It’s dental hygiene month!

Did you know October is dental hygiene month? What better reason to put in practice those well known, but often neglected daily cleaning routines, to get your teeth looking and feeling fantastic. 

Maintaining a consistent oral health routine is like investing in your teeth. Just like a financial investment, the more effort and care you put into it, the greater the returns you’ll enjoy. Preventative dental care is the key to avoiding painful tooth conditions and costly dental treatments. The foundation of dental hygiene lies in daily cleaning routines, and they play a crucial role in keeping your teeth looking and feeling fantastic.

Now is the perfect time to renew your commitment to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. Learn how prioritising your dental health can lead to a happier, healthier life. 

The Power of Good Dental Hygiene

Good dental hygiene practices are not just about having a bright, white smile. They are the cornerstone of your overall well-being. Here are some of the significant benefits of maintaining excellent dental hygiene:

1. Prevention of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common oral health issue that can lead to pain, inflammation, and tooth loss. Regular brushing and flossing can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums.

2. Avoiding Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions can be painful and costly. Proper dental hygiene can help preserve your natural teeth, reducing the need for extractions due to decay or infection.

3. Banishing Bad Breath

Chronic bad breath can be socially embarrassing. Maintaining good dental hygiene ensures that your breath stays fresh and odour-free, contributing to your overall confidence and well-being.

4. Reducing the Need for Fillings

Cavities are a common dental problem that often require fillings. A good dental hygiene routine can significantly decrease the likelihood of developing cavities, reducing the need for fillings and all the associated inconveniences of discomfort, time off work and extra expense.

5. Guarding Against Serious Health Issues

Believe it or not, your oral health is connected to your overall health. Poor dental hygiene can increase the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even complications during pregnancy. This highlights the profound impact of maintaining proper dental hygiene on your overall well-being.

The Oral-Systemic Connection

The relationship between oral health and systemic health is often underestimated. Poor dental hygiene can lead to inflammation and infections that can affect the entire body. Here’s how it can impact various aspects of your health:

Heart Disease and Stroke

Studies have shown a connection between gum disease and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The inflammation from gum disease may contribute to the development of arterial plaques, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain.

Diabetes

Diabetes and gum disease are closely linked. High blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections, including those in the mouth. This makes people with diabetes more susceptible to gum disease.

Join the October smile revolution by adopting a few simple healthy habits.

Floss at least once a day

Flossing helps to remove interdental plaque and lift food residue which can then be removed by brushing. Flossing before brushing also allows the fluoride toothpaste to access those hard to reach spots. If you are not comfortable with traditional floss, try a water flosser. It’s more comfortable to use, gentle on the teeth, cleans more effectively and leaves you with that fresh out of a dentist sensation!

Brush with a fluoride toothpaste

Always brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste remains the best thing you can do to maintain your dental health. It’s recommended to use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,350 ppm of fluoride. After brushing spit but don’t rinse as you will wash away the fluoride which continues to help protect the teeth.

Try interdental brushes

If you haven’t yet experienced the benefits of an interdental brush, now is the time to try! Many people find them more practical to use than floss and the sensation of clean crevices is one of life’s simple pleasures. Start with the smallest interdental brush available to avoid any force and brush each gap between your teeth 2 or 3 times, approaching from both inside and outside on molars.

Balanced Diet

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can help support your dental health. Avoid excessive consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks, as they can contribute to tooth decay.

Limit Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can harm your oral health. These habits can stain your teeth, increase the risk of gum disease, and even lead to oral cancer. Reducing or quitting these habits can have a positive impact on your dental hygiene.

Visit your hygienist

Don’t underestimate the value of visiting your Hygienist! Even the best brushers in the world cannot beat the cleanliness that comes from a professional hygienist clean. Hygienists are able to access those hard to reach areas, remove the build up of plaque, tartar and stubborn stains and rejuvenate the look and feel of your teeth and gums.

Experience a Diamond Clean with Airflow Technology

Enjoy a dental Spa experience with a Diamond Airflow® clean. This game-changing hygiene technology combines water, air and a fine powder to gently and painlessly remove surface stains caused by tobacco, food and drink, and polishes the teeth to perfection. Its ideal for sensitive patients and is three times faster at removing stains and plaque than traditional methods.

We want everyone to enjoy having a happy, healthy smile. If you would like to kick-start your cleaning habits with a brilliantly fresh foundation please get in touch to arrange a hygienist appointment. We’ll have you smiling cleaner and brighter than ever, for October and beyond!