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Forks are for Eating: Dental Hygiene Across the Pond

From Austin Powers to The Simpsons, American pop culture has heckled the British for their allegedly bad teeth for years. Let's face it - even Prince Charles could use a good orthodontist. Now it looks like comedians will have fresh material, thanks to a national survey that polled Brits on their dental habits.

An overwhelming number of respondents admitted to cleaning their teeth with just about everything but floss, opting for everyday household tools instead. Nontraditional tooth picks included: screw drivers, earrings, forks, scissors and (wait for it) knives. (Maybe they should consider putting restrictions on the use of ice picks.) To top it off, about half reported they don't bother cleaning food out from between their teeth at all. Yikes! Needless to say the English dental community has admittedly fallen behind in dental education.

While it's easy to laugh at our friends across the pond, the truth is a number of Americans aren't doing much better when it comes to oral hygiene. Gum disease and tooth decay are two potentially serious conditions frequently overlooked by the American press. (Maybe they're too busy critiquing jolly England's smiles.) They are also linked to other health problems, including heart disease and low birth weight.

In order to maintain your own dental health, it's important to brush and floss everyday. If you find particularly tricky debris stuck between your teeth, skip using your PDA's stylus to dig it out. Your best option is a wood (and therefore flexible) tooth pick or dental ribbon, which is smoother than floss. Tying a small knot in it can help dislodge larger pieces of food.

So, the next time you hear somebody crack a joke at the queen's expense, consider your own flossing habits. And for Pete's sake, never use anything to clean your teeth and gums that wasn't designed for that purpose!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Looking for a Dental Hygentist? Good Luck!

Trying to find a dental hygentist? How about a dental hygenist or dental hygeinist? Oh dear... is it dental hygene or dental hygeine or dental hygine? All you have to remember is "I before E," and in no time you'll be spelling "hygiene" and "dental hygienist" like a pro.

But spelling skills aren't required for good oral health! When it comes to oral hygiene, all that really matters is you keeping your teeth clean, and you visiting the dentist and hygienist for regular dental exams and teeth cleaning.

Step one is practicing proper dental hygiene at home. By now you must know what you're supposed to be doing, but here's a quick review:

• Brush gently for 2 minutes each morning and night, moving a soft-bristled brush in circular strokes.
• Brush your gums and tongue as well.
• Floss daily.
• Wait 30 minutes before brushing if you've had something acidic (like orange juice), as the acid temporarily softens your tooth enamel.
• Contact your dentist if you discover any dental problems.

You should also see your dental hygienist twice a year for dental cleaning. If you have gum disease, you may need more frequent hygiene visits with periodontal cleaning.

At these visits, the dentist will also examine your teeth and gums to look for signs of any problems or gum disease. Dental issues are much easier to fix if they're caught early.

In the end, taking care of your teeth is one of the wisest investments you can make. After all, does it really matter if you're looking for a denist or dental hygenists or hygentists? Well, maybe it matters in spelling class…

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.