Summer Dental Hygiene Tips
Our Aloha team here at Slater Family Dental wants all of our patients to have the healthiest smile that they can have. We also want our patients to fully understand the importance of having good oral hygiene as it does not only play into your smile’s appearance but also your overall health. We believe that Summer is the right time to get on track on your Dental Hygiene.
Our oral health affects how we live and how we interact. It affects our ability to eat, smile, and our speech. If you’re unhappy with your smile, it can affect your self-confidence and professional/social life. If you suffer from any oral diseases, then you may suffer from pain and other limitations in your life due to your oral health.
We understand how tedious it can be to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and the hassle of having to visit your dentist twice a year to have your teeth professionally cleaned. Over time, you might see it as less important since you haven’t run into any oral health issues before. Good habits have to be nurtured, and it is easy to fall into bad habits if you aren’t actively trying to keep up with good ones. Maybe you’ve gone from brushing your teeth twice a day to only once a day, and maybe sometimes you skip that one-a-day brushing session. It won’t hurt anything, is it really important to be so diligent about it if I don’t have issues with my teeth? The answer is yes, as the main idea of these habits is to prevent plaque from building up in your mouth.
Prevent Dental Plaque Buildup
This means that the less time you spend on dental hygiene; the more bacteria that accumulate in your mouth. The time that you spend brushing and flossing your teeth every day not only prevents plaque buildup but also controls the growth of bacteria to prevent infections in your mouth since plaque contains bacteria in it. In an unhealthy mouth, this abundance of bacteria can enter your bloodstream and cause infections in different areas of your body. Dental hygiene also reduces the risk of developing gum disease and experiencing tooth decay. Both of these oral health concerns are caused by an abundance of bacteria in the mouth, so the fewer bacteria you have means you’re less likely to develop these issues. If you manage to develop either of these issues even with good oral hygiene, it wasn’t all for nothing. Good hygiene makes it easier to treat these concerns!
Oral Health Concerns
However, the only way to find out if you have oral health concerns like tooth decay or gum disease is by an examination by your dentist. The earlier we can detect these issues allows us to treat these ailments sooner and prevent them from worsening and keeping your smile looking and feeling great. Seeing your dentist twice a year for an oral exam and having your teeth professionally cleaned ensures that the smallest spaces in your gums and teeth stay plaque and tartar free since your toothbrush can only reach so far.
Dental Hygiene Habits
It is essential to start practicing good oral hygiene habits as early as you can to keep on track with your summer dental hygiene. For kids, they can visit a dentist and start a routine as soon as they have teeth. If you’ve been neglecting your teeth and are concerned about your oral health, then schedule an appointment with your dentist so we can assure you that it’s never too late to prioritize a healthy smile. The four important things to remember when it comes to establishing a good oral hygiene routine are to brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time, replace your toothbrush every few months, floss in between your teeth once a day, and visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings/exams.
Schedule an exam with our Aloha team today, so we can help you with your smile and your oral health.
