As I watched the news of the war currently in Ukraine, I could not help but remember the tragic flood in 2005, which occurred and severely affected about sixty thousand Guyanese in many respects. Disruption in their act of daily oral care will certainly take its toll on those affected by this natural disaster. This author believes that basic knowledge of oral disease and its development may help, especially in this situation.

Therefore, the effective control of plaque (bacteria and food particles sticking to the surface of unclean teeth) represents the basis of oral health. The method used to remove plaque is not of primary importance, provided that the required objective is achieved. So even if your toothbrush was lost in the flood water, you can still take good care of your mouth. However, try to get a toothbrush as it’s the ideal tool for oral care.

A means for proximal plaque removal is necessary for complete preventative care. The use of dental floss or tape should always precede brushing. (Three strands of thread together will suffice in this crisis.) Hold a 12-inch length of floss with the thumb and index finger of each hand. Grasp firmly with half an inch of floss between the fingertips. The ends of the floss may be tucked into the palm and held by the ring and little finger, or the floss may be wrapped around the middle finger.

For the upper teeth, the floss should be directed up by holding it over two thumbs or a thumb and an index finger. Rest a side of a finger on the teeth of the opposite side of the upper arch to provide balance and a fulcrum. When flossing the lower or mandibular teeth, direct the floss down by holding the index fingers on the top of the strand. One index finger controls the floss on the lingual and on the outer (facial). Hold the floss in a diagonal or oblique position and ease it past each contact area with a gentle sawing motion, curving the floss around each tooth, working from below the gum line, making up and down motions and shoe shine strokes.

Dental plaque sometimes becomes mineralized (hardened), forming calculus or tartar. These appear as brown or greenish crusts on the enamel around the neck areas or on the inside (lingual) surface of the lower incisors (front teeth). As the calculus develops, it penetrates below the gum line infecting the gum, and connecting fibres and bone.

This condition is called periodontitis and is just as common as caries. When periodontitis becomes chronic, the signs include easy haemorrhage (patient spits blood when brushing) receding gums (tooth appears to be growing longer), and absorption of the alveolar bone with deep pockets between the gum and tooth (tooth becomes loose or shaking).

Scaling, rot planning, and polishing constitute the treatment for periodontitis since by removing the irritation caused by the subgingival calculus; the destructive process would be interrupted and reversed to a certain degree. Because periodontal disease is usually painless the onset is insidious and the debilitating effects are generally not recognized until it is too late.
Utilizing oral antiseptics is effective only as a preventative measure rather than a cure for existing diseases.

Oral care remains an important aspect of your life even in dire social disruptions.