By Julie Bien, R.D.H., dental hygienist, Denver Health Department of Dentistry, and Jacalyn Lodl, R.D.H., dental hygienist and coordinator, Denver Health School-based Dental Sealant Program

Significant progress has been made in decreasing dental disease among children and adults; still, the fight is far from over. Tooth decay and periodontal disease are the two most common types of dental disease and both are largely preventable.
Tooth decay is one of the most chronic childhood diseases – five times more common than asthma, and seven times more common than hay fever. Therefore, good oral hygiene habits should begin when children get their first tooth. Good brushing and flossing techniques, along with good nutrition, fluoridated water, the application of dental sealants, and routine dental visits can prevent most tooth decay.
Periodontal disease is a disease of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth, and is the major cause of tooth loss in adults over the age of 40. In addition to tooth loss from periodontal disease, there are ongoing studies systematically linking periodontal disease to diabetes and cardiac disease.
More than half of the cities and towns in the United States add fluoride to drinking water.  This, and the use of fluoridated toothpastes, has resulted in a decline in tooth decay among children and adults over the past 25 years.
Dental sealants are not as commonly used as fluoride, but have been available since the early 1960s. According to the National Institutes of Health, the combination of dental sealants and fluoride can prevent almost all tooth decay.
Dental sealants are a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  Sealants can be applied in the dentist’s office, clinic, and sometimes in schools. Sealants can save money in the long term by avoiding fillings, crowns or caps used to fix decayed teeth. Sealants can be placed on healthy teeth when they first erupt, usually between the ages of five- and seven-years-old for the six-year molars, and ages 12- to 14-years-old for the 12-year molars.
According to a recent study published in the August 2006 edition of the Journal of Periodontology, “brushing and flossing are two tasks that should not be omitted from the daily hygiene routine.” Researchers found that tongue brushing and tooth brushing, in combination with flossing, significantly decreased gingival (gum disease) bleeding by 38 percent after a two-week oral hygiene program. Halitosis, or bad breath, was also reduced.  This is a significant finding, since gingival bleeding and halitosis is often the first sign of poor oral hygiene that may eventually lead to further periodontal problems.
Most periodontal disease and tooth decay can be prevented with good oral hygiene habits and routine dental visits. Statistically, the average person spends 30 – 45 seconds each time they brush their teeth, but should spend a minimum of two minutes brushing at least twice a day. Flossing at least once a day also needs to be included in oral hygiene routines. Other oral hygiene recommendations by the American Dental Association include:

• Only consume sugary foods with meals. The increased saliva production from consuming other foods helps neutralize acid production and rinses food particles from the mouth. 
• After between-meal snacks, chew sugarless gum. Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva flow and helps wash out food in the teeth and decay producing acid.
• Drink more water. If possible, choose bottled water containing fluoride, or fluoridated tap water. 

Good dental hygiene only takes a few minutes each day, but those few minutes can save a mouth.