You live in an appearance-driven world, where you’re constantly being judged by how you look. Furthermore, studies show that the way you feel about yourself has amazing effects on your psychological and physical health. So it’s quite understandable for you to want to have a perfectly white smile, using whitening strips to do the job. But that motivation can become a problem when it supersedes your oral hygiene. This point is so important to drive home, that your dentist in Houston has decided to weigh in to explain the necessity of preventive dentistry, and the dangers of not prioritizing when it comes to your oral health.
Why Oral Hygiene is Important
Oral hygiene is so important because it serves as one of the twin pillars of your oral health – the other being semi-annual visits to your dentist. The former, though, involves your daily practices to remove the harmful bacteria that seek to bore holes into your teeth enamel, and cause plaque and tartar buildup.
These same bacteria also can lead to gingivitis and gum disease if not treated. But the damage doesn’t stop there. If allowed to fester, bacteria can also cause tooth loss and even more serious conditions like heart attack and stroke. But again, simple oral hygiene practices can help to thwart these problems.
Ways to Practice Oral Hygiene
There are several ways to practice oral hygiene, and they all feed off each other to build an overall defense against dental maladies. They include:
- Brushing Your Teeth – You should be brushing at least twice a day to remove any leftover food and bacteria from your teeth and along the gum line.
- Flossing – Flossing allows you to get into the areas that your toothbrush can’t reach, which is important because bacteria love to hide in tight crevasses.
- Healthy Eating – Believe it or not, the way you eat contributes to your oral hygiene. How is this so? Well higher quality foods will leave less of a bacteria trail. That means that fruits, vegetables and grains are better choices, as opposed to fast foods and other snack items that are full of sugars, because bacteria love to feed on them.
Where Does This Leave Teeth Whitening?
There is nothing wrong with teeth whitening, unless it has taken precedence over your oral hygiene. The key is to strike a balance, so don’t feel like you have to choose one or the other. In an optimum situation, you will marry the two to have the look and health that you need.
The Final Piece to the Puzzle
As mentioned earlier, your semi-annual visits to your dentist serve as the other pillar of your oral health. These appointments will allow him to assess your oral health with a thorough exam, as well as provide you with an extensive cleaning.
Reach out today and contact your local dentist to take advantage of this opportunity to protect your oral health and beautiful smile for years to come.
About the Author
Dr. John Krell received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston and then went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas. He practices at John H. Krell, DDS and can be reached for more information through his website.
