What Is Good Dental Hygiene?

The effects of poor dental hygiene can range from tooth decay to periodontal disease, and loss of teeth. Luckily, maintaining a good dental hygiene routine, including regular professional teeth cleaning and dental examinations can prevent most of these dental concerns. 

If you don't maintain proper dental habits (including brushing and flossing), you are at an increased risk for developing tooth decay. The earliest signs of tooth decay may include pain when you bite down and feelings of sensitivity or pain in your teeth. By cleaning teeth on a regular basis, this helps prevent the progression of periodontal disease from gingivitis (the earliest form) to advanced periodontitis.

If you develop tooth decay and/or periodontal disease as a result of poor dental hygiene, you may have extensive bills for anything from simple fillings or crowns to more costly and complicated procedures such as root canals or oral surgery.

Are Dental Treatments Expensive?

Dental treatment costs can vary based on how much work is needed to fix your dental issues. The cost of routine visits for professional cleanings and dental examinations is low. Consider dental visits as insurance against potentially major issues.

Recommended Dental Care Routine

You can keep your teeth clean and cavity-free by following a regular dental care routine of brushing teeth 2x/day and flossing at least once a day. Also, be sure to visit your dentist and dental hygienist every 6 months for a professional cleaning and thorough examination to detect any problems before they become serious. Your dentist or dental hygienist may also recommend a particular type of toothbrush, dental floss or oral rinse based on your individual needs. This will help you get the most out of your dental care regimen.

Lifestyle Choices

1. Diet (Nutrition)

When maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, this keeps you healthy overall, and this includes your oral health. Nutrition plays an important role in the health and cleanliness of your teeth, gums and mouth.

2. Moderate Soda, Coffee and Alcohol

-Drink Tap Water When Possible

For many people, bottled water is their main source of drinking water. Although by doing so you could be missing the benefits of fluoride in your water.

3. Monitor Your Low Carbohydrate Diet

Having a low carbohydrate diet can cause bad breath. A balanced, healthy diet can help reduce tooth decay as well as keep our breath fresh.

4. Increase Your Calcium Intake

After age 20, both men and women lose more bone mass than they form, so it is important to restore lost calcium with a daily supplement and by eating fruits and vegetables high in calcium, such as dark leafy greens. These calcium-rich foods will also help to lower the acid buildup in saliva which can lead to the breakdown of tooth enamel.

5. Daily Dose of Vitamins C and D

Vitamin C and D help support the absorption of minerals such as calcium and phosphorous, which support the bone and gum tissue, keeping it healthy. By including these vitamins in your diet, this is a fairly easy way to maintain your dental hygiene and fight periodontal disease.

6. Remove Tobacco

Besides staining teeth, smoking interrupts calcium absorption in the body and can also cause diseases such as oral cancer. Stop smoking and enjoy the health benefits as well as a healthy, beautiful smile.

Maintaining a healthy smile does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. It is all about routines and regular maintenance. As soon as a dental concern arises, you should see your dentist for a thorough examination to treat any oral health issues.