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The Importance of Dental Hygiene to Support Overall Health

A healthy mouth supports your body’s overall health. Gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay are three common dental problems that can damage your smile and oral health if gone untreated. Infections in your mouth can progress to a point where your body’s health is affected. Visiting your general dentist for regular check ups will prevent common dental problems from developing and negatively affecting your health.

Practicing Great Dental Hygiene Habits

Dental hygiene habits incorporate both at home habits and routine dental check ups. Your dental hygiene habits at home remove the buildup of plaque and bacteria that can lead to dental problems. Your routine dental check ups remove buildup from under the gum line and in other difficult to reach places.

To help support a healthy mouth at home, it is a good idea to:

It is good practice to visit your general dentist at least every six months for dental cleanings and check ups. These visits will include a dental cleaning, x-rays, and an exam. A dental hygienist will clean your teeth by removing any buildup of plaque, tartar, and bacteria on your teeth and gums.

Plaque is the clear film made up of bacteria that forms on teeth. It can be easily removed by brushing the teeth, but will harden and become difficult to remove after about 48 hours. It is important to brush the teeth twice a day and floss so plaque can be easily removed. Hardened plaque becomes dental calculus, or tartar. Tartar is a dark yellow color and cannot be easily removed with brushing or flossing.

Plaque will slowly deteriorate the teeth and cause cavities. Gum disease is also caused by plaque if the plaque is allowed to buildup under the gum line. Flossing removes plaque from the gum line and helps prevent gum disease.

Dentistry Treatments to Correct Dental Problems

Your general dentist can correct any dental problems you may have to create a healthy and beautiful smile. General dentistry treatments include:

If you are interested in making an appointment with a general dentist to learn more about great dental hygiene, please contact us today. We will help you find a general dentist in your area.

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