The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene

Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Getting into the habit of daily brushing and flossing has a wide variety of proven health benefits; namely, strong and healthy teeth and gums.  In addition, good dental hygiene helps prevent the onset of common dental problems.  To learn more, read on…

1.    Morning Breath: When we sleep, so do our salivary glands.  This causes the salivary flow in our mouths to decrease. There is therefore no rinsing away of food particles left over after brushing. Bacteria (plaque) then forms and causes bad breath. When we awake, salivary flow resumes and this, combined with brushing and flossing, results in the bacteria being removed and hence a cleaner and fresher mouth.

2.    Prevention of Tooth Decay: Brushing and flossing removes bacteria and food particles.  As a result, plaque cannot form. Plaque contains millions of bacteria and if the bacteria remains in contact with the teeth for prolonged periods of time, then decay or ‘caries’ starts to form on the tooth structure.

3.    Prevention of Tooth Loss: Plaque can affect the gums (gingiva) and the bone, which are responsible for anchoring the teeth in the jaws. At first, the bacteria in the plaque causes the gums to become swollen, red and even bleed. This is called gingivitis. If the gingivitis is severe, then the bacteria can start to affect the bone that holds the teeth in place.  The bacteria eat away at the bone in small amounts. Over time, this bone loss can add up causing the teeth to loosen.

Regular dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) will remove plaque and in turn strengthen the gums, eliminating the potential for the above mentioned problems!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Call us today at (905) 791-3867 to book your appointment.

About Dr. F. Keshavarz Dentistry
You will find our dentists and office staff to be friendly, gentle, safe and accommodating and diverse in nature. Our staff takes the time to make each person feel comfortable and treated with exceptional care.

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