Practicing excellent oral hygiene is the key to maintaining good overall health - for patients of all ages! Parents must introduce proper oral care early in a child's life, as early as infancy. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children brush and floss every day, and we encourage them to lead by example.
In recent years, bacterial inflammation associated with gum disease has been linked to chronic health problems, such as stroke, coronary artery disease and premature, low birth-weight babies. Yet there are a number of things you can do to help protect your teeth and your overall health. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year allows us to thoroughly clean your teeth, and dental exams give us the ability to evaluate any potential problems (i.e. cavities, gingivitis, etc.) before they become more serious. We are also able to recognize whether a patient is getting proper nutrition, maintaining a proper oral hygiene regimen and whether there are any growth or development problems.
To ensure you and your family are practicing good oral hygiene at home, be sure to:
- Brush at least twice a day using a fluoridated toothpaste
- Floss daily
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
- Stop smoking
- Discontinue the use of smokeless tobacco products
- Use a mouth rinse that caters to your dental need (fluoride, enamel health, etc.)
By following these steps, you can help prevent common problems, such as cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, as well as prohibit the development of more serious diseases that affect your overall health, including heart disease and diabetes.
