What your dentist would like you to know about oral hygiene
Just as much as our dentist Coorparoo at Brisbane Laser Dentist cares about treating dental diseases for complete oral health and function, so too do we care about preventing them from occurring in the first place.
In preventing dental disease, good oral hygiene is all-important. This is one of the reasons why our dentist Coorparoo may ask you about your oral hygiene routine.
Poor oral hygiene control can create all sorts of problems in the mouth, from bad breath to plaque build-up and cavities. The longer oral hygiene is neglected, the worse the dental issues become.
The fundamentals of good oral hygiene include brushing teeth twice every day, flossing in between teeth, reducing the consumption of sugary and acidic foods and drinks and visiting our dentist Coorparoo twice a year for teeth and gum checkups. Failure to comply with these guidelines escalates poor oral hygiene issues.
What are the dangers of poor oral hygiene
When the conditions for good oral hygiene are not met, this creates an ideal environment in the mouth for bad bacteria to flourish. As a moist environment in the body, the oral cavity is home to a large number of bacteria – both good and bad varieties.
One of the roles good oral hygiene plays in good dental health is keeping control of the bad bacteria population. So, when you don’t brush enough or floss, you give disease-causing bacteria a chance to multiply.
When there is an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth in favour of the bad kind, patients will find they are at risk of serious dental health problems. Bad bacteria feed off the sugars in the foods you eat and create an acidic environment that promotes the build-up of enamel-destroying deposits on teeth and around the gum line.
Brushing and flossing help get rid of these bad bacteria that cause cavities and lead to the progression of gum disease. By reducing the frequency and amount of sugar-rich foods and beverages and cleaning your mouth as directed by our dentist, you can help keep the bacteria in the mouth in balance.
It is also helpful to remember that the adverse consequences of bad oral bacteria are not limited to the mouth only. Researchers have discovered that bad bacteria originating n the mouth can make their way deeper into the body to reach vulnerable life-support systems like the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Studies have tracked the movement of bad oral bacteria to the bloodstream, where they land up in the blood vessels, triggering clots. This is why patients who have advanced stages of gum disease are more likely to also suffer from heart disease. In addition to strokes and heart attacks, bad oral bacteria have also been linked to inflammatory illnesses like pneumonia and mental illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Keeping dental hygiene in check does a lot more than just promote good oral health; it helps protect against life-threatening illnesses and diseases that affect the heart and lungs. While you may be brushing and flossing daily, visiting the dentist for routine dental checkups is the only assured way to know how really clean and healthy your mouth is.
At Brisbane Laser Dentist, our friendly dentist will be more than happy to help you protect your dental and overall health and well-being.
DISCLAIMER
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.