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For a Lifetime of Smiles
Good daily oral hygiene and regular check-ups are critical for keeping your teeth, gums, jawbones, and other muscles and tissues in your mouth healthy. It also keeps your smile healthy and beautiful.
Why is oral hygiene so important? Between brushings, a sticky film of bacterial plaque covers your teeth. Although a small amount is relatively harmless, there are some important reasons to clean it off your teeth right away.
Your Teeth Are Under Attack
When you drink or eat food, the bacteria on your teeth feed on the sugars and starches in the food, converting it to energy and acidic byproducts. These byproducts then attack the enamel on your teeth until you brush your teeth. If you skip brushing, the process eventually breaks down your enamel and causes cavities to form.
Hard to Clean Areas = Breeding Ground for Plaque
The chewing surfaces of your teeth have special depressions and grooves that help them do their job properly. As they undergo daily wear and tear over time, the surfaces of your teeth develop additional pits and fissures where bacterial plaque can grow. Unfortunately, the pits and fissures can be difficult to clean. Without the proper attention, cavities can form.
Gingivitis
Finally, the initial film of plaque can grow, creating a thick layer of bacteria. This creates a high quantity of toxins that irritate the gums. As the irritated gums grow red, swollen and tender, they pull away from the teeth in defense. This exposes your roots to the same acidic byproducts that attack your tooth enamel. As the layer hardens into "tartar" or "calculus" deposits, your gums are further aggravated.
By this point, you have gingivitis. Even if you brush regularly, you may be more susceptible to gingivitis than other people. Stress, smoking, poor nutrition, and medications, such as steroids, heart medications, cancer therapy drugs, antiepilepsy drugs, and antidepressants, can all increase your susceptibility. Gingivitis is also more common in women undergoing hormone changes associated with adolescence, birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause.
Periodontitis
Whether you’re more susceptible or not, good oral hygiene habits are always critical when fighting gingivitis, especially since, when left undiagnosed and untreated, it can turn into periodontitis. With this painful condition, a severe bacterial infection attacks your gums, roots, jawbone, and other tissues supporting your teeth. This rapidly destroys bone, causes your teeth to drift out of position, and eventually leads to tooth loss. Whether you’re young or old, periodontitis can affect just a few teeth or may strike your entire set.
Keep Bacteria Off Your Teeth
Thankfully, you can avoid gingivitis and periodontitis, simply and inexpensively, by developing meticulous oral hygiene habits. Brush carefully after every meal and floss daily according to the dentist’s or hygienist’s instructions. If you cannot brush after eating or drinking, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. This deters acid production by up to 30 percent. If water is not handy, wipe your teeth with a napkin or chew a piece of sugarless gum. Then brush your teeth as soon as you can!
You should also schedule a professional cleaning/examination with the Tippit Dental Group at least twice a year. That way, one of our dentists can examine your teeth for problems and one of our dental hygienists can advise you on ways to improve your dental health.
If you’re interested in other ways to protect your teeth, talk to us about how dental sealants can help you. With this service, the dentist applies a special resin film, to your teeth, preventing bacterial plaque and decay.
You can enjoy a lifetime of excellent dental health when you arm yourself with good oral health habits. With a little effort and a good attitude, you will set a lifetime example for your entire family.
