Habitual Skipped Dental Brushings and Flossing Lead to Damage
We all may occasionally skip a routine brushing or flossing in the morning or evening, but when this becomes habitual, you put your oral health at risk. Bacteria feed on sugars in the mouth and release an acid that corrodes teeth. When bacteria form into a sticky film called plaque, they can quickly calcify into tartar. A toothbrush cannot budge tartar, as it stubbornly sticks to teeth.
Tartar is porous and harbors bacteria which allows more tooth damage to occur. Tartar also creates a barrier between your gums and teeth, which leads to periodontal disease. Gum recession and detachment from teeth can eventually lead to tooth loss. With regular brushing of teeth, this cycle of tooth damage is prevented.
Not including flossing as part of your oral hygiene is also very detrimental to oral health. The nooks and crannies in your smile that a tooth brush cannot reach are well served with dental floss. Floss can reach under the gum line and remove harmful plaque before it turns into tartar. Flossing is an essential part of periodontal health and should be regarded as equally important to brushing.
Tobacco Increases Chances of Gum Disease
Tobacco contributes to many oral health ailments as it diminishes the amount of oxygen in the blood stream, causing the gums to appear grayish. Weakened gums are defenseless against bacterial infection, and people who smoke are twice as likely to develop gum disease. Plaque and tartar build up is accelerated on the teeth of smokers. Furthermore, tobacco use causes a dry mouth, which is an ideal environment for the rapid growth of bacteria.
Do Not Neglect Routine Professional Dental Care
Finally, if you are in the habit of skipping or avoiding routine dental exams and cleanings, you are unable to prevent minor dental conditions from worsening. With early detection, cavities can be treated while they are still small, and you can avoid complex care like root canal therapy or expensive prosthetics like porcelain crowns or dental implants.
Routine cleanings also reverse the early stages of gum disease. Only the professional tools of a dental hygienist can remove stubborn tartar from teeth, and when the deep cleanings of tooth scaling and root planing are administered, your teeth can remain healthy and last a lifetime. Hygiene visits also include an enamel strengthening fluoride treatment and a tooth polishing to remove dental stains.
Dowden Family Dentistry in Fishers for Education, Quality Care, and Preventive Dentistry
To learn more about ways to keep your smile in optimal health, give Dr. Roderick Dowden in Fishers a call. At Dowden Family Dentistry, we take time to educate you on why oral health is important, and we provide outstanding preventive care. Call our friendly office today!