How clean are your teeth?

Oral hygiene is a life necessity as it keeps the foul smell away and demonstrates our personal care. One challenge in oral hygiene that faces many people from various parts of the world is assumption that foul smell from the mouth and stained teeth is due to lack of cleaning.
I see these as symptoms of medical condition related to water, food we eat and metabolic hormones. Would dental experts be able to distinguish and isolate the rpoblems to provide better resolve?

I see oral hygiene as a religion that everyone should subscribe to if they want to live a healthy and happy life.

Studies show strong link between oral health and general health. In fact, in rural part of Ethiopia, I have witnessed doctors examining the mouth area to determine the stage of infection in HIV patients and cap its progression to AIDS. Studies also point to associations of gum infection and diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It is important to point out though that scientists have yet to conclude if oral infection actually causes the aforementioned health problems. Nevertheless, I try to brush and floss on a daily basis to keep my mouth clean since it is the gateway to my wellness.
It is worth pointing that as an Eritrean living in New York, my dental health has been deteriorating few years after my arrival. Growing-up in Ethiopia, I brushed once in a while and upon my visit to the dentist in the early days of my arrival I was told my teeth looked wonderful. But after few years my oral health in general hasn't been great. My question to you is then – does the water and food in the Diaspora differ so much from that of Africa to alter our oral health ?

The prophet Mohamed (Peace Be upon Him) had said that he wished to make oral hygiene cleaning a compulsory among Muslims. He strongly advised people to take care about their oral hygiene long time ago. The Muslim 5 prayers a day which are accomplished by cleaning many parts of the body include oral hygiene too.

One of the first things I learnt as a child is to clean my teeth, first with chewing stick and then tooth brush. It is one of those habits one carries for life. It is also more important these days because of the preponderance of things that we are told are bad for our teeth. It gets confusing once in a while due to the constant changes in what one is advised to eat and then avoid to sustain the health of one's teeth.

I spent a year living in Nigeria and seldom seen a Nigerian with bad teeth unless they were of the older generation.

Back home I insist that my 2yr old and 6yr old brush at least twice a day. My 6yr old is quite defient whilst my 2yr old wants to brush all the time.

I myself was brought up with fillings and teeth removal being the norm, however I am glad to report that since I was 12 and took responsibilty for my own hygiene, every trip to the dentist is always positive...

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I am also an Eritrean grew up in Eritrea until age 21. Growing up I had never visited a dentist and rarely brushed "Mewots " wooden brush. The first time I visited a dentist here in the US at age 24, In my first dental exam I had moderate level of Calculus with unfavorable periodontal pockets. My dentist explained to me the risks of poor Oral Hygiene. I love my smile so much that I did not want to loose my tooth. So I took my oral hygiene very seriously. In fact that led me to study dentistry as a profession. I am attending one of the finest dental schools in the country, close to graduation.
To answer your question.
The biggest difference is the type of diet in Eritrea vs in the US. In the US most diet has high sugar content. Oral bacteria is fed sugar (Sucrose). Studies show that, people that consume sugar frequently are at higher risk of dental caries than people that consume sugar during meal time.
You mentioned about the water.
This is not true, in fact it is the other way around. Most water supplies in the US is flouridated. which is the same mineral found in your tooth paste. Flouride has shown to reduce the risk of dental caries. I believe most water supply in Eritrea is not flouridated.

oral hygiene is more than just dental appointments,brushing and using mouthwash but ones lifestyle and eating habits. Basic acts such as gargling regularly after meals,drinking enough water to avoid constipation (that also results in bad breath),eating vegetables and fruits. Prevention is better than cure.

I recently learned that it is about the cleanliness of my mouth, my tongue, my gums, including my nasal cavity, and of course of my teeth too. Since, then, I have been able to keep allergies, common colds and all sorts of common ailments.

I can cope without having my bath for one or two days in extreme cold weather. But under no circumstance should I do without washing my mouth. Africans have got the privilege to have stronger and cleaner teeth because we have a lot of herbs and shrubs able to cleanse teeth better than toothpaste.

yes I am having the same probleme about 1month ago I went to see a Doctor, for my teeth clean,and after treatement he assure me that I will not face the same probleme like, smell of breath, and bleding while being brush away, but now is even worse that before unfortunetely I do not have somebody to advice me on that matter