Each day we are reminded of how grateful we are to our dental hygienists for all that they do! Their hard work in helping us all reach good oral health and overall wellness is invaluable. National Dental Hygiene Month was created by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the Wrigley Oral Health Care Program (WOHP) to celebrate the amazing dental hygiene community nationally every October. There are over 200,000 dental hygienists in the United States working hard each day to keep our pearly whites sparkling and healthy.
This campaign also helps raise awareness on the importance of good oral hygiene and provide ways to help prevent common oral issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Maintaining good oral hygiene can be managed with simple practices like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash, chewing sugar-free gum, and visiting your dentist regularly.
When it comes to toothbrushing, adequate dental plaque removal involves a few critical steps. For effective toothbrushing, it is recommended to angle your brush at a 45-degree angle, making sure the bristles also reach slightly underneath your gumline to help keep your gums healthy, too. You should gently move the toothbrush back and forth, making sure to cover all the surfaces of teeth including the front, back, top, bottom, and in-between. It is also important to remember to brush your tongue, which also harbors lots of bacteria. You should spend a total of approximately 2 minutes when brushing. Not only will adequately brushing help keep your breath fresh, but it will also help lower your risk of tooth decay, gum inflammation, and even tooth loss.
This may also be the perfect time to start fresh with a new toothbrush. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends obtaining toothbrushes with soft-bristles in most cases, and switching them out for a new one approximately every 3 months, or earlier if the bristles become frayed or after getting over an infection.
So, keep these practices in mind as they help fight against harmful oral bacteria that place your overall health at risk!
This pandemic has impacted us all, but our community is indeed all stronger together. Our team at WDG always has your safety and health as our top priority, and we have implemented additional safety measures and equipment to help prevent the transmission of all infections, including COVID-19. Wellesley Dental Group has completely reopened since June 8th, 2020 for all dental procedures and cleanings! Thank you for entrusting your health and dental care to us at Wellesley Dental Group.
Feel free to contact Drs. Ali & Ali and the caring team at Wellesley Dental Group if you have any thoughts or concerns; they will be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today at 781-237-9071 or smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com to set up an appointment.
Your little ones and teens are welcome to visit our pediatric dentist, Dr. Bahar Houshman and Dr. Marisa Reason is happy to help with your TMJ and orthodontic needs. For wisdom teeth extractions or any other oral surgery needs, Dr. Reisman would love to help, and our gum-specialist Dr. Singh can help with your gum-related concerns.
References:
https://www.adha.org/national-dental-hygiene-month
https://nationaltoday.com/national-dental-hygiene-month/
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