Dental Hygiene & Periodontal Health
Dental Hygiene & Periodontal Health is at the heart of everything we do here at the office of Tris J. Carta, DMD, MAGD General Dentistry. We would rather see our patients come in for their regular checkups and have healthy teeth throughout their lives than treat oral health diseases.
Understanding Oral Hygiene
The term oral hygiene refers to the steps you take to keep your teeth and mouth clean and healthy. That includes brushing and flossing at least twice daily and using mouthwash with fluoride at least once daily.
A good oral hygiene routine also includes visiting us for routine cleanings and exams once every six months. These appointments involve one of our dental hygienists scraping plaque and tartar from your teeth, flossing and polishing your teeth, and taking X-rays at every other appointment.
Good Oral Hygiene Goes Beyond an Attractive Smile
People care for their teeth and gums because they need them to chew food. They also appreciate having an attractive smile. However, the importance of oral hygiene goes well beyond a nice smile and being able to eat properly. Poor oral hygiene can cause infections to develop in your mouth and spread to other areas of your body. You also have a greater chance of developing one of the serious health issues listed below if you do not care for your teeth and gums.
- Endocarditis, which is an infection on the inner lining of your heart
- Heart disease
- Pneumonia
- Pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight and/or premature birth
- Stroke
You should also know that certain chronic health conditions can have a negative impact on the health of your teeth and gums. Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis are four typical examples.
Recognizing Signs of Poor Oral Health
Even if you take good care of your teeth and gums, you could have symptoms of an oral health disease. Common issues include tooth decay, bleeding gums, loose teeth, toothache, chronic bad breath, and recessed gums. Please contact us to schedule an appointment to address dental hygiene and periodontal health issues in Manchester, CT, if you notice any other new or bothersome symptoms.
