To understand disease and its effect on humans, you must understand health. In dental school, we spent four years studying the structure and function of the body, and more specifically, the oral cavity. Prior to dental school— during my undergraduate education—the general curriculum included courses in the humanities, sociology, and psychology. With all this knowledge regarding humanity and its environment, you would assume that arriving at a definition for health would be easy, and I guess you could say that a body without disease and one that hasn’t sustained too much trauma is in good health.

Keep It Simple
The more complex your preventive program becomes, the less likely you are to pursue it for life. Fluoridated water systems have greatly reduced cavities. This additive, along with proper brushing at least twice a day is the basic preventive program.
To intelligently evaluate a hygiene program, consult with your dental professional. Periodic visits to the hygienist will allow you to implement the simplest and most effective hygiene procedures. Most people need to see a hygienist twice a year; however, this depends on your personal requirements. Different oral hygiene requirements occur because people have a variety of needs throughout their lives. I never used dental floss until about the age of 40, and my present condition is excellent. For the past 11 years, I have used floss due to a change in my physiology that favored accumulation of plaque (Glide® Floss – it’s easy to use... I love it. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. 1-800-645-4337). If you have undergone periodontal surgery or have had implants or other complex dental treatments performed, your visits should generally be more frequent.
Dental disease is related to two variables: 1) things you have control over, i.e., prevention, proper brushing (removal of plaque), professional cleanings (removal of tartar), periodic exams; and 2) things you don’t control, i.e., bad dental treatment or a genetic predisposition to disease. Even with a predisposition you can compensate with a good exercise program, improved diet and proper use of vitamins and minerals.

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