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Benefits of good oral hygiene

07/12/2014

Recent health studies have shown that there is a link between good health and good oral hygiene. With this in mind, it is important to make sure that you keep your teeth and gums looking and feeling clean and fresh.

Here’s how you can benefit from keeping your teeth and gums clean:

Preventing Oral Cancer

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone.  When you have your dental cleaning, your dentist is also screening you for oral cancer, which is highly curable if diagnosed early.

Preventing Gum Disease

Gum disease is an infection in the gum tissue and bone that keep your teeth in place and is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss.  If diagnosed early it can be treated and reversed.  If treatment is not received, a more serious and advanced stage of gum disease calledperiodontitis may follow.  Regular dental cleaning and checkups, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are vitalmeasures in preventing gum disease.

Maintaining good physical health

Recent studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease, resulting from poor oral hygiene.  A dental cleaning every six months helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy and could possibly reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.

Keeping your teeth

Since gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, regular dental checkups, cleaning, brushing and flossing are vital to keeping as many teeth as you can.  Keeping your teeth means better chewing function and ultimately, better health.

Dentists can detect dental problems early

Your dentist and hygienist will be able to detect any early signs of problems with your teeth or gums.  Early detection of cavities, broken fillings and gum disease are easily treatable.  If these problems go untreated, root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth could become the only treatment options available.

Maintaining good oral health

Your dental hygienist will help to ensure that you are maintaining good oral health by visual examination and comparing your previous dental checkups.  If you are falling off track with your oral hygiene, your hygienist will help put you back on the right path.

Preventing bad breath

Dental studies show that about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis, have a dental problem that is to blame.  Good oral hygiene is essential in preventing bad breath.  Regular checkups and cleaning are the best way to make sure that you are maintaining good oral hygiene.

Maintaining a whiter, brighter smile

Your dental hygienist can remove most tobacco, coffee and tea stains.  During your cleaning, your hygienist will also polish your teeth to a beautiful shine.  The result – a whiter and brighter smile!

Having a great smile may open more doors for you, but it also helps keep you healthy once you get inside.  By following these tips your teeth and gums will enable you to make the most of your smile.  After all, it’s the only one you have!