Oral Hygiene
Russellville, AL
 All of dentistry is important, but keeping your teeth clean is the primary step in your dental health. This can include your daily hygiene routine, regular dental cleanings with our professional hygienist, preventive treatments, and the positioning of your teeth to eliminate trapped bacteria and debris. At Singing River Dentistry, we have incorporated an education element into our cleaning appointments to help our patients have continued oral health. We invite you to learn more and inquire on steps you can take to improve your dental hygiene.
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Oral hygiene includes multiple topics, ranging from brushing, to exams and even your diet. Each area contains the objective of dental health. In general, our mouths are in a constant battle with bacteria. Bacteria is going to find its way in your mouth. Bacteria is in everything including the things we consume and even the air we breathe. Bacteria finds its way onto the plaque that naturally forms on our teeth and if sugar is present, it feeds on the sugar and then emits an acid that causes disease or decay and infects our gums. The goal is to reduce sugars for bacteria to feed on. Sugar can be found in a wide range of foods and beverages, it then becomes part of the plaque blend.
There are two main steps you can perform to reduce this sugary food source for bacteria:
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Consume less sugar.
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Remove sugar, plaque and debris through brushing. |
Oral Hygiene Home Care
Creating and maintaining a daily oral hygiene routine is vital to the success of dental health. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing followed by rinsing at least one time a day. There are tips that can elevate your routine. This includes:
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Change Your Brush Head: The bristles of our toothbrush become used and could have bacteria present. It is best to change your toothbrush or brush head at least twice a year.
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Consider a Rotating Toothbrush: Rotating toothbrushes perform a superior cleaning job over manual toothbrushes. There are a wide variety of styles, brands and prices available.
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Brush along the gums: When brushing, angle your toothbrush head toward your gums and brush between the gum line and tooth. Bacteria that finds its way between the tooth and gums can lead to infection.
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Find the Floss that Works for You: Many patients show resistance to flossing, but it is important. There are a variety of flossing tools available at many local stores. Review the various options and find the one that is right for you. This may include waxed or unwaxed thread, flossing sticks or a water irrigator. |
Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue. It is caused by bacteria that has slipped between the tooth and gums. Gum disease is a very common dental disorder that if left untreated can be highly destructive to your oral health. In fact, gum disease is the number one cause for tooth loss in adults. Protect your gums.
Your Diet and Teeth
Your diet may be affecting your oral health. Look for simple ways to replace sugar from the foods you love. Avoid sugary drinks such as juice and soda, and drink more water. Swap carbohydrates with low-carb replacements when possible. Many people don’t realize how much sugar is present in breads and pastas. Seek sneaky ways that we consume sugar and think of alternatives that work with your diet. Reducing sugar means less food for bacteria to feed on.
Schedule a Dental Exam
To learn more about oral hygiene, schedule a dental examination with Singing River Dentistry at 256-460-4191 today.
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