Good oral care habits are essential to the lifelong health of your teeth and gums.

To familiarize yourself with the basics of tooth anatomy, look at the drawing below. This illustrates the parts of a tooth as well as the relationship between teeth and gums.

Enamel is the hardest material in your body and makes up the outside of your teeth, above the gum line. Dentin is the tissue that makes up the core of each tooth. Pulp is the living part of the tooth, located inside the dentin. It contains the nerve tissue and blood vessels that supply nutrients to the tooth. Cementum is located at the root of the tooth. It serves as the anchor point for the ligaments that join the tooth to the bony tooth socket.

Healthy gums, or gingiva, are pink and smooth. Unhealthy gums appear red and swollen and bleed easily.

To maintain healthy, well-functioning teeth and gums and to guard against disease, a healthy diet, regular dental office visits, and daily brushing and flossing are essential. Depending on the condition of your teeth and gums, your dental professional may also recommend the use of an anti-plaque, anti-cavity or anti-bacterial rinse, a plaque-fighting toothpaste, a specialty toothbrush, a specialty floss, an irrigator or a power toothbrush.

Gingivitis is caused by infrequent or incorrect brushing or flossing, which results in plaque build-up on tooth surfaces, between teeth and under the gumline. Symptoms occur when bacteria in the plaque produce toxins that irritate gum tissue, causing gum tenderness, inflammation and pain.

If the disease is allowed to progress, gum infection will occur, accompanied by a tendency to bleed during brushing. In cases of acute gingivitis, more severe symptoms occur.

PREVENTION OF GINGIVITIS: Proper brushing and flossing, and use of an anti-plaque rinse and plaque-fighting toothpaste, help inhibit the plaque build-up that causes gingivitis.

*Nearly 75 percent of people over age 35 now have gum disease or have experienced it previously.

Because periodontitis may occur without visible symptoms, it is important for your dental professional to regularly examine you for increased gum pocket depths, one of the earliest signs of the disease.

Early periodontitis may be associated with tooth sensitivity; throbbing or tightness may be felt in the gum tissue. Periodontal disease can, however, progress slowly without any visible signs or symptoms.

Moderate periodontitis may cause loosening of teeth, and an intensification and increased incidence of early periodontal symptoms.

Advanced periodontitis is associated with gum recession, root decay, pus between teeth and gums, and loosening or loss of teeth.

PREVENTION OF PERIODONTITIS: Proper brushing and flossing, and use of an antibacterial rinse, help to inhibit the penetration of bacteria below the gumline, which is the primary cause of periodontitis.

Proximal caries occur when plaque is allowed to accumulate between teeth.
These areas are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, and caries often occur here in patients who do not floss.

Root caries occur following bone loss and gum recession (which most commonly result from periodontist). Because roots are not protected by enamel, caries can progress quickly.

HOW TO PREVENT DENTAL CARIES: Your best protection against dental caries is daily brushing, flossing and use of an anti-cavity rinse combined with regular visits to the dentist for fluoride treatments, and a healthy diet. For those who are highly susceptibility to tooth decay, a dentist can seal the teeth, making them more resistant to decay on the biting surfaces, or fissure caries.

How to floss properly: Take about 18 inches of floss or tape, and wrap it around your middle fingers until you have a two-inch length between them. With the thumb and forefinger of each hand, guide the floss gently and carefully between upper and lower teeth, using a back-and-forth motion. Avoid "snapping" the floss against delicate gum tissue. Curve the floss around each tooth in a "C" shape, and gently guide it up and under the gumline. Move it up and down the side of each tooth to remove plaque. Use a new section o f floss for each tooth. With gingivitis, flossing may initially cause bleeding. If bleeding persists, immediately consult your dentist or hygienist.