Oral health isn't just about whiter teeth, it is an essential
component of health throughout life. Poor oral health and
untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant
impact on quality of life. They can affect the most basic human
needs, including the ability to eat and drink, swallow, maintain
proper nutrition, smile, and communicate.
What is oral hygeine?
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth
clean to prevent dental problems and bad breath. The main
purpose of oral hygiene is to prevent the build-up of plaque,
the sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. Bacterial
plaque accumulated on teeth because of poor oral hygene is the
causative factor of the major dental problems.
Poor oral hygiene allows the accumulation of acid producing
bacteria on the surface of the teeth. The acid demineralizes the
tooth enamel causing tooth decay (cavities). Dental plaque can
also invade and infect the gums causing gum disease and
periodontitis.
What can I do?
Visit your dentist twice a year for your bi-annual checkup
and teeth cleaning.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Floss at least once per day!
Use a tongue cleaner. A tongue cleaner is an oral hygiene
device designed to clean the bacterial build-up, food
debris, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. The
bacteria and fungi that grow on the tongue are related to
many common oral care and general health problems. Ceaning
your tongue also aids in preventing bad breath.
Limit foods that contain high levels of sugar and/or are
highly acidic. Both types of food promote tooth decay.
Don't smoke or chew tobacco. Tobacco use is a major cause of
tooth loss through gum disease and may lead to serious
problems like oral cancer.
