Dental hygiene is one of those things that most of us don’t think of on a regular basis. We just automatically get up in the morning and brush our teeth because we’ve been taught to do that from the time we were very young children. And, hopefully, most of us also grab a toothbrush at the end of the day before we head into bed to get some slumber. But although we may not be consciously thinking about dental hygiene on an everyday basis, it’s important that we periodically give some thought to it, since committing to a solid regimen of oral hygiene and routine dental care can go a long way in keeping our teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime.
Dental Hygiene For Your Teeth And Gums
For starters, as many of us already know, it’s important to stick to routine of brushing teeth at least twice per day, once upon waking and once before retiring at night. It’s equally important to floss teeth daily, although a lot of people that don’t underestimate the value of twice-daily brushing still seem to neglect this equally important daily task. Keep this fact in mind: 35% – 40% of the tooth’s surface is never cleaned if flossing is neglected. These areas cannot be reached by a toothbrush and keeping hard-to-reach areas clean is vital to overall oral health.
In addition to maintaining a strict regimen of oral hygiene habits at home, it’s also important to visit your dentist regularly. Most dentists recommend that patients schedule appointments every six months for preventative care and professional dental hygiene visits. During these visits, the dental hygienist or dentist will thoroughly clean teeth using professional equipment, which is more effective than what can be done just through regular care at home. In addition, x-rays are periodically taken to evaluate if any tooth decay is present or any other underlying problems, as well as a visual inspection of teeth and gums by the dentist. An oral cancer screening will also be performed at these visits, an important step in keeping patients healthy, since early detection is critical.
Some people are inclined to skip these twice yearly preventative care appointments, thinking they’re unnecessary because they take good enough care of their teeth at home and don’t want to spend the time or money to visit the dentist if they don’t have a problem. However, keeping to these routine appointments can go a long way in preventing the possibility of needing more extensive, and more expensive, dental work in the future. By taking good care of teeth and gums and giving the dentist an opportunity to identify any small problems before they become bigger problems, you can save yourself a lot of time, discomfort and money in the long run since your teeth and gums have a better chance of remaining healthier. The best part is that most insurance companies understand this fact and will cover routine dental hygiene appointments completely so you pay nothing or very little out of pocket.
For more information about the importance of proper dental hygiene and routine preventative care appointments, call Park Dental Care in Queens at 718-274-1515.
