Oral Hygiene
Oral Hygiene is one of the most important practices to prevent dental problems and periodontal disease. Our dentists are also dental hygienists who assist patients with maintaining their dental and general health through applying normal hygiene procedures as well as following specialised hygiene regimes in special cases. Poor dental hygiene can lead to serious complications where periodontal disease starts and develops.
Signs of Poor Dental and Oral Hygiene
There are a number of symptoms that can be attributed to poor oral hygiene, and, while hygiene is not the only possible cause of these symptoms, it should be assessed whenever a patient presents with the following symptoms:
As part of our general dentistry practice, we always ask the patient about their oral hygiene habits and educate them as much as possible about the best practices to ensure that they are protected against dental problems that may be related to poor hygiene.
Oral Hygiene for Adults
Studies show that, not only in Melbourne, but in Australia at large, a high number of adults are not following correct oral hygiene practices. Teeth should be brushed twice a day and flossed once a day, and while many follow that process, they rush their brushing. Teeth brushing should take approximately two minutes. This ensures that the teeth are thoroughly cleaned and food particles and remains are removed from between the teeth and under the gum line. Other common poor oral hygiene practices include brushing too hard against the teeth and gum which causes more problems, and, neglecting to clean or brush the tongue can also lead to unwanted issues.
When we eat, the sugars in our food are broken down by bacteria which produces acid that starts attacking our teeth almost immediately. It is not advised that we brush immediately after a meal to allow the saliva in the mouth to neutralise the attacking acids. It is important that we do not snack on sweet foods and acidic or fizzy drinks between meals as this weakens the effect of our own natural defences against acids. Brushing your teeth at night and in the morning is a good practice. This helps complete the acid neutralisation process and prevent tooth decay and other dental problems.
Oral Hygiene for Children
The same principles of brushing apply to children. Most adults would have experienced toothaches or tooth pain and do, therefore, generally, take oral hygiene more seriously and try to apply the correct hygiene practices while children often rush the process or do things the incorrectly. Therefore, it is important that we show our children the proper and correct ways of brushing, flossing and general mouth hygiene. It is best to lead by example and teach children the proper way of brushing and flossing while the adult is cleaning their teeth. We encourage parents and young children to brush their teeth at the same time so that the parent can supervise the child and guide them to using the proper brushing techniques.
Diet is the most predominant cause for tooth decay in children. It is common knowledge that children favour sweet foods. Foods and snacks made for children are made more appealing with the high content of sugar. This means more bacteria breaking down the food and more acid forming in the mouth and on the teeth. It is therefore important that parents offer sweets to children in a responsible manner and educate them as to the potential causes of eating unhealthy foods excessively. Statistically, children start developing dental problems as early as six years of age and, depending on the degree of correcting or changing their eating habits, they may continue to develop dental complications which can lead to more complex problems in the future.
Blue Spa Oral Hygienists
Our dentists are experienced professionals who actively promote the importance of oral hygiene to our patients, adults and children. As part of our dental care service in the general dentistry practice, we demonstrate and show patients the proper ways of brushing and flossing. For example, we demonstrate the proper way of holding the brush at a 45 degree angle when brushing, we give the patient a feel of the soft brushes we use and emphasise the technique of brushing and avoiding the use of harder brushes or brushing.
Following proper hygiene practices means lesser potential of developing mouth, teeth or gum disease by aiding our own bodies combat the acids and other harmful substances that can harm our dental and general health. It has been confirmed that lack of oral hygiene can lead to general health problems particularly in the digestive system.
Check-ups
It is important that everyone visits a general dentist or oral hygienist for periodical check-ups. This helps detect any dental problems that may be developing and avoid complex dental procedures. Equally important, it is an assessment of the oral hygiene practices you apply on daily basis and correcting any incorrect practices. We welcome you to visit or call us at Blue Spa Dental to make an appointment for a general dental check up.
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“Applying proper Oral Hygiene habits into our lives can reduce the ptential of developing dental or oral diseases and abnormalities significantly.. Proper oral hygiene takes only a few minutes time during a whole day”
Our dentists adopt a preventive appraoch to the practice of general dentistry and always ensure to educate our patients as to the best practices and techniques of oral hygiene to ensure that hygiene is achieved effectively. The simple questions are often ignored, but we are here to answer them because we believe they are important. How often should I brush my teeth..?, How do I brush correctly..?, Should children do the same..?
Applying proper oral hygiene is a habit of health while ignoring simple tasks like brushing or flossing can result in serious health problems. We understand that teaching your children can seem like an endless chore, therefore, we are skilled and trained to deal with children in a manner that makes showing them proper hygiene technique fun and enjoyable and we encourage you to visit us with the family and we will ensure that everyone is checked and is well informed.
