Ask the Dentist: The importance of dental hygiene

Dental hygiene is a double-edged sword. Your oral hygiene starts at home, you are your own personal hygienist, but then there is an elevated professional who will clean your teeth, manage your oral health and instruct you at each dental hygiene appointment at what could be better.

Depending on how well you are doing your homework, which includes brushing, flossing, and limiting snacks will dictate how often you are due for routine dental hygiene appointments. We recommend based on how fast you build plaque and tarter. Generally, the recommendation is every six months for scaling and once a year for polish and fluoride, however, some people may be recommended every four months for scaling, or some people can go a year before seeing their dental hygienist.

People often think they will leave their dental hygienist with a bright white smile when in reality, you may notice very little difference in staining, hygienists remove plaque and tarter resulting in better tooth, gum and bone health. If it’s whiter teeth you’re looking for, good dental hygiene is the first, most important step to be able to get whitening solutions to adhere to your teeth. This contributes to the oxidization of the stains that make your teeth look off-white rather than closer to white. Glancing at someone with teeth that are very white there is a great chance that they’re not radiant white by fluke, they worked for it and continue to work every day to keep it that way.

Destructive bacteria can be found in both plaque and tartar on the teeth. Plaque can be removed with proper brushing and flossing at home, whereas calculus which is hardened calcified plaque, and tartar which is a hard yellow or brown deposit cannot be removed with simply brushing and flossing. These will both lead to tooth decay and gum disease if left to build up on your teeth. Streptococcus mutans is the main cause of dental decay, it is an acid that builds up in plaque and tartar. Tartar is always pushing into the gum and bone. Eventually, without proper hygiene, working its way down so deep into the socket that it eats away at the bone making your tooth like a tree without dirt, it’s only a matter of time before it falls over.

Gingivitis comes first which is irritation, redness, and swelling of the gums, which can generally be cleared up with a good dental hygienist, but if left untreated, will eventually lead to Periodontitis which is a serious gum infection that will damage the soft tissue around your teeth, and if untreated will cause bone loss which will eventually lead to the loss of teeth. By preventing gingivitis, you are preventing periodontitis.

Good oral health is an important part of your overall health. Your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some bacteria in your mouth can cause disease.

Normally, your body’s defenses and good oral health keep bacteria in control. Your oral health offers clues to the overall health of your body. There are many diseases that are linked to your Oral Health including Endocarditis, Cardiovascular disease, and Pneumonia. The oral bacteria and inflammation caused by severe periodontitis play a role in these diseases.

Diabetes, Osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s Disease affect the tissues and bone causing periodontitis. Research shows that people with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, and have a higher chance of infection. Certain medications can reduce saliva that helps to wash away food and neutralize acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, so this is also a cause for concern and makes rinsing your mouth and brushing more important.

So, when asked why is Dental Hygiene so important? The answer lies in the overall health of your whole body and with proper home hygiene and regular dental hygiene you’ll be in better shape for better health.

Dr. Michael Dolynchuk is a General Dentist practicing in Caroline and Red Deer.