Why Good Dental Hygiene And Health Practices Are Important
Healthy teeth are more than just a cosmetic concern — dental health issues are intimately linked to other health problems. Prevention and early detection are the keys to avoiding tooth decay and gum disease.
Prevention starts with controlling plaque – a colorless bacteria that sticks to the surface of your teeth — and tartar, a harder mineral deposit. Both of these are the leading causes of tooth decay and periodontal disease. At our state-of-the-art facility in Guntersville, we provide the dental care you need to help you maintain good dental health. Combined with a good home routine, regular in-office teeth cleanings and exams can help prevent many expensive dental treatments.
Regular Professional Teeth Cleanings
Regular teeth cleanings, performed by our registered dental hygienists, are a crucial part of preventive dental care. By removing plaque and tartar, your oral health is enhanced and your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease are minimized. Your dental hygienist will utilize manual techniques to remove moderate plaque and tartar buildup, plus an ultrasonic device to scale away heavier buildup. The cleaning is finished with polishing, a pleasant procedure that cleans the surface of teeth, removes stains, and leaves the mouth feeling clean and refreshed.
Home care basics — Brushing, Flossing and Rinsing
Our doctors believe that maintaining a proper home routine for dental hygiene can prevent most oral disease and tooth decay.
Brushing: Daily plaque buildup can be easily removed by brushing, with either a manual or electric toothbrush. Deposits tend to build up on the teeth fairly quickly after eating or drinking. If these deposits are not brushed away at least twice daily, they can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Just one day of not brushing can lead to a bacterial build-up that is enough to make your mouth susceptible to disease.
Flossing: Flossing every day is an effective way to clean spots on your teeth that brushing can’t reach. In fact, if you do not floss, you are missing about 40% of the tooth surfaces! To properly floss, take about 18” of dental floss, wrap it around the middle finger of each hand, and pinch it between your thumb and index finger. Pull the floss taut and slide it gently between each tooth and under the gum line. Slide the floss up and down the side of each tooth to remove plaque buildup. Unwrap and rewind the floss as you move from tooth to tooth, always using a clean section of floss between each tooth.
Mouth Rinses: Not only do mouth rinses help fight bad breath, they also help remove loose food particles after brushing. However, mouth rinses should never be used as a substitute for brushing, flossing or regular dental exams.
If you have any questions about these home care techniques, ask one of our dentists or your hygienist.