October is National Oral Hygiene Month, which is a great time to review some basic tips and guidelines for your own oral hygiene routine. If you enjoy good oral health, your teeth will be clean, your gums will be pink (not red or light pink), and you won’t have bad breath on a regular basis. But just having an attractive smile and fresh breath aren’t the only advantages of good oral health. In fact, studies show that having healthy teeth and gums is closely related to your overall health and that certain diseases – such as diabetes and heart disease, to name a few – are related to poor oral health. Now that we’ve been reminded what good oral health looks like and how important it is to our general well-being, let’s review some of the best ways to ensure that you and your family enjoy all the benefits of good oral health.
Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Although every person is different, most dentists would agree that it’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss at least once a day. If you are more cavity-prone, you may want to brush after every meal. If you’re more prone to developing gum disease, you may want to floss more often than once a day and use an antimicrobial mouthwash to further reduce the number of bacteria inside your mouth. Talk to your dentist and your oral hygienist for their recommendations on how to make sure that you’re doing all you can do at home every day to achieve good oral health.
Regular Visits to the Dentist
While there’s no doubt that a consistent oral hygiene routine at home plays an essential role in good oral health, don’t forget the importance of visiting your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams. Only a trained dentist or hygienist using specially designed dental tools can completely remove all the plaque and tartar that build up on teeth over time, so no matter how diligent you might be, you’ll never be able to thoroughly clean your teeth on your own.
But there are other reasons to visit the dentist in addition to professional cleanings. Your dentist will be able to recognize the early signs of cavities and gum disease and recommend steps to start treating those issues right away. Your dentist will also check for oral cancer and other more serious conditions that you may not be able to detect on your own.
Call Your Dentist When Problems Arise
The third component necessary for good oral hygiene habits involves notifying your dentist as soon as you see changes in your teeth or gums. If a toothache persists for a few days, or if becomes severe, it could be a sign of an infection or some other dental issue that needs to be addressed right away. The same is true for your gums. If you notice a sore that won’t heal, or if you experience bleeding of the gums or bad breath, contact your dentist and schedule an appointment. Remember that it’s always better to address oral health issues as soon as possible to prevent them from developing into more serious – and much harder-to-treat – problems.
You and your family deserve to enjoy all the benefits of good oral health. Fortunately, all it usually requires is consistent oral hygiene practices at home, along with regular trips to your dentist. That seems like a small price to pay for all the advantages it brings!
