What is Dental Hygiene ?
Dental Hygiene is the practice of keeping your mouth clean as well as regularly going to the dentist. Many people assume that brushing your teeth every other day or irregularly, is good Dental hygiene. That is incorrect because the whole point of dental hygiene is consistently brushing your teeth two times a day. Keeping good dental hygiene is just as important as other daily tasks such as washing your hands, taking a shower and many more. Good oral hygiene is when your mouth is clean, healthy and free of harmful bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, oral infection and gum disease.
Why is Dental Hygiene Important ?
Dental Hygiene is important because it prevents some very painful diseases such as gum disease and tooth decay. If left untreated, the gum disease ruins the bone around your teeth eventually causing them to come out.
What are the effects of poor dental hygiene ?
Research has proven that poor dental hygiene can also lead to diseases in other areas of the body. Some examples of the negative effects of poor dental hygiene are, risk for heart disease or stroke, risk of dementia, diabetes and much more.
What are the common signs of Poor Dental Hygiene ?
• Bad Breath
• Bleeding Gums
• Tooth Erosion
• Dry Mouth
• Tooth Decay
How to take care of your teeth properly ?
1. Brushing- This is one of the biggest factors of dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth two times a day in the morning and night, will prevent oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. It is best to brush your teeth in the morning because bacteria can build up on your teeth while you are sleeping. The food you eat can get stuck in your teeth so brushing at night would get rid of all the bacteria. The ideal time for brushing your teeth would be about two minutes. This is because any less time would not get all of the plaque of the teeth.
2. Flossing- Flossing is important for your teeth because it takes plaque from in between teeth and on the gum line, where tooth decay and periodontal disease frequently start, flossing is an important step in the tooth-cleaning procedure. Plaque is made up of bacteria that consumes sugars and leftover food in your mouth to produce an acid that nibbles away at the enamel of your teeth and can lead to cavities or gum disease.
Who is a Dental Hygienist and What do they do?
A dental hygienist’s job is to make sure that their patients teeth, gums, and the patient’s overall health is healthy at all times. Previously, we have learnt that having poor hygiene can lead to all sorts of bad diseases. Their job is to keep track of their patients dental health records making sure everything is going smoothly. Dental Hygienists have different regulations depending on the state they work in. But, they usually, perform oral health care assessments that include the review of patients’ health history, dental charting.
Sources:
Oral health: A window to your overall health – Mayo Clinic.
Oral Hygiene: Best Practices & Instructions for Good Routine
Why Dental Hygiene is Important
Importance of Flossing | College of Dentistry | University of Illinois Chicago