Good oral hygiene can save your life say London dentists
Nowhere is it more true that prevention is better than cure, than when it comes to dental health. Unlike the rest of the body where disease and illness can affect you regardless of your lifestyle, your dental health depends more or less entirely on your standards of oral hygiene. Whilst it may not seem that important to keep your mouth clean, ask any sufferer of gum disease or tooth decay and they will tell you the pain and stress caused by these conditions are a very serious business.
Dentists advise that you brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening before bed, using a brush with appropriate bristles for your teeth. They also advise that patients floss at least once a day. This is crucial to maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene which can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
If teeth are not correctly brushed, a filmy substance called plaque builds up around them. Plaque is full of bacteria, which attack the enamel of the teeth, breaking it down and causing cavities. If a cavity penetrates to the root of the tooth, it will erode the pulp and eventually lead to a painful infection. This can spread to other parts of the mouth and will eventually lead to tooth loss. Bacteria in the mouth can also cause painful gum disease, also know as gingivitis, which is an infection of the gums. This can cause gums to bleed and bacteria to enter the bloodstream and spread to other areas of the body.
The mouth is one of the dirtiest places on the human body, with over 500 million bacteria calling it their home. If it is not properly cleaned this bacteria will thrive in these perfect conditions causing all of the above problems and more.
It is also important to note that nearly 90 per cent of cases of bad breath are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene, particularly a lack of flossing, which helps to remove food particles from between the teeth. If left, these particles break down releasing foul smelling sulphurous compounds which cause bad breath. So not only are good standards of hygiene important for health, but also for your social life. A London dentist will be able to offer advice on how best to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent a whole range of painful and costly dental procedures.
