October Is National Dental Hygiene Month: How To Promote A Lifetime Of Healthy Teeth

Dental health professionals deserve recognition for their dedication to helping their patients maintain good oral health. This month is the time to appreciate them and, at the same time, boost your efforts in keeping your mouth in good shape. As part of celebrating the National Dental Hygiene Month, the American Dental Association encourages everyone to promote a lifetime of healthy teeth. To participate, here's what you should know.

Increase Awareness of Oral Conditions

If you want to help push for a lifetime of healthy teeth, you should understand what happens if you do not care for them well. Here are some of the oral conditions you should help catch early or prevent:

• Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Oral habits and irregularities in your bite can result in TMD. Your teeth can shift a bit on their own, but if you lost a tooth, your remaining teeth would move to the point of altering your bite.
• Oral cancer. Based on information from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco put you more at risk of developing oral cancer.
• Dental filling deterioration. Your dental filling can last for at least 10 years. The moment it starts to chip away, bacteria and food particles enter your tooth. Eventually, you would likely need to get a root canal.
• Gum disease. When you neglect your oral health, plaque and tartar take over your mouth. This gives way to periodontal disease, which can affect your gums and jawbone. If it is left untreated, you would have to get periodontal surgery.

Correct Brushing

Having healthy teeth for the rest of your life is possible if you know how to brush your teeth the right way. You should begin by positioning your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Use only short motions and then gently move your toothbrush backward and forward. Be sure to brush the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth using up and down brush strokes. Near the end, also brush your tongue. Take note that you should replace your toothbrush right after a cold or flu, even if it's a new one.

Proper Flossing

Flossing properly does a lot for your oral health as well. Take 18 inches of your dental floss. Wrap one end to your right middle finger and another to your left. Grip the floss firmly with your index fingers and thumbs. With up and down motions, floss between all your teeth. Curve the floss slightly each time you reach the base of each tooth. Use only clean sections of dental floss as you move to the succeeding teeth. Using the same section of floss will only spread bacteria from one tooth to another.Experts recommend that you avoid sugary foods and drinks. Also, keep your preventive dental care appointments with your dentist. At Relaxation Dental Specialties, we encourage our patients to be proactive about their dental health. Please visit our clinics in Breckenridge and Salida, Colorado, for a one-on-one consultation. You can also call us at 970-453-4244 (Breckenridge), (719) 539-3145 (Salida). That way, we can help schedule your appointment or answer your inquiries about our special packages during the National Dental Hygiene Month.