The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene and How It Can Affect Your Health

Following a good oral hygiene regimen is so important for your oral health. Patients in the San Jose, California area who need help developing an oral hygiene routine or who might need to make their regular six-month visit should visit Dr. Provenzano and Dr. Ram at Natalie K. Provenzano DDS, Inc. 

The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

Following a proper oral hygiene regimen at home will help you avoid future dental problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. When you have poor dental health caused by an oral hygiene regimen that is lacking, it can affect many areas outside of your mouth as well, including your heart, lungs, and bones. Good oral hygiene includes some of the following:

• Routine hygiene visits, during which your hygienist performs a comprehensive dental cleaning. These appointments should occur every three to six months, depending on your individualized gum health. Twice a year, your dentist will perform an oral examination. These visits to your dentist allow early signs of issues such as gum disease, tooth decay, or cancer to be detected so that treatment can be provided.
• Brushing your teeth is one of the easiest things you can do for your oral health. When possible, it is recommended that you brush after every meal, but at least twice a day if you cannot.
• Flossing at least once a day will ensure hard to reach food particles are removed before they can contribute to tooth decay or gum disease.
• Choosing the right products can make a world of difference for your oral hygiene. Picking the right toothbrush, for instance, is something that you may not think about. But with different bristles and brushes on the market, your dentist can help make sure you are using the right one for you. This applies to other oral healthcare products you may be using.

Decrease The Risk of Periodontal Disease

While several health risks are associated with a poor oral hygiene regimen, one of the most dangerous is periodontal (gum) disease. It continues to surprise dentists how many people are unaware of the damage gum disease can cause to your dental health. One of the leading factors behind the development of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. If you brush and notice trace amounts of blood, then you have developed gingivitis. This is the earliest stage of gum disease and is easily reversed. If you continue to ignore your oral hygiene, gingivitis could progress to non-reversible gum disease and, over time, start affecting your well-being. Gum disease is often called “the silent disease” because it occurs without symptoms. Once pain or symptoms appear, it is more difficult to treat and tooth loss may occur.

The reason gum disease can be so dangerous to your overall health is that your mouth and gums act as gateways to the rest of your body. When harmful bacteria enter your bloodstream through your gums, it can then travel to other parts of your body and lead to chronic health concerns, including:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Pancreatic or Oropharyngeal Cancer
• Pregnancy problems in expecting mothers include preterm birth or infections in the newborn
• Alzheimer’s
• Dementia

Practicing good oral hygiene will help you not only maintain a healthy mouth but a healthy body as well.

Toothbrush Tips

Following a proper oral hygiene regimen is incredibly important for your health, but in order to do so efficiently, you need to use the proper dental tools. We all use a toothbrush for brushing, but how often do you replace that toothbrush? The Centers for Disease Control advise that a toothbrush should be replaced once every three to four months. Even though you rinse the toothbrush after each brushing, it can still “remain contaminated with potentially pathogenic organisms”. It is also advised that a toothbrush should be replaced once used during an illness. Here are some more tips to make sure you are following habits that will help you fight infection:

• After brushing, rinse your toothbrush thoroughly and allow it to dry in an upright position
• Make sure you are washing your hands before and after brushing to avoid bacterial exposure
• Never share your toothbrush
• Keep family members’ toothbrushes separated to avoid cross-contamination

Please call (408) 226-2542 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Natalie Provenzano or her associate, Dr. Saumya Ram.

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