Healthy mouth, healthy life.
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Maintaining good oral health involves daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing, along with dental exams and regular teeth cleaning. Those who don't stick to oral hygiene routines are more likely to develop bad breath, cavities, gum disease or oral infections. Bacterial infections, such as periodontitis and tooth abscess, are linked to systemic diseases that affect general health. At Health First Dental Hygiene, we recognize the benefits of a healthy mouth and seek to provide preventative dental hygiene care with your overall health in mind.
Relationship Between Oral Health and Systemic Disease
Keeping your mouth healthy and clean is an important part of maintaining your general health. It reduces the risk of a range of systemic diseases, meaning conditions that affect the body as a whole. Although this may sound surprising, scientists have found a connection between bad oral hygiene and other systemic diseases. They include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, oral cancer, lung infections - just to name a few. Injury, inflammation, and infection in the mouth are three main factors linked to the development of systemic diseases.
Periodontal Disease and Systemic Diseases
Scientists have shown how gum disease is associated with several systemic diseases. Gingivitis and periodontitis, forms of gum disease, are common oral diseases that affect up to 70% of Canadians.
Bacteria in the mouth from gum disease can enter the systemic bloodstream. They can also enter from plaque through broken blood vessels in oral soft tissue. Once in the bloodstream, bacteria can form clumps and trigger systemic inflammation. Oral bacteria can trigger the formation of CRPs (C-reactive proteins), leading to issues such as inflamed blood vessels, blood clots, and clogged arteries with implications for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Gum Disease Effects on Health
According to numerous studies, patients diagnosed with severe periodontal disease tend to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Research also suggests an association between gum disease and low birth weight.
Periodontitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene on a long-term basis. It starts as gingivitis, an infection that occurs when bacteria-filled plaque builds up on the teeth, hardens into tartar, and inflames the gum. A dental hygienist treats gingivitis by cleaning the teeth and removing tartar from above and below the gum line. The plaque that lingers at the gumline cannot be fully accessed with home care alone
Untreated gingivitis causes the gum tissue to pull away from the teeth and form periodontal pockets. Bacteria start to flourish inside the gum pockets, leading to gum disease. Gum disease gradually destroys soft tissue, tooth root, and bone beneath the gum line. More periodontal pockets will form, allowing bacteria to grow uncontrollably. These factors increase the risk of bone loss, tooth loss, trouble chewing and speaking, and the need for teeth-replacement procedures. Severe gum disease (periodontitis) is not reversible - meaning, once the damage is done, it’s done. You will never get the bone back around your teeth, this leads to loose and falling out teeth. Seeing a dental hygienist regularly prevents gum disease!
Improving Oral Hygiene and Protecting Your Health
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), periodontal disease is seen most often in adults who neglect oral self-care and dental checkups. Oral infections and gum disease are preventable with twice-a-day oral cleanings. If you haven't been caring for your oral health as you should, there's still an opportunity to improve oral hygiene and guard yourself against systemic diseases.
People don't set out to allow these conditions to develop or progress. Life priorities and factors such as a lack of dental insurance coverage may have prevented you from getting routine dental care. For some individuals, it's a general fear of dentists (dentophobia) or limited mobility that prevents them from keeping their regular dental appointments.
Choosing a dental hygienist who understands these factors and provides preventative care in a low-stress environment can be invaluable to your oral and general health.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is a necessary precaution in controlling oral bacteria and preventing systemic complications. Regular dental hygiene checkups also allow for the early detection of systemic diseases such as oral cancer. Other benefits include patient education on lifestyle habits that impact oral and general health and savings on costly dental treatments, such as root canal therapy, dentures, bridges, or implants.
Schedule an appointment online or call today!
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Routine Dental Care from a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are licensed dental professionals who provide many of the services you can access from a dentist. They examine patients for signs of oral diseases, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral cancer. Hygienists are also licensed to provide preventive care, such as cleanings and scaling, and patient referrals.
Professional Cleanings
Routine cleanings at recommended intervals promote a healthy mouth and body. Your hygienist will perform the cleaning to get rid of plaque and tartar on the teeth and gum line that can cause gingivitis, periodontitis, oral infection, and potential health problems. Regular cleanings also keep bad breath at bay. To ensure you're getting rid of as much plaque and tartar on a daily basis, your hygienist could show you how to brush and floss correctly at home. You can add that I customize an at-home routine for each client. Hate flossing - there are many alternatives (I actually barely recommend traditional floss).
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling is regular cleaning and root planing is “deep clean” These dental techniques are also referred to as deep cleaning. According to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health, the treatments are beneficial to patients with chronic periodontitis. Scaling helps to get rid of plaque, tartar, and bacteria on the teeth, below the gum line (periodontal pockets), and on your tooth roots. Planing or smoothening the surfaces of your tooth roots makes it harder for bacteria to cling and cause an infection.
Scaling and root planing help your gums reattach to your teeth, promote healthier gums, and prevent gum disease from getting worse. Other benefits include minimizing the risk of tooth loss and decreasing the risk of systemic diseases.
Polishing
Teeth polishing is the final step in the dental cleaning process. Polishing removes stains and smoothens the teeth to reduce plaque formation. Another perk is a whiter, brighter smile.
How We Can Help
We understand that controlling oral bacteria and infections is necessary for mouth health and your overall wellness. That's why we take a whole-person approach to dental health, whether it involves providing preventive oral care, myofunctional therapy for TMJ, or patient education.
Our goal is to help prevent oral and systemic disease so you can enjoy a better quality of life. To achieve this goal, we provide routine and comprehensive oral exams, cleanings, and scaling and root planing, and polishing in a comfortable environment. Teeth whitening is an aesthetic treatment available to patients who desire brighter whiter teeth.
If you can't come to us, we'll come to you. Our mobile visits allow us to provide care to patients who are unable to visit our office due to challenges with transportation or mobility. This is part of our overarching goal to provide patients with a positive experience and promote a long-term relationship.
Healthier Smile, Healthier You!
Schedule an appointment online or call today!
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Health First Dental Hygiene provides dental hygiene service and myofunctional therapy for patients in New Hamburg, ON and surrounding communities. Enjoy friendly, low-stress dental care for a healthier mouth and total body wellness.
Health First Dental Hygiene is conveniently co-located with
New Hamburg Denture Clinic.
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