Dental hygiene is much about avoiding dental diseases like caries or gingivitis to name the two most wide-spread. Dental caries is a major world-wide health problem, which, apart from its effects on oral and dental health, carries an important economic load (costs of dental care, of partial and full prostheses etc.). However, it is one of the few diseases in man which can be avoided by the use of simple procedures. Similar words can be spoken on gingivitis, which in itself seems not to threaten dental health as visibly as caries, but due to its relation with periodontitis it must be considered a dangerous disease. The basic measures for prevention of caries and gingivitis are based on the causes of the disorder. There are four main prophylactic strategies for the avoidance of caries and gingivitis.

* Nutrition: consumption of foodstuffs with a low sugar content will reduce the risk of development of caries.
* Oral hygiene: brushing the teeth after every meal, and careful daily removal of plaque, particularly in the interdental space, will help maintain healthy teeth.
* Early detection and treatment: regular visits to the dentist ensure that any dental disorders will be detected at an early stage.
* Fluoridation: in the alternation between de- and remineralisation processes, fluorides have a regulatory function, as they tip the equilibrium in favour of remineralisation.