National Dental Hygiene Month is Quickly Approaching
The month of October will be here soon and everyone is excited about:
HALLOWEEN! Yes… but no.
The World Series! Yes… but no.
Gainesville Dental Associates is excited about National Dental Hygiene Month!
What is National Dental Hygiene Month?
National Dental Hygiene Month is observed every October to celebrate the work of dental hygienists and raise awareness of the importance of good oral health. An essential component to our overall wellbeing, good oral hygiene is one building block of a healthy lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oral diseases, which range from cavities and gum disease to oral cancer, cause debilitating pain for millions of Americans every year. Protecting your oral health by practicing good oral hygiene can substantially increase the likelihood of keeping your teeth for a lifetime. Below are tips for great oral health.
Brushing
- Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is what protects teeth from tooth decay and cavities. It prevents decay by strengthening the tooth’s hard outer surface, called enamel.
- Angle your toothbrush bristles toward the gumline allowing them to clean between the gums and teeth.
- Brush all the sides of each of your teeth gently, using small, circular motions, and avoid back and forth scrubbing.
- Brush your tongue.
Flossing
- Use a string of floss about two feet long. Wrap it around the middle finger of each hand and grip it between your thumb and index fingers.
- Ease the floss gently between your teeth until it reaches the gumline (don’t force the floss into place as this could harm the gums). Curve the floss like the letter “C” around the side of each tooth. Slide the floss up and down under the gum.
If you are experiencing challenges with your oral health, please contact Gainesville Dental Associates. For additional resources and information on dental hygiene, visit the CDC’s Basics of Oral Health website.
The staff at Gainesville Dental Associates wishes you a Happy National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM)! The importance of National Dental Hygiene Month is to promote good oral health maintenance to the public.
Why?
Because your oral health can affect your overall health.
They say a way to a person’s heart is through the stomach, but before anything gets to the stomach — or anywhere else for that matter — it all has to go through the mouth. When there are problems left to run amok in your mouth, those problems can wreak havoc on the rest of your body.
But how?
Your mouth is filled with bacteria. Now, don’t get grossed out; most of these bacteria are harmless, and your body knows what to do to keep it under control, with the help of regular brushing and flossing, of course. It’s when you don’t practice good oral hygiene that bacteria can lead to infection, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Know that decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, and diuretics can also contribute to the overflow of bad bacteria, simply because they exist in your system. Such medications reduce saliva flow, thus reducing its power to wash away food and neutralize the acid produced by the bacteria present in your mouth, which can in turn lead to — you guessed it — infection, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Poor dental hygiene practices can contribute to the spread of disease:
- Endocarditis impacts the lining of the heart, and is caused when bacteria (such as from the mouth) or other nasty germs spread into the bloodstream, ultimately making their way to, and attacking the endocardium.
- Some researchers have found evidence that pervasive heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke could be linked to oral inflammation and infection.
- Osteoporosis (a disease that causes bones to become brittle) could be linked to periodontal bone and tooth loss.
- Poor oral health, and tooth loss before the age of 35 are potential risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Practice good dental hygiene, to protect your oral health, to protect your overall health.
Contact us to schedule your appointment today!