The importance of keeping up with good hygiene is common knowledge, and so is the fact that some dental issues can lead to tooth loss. However, when you think of your hygiene routine, you might not immediately consider how it connects to your risks of experiencing tooth loss in the future. The connection lies in the fact that the most common causes of tooth loss, especially gum disease, can be effectively prevented or managed early with excellent hygiene practices and regular preventive dental care.
Oral Bacteria and Gum Disease
The feeling of a clean and healthy smile is a significant benefit of brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, but the point is to prohibit the buildup of bacteria-laden dental plaque on your teeth. Many of these bacteria release harmful toxins, and when they accumulate along your gum line, the substances they release can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. By practicing good hygiene, you can limit how many bacteria are present at any given time, and thereby reduce your risks of developing gum disease as well as tooth decay, chronic bad breath, and other bacteria-related issues.
Better Hygiene, Better Tooth Preservation
The thing about good hygiene is that it only works when you’re consistent with it. Oral bacteria are a constant presence and consistent threat; if you skip brushing and flossing your teeth, then enough can gather in the meantime to affect your oral health. As part of a good hygiene routine, you should also attend regular checkup and cleaning appointments as often as your dentist recommends (usually, at least twice a year). Professional cleanings are the only way to remove calcified plaque, known as tartar, and checkups give your dentist the opportunity to spot signs of gum disease before it becomes serious enough to raise your risks of tooth loss.
Prevent Tooth Loss with Better Hygiene
Good hygiene is the cornerstone of preventing chronic dental issues, and therefore, preventing most of the common causes of tooth loss. To learn more, schedule an appointment with your dentist by calling Keelan Dental in Butler, PA, at (724) 256-4612. Our Smile Certified experts happily serve patients from Butler, Cranberry Township, Mars, Pittsburgh, Butler County, and all surrounding communities.