September 27 , 2017

October is National Dental Hygiene Month

Dental Hygiene Month is when we recognize and thank our dental hygienist team members: Louise, Colleen, and our newest team member, Samantha for their ongoing efforts in helping you maintain good oral health.

Good dental hygiene is important and we especially want to celebrate the good work our hygienist team does educating our patients and promoting good oral health  all year round.

Good Oral Health = Good Overall Health!

As researchers are finding stronger and stronger connections between your oral health and your overall health, ignoring good oral preventative maintenance can actually make you more susceptible to infection, and other overall health issues like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease complications and prenatal complications – among others.

The “Do The Daily 4” being promoted by the American Dental Hygienists Association in conjunction with the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program lists the four components of preventative oral health maintenance that make up the best oral health routine:

Do The Daily 4 – Brush, Floss, Rinse, Chew!

1. Brushing your teeth 2x a day
Proper brushing reduces plaque and helps prevent tooth decay and the onset of gum disease.

2. Daily flossing
Flossing is the best way to remove any remaining food particles and plaque between your teeth that your toothbrush doesn’t reach and helps prevent cavities & gum disease.

3. Rinsing with mouthwash daily
Rinsing with an anti-microbial mouthwash every day helps reduce bad breath by eliminating bacteria in you mouth and is another step towards stopping gum disease.

4. Chewing sugar-free gum
Chewing sugar-free gum, especially after eating and drinking, stimulates the body's natural defense against tooth decay — saliva. It helps fight cavities, neutralizes plaque acids, remineralizes enamel to strengthen teeth and washes away food particles.

So during the month of October remember, Life is short, Smile More, and Thank your Dental Hygienist.