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Real Dentistry Stress the Importance of Dental Hygiene

Thursday 28 November 2019, 7:12PM

By Beckie Wright

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Taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums is a worthy goal in and of itself, as good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease—and can help you keep your teeth as you get older. Researchers are also discovering new reasons to brush and floss, to prevent the necessity of tooth extractions.

A healthy mouth may help you ward off medical disorders, however an unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase your risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke and poorly controlled diabetes.

Regular visits to a dental hygienist will help prevent bad breath and gum disease, and Real Dentistry recommend having your teeth and gums professionally cleaned every six months to prevent the build up of tartar and plaque. People who maintain good oral hygiene and see a dentist regularly are far more likely to have healthy teeth and gums, and less likely to need root canal treatment.

Fortunately, there are a range of nonprescription dental care products available for the prevention of many common oral health problems. These products are available in various formulations of dentifrices, which include those designed to fight plaque, gingivitis, and tartar, as well as those designed for sensitive teeth or for whitening the teeth. Other products include flosses, topical fluorides, and cosmetic and therapeutic mouth rinses.

There are also a number of products that are specially designed for the pediatric population, which encourage and aid in improving brushing techniques. In addition to these products, manual and electric toothbrushes, dental flosses, and oral irrigating devices are often used and recommended for plaque removal.

More than 85% of all cases of halitosis are directly related to poor oral hygiene practices. Other factors that can contribute to halitosis include tobacco use, consumption of certain foods or alcohol, and xerostomia (dry mouth).  Prevention of halitosis involves the removal of plaque and the prevention of calculus formation, and patients with cases of halitosis that are particularly severe or lack an identifiable cause should be referred to a dentist for further evaluation.

To find out more about dental bridges please go to www.realdentistry.co.nz .