4 Reasons Why Keeping Your Teeth Clean Can Be Vital to Your Dental Health
It may seem simple or obvious to you, but keeping your teeth clean is one of the best ways to ensure ongoing dental health and fresh breath. Proper brushing, flossing and use of mouthwash is the first defense your teeth have against build up film and dental plaque. Here are the top 4 reasons keeping your teeth clean is the key to good dental health.
- Keeps plaque buildup from getting worse
Keeping the surface of your teeth clean can stop any existing issues from getting worse until you get in to the dentist for your regular checkup every six months. For example, if you leave plaque on your teeth, you can eventually develop gingivitis and gum disease. Getting rid of as much of this plaque as possible using a firm toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride can help to solve the issue until your next checkup, where your dentist can remove it entirely.
- Bad breath
You may not known that bad breath can develop due to failure to keep your teeth clean. Other issues that develop due to lack of cleaning teeth properly can grow into larger problems like cavities, that will require intervention from a professional, like the experts at Hawley Lane Dental. Keeping the teeth clean prevents you from having bad breath and keeps the need for dental care to a minimum.
- Protects your gums from gum disease
Gum disease can cause tooth loss and eventually spread to the jawbone if left untreated. Cleaning your teeth properly, especially before you go to sleep, stops the potential for gum disease to develop. Any buildup that is in place, such as pieces of food or the film left in place from drinking a sugary beverage, should be removed so that it doesn’t have hours of uninterrupted time to turn into plaque as you sleep. As you brush your teeth, any sign of bleeding can be a first sign of gum disease taking hold.
- Preventing an issue is easier than fixing an issue
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The problems that come from lack of proper dental hygiene can be time consuming to fix, and require several visits to the dentist. Keeping your teeth clean can prevent the need for dental work beyond regular checkups and routine treatments. In fact, with proper care and maintenance, your teeth can look good and stay strong for many decades without needing root canals, implants or veneers.
A simple thing like brushing your teeth daily to keep them clean can avoid a lot of unnecessary dental issues in the future. If you are experiencing dental pain or need to have your teeth cleaned, make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible and get it fixed before it turns into something bigger.
