If you have a hygiene-based disorder, you are dealing with a problem that stems from some error in your preventive care. The good news is that this does not mean you have done anything majorly wrong – it may simply mean that there was one tiny misstep you made along the way that caused your oral health to decline. Do yourself a favor. Become more familiar with the types of disorders associated with your hygiene and consider some steps you can follow to further safeguard your grin.
About Hygiene-Based Disorders
The goal of dental hygiene is to keep your smile as clean as possible. “Clean” means that you have removed the plaque that sits on your teeth on a daily basis, preventing it from hardening into tartar and building up. You will also be removing food particles left behind from eating, which also provide a food source to the bacteria within plaque. When these bacteria (and their food) is not removed consistently, you may find yourself with hygiene-based disorders like the following:
- Tooth Decay
- Gum Disease
- Tooth Infection
What To Do
Avoiding the development of hygiene-based disorders simply requires you to keep up with your preventive care both at home and with our practice. Consider this advice a refresher to what you should be doing every day – and throughout the year. Look over the following suggestions, which will assist you in maintaining healthy teeth that are not negatively impacted by plaque:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush – ensure brushing sessions last two minutes
- Use dental floss to thoroughly clean between and behind back teeth at least once a day
- Schedule a preventive care visit with us once every six months for a checkup and cleaning
