them is essential even knowing they will fall out. — The early loss of deciduous teeth can cause permanent malocclusion according to studies by the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Dentistry, requiring interventions such as space maintainers to avoid future problems, officially in clinical use today.

4. What are the types of teeth? Describe the functions of each type.

   Answer: Incisors (8): cut food. Canines (4): tear fibrous foods. Premolars (8): begin grinding. Molars (12 with wisdom teeth): grind completely. Each type has a specific shape for its overall chewing function. — The 4 types of teeth make up the human heterodont dentition, an evolution adapted for an omnivorous diet. Dental anatomy is studied by Dentistry according to the international FDI/ISO nomenclature regulated by the Federal Council of Dentistry, currently in official use.

5. At what age should oral hygiene begin? How? Why?

   Answer: At birth: clean the gums with a damp cloth. At 6 months use a soft brush. After 2 years, fluoride toothpaste (a grain of rice). After 5 years, a pea-sized amount. Gradual independence with supervision. — The Brazilian Society of Pediatric Dentistry recommends hygiene from birth, with early prevention being essential. The ABO (Brazilian Dental Association) runs educational campaigns in schools, with healthy formation being the foundation for a whole life, currently in official use.

6. What are the recommended foods for healthy teeth?

   Answer: Recommended: milk, cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, fish, dark leafy greens, water. Avoid: sweets, soda, candy, cookies, sugar, and sticky foods that adhere to the teeth. — Sugar is the main cause of cavities through bacterial fermentation, with Streptococcus mutans being the responsible bacterium. The WHO recommends sugar consumption below 10% of daily calories. Calcium and fluoride are essential for strong enamel, officially today.

7. What harm can poor brushing cause?

   Answer: Decay, gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis, tartar, and the relationship with heart, diabetic, and respiratory diseases. High treatment costs and impact on quality of life. — Studies from Harvard University show that periodontal diseases increase cardiovascular risk by 30% through systemic inflammation. Brazil has 70% of adults with dental problems according to SB Brasil 2020, with correct brushing being fundamental prevention for national health.

8. What are the ways of using fluoride? In what forms is it found?

   Answer: Topical: paste, gel, varnish, mouthwash. Systemic: fluoridated water, salt, milk. Found as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, or monofluorophosphate. Concentrations vary by age. — Water fluoridation in Brazil is mandatory under Law 6,050/74, being the most economical public health method to prevent cavities. The WHO considers a 60% reduction in cavities with adequate fluoride. The dentist assesses individual need, currently in official use.

9. What is a disclosing agent?

   Answer: A staining solution (eosin, fuchsin) that dyes dental plaque, showing where brushing was inadequate. Applied at the office or at home. It visualizes red areas and improves technique. — Disclosing agents were developed in the 1970s, used in school oral health programs by the ABO. They can be bought at pharmacies for R$10-20, with Curaprox and Reach being common brands for home use, currently in official Brazilian national use.

10. What should be used to perform a complete oral hygiene?

    Answer: Soft brush, fluoride toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash (alcohol-free), tongue scraper, 3 minutes with correct technique. Visits every six months to the dentist for professional evaluation. — The ADA (American Dental Association) and the ABO have recommended a complete kit since 1995, with each item having a specific function. Dental floss removes 40% of the plaque not reached by the brush, being essential for healthy gums and the prevention of periodontal diseases today.

11. Demonstrate to your instructor the correct way to:
    • Apply disclosing agent to the teeth
    • Brush the teeth
    • Use dental floss

    Answer: Disclosing agent: apply 1 drop, rinse for 30s, observe the stained areas. Bass brushing: 45° at the gum, gentle movements for 3 min. Dental floss: 30cm, slide between teeth in a C shape. — The Bass technique was developed by Charles Bass in the 1950s, being the international standard for effective brushing. The Brazilian Society of Periodontics recommends gentle movements so as not to hurt the gums according to official clinical manuals currently in use.

12. Why should we use fluoride toothpaste?

    Answer: Fluoride remineralizes enamel, strengthens it, prevents cavities, and inhibits Streptococcus mutans. It reduces cavities by 30-40%. Concentrations: 1000-1500ppm for adults, 1000ppm for children with supervision. — WHO studies since 1969 have proven the effectiveness of fluoride in toothpaste, with a proven 30-40% reduction in cavities. ANVISA regulates concentrations in Brazil, with Colgate and Sensodyne being leading brands with specific formulations, currently in official use.

13. How does one get tooth decay?

    Answer: Decay is a multifactorial disease: oral bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) ferment dietary sugars, producing acids that demineralize the enamel. Factors: poor hygiene (plaque not removed), a sugary diet, lack of fluoride, low salivation, individual susceptibility. It begins in the enamel and progresses to the dentin and pulp if not treated. — Keyes' ecological triad: host (tooth), bacteria (S. mutans, Lactobacillus), substrate (sugar). Acid is produced in plaque 5 min after sugar. Saliva neutralizes it in 30 min. Repeated, it dissolves the enamel. Active decay: white spots. Without treatment: dentin (sensitivity), pulp (pain, abscess). Prevention: brushing, floss, fluoride, diet. Adventism: biblical health principles prevent diseases.