Failure to take care of your teeth can result in a wide range of mild to severe oral health problems, including gum disease, tooth decay, or poorly developed teeth. It can lead to extensive dental care down the road. While modern technology provides a solution for just about any mouth-related medical condition, the importance of dental hygiene cannot be overstated.
When we are young, we learn about the importance of hygiene. However, as we get older, we form bad habits that hurt our teeth and, eventually, our overall health. Practicing good dental hygiene is essential in maintaining strong teeth and gums. It also keeps your teeth looking good. However, some dental conditions are unavoidable. Learning the importance of oral hygiene can help you learn how to identify these issues, and when to reach out to a general dentist in Rogers, AR to get you back to good oral health.
Oral Health and Overall Health
You probably don’t want to know how much bacteria is living in your mouth. Bacteria accumulate quickly and knowing the importance of oral hygiene will encourage you to proactively stop bacteria growth. If you don’t brush your teeth, bacteria can eventually find its way into other parts of your body. It can cause health problems to occur over time.
Many systemic diseases start with not understanding the importance of oral hygiene. Swollen gums, mouth ulcers, and gum problems can lead to other conditions, such as:
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Leukemia
- Pancreatic cancer
- Oral cancer
One of the reasons it is important to visit your dentist every six months is to identify possible health issues before they get worse. An oral exam includes a physical examination and dental x-rays, when necessary. Additionally, professional teeth cleaning can prevent many conditions from ever developing.
How You Can Maintain Good Dental Hygiene
Once you understand the importance of dental hygiene, you can learn how to maintain good dental hygiene by taking a few practical steps, including:
- Brush your teeth twice a day, once before bedtime
- Use toothpaste and mouthwash that contain fluoride
- Eat more vegetables and drink more water
- Avoid cigarettes and cut back on drinking alcohol
- Reduce your intake of sugar
In addition, try to consume more healthy foods and liquids that contain Vitamin D and calcium. Both will strengthen your bones and teeth and preserve your smile.
Projecting a Healthy Self-Image
As you consider the importance of dental hygiene, ask yourself how important your teeth are to your self-image. Healthy dental routines will help you keep your teeth healthy, especially after any cosmetic dentistry procedures, including teeth whitening and tooth-colored fillings. This ensures your smile will shine bright for many years to come.
While good dental hygiene can prevent some of these issues, serious issues can still appear. Thankfully, restorative dentistry services can help you get back your best smile, so you can return to taking care of your good dental hygiene.
Understanding the importance of dental hygiene will help you keep your teeth healthy, especially after any cosmetic dentistry procedures, including teeth whitening and tooth-colored fillings. This ensures your smile will shine bright for many years to come.
Once you know more about the importance of dental hygiene, you’ll learn that good dental hygiene can make you feel better about yourself. It improves your personal and professional self-image. By taking care of your teeth, you will feel more confident when you take a photo, look in the mirror, or go on your next job interview. Teeth are an important part of your facial and body features. People always remember a clean, bright smile.
Understand the Importance of Dental Hygiene with Marcus Black, DDS
At Marcus Black, DDS, we stress the importance of dental hygiene. This is why we offer a wide range of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental services in Rogers, AR. To find out more about treatment options, call our clinic at 479.464.0900. We can perform a routine oral exam and provide the right treatment for your dental condition.
