Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene can help keep teeth and gums healthy for life, reducing the risk of dental decay and gum disease and saving you from the pain and cost of dental treatment in the future. Oral hygiene is usually understood to mean keeping a clean and healthy mouth by regular brushing and flossing and by keeping up regular six-month check ups with the dentist.
Regular and effective brushing and flossing helps to remove plaque. This is a filmy, bacteria-rich substance that produces acids which erode the tooth enamel causing dental decay and eventually tooth loss. Plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing also hardens and turns into tartar which cannot be removed by conventional cleaning methods and will need to be removed by a dentist using a process called scaling.
Other problems that can occur by not maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene include gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Gum disease is characterised by an inflamed and irritated gum that can be painful and even begin to bleed. Eventually gum tissue will start to shrink away from teeth exposing the vulnerable root. Gingivitis will eventually become the more serious periodontitis if left untreated. This is a more serious form of gum disease which may require antibiotic treatment or even surgery. Gum disease has also been linked to heart disease.
Tooth decay and gum disease can cause years of painful and costly dental treatment which can all be avoided by a few minutes a day of effective cleaning. Good oral hygiene can also help to prevent the 90 per cent of cases of bad breath caused by bacteria allowed to grow in the mouth.
Eating habits can also affect oral hygiene with food with a high concentration of sugar being particularly damaging to teeth. Low sugar food and food such as fruit with a high fibre content stimulate saliva production which helps to keep teeth healthy.
It is also important to regularly visit the dentist for check ups. Dentists can undertake thorough teeth cleaning and offer advice on how best to maintain good oral hygiene. A Leeds dentist will also be able to treat the first signs of any tooth decay or gum disease and help to keep your teeth strong and healthy.
Tags: brushing and flossing, dental checkups, gum disease, oral hygiene
