Dental Terms (Minnesota Dental Association)

Words to Know

Add these words into your health vocabulary, and you'll know what it takes to keep a healthy smile for a lifetime.

Dental Caries: The decay process begins with colonies of bacteria (dental plaque) that stick to the teeth. When food containing simple sugars and starches (fermentable carbohydrates) is eaten, the bacteria break down the food to form acid. The sticky bacterial plaque then holds the acid to the tooth surface, allowing it to attack the enamel on the teeth. These acids may act on the tooth for at least 20 minutes after food is eaten. After repeated acid attacks, the enamel is broken down. Once this happens, the bacteria gains access to the body of the tooth, and a cavity results. A partial solution in avoiding this decay-producing acid is to limit the number of times per day simple sugars and starches are consumed. However, the problem is not simply the frequency of eating. The amount of food eaten, the length of time food stays in the mouth and the physical form of the food (such as stickiness) are all important factors in cavity production.

Flossing: Flossing, an essential part of a dental disease prevention program, should be done carefully and thoroughly every day. Flossing removes plaque and debris from in between the teeth, especially beneath the gum line. It's important to clean these areas thoroughly because dental caries and periodontal disease often start on the surfaces the toothbrush can't reach.

Fluoride: Fluoride is one of the most effective minerals we have today for preventing tooth decay. By making the tooth enamel stronger, fluoride makes the tooth less susceptible to acid attacks.

The most efficient and economical way of providing the public with fluoride is through the fluoridation of community water supplies. Fluoridation involves the adjustment of the fluoride content of the water to an optimal level (one part fluoride per one million parts water) to protect teeth against decay without causing harmful effects.

In addition to water fluoridation, the following uses of fluoride have proved helpful in preventing caries:

1.  An accepted fluoride toothpaste used at home for tooth brushing. Those toothpastes that carry the seal of the American Dental Association on the carton or tube have been proven safe and effective in helping prevent dental caries.

2.  Fluoride periodically applied directly on children's teeth in a gel or solution by a dentist or dental hygienist    during regular dental check-ups.

3.  Chewable fluoride tablets prescribed by a family dentist or physician.

4.  Prescription and over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinses used in school or at home.

Periodontal Disease: Periodontal disease is a disease of the gums and other supporting structures of the teeth. It is the greatest single cause of tooth loss in adults. Early signs of periodontal disease, such as bleeding of the gingival (gum) during brushing, can be observed even in children as young as five or six years old. Although the severe stages of this disease are found less often in children than in adults, it is believed that a large percentage of periodontal problems in later life are due to oral neglect or improper oral care during childhood and adolescence. The disease usually progresses over a long period of time with little or no pain. Unless measures are taken to prevent it, periodontal disease can, in time, destroy the gums, bone and other structures that support the teeth.

Plaque: Plaque is a soft, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria and bacterial by-products that constantly forms on teeth. Acids and irritants produced by the bacteria in plaque are the primary causes of the two most common dental diseases: (1) dental caries (tooth decay), the major cause of tooth loss in children; and (2) periodontal (gum) disease, the major cause of tooth loss in adults.

Professional Dental Care: Regular dental check-ups are important if dental disease is to be prevented and controlled. Since dental caries may begin as soon as a child has teeth, children should have their first dental examination around age one. There is no set rule for how often a child should visit the dentist. In general, it is suggested that dental visits be made at least every six months. In part, the frequency will depend on the individual's eating habits, how clean the mouth is kept, and whether decay is present. After checking a child's teeth, the dentist will be able to suggest an appropriate schedule of dental visits.

Sealants: One of the tools in the war against decay is the dental sealant, a plastic material that the dentist applies to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth -- the premolars and molars. The sealant forms a barrier that protects teeth from plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth.

Tooth Brushing: Tooth brushing removes plaque and other debris from the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of the teeth. A number of different tooth brushing methods are acceptable. Whichever method is chosen, care should be taken to thoroughly clean each exposed surface of every tooth with the toothbrush.