Most of us known and understand why we should visit the dentist and these reasons usually pertain to having fillings, checking for tooth decay and enamel erosion but it is also important as a way of maintaining oral hygiene.
Good oral hygiene not only preserves our teeth and gums but plays a large role on who we are, our self-confidence and how other perceive us so spending a few minutes a the dentist is time well spent if we want to continue to look our best.
Why Is Oral Hygiene So Important?
Keeping our mouths hygienic and presentable not only offers us a helping hand in looking our best but it can help prevent many problems, not only orally but in general health as well. Gum disease, if left untreated can lead to some very serious problems such as heart disease, infections and loss of bone mass so maintaining oral hygiene should be an integral part of life as important as a balanced diet and exercise regime.
Dental Cleaning
As part of your regular check-up your dentist will assess the general hygiene of your teeth and gums and assess whether the techniques and equipment you are using at home are providing the best care for your mouth. Following your check-up you will usually be offered the option of having your teeth cleaned properly. This usually involves the use of technical equipment that is designed to remove tough stains and reach into the difficult areas such as behind the back teeth and between the teeth reaching into tiny spaces.
This is important as it dislodges and removes tartar and may reveal some damage to the teeth or gums that the tartar build-up had been concealing. He or she will be able to advise you on whether you are flossing correctly, if you are using the correct brushing technique and if you need additional supplements or not.
Oral Hygienist
If you cannot get in to see your usual dentist or you want to have your teeth and gums assessed or cleaned in between dental appointments you might want to see your oral hygienist. This person will be able to help you learn how to care for your teeth and gums efficiently showing you the best techniques and advising on what equipment is best for your needs.
They are also very useful when educating and teaching children about oral hygiene and care, especially if they have to wear braces for long periods when teeth and gums are vulnerable and at risk of damage or future problems.
Diagnosing Problems
One of the most important parts of your dental visit will be to allow the dentist or hygienist to assess for any problems and make an accurate diagnosis of any conditions and plan a schedule of treatment. It is very valuable to each person to make sure they have regular check-ups as signs of gum disease or tooth decay may happen fairly quickly in some people and these problems can only be detected if you visit regularly.
A lot of people only visit their dentist when they have a problem that is causing them pain or is troublesome but it should be considered that many of these problems could probably have been avoided if the problem was detected at an earlier stage before pain had a chance to arise. It may also mean less treatment which is less stressful and often less expensive.
Oral hygiene is a highly underestimated issue among the general public in the UK, and many people do not realise the importance their teeth and oral health has on their body image. In some circumstances it may mean the difference between landing your dream job and being told you are not suitable for example. It is essential. Not only to detect problems but to ensure the teeth and clean, fresh and hygienic to attend the dentist regularly.