THE following statement was made by Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek, the man who discovered the existence of bacteria, blood cells and human sperms on a microscope, which, incidentally, he invented himself more than three hundred years ago.

“I am in the habit of rubbing my teeth with salt in the morning, then rinsing my mouth with water, and often after eating to clean my back teeth with a toothpick as well as rubbing them hard with a cloth, wherefore my teeth, back and front, remain as clean and white that only a few people of my age of fifty-one years can compare. Also, when I rub my gums with hard salt, they will not bleed.”

Even before there were dentists or toothbrushes, this Dutch biologist and inventor recognised the relationship between oral hygiene and periodontitis (gum disease).
Bleeding on brushing is a well-accepted and primary sign of gum disease. While texts describe the difference between health and disease in the gums based on colour, texture, shape and adhesion to the tooth, and the position of the gums on the teeth, these are very subjective signs, difficult for a patient in a poorly-lit home environment to observe, and also quite subjective for the health professional. The absence of bleeding is, in most instances, a sign of health, although it is acknowledged that deep-pocketing between the tooth and gum in advanced gum disease will not demonstrate bleeding on brushing, unless there is superimposed gingivitis.

The cooperation and compliance of patients and the degree to which they use tooth-cleaning skills seem to be affected by several factors beyond the control of the dental profession. The patient’s self-involvement in the instructional process seems to be the most effective method of achieving long-term improvement in oral health care.

When studying motives for seeking preventive care, one tends to focus on four factors in motivation: Belief in susceptibility, seriousness, effectiveness of activities, and the importance of dental problems as predictors in involvement in the management of health care, particularly when considering brushing habits. Only a small number of persons see themselves capable of suffering from gum disease, because it is a chronic condition.

Most people use a toothbrush at least once a day, which is sufficient to satisfy personal beauty, if not to prevent disease. Therefore, telling people to clean their teeth more regularly is not enough. Rather, the focus must be on the specifics of tooth cleaning, and how one can recognise this process’s productiveness.

The best way to prevent tooth decay and gum disease is to obey the triple-one method. This formula advocates that ONE minute should be spent cleaning ONE tooth in ONE day. In other words, if a person has 28 teeth, he should spend at least 28 minutes every 24 hours brushing and flossing, etc.

Bleeding is a fearful thing for many people, but a demonstration by the dentist will show that this is a sign of disease which, in most cases, can be overcome by simple measures. Timing and the mechanics of cleaning can be assisted by the dentist (or dental nurse), who can help the patient find the right techniques for brushing, flossing and gum massage.
The contemporary patient has come to accept that a reasonable level of personal responsibility is necessary for his well-being. Achievement and maintenance of health is seen as a cooperative programme between the individual and the health care provider. The modern preventive regimen includes abstaining from unhealthy practices and practising those measures thought to improve personal health.