Dental hygiene is about more than polishing smiles. It’s a key component in any successful campaign to maintain oral health and prevent disease. Why is good oral health so important? It supports your efforts to embrace life. Oral health also impacts your overall health. To discover just how powerful a toothbrush can be, read on.
Exploring the Problem With Plaque
At any given time, billions of bacteria can be found in the mouth. These bacteria produce a sticky biofilm called plaque that can cause a host of unpleasant issues:
When plaque attacks teeth, it can weaken enamel and cause cavities.
If plaque targets gums, the resulting irritation can cause gingivitis, which is a mild form of gum disease.
If gum disease persists, it can cause periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that can damage the bones and ligaments that hold the teeth in place. This can cause tooth loss.
Preventing Oral Diseases With Proper Dental Hygiene
Clearly, plaque is a problem. Proper dental hygiene is essential to keeping plaque in check. A regular home oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing with the right techniques and tools will remove most bacteria and plaque before they have a chance to cause trouble for your teeth.
Seeing a dentist for routine checkups is also vital. The professional cleanings at your dentist’s office offer a deeper cleaning that ensures that any plaque that was missed at home is thoroughly removed. The checkup also provides an opportunity for other oral health concerns to be addressed quickly. Ultimately, taking steps to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy helps you avoid serious dental problems, discomfort, and expensive repairs.
Connecting Oral Health and Overall Well-being
The connection between excellent dental hygiene and a gorgeous grin is obvious. However, caring for your teeth and gums benefits more than your smile. Good oral health is important for your total health. It allows you to eat nutritious foods comfortably, speak clearly, and form smiles and other facial expressions confidently.
Your dental health can both influence and reflect your overall health. Consider this: Poor oral health can lead to infections. If left untreated, these infections can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Oral health issues can also cause inflammation, and chronic inflammation can provoke harm throughout the body. In fact, researchers have linked oral health issues to cardiovascular troubles, certain respiratory conditions, and pregnancy concerns.
Your oral health can also suggest that problems are lurking elsewhere. Your teeth and gums can show signs that might offer early warnings about diabetes, celiac disease, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and more. Clearly, your dentist can be a valuable member of your healthcare team.
Dazzling dental hygiene is essential if you want to keep plaque away and have a happy, healthy smile. Dr. Robin Call and the team at RGC Dentistry are ready to support your efforts. They provide comprehensive dental care in Surprise, AZ, by offering a full menu of preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental services. To schedule your appointment, contact RGC Dentistry today.