What to do for Healthy Teeth (review)

What To Do For Healthy Teeth is a useful addition to the health care consumer-oriented What to do . . . series published by the Institute for Healthcare Advancement. Authors Sadie S. Mestman, a dentist, and Ariella D. Herman, an educator, provide an easy-to-read road map and guide to effective and simplified ways to care for the oral cavity and maintain optimum oral and general health.

Aimed at the oral health care consumer, the book has 10 easy-to-read chapters on topics ranging from safety tips for one's mouth and gums to the benefits of a healthy diet, all of which are illustrated with simple, clear drawings and graphics. It also addresses adult dentistry issues such as root canals, missing teeth and their replacements with crown and bridge, as well as removable and full denture prosthetics. Almost every page has diagrams to further drive home and illustrate both simple and more complex issues of dentistry and oral health (such as the consequences of smoking, chewing smokeless tobacco, and diabetes).

Information contained in the book is not meant to be a substitute or replacement for seeking professional dental advice or visiting a dentist. Instead, the book provides valuable information on preventative oral health. It also encourages readers to visit their dentist at least twice a year and to follow the advice and treatment recommendations given by their oral health providers.

The book, which is written at about the fifth-grade reading level, provides valuable tips on how to manage a dental emergency and general health benefits of eating a balanced diet. It gives advice to pregnant and nursing mothers on maintaining their own oral health and that of their babies and families.

Special emphasis is placed on child safety throughout the book. Recommendations are given on such topics as brushing instructions, amount of toothpaste to be used, and substances nursing and pregnant mothers should try to avoid. The book also suggests ways to protect the mouth while playing contact sports and effective ways to manage tooth accidents, emergencies, and infections that commonly occur with children and toddlers before the dentist can be contacted.

Another characteristic of the book is that it provides readers with an overview of the basic structures of the mouth. This simplified information includes the difference between primary (baby), permanent (adult), and mixed (primary and permanent) dentitions and teeth.

Drs. Mestman and Herman also discuss the proper techniques for maintaining good oral health. They outline how proper brushing and flossing can prevent cavities and also identify food groups to limit or avoid to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Other tips provided are how often toothbrushes should be changed for adults and children, the types of toothbrushes to use, and demonstrations of the correct way to brush and rinse.

The authors also dedicate a number of chapters to the importance of a healthy diet, chapters that seem especially relevant in today's health-conscious society. Food groups, vitamins, and minerals that make up healthy balanced diets are outlined. The effects of poor eating habits and eating disorders, which sometimes affect young people disproportionately and adversely, are also highlighted in the book.

The causes of oral and general health maladies such as mouth and lung cancers are also discussed, as are the side effects of body piercing (especially making holes in the lip and tongue for rings, studs, and barbells that can lead to infections, chipped teeth, tooth loss, loss of taste, and drooling).

I agree with the publisher that the book provides simple and practical ways to care for the oral health of the entire family. It places special emphasis on the child and gives a simple and easy-to-follow guide to an oral health preventive program. The book has something about oral health for everyone and should prove to be an invaluable everyday reference.