Celebrate Dental Hygiene Month
Fall is a time for carving pumpkins, raking leaves, and wearing cozy sweaters. Although dental hygiene is probably not the first thing on your mind during the fall season, it's also when we celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month, which occurs every October. Dental hygiene refers to the routine of cleaning your teeth and gums to keep them healthy and prevent oral health problems. In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month, we're going to focus on the specific ways you can improve your dental hygiene and take some time to highlight the work of dental hygienists.
Dental Hygienists Help You Achieve a Healthier Mouth
Celebrating the work of our dedicated dental hygienists is one of our favorite parts of National Dental Hygiene Month! According to the American Dental Hygienists Association, there are more than 150,000 dental hygienists in the United States.
Although dentists get most of the recognition, most dental hygienists spend more time with patients than dentists do. As licensed dental professionals, hygienists receive education and training at an accredited college to obtain an associate degree in dental hygiene, although some hygienists pursue further education to receive a bachelor's degree. After they graduate, in order to work as a dental hygienist, they must be licensed by the state they work in and renew their license every few years.
Dental hygienists work alongside dentists, providing high-quality dental care that is focused on preventing and treating oral health problems that affect your teeth and gums. During your dental appointment, your hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. Their job also includes a variety of other responsibilities, such as taking x-rays, applying sealants and fluoride treatments, and performing screenings for gum disease, tooth decay, and other issues that the dentist needs to know about. Your hygienist can also talk to you about following an oral hygiene routine at home for healthy teeth and gums and discuss the importance of eating a healthy diet for better oral health.
Is it time to schedule your next dental appointment? Get in touch with our dental office to make an appointment for an exam and cleaning.
The Importance of Dental Hygiene
Good dental hygiene is necessary for healthy teeth and gums. If you have poor oral health, you're at an increased risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Although early stages of gum disease can be successfully reversed with treatment from your dentist and dental hygienist, advanced stages of the disease can lead to tooth loss. Poor oral hygiene can also negatively affect your overall health, increasing your risk of serious health concerns like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. The building blocks of a good dental hygiene routine include these three steps:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day
- Flossing at least once each day
- Receiving regular checkups and cleanings
Ways You Can Boost Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Practicing good dental hygiene throughout the entire year is vital to your oral health, not only during National Dental Hygiene Month. We've put together these tips to help you see where you can make adjustments to your oral hygiene routine, but we also encourage you to ask your dental hygienist for specific tips on how you can improve the health of your teeth and gums.
Brushing Twice a Day for Two Minutes
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, usually in the morning and again at night, is one of the most important components of an excellent daily routine for teeth and gum health. Each time you brush, try to brush for a minimum of two minutes. You can use your phone to confirm that you're brushing for the recommended time. Verifying that you brush for two minutes is the best method for making sure you're removing plaque, bacteria, and loose food debris. If you only brush once a day or not consistently, the bacteria that normally live in your mouth make acids that eat through tooth enamel. As time goes on, you may develop gum disease and tooth decay as a result.
Flossing Daily
According to standards set by the American Dental Association (ADA), everyone should clean between their teeth with floss once a day. Flossing helps remove trapped food and plaque that may exist between teeth. If you don't floss each day, plaque and food debris can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and even gum disease. Standard dental floss, floss picks, and water flossers are just a few ways you can clean between your teeth.
See Your Dentist Regularly
While it's true that sticking to a great dental hygiene regimen at home helps you achieve the best possible health for your teeth and gums, you still need to receive care from your dental hygienist and dentist. These dental professionals can provide numerous dental services that are designed to help patients improve the overall health of their mouths. During a routine examination, you're examined for any possible issues, such as tooth decay, the presence of tartar, and gingivitis. As an added bonus, when your hygienist removes tartar and plaque bacteria, your risk of gum disease and tooth decay also decreases.
Use Mouthwash
Mouthwash should never replace flossing, brushing, and going to your dentist's office for cleanings and exams, but it can greatly benefit your dental routine at home. Mouthwash can kill harmful mouth bacteria, helping you prevent gingivitis before it even starts. It can also keep your breath fresh. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about which mouthwash you should use.
Rinse Your Mouth Between Meals and Snacks
Rinsing your mouth with water after eating and drinking can wash away food debris before it can create an acidic environment in your mouth that gradually wears away tooth enamel. This can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and sensitive teeth, which can cause tooth pain.
Contact Us for an Appointment
Now that you know more about how you can adjust your daily oral hygiene routine, the next step is to contact our office to make an appointment. We encourage you to thank your dental hygienist the next time you visit us for a dental cleaning and exam! Our team looks forward to helping you achieve a healthier smile.
