The importance of good oral hygiene and dental cleaning is essential to a healthy lifestyle. While we all know we should brush our teeth in the morning, research has shown that over 25% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 44 have untreated dental caries. Not only that, but nearly 40% of adults have not had any dental care in the last year.
Good oral hygiene not only ensures your smile looks fantastic, but it also plays an important role in our overall health. Studies have shown that patients with periodontal disease have an increased risk of heart disease, alongside a host of other complications such as sepsis, cancer, and bacterial pneumonia.
That is why ensuring you are not only brushing your teeth every day but also focusing on your gum health is essential.
How Do I Know If My Teeth Are Healthy?
For many individuals across Dallas, dental care is only something we think of once a year. However, while routine check-ups and dental cleaning are a vital part of health care, there are signs that you should look out for in between.
Pain
One of the most obvious signs that something is not quite right with your oral health is noticing pain in your gums or teeth. This could be a sharp and intense feeling or a dull ache, but whichever it might be, you should seek professional help as soon as possible.
Bleeding Gums
Another very common sign something might be wrong is noticing that your gums are bleeding. While this could be caused by brushing too hard, it could also be a sign of gingivitis.
Sores
Regularly noticing that you have sores in your mouth is often an indication that something is not right with your oral health.
Chronic Bad Breath
While it is common to have poor breath after eating certain foods or drinks, if you are finding that you have chronically bad breath, then you seek dental care.
Is My Oral Hygiene Good Enough?
When was the last time you went for a dental care check-up in Dallas? Regularly visiting your dentist is the best way to ensure that you have good oral hygiene. However, there are ways you can check how good your dental health is. Seven of the most common include:
Strong, Functional Teeth
A great way to tell if your teeth are in a healthy condition is to examine their strength and functionality. Strong teeth should be firm and not loose or shaky to the touch, and they should also be able to chew any foods without causing you discomfort or pain.
One of the most common signs of poor tooth health is having a cavity, crack, or irregular bump on the surface. A healthy tooth should be smooth to the touch when you run your tongue over it and have no signs of infection. Healthy teeth will also show no signs of major discoloring, ensuring you have a pearly white smile.
No Dental Sensitivity
Another clear sign of good dental care is not experiencing any sensitivity when consuming hot or cold food and drink. Having tooth sensitivity is an indication that the enamel on your teeth is wearing away, which, if left unchecked, can cause major issues.
However, it is important to remember that extremely cold foods and drinks will still cause some sensitivity. If that feeling is prolonged or triggering severe discomfort, then it could indicate a major cavity or a potentially uneven bite which is causing your teeth to wear away faster.
Fresh Breath
Having fresh smelling breath is not only pleasant for those people you’re interacting with, but it is also an indication of good oral health. While certain foods with strong scents, such as garlic, can cause your breath to temporarily smell, a healthy mouth should have a neutral smell.
Regularly cleaning your teeth and using mouthwash will help to keep your breath fresh. However, bad breath that continues, even with good hygiene, could be a sign of halitosis.
Smooth Teeth
If you run your tongue over the surface of your teeth, how does it feel? If it feels smooth and without any imperfections, then it is a good indication of high dental care. Healthy teeth that are brushed twice a day will feel clean, and you should also ensure you are flossing once a day to ensure you are removing all food debris.
No Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are a clear sign of poor oral health, so if you are not finding that yours are bleeding, then it indicates good oral hygiene. While it is expected to see small signs of bleeding if you brush too vigorously or floss too sharply, it should not occur on a daily basis.
Pink Gums
Alongside not bleeding during brushing, having pink gums also indicates good oral health. Gum disease or anemia will result in the gums becoming either pale in color or red and inflamed. Regularly flossing will help to keep gums healthy, and they should also feel firm to the touch.
Beautiful Teeth
Finally, having beautiful teeth is a sign of good oral hygiene. If your teeth are uniformly white and properly aligned, then it makes it easier to keep them clean and remove trapped food and bacteria. Of course, some teeth are naturally unaligned despite being fully healthy. In this instance, a cosmetic dentist will be able to help you fix your smile.
Tips To Keep Your Smile Healthy
Are you looking to keep your oral health at its very best? Regularly seeing your dentist hand having professional dental cleaning can help to identify any issues before they become major issues and remove bacteria build-up. However, there are also many things that you can do at home to boost your oral health:
1) Brush Daily
The most important thing that you can do is to ensure that you are brushing your teeth twice a day. Brushing once in the morning and then again at the end of the day will help to remove leftover food and bacteria, preventing tooth decay.
2) Floss
Alongside brushing your teeth every day, you should also make sure that you are regularly flossing. This will remove plaque in those areas where normal brushing simply cannot. Flossing will also help to prevent gum disease.
3) Reduce Sugar Consumption
While sugar might be a delicious ingredient, it is very bad for your teeth. Reducing your sugar intake by cutting down on soda and sweets will help you to improve your oval oral health.
4) Stay Hydrated
Another top tip is to ensure that you are staying hydrated. When you are hydrated, your mouth produces enough saliva, which is essential for helping to naturally keep your mouth clean.
Maximizing your oral health will keep your smile looking its very best while also helping to boost your confidence and enhance your overall health. If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in Dallas, or you want to improve your oral health with a comprehensive dental cleaning, our experienced team is here to help you.
Click here to call us today for more information!