Dental Hygiene and Oral Health
Dental health isn’t just about whiter teeth, it is a crucial component of health throughout life. Poor dental health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life. They can affect the most basic human needs including: the ability to eat and drink, swallow, smile, maintain proper nutrition, and communicate.
What is Dental Hygiene?
Dental hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental and gum tissue problems. The main purpose of dental hygiene is to prevent the build-up of plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. Bacterial plaque accumulated on teeth because of poor oral hygiene is the main factor dental problems.Poor dental hygiene allows the buildup of acid producing bacteria on the surface of the teeth. The acid demineralizes the tooth enamel causing tooth decay (cavities).
Dental plaque can also invade and infect the gums causing gum disease. This infection in the gum tissue destroys the underlying bone and causes tooth loss.
What can I do to have better Oral Health?
1. Visit our Pasadena, Texas dental office twice a year for your bi-annual checkup and teeth cleaning.
2. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, but three times is much better.
3. Invest in a quality electric toothbrush.
4. Floss at least once per day!
5. Use a tongue cleaner. A tongue cleaner is an dental hygiene device designed to clean the bacterial build-up, food debris, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.
6. Limit foods that contain high levels of sugar and/or are highly acidic. Both types of food promote tooth decay.
7. Don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Tobacco use is a major cause of tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious problems like oral cancer.
8. Use a toothpaste that has fluoride.
How can I prevent tooth decay?
The best way to prevent tooth decay and remove plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day. Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces. Brush your teeth twice per day (three times is better) with a soft-bristled brush. Use an antimicrobial toothpaste containing fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. Clean between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners to remove plaque from between the teeth, where the toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing is essential to prevent gum disease.
Develop, then follow, a daily Dental Health Routine.
Talk with our dental office about health conditions you may have. Together we will create an oral health routine that is easy to follow on a daily basis. For instance, people with special conditions, including pregnancy and diabetes, may require additional instruction and perhaps treatments to keep their mouth healthy. Make sure you understand the additional care and/or treatment that is needed. Commit to the extra tasks, and work them into your daily health routine.
Use Fluoride.
Children and adults benefit from fluoride use. Fluoride strengthens developing teeth in children and prevents tooth decay in both children and adults. Toothpastes and mouth rinses contain fluoride. Fluoride levels in tap water may not be high enough without supplementation to prevent tooth decay. After your dental cleanings, professional strength fluoride should be applied.
If you are overdue for a dental check up, call our office today at 713-941-8261. We are located at 3421 Burke Rd Ste A, Pasadena, Texas. Discover why our office is the leading dental office in the Pasadena area.