By Sarah Childs, dental hygiene student at UAMS
When October rolls around, people automatically think about Halloween and Halloween candy and another start to a fall season. A hidden treasure in October is Dental Hygiene Awareness month. We want to recognize the dental hygienists around the world and the importance of oral care.
Here are a few tips that your dental hygienists want you to know. Brush TWO times a day, in the morning and before you go to bed. Did you know that there are over 700 different kinds of bacteria in your mouth? Brushing correctly twice a day will improve the health of gums and decrease the amount of bacteria that we get from eating, drinking sodas and chewing Halloween candy. It is important to have regular checkups with your dentist and dental hygienist. These visits will ensure that your oral tissues remain healthy. Your dental hygienist would love to educate you and answer any questions that you may have about your individual needs.
And of course, don’t forget about… flossing! Studies have shown that flossing removes 80% of bacteria in the oral cavity. Flossing can greatly improve your gums and remove fast acting plaque between your teeth. Our goals are to educate our patients on the correct brushing and flossing techniques and provide preventive dental care. Last but not least, fluoride! Fluoride helps replenish minerals in tooth structure and prevent early decay.
Don’t forget to make your hygienist happy next visit by starting now. We are not “tooth cleaners”, we are life savers.