October is National Dental Hygiene Month: Recommit to Your Oral Health!
That’s right – it’s time once again to celebrate the efforts of dental hygienists across the nation, as they work each and every day to ensure that your teeth and gums remain clean, strong, and healthy. This is the seventh consecutive year of National Dental Hygiene Month, a tradition that began as the result of a partnership between the American Dental Hygienists Association and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program. And as always, this is the perfect time for each and every one of us to recommit to our oral health.
Commitment to oral health is important, and it requires more than just showing up for your regularly scheduled dental screenings and cleanings. While your dentist and hygienist appreciate that you keep that schedule, they’d also like to see you do those other things that can help to ensure that your time in the dental chair is as unremarkable as possible. That, of course, means taking care of the little daily things that can keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
Are You Following the Brushing Guidelines?
Your oral hygiene begins with your own toothbrush. Use a soft-bristle brush and a fluoride toothbrush for two minutes, twice a day. That brushing can help to remove plaque that could cause tooth decay, and will help to ward against gum disease. And don’t forget your tongue.
How’s Your Flossing Going?
About eight out of every ten people never floss. No wonder there are so many dental problems in America! You need to floss every day to remove all of the debris and plaque that will congregate between teeth and in all those hard to reach places. And if that’s not reason enough for you, just consider this: flossing can help to improve your bad breath.
What About the Rinse Cycle?
Would you wash your clothes and skip past the rinse cycle? Of course not! So why skip the mouthwash rinse during your oral hygiene routine? Brushing and flossing aren’t enough to remove all of the harmful bacteria in your mouth, so a rinse with an antiseptic, ADA-approved mouthwash is critical for oral health.
A Little Gum Never Hurts!
This may come as a shock, but chewing gum can help your teeth and gums. That is, if you’re chewing sugar-free gum. You see, that chewing helps to stimulate bacteria-fighting saliva that can strengthen tooth enamel, fight plaque, and wash away that debris left behind after you eat. So, if you’re eating out and don’t have a toothbrush handy throughout the day, just pop in some sugar-free gum and do a little on-the-move dental hygiene!
At Ebenezer Dental, we’re proud to acknowledge National Dental Hygiene Month and celebrate the work of dental hygienists everywhere. We also applaud our many patients, as they work to practice sound oral hygiene practices even outside of the dental office environment. If you have questions about your dental hygiene, or just want to schedule your next appointment with the best dentist in New York, contact us today.