Oral Health
I’m going to tell you a little story. You may not find any interest in it, but I’ll tell you anyways. Many years ago, I was invited to attend a work training. The trainer was from an outside company. At the beginning of the training, he started passing out our syllabus. When he reached me, I greeted him with a smile. Unsurprisingly, he forced one right back at me. The first thing I noticed was blood coming out of his gums. For a second I thought I was seeing things. I quickly ignored the image and suppressed the thought of bringing it up. At lunch time, he stepped out of the room and someone dared to ask “ was it me, or this guy is bleeding in his mouth”? I couldn’t help but join the conversation. Obviously, I was not the only one who noticed it. I doubt any of us brought it up to him. I know for sure I didn’t. However, fast forward to today, I’d give him my business card, ask him to come to my office for a dental check-up. Let’s be honest, some things are not humanely acceptable.
Let’s talk about one of the things that most people shy away from. This topic goes beyond me as someone who’s an advocate for self care, it’s bigger than me giving you pointers and tips- it’s my duty. As a Dental professional, I’ve seen too much and know too much to just turn the other cheek. I am responsible to educate you on DENTAL HEALTH. In this blog I will focus on the basics and importance of Dental hygiene.
Did you know that the human mouth contains 500-1000 different types of bacteria with different functions? Did you also know that people who don’t practice good oral hygiene can have anywhere from 100 million to 1 billion bacteria on a tooth surface? DID I SCARE YOU? don’t be. Keep reading. Not all bacteria are bad. Some actually work hand in hand with our immune system fighting diseases to keep our system free of airborne or salivary transferred germs- they are our body’s first line of defense. As much as I would love to go in depth about all the things that goes on in the mouth, I rather get to the most important part while I still have your attention.
Oral hygiene is your number one priority. I am not asking you, I am telling you. Your oral hygiene consists of brushing your teeth, flossing, rinsing using mouthwash and going to the Dentist for your annual exams. I want you to keep in mind that you are only given one set of teeth. Nowadays, we are fortunate to have amazing technology, scientists as well as Dentist that have created brilliant parts to help maintain the structure of our mouth. However, there is absolutely nothing better than your own teeth. So I encourage you to do the little things that will prevent you from spending thousands of dollars in the future.
Brushing - Don’t be surprised if I told you not everyone brushes their teeth. Please promise me that you will not be one of those people. It’s recommended to brush twice a day using a soft bristle toothbrush. Also, it’s very important to brush your tongue too. On your tongue there are somethings called Papillaes. They are little hair like projections that are not visible to the naked eye. They do catch on to everything you eat. Can you imagine having things on the tongue that has been sitting there for months? It’s inevitable that your breath will start to have a bad odor.
Flossing - The hardest habit to develop is flossing. Flossing is using an interdental cleaner to access plaque that are along the gum line and in between teeth. There are many types of interdental tools that caters to one’s specific needs. There is a specific technique used when flossing. It is your hygienist duty to teach you the proper way to floss. Please ask at your next Dental visit. It’s highly important to floss your teeth. If you fail to do so, there’s a high chance that your gums can get infected by plaque that has been sitting underneath the gums. The last thing you want is an infection in your mouth.
Dental visits - part of my assessment when a patient sits in my chair is to ask about his or her dental history. One question I normally ask is “ when was your last Dental check up?” I’ve gotten all types of answers to this question including “never”. I get that some people have Dental phobias. I also understand people can be scared due to past experiences. However, I encourage you to fight through the fear. If it means to go just for a limited exam do so. You have all the rights to go talk to the Dentist, visit the office and take x-rays at your first visit. You are not obligated to do work the same day. If you feel comfortable, you can move on to your cleaning, and then anything else recommended by the Dental provider. It’s important to know what is going on in your mouth. Majority of the time, if something is wrong in the body it reflects in the mouth. So be mindful of that.
Pointers
Brushing 2 times a day
Floss daily (preferably at night)
Use ACT as your mouth rinse
Change your brush ever 3-4 months
Use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue.
Brush and floss before going to see your Dental professional. (I’m talking about before sitting in the chair)
2 Cleanings per year (So one visit every 6 months)
Ask questions if you don’t understand something.
If something hurts in your mouth, please don’t be your own Dentist. Make sure to visit your Dental office ASAP.
I dedicate this blog to everyone who is trying to do better with their oral health. October is National Dental Hygiene month. I advise you to go see your Dental Hygienist. It all starts with your mouth. If you have any questions please feel free to email me or comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.