Celebrate Dental Hygiene Month

Each year in October, dentist's offices across the United States celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month. This campaign is designed to be an annual reminder to revisit your oral hygiene routine and see if you can make small adjustments to benefit your oral health. We also think it's the best time to recognize the work of dental hygienists! In addition to learning more about the role your dental hygienist plays in improved oral health, we've also included a few tips that can help you take care of your smile.

Highlighting the Work of Our Caring Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists play a vital role in the health of our patients. There's a great deal of skill and training that goes into taking care of patients' smiles. Most hygienists attend a two-year program where they receive hands-on training for treating patients directly and meeting their dental health needs. After graduation, hygienists must complete clinical exams and meet licensing requirements for their state.

Although cleaning teeth to remove all traces of plaque and tartar is one of the main responsibilities of a dental hygienist, their job duties go far beyond only cleaning teeth. The role of a dental hygienist is multifaceted, and these dental professionals wear a variety of hats to improve the health of their patient's teeth and gums. Here's a brief overview of the many responsibilities of a dental hygienist:

1. Assessing a patient's oral health history
2. Using dental tools to clear away plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums
3. Thoroughly examining patient's mouths for signs of cavities, gum disease, or anything else that may be suspicious
4. Talking to patients about their specific oral health needs and goals
5. Taking precise x-rays
6. Applying dental sealants and fluoride treatments
7. Educating patients about the most effective ways to take care of their smile at home
8. Advise patients on the importance of a healthy diet

Why You Should Prioritize Dental Hygiene

Caring about your dental hygiene is an essential practice that benefits much more than just the outward appearance of your teeth. If you have good oral hygiene, you're also reducing your risk of developing serious dental problems, such as gum disease and periodontitis. Not only can these diseases cause tooth loss, but they can also negatively affect your health in other ways, such as increasing your risk of stroke, heart disease, pneumonia, and diabetes. While it's true that receiving professional cleanings from your dental hygienist every six months can prevent gum disease from progressing to an advanced stage, consistently brushing and flossing every single day is the best thing you can do to prevent gum disease and periodontitis.

What Can I Do to Improve My Oral Hygiene Routine?

Even if you think that your dental hygiene routine is top-notch, it's always a good idea to get back to basics and revisit the basics of an effective oral hygiene routine. Take a look at some of the most common questions patients ask our dentist in Florida and dental hygienists:

How Often Should I Brush My Teeth?

Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? If not, the health of your teeth and gums may suffer from lack of care. Plaque is a fuzzy film that forms on your teeth each day, and it can gradually harden into tartar if you don't brush every day. However, if you can brush for two minutes at least two times a day, you can control the development of plaque and prevent tartar from accumulating.

What Is the Proper Brushing Technique?

Preventing plaque bacteria and tartar from accumulating on your teeth is one of the main goals of brushing your teeth, so you want to make sure you're brushing the right way! You can also reduce your risk of cavities and periodontal disease while benefiting the rest of your body. Use these tips to improve your brushing technique:

1. Once you've put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush, hold it at about a 45-degree angle. Use light pressure while you use short strokes to brush your teeth.
2. When brushing the outer surfaces of each tooth, make sure that you're reaching your far back molars and the tops of your teeth to brush the chewing surfaces.
3. To brush the inner part of your top front teeth, try to hold your brush upside down.
4. Turn your toothbrush around to reach the inner portion of your bottom front teeth.
5. Finally, brush your tongue to remove bacteria and enjoy fresher breath.

One thing you should avoid while brushing is using a vigorous motion. Brushing your teeth too hard on a regular basis can cause your gums to recede and wear down your tooth enamel, causing sensitive teeth. To prevent this and preserve your tooth enamel, apply gentle pressure with your toothbrush and use circular strokes.

How Often Should I Floss?

A routine of daily flossing is the most effective way to keep your mouth clean and prevent gum disease. If your gums bleed while flossing, you might have gingivitis. Please contact us to make an appointment because the early stages of gingivitis can actually be reversed with a deep cleaning.

What About Mouthwash?

If you include mouthwash into your daily routine alongside flossing and brushing, you can kill bacteria in the mouth, prevent gingivitis and gum disease, whiten teeth, and strengthen your teeth. Research has shown that mouthwash can even eliminate the bacteria that leads to gum disease.

How Often Should I Schedule Dental Appointments?

Dental professionals suggest scheduling appointments at your dentist's office approximately every six months for a teeth cleaning and routine examination. People who see their dentist and hygienist regularly enjoy a healthier mouth and a lowered risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay. These benefits are linked to your hygienist removing tartar from your teeth and gums before they cause an infection, causing the symptoms of gum disease.

Dental hygiene is important every day of the year, not just during Dental Hygiene Month. If you're looking for other ways to enhance your oral hygiene routine, we encourage you to talk to a member of our helpful team to make an appointment. Contact us today!