It is National Dental Hygiene Month! Good oral health is strong teeth, healthy gums, and fresh breath. Brushing your teeth and regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist and dental hygienist are very important. An essential part of our daily lives is oral health care and dental hygiene.
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is encouraging hygienists across America to get involved this October to increase awareness of proper oral health habits for children, especially the prevention of Early Childhood Caries. Early Childhood Caries is the number 1 epidemic as it relates to children’s health.
Tooth decay, or cavities; and gum disease are two major effects of poor dental hygiene. Cavities are a common problem for people of all ages. Children with untreated cavities experience pain, absences from school, difficulty learning, poor appearance, and problems that greatly affect life and ability to succeed. Adults from certain racial and ethnic groups also experience more untreated decay when compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Gum disease is also an issue that creates an infection caused by bacteria underneath gum tissues that destroy the gums and bone. After a period of time, teeth become loose and chewing can become difficult. Teeth might even have to be extracted if the infection is left untreated.
Studies have shown that there are associations between oral infections and diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, so it’s important to care for your teeth for your overall health and well-being.
There are ways to improve your oral health care, such as:
1. Eating nutritional meals.
2. Protecting your teeth with fluoride.
3. Regularly flossing your teeth.
4. Talking to your dentist and dental hygienist during your check-up and cleaning visits.
To schedule an appointment with our dental department, call us at 609-278-5900.
This information was originally posted on ada.org and cdc.gov.
