If you clean between your teeth every day as recommended by your dentist, you’re within the 30% minority of the population. That’s great! However, that leaves over half of the country at risk of countless dental-related diseases. A lot of these problems can be avoided by the simple act of regular interdental cleaning. If you’re a Diamond Bar resident who’s fallen behind on daily flossing, learn more about why it’s important to get back into the habit!
Diseases Linked to Poor Dental Hygiene
What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t practice decent oral hygiene? Issues that could arise range from a little plaque buildup to more deadly gum and heart disease. By informing yourself of the consequences of neglecting proper oral care, you can motivate yourself into paying more attention to your precious smile.
Halitosis
A fancy word for bad breath, halitosis occurs when food becomes trapped between your teeth and is left there long enough to decay and produce an awful smell. Some victims of halitosis may mistake their bad breath for a simple case of eating something that’s naturally smelly and cover it up with a mint at most.
Gingivitis
The first stage of gum disease is the result of plaque coming into contact with the gums for a prolonged period of time. The most noticeable symptom of this is inflammation of the gums. If you’re currently in the gingivitis stage, you have a better chance of treating your condition with minimal issues before it can get worse.
Periodontitis
The next stage of gum disease after gingivitis is much more painful and uncomfortable. Symptoms become even worse such as infections followed by bone, tissue, and/or tooth loss. If left untreated, you could also experience chronic inflammation. In more serious cases, your gum disease could evolve into heart disease, diabetes, or stroke.
Heart Disease
What many people don’t know is that your gums are linked to your heart. With that being the case, it’s entirely possible (and common) for the effects of gum disease to travel and make way for incredibly deadly heart disease.
How Bacteria Operates
Practically all oral-based diseases have to do with the collection of bacteria which leads to plaque. To be more particular, bacteria fuses together to form a biofilm which then califies into tartar. At the tartar stage, it needs to be professionally removed as you won’t be able to do anything about it at home.If you leave tartar alone for too long, it acts as an enticing invitation for more bacteria to find its way into your gums by providing a surface that’s easy to latch onto. Since these stages of plaque happen from neglect, much of it can be avoided with proper dental care. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, make an appointment with your local Diamond Bar dentist as soon as you can to stop plaque in its tracks.
The Progression of Bacteria
|
Stage 1 Gingivitis |
Stage 2 Early Periodontitis |
Stage 3 Moderate Periodontitis |
Stage 4 Advanced Periodontitis |
| Bacteria causes inflammation in the gums. | Bacteria combine to form plaque which wears down the tissue surrounding the tooth. | Plaque hardens into tartar which can only be professionally removed. The bone also becomes compromised. | The deterioration of bone and tissue due to bacteria causes teeth to lose their support and come loose. |
Fighting bacteria before it can reach the advanced stage of periodontitis is crucial in avoiding costly extractions. Getting a professional teeth cleaning twice a year, brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, and interdental cleaning are essential habits in maintaining healthy oral hygiene. If it’s too late, quality dentists in Diamond Bar are able to professionally extract infected teeth and offer implants that look and feel just like the real thing.
Preventative Dental Care
The most cost-efficient and least painful thing you can do for your teeth is to take care of them sooner than later. Good practices involve regular visits to your local Diamond Bar dentist and doing what you can at home to fight plaque and bacteria. At-home dental care is as easy as getting the necessary equipment, having the right knowledge, and staying dedicated!
Regular Dental Visits
It is recommended to get your teeth professionally cleaned at a dentist office twice a year, and thankfully many insurance policies cover those expenses under preventative care. If your insurance supports dental cleaning, take advantage of it! All teeth cleaning sessions come with an examination to make sure you don’t have any underlying issues that could pose a problem in the future.
At-Home Tools
Even if you brush your teeth twice a day, it’s unfortunately not enough to fend off bacteria. This is because your teeth have five sides and only three of them are easily accessible with a regular toothbrush. Interdental cleaning is an effective home remedy to this dilemma which involves the use of special tools. These small, ergonomic tools are specifically designed to reach the more inaccessible areas in-between your teeth where bacteria tends to form the most. Such tools include:
- Interdental brushes
- Dental picks
- Wood-based plaque removers
- Interdental sticks
No matter what tool you choose to use, the most important thing is to keep up with it once a day. If you’re new to interdental cleaning, you may experience a bit of soreness and even some minimal bleeding at first. This is normal since your gums aren’t yet used to the sensation, but they should adjust in time. If you experience prolonged bleeding, you should see a professional dentist in Diamond Bar immediately as it could be a sign of inflammation that needs to be treated.
The Best Dental Hygienist In Diamond Bar
Residents of Diamond Bar will be happy to know that Phillips Ranch Dental has absolutely everything you need for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. You can schedule an appointment for all kinds of services such as teeth cleaning, oral exams, tooth extractions, implant surgery, and more with expert care! Schedule an appointment today.
Recent Comments