Oral Hygiene – Important To Your Dental And Overall Health

Close-up of a woman flossing her teeth

Maintaining good oral hygiene plays an important role not only in keeping your teeth health and strong, but also in helping to ensure the
health of your entire body.

Good oral hygiene can help prevent:

  • gum disease, one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults
  • oral cancer, by having regular checkups
  • plaque and calculus, which is formed when food and saliva combine on the teeth
    avities, which if left untreated, can ultimately lead to the loss of teeth
  • bad breath, also known as halitosis
  • heart attack and stroke, which studies have linked to gum disease

What you can do to have good oral hygiene:Boy brushing teeth

  • brush teeth properly – our friendly hygienists would be pleased to review proper brushing procedures with you
  • brush teeth often – two or even three times per day
  • change your toothbrush every three or four months or whenever you see the bristles getting misshapen
  • if you can’t brush after eating, rinse well with water
  • floss daily
  • don’t chew on hard objects like pens or pencils
  • avoid sugary foods and soft drinks
  • brush or scrape your tongue to remove bacteria
  • use an anti-microbial mouthwash
  • if you smoke, stop! Smoking can cause oral cancer, make your teeth yellow and dingy looking and make gum disease worse
  • visit your dentist twice a year (or more when necessary) for cleaning and check-ups
  • don’t put off necessary dental work – most dental problems will only get worse with time if left untreated

CALL OR GO ONLINE AND BOOK YOUR DENTAL CLEANING TODAY with one of our gentle dental hygienists. Your mouth and your body will thank you!

Steven Deskin is a Brantford dentist in general practice.

Ask Dr. D. a Question

Call us at 519-759-0049 to book your appointment today!