In recent time more and more people are realizing there is more to good dental hygiene than having white teeth. The fact is your oral health affects your whole well being too not just the condition of your gums and teeth. Here is a look at what we mean by dental hygiene and the bigger picture it affects and why an appointment with a dental hygienist is important to your dental health.
What is meant by Dental Hygiene?
Most people now realize they need to do more than brush their teeth when they get up in the morning to have good oral hygiene. In fact two is the minimum you should aim for, after breakfast and before bed, though if possible brushing mid day is also a good idea. You should be using a fluoride toothpaste that has been approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) and you should be brushing correctly. There is a technique to brushing to get your teeth and gums as clean as possible. On top of that you should be flossing at least once a day to remove all the debris from in between your teeth. You should also be visiting a dentist or dental hygienists regularly for deeper cleaning and checkups, and you should be following a diet that is balanced.
A lot of people do not realize the significance your dental hygiene has in your general health. But the fact is without regular brushing, flossing and care bacteria in the form of plaque forms above the gum line. If left there this turns into tartar, a harder form that can only be removed by a dental hygienist or dentist using a procedure that is called scaling. If that tartar is left there this can lead to gingivitis or another gum disease. If that is left untreated it can lead to a serious form of gingivitis called peroidontitis. This is a very damaging disease that can lead to bone weakness, teeth can become loose and can even fall out.
But there are also links between peroidontitis and other general health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes. This can occur because of the oral inflammation which leads to your body generating more proteins and white blood cells to fight off the infection. There is a negative side effect to this as the infection can enter your blood stream when your gums bleed and then this inflammation can be carried into your arteries which can lead to fats and cholesterol levels being higher. Arteries that are full of fats and cholesterol can be the cause of strokes, heart attacks and can cause complications with diabetics. It is a fact that those with more mouth infections are at higher risk of strokes and heart disease.
Therefore if you are already in a higher risk group for these conditions it is important you have good dental hygiene standards. This is just as important in your steps to prevent complications as eating a healthier diet or taking medications prescribed by your doctor.
If you are in the more mature age group your dental hygiene has an even greater importance. You can prevent the loss of teeth and the need for dentures if you prevent infections now. The older you get the more prone to infection you can become and regular mouth infections can impact how much you are able to eat, as can ill fitting dentures. There are many older people who suffer from malnutrition or suffer from weight loss due to mouth infections from poor oral care.
As you can see there are very good reasons for taking care of your gums and teeth. If you need to learn a better routine, need advice about a better diet, or want to receive more information on dental hygiene do call or visit your local dental hygienist, dentist or even your doctor and they would be happy to help you.
Are you looking to start a career in this field? Learn how to become a dental hygenist and be one today.