Dental Hygiene: Why is it so Important?

    /24-7PressRelease/ - March 02, 2008 - Who hasn't heard the standard rule of thumb? Make appointments for a check-up and a teeth cleaning every six months and brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Dentists, hygienists, teachers and our parents don't just tell us that to hear themselves talk, although this is very difficult to prove to most children. Here are some good reasons to follow that sound advice throughout your life and to pass it along to the younger generations in your family. Otherwise, you could end up with gum disease or no teeth at all down the road.

The cause of gum disease
The major cause of gum disease is plaque. This is the film that builds up on the gum line due to lack of regular brushing and flossing. If the plaque is left there long enough, it hardens into tartar. Tartar is more difficult to remove because it has to be scraped and chipped away by a dental hygienist. It has tiny sharp edges, so that when you do brush, the gums bleed. The multiplying and thriving bacteria cause inflammation in the gums, and this is the first stage of gum disease: gingivitis.

Avoid Gum Disease
Gum disease develops through two stages. The first stage is gingivitis. The second stage is periodontitis during which you will experience sore, swollen gums that will recede from your teeth and create larger and larger pockets between gum tissue and teeth. This offers larger breeding areas for the bacteria, and thus a vicious cycle is established. It is hard to break. Infection will result and if left untreated, your teeth will begin to loosen and eventually fall out. Remember, untreated gum disease will continue to get worse until you lose your teeth. It can also spread to other parts of the body. Since the gums are bleeding, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel. This has been connected to conditions which seem quite unrelated to dental problems, such as heart disease.

Proper Care for Your Teeth
• Brushing - Tooth brushes can only clean a small area at a time, like one or two teeth. Take a good two minutes of time whenever you brush your teeth and use a soft-bristled brush to get in between your teeth and gums thoroughly. Also, don't forget to brush your tongue to prevent germ build-up that will cause bad breath.
• Flossing - this will remove the extra food particles and bacteria that build up between your teeth and just underneath the edges of your gums. Use an up-and-down motion to scrape the sides of the teeth.
• Regular Dental Visits - brushing and flossing regularly, at least twice a day, should be followed up by visits to your dentist once every six months. During your annual visit the dentist will perform a short examination of your teeth, gums and mouth to be sure no problems are developing. During each six-month visit, your hygienist will clean your teeth and gums thoroughly for you, to further aid in preventing gum disease.

Extra Precautions
Dental care is important whether you are healthy or have health conditions that may indirectly affect your mouth. For example, if you are diabetic, it is important that your dental care provider is well aware of any potential problems. Be sure you are regularly checked for oral infections and gum disease that may be caused by or related to your diabetes.

As a general rule, it is important to take good care of your teeth no matter what your overall health status is. It is also very important to find a good general dentist that can help you maintain your oral health.

Contact Smile Solutions today for more information about dental hygiene and to schedule an appointment.

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