October is Dental Hygiene Awareness Month

Taking care of your teeth and gums can mean more than just a healthy looking smile. It can help reduce the chance of gum disease, decaying teeth and the unpleasant side effects of poor dental hygiene.

Daily cleaning of your teeth, gums and tongue, combined with annual check-ups at the dentist, helps ward off harmful bacteria and microbes in your mouth that can cause:

• Tooth decay;
  
• Bleeding gums; and
• Infections.

It may also help you avoid embarrassing conditions such as dingy teeth and bad breath.

Periodontal (gum) disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Many adults experience major dental problems that could be prevented through basic oral hygiene practices and regular dentist appointments. For best results, adults should brush their teeth at least twice a day - preferably after each meal and before going to bed. Regular brushing and flossing will help prevent unpleasant conditions such as plaque and bad odors.

Clearly, dental health is not something you can put off and catch up on later. Healthy teeth and gums should be a part of everyone’s lifelong health habits. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. Daily cleaning and regular visits to the dentist’s office are better not only for your health, but also for your budget.

For more information on oral hygiene read here.

Brought to you by: 

Useful Links:

1. https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families/dental-health/oral-health-overall-health.html
2. https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/dental-health
3. https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/StateEmployee/BeWell/Documents/October2021/DentalHealthDiabetes.doc.pdf
4. https://c5.go2dental.com/dnoa_il/article-detail.php?art_id=176&subcat=19&cat_id=
5. https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/StateEmployee/BeWell/Documents/October2021/Oral%20health%20flyer.pdf
6. https://hally.com/2021/10/healthy-teeth-healthy-body/