The Importance Of Good Dental Hygiene

We are continually told of the importance of brushing our teeth

, whether it be from the dentist, the doctor, the NHS, the Government or just our parents, the message always put across, that keeping your teeth clean and maintaining a hygienic mouth is healthy and will prevent all manner of painful, unsightly and uncomfortable dental problems, just does not seem to get through to everyone. Dentists see thousands of patients every year whose dental problems are mainly caused by the neglect of their own teeth, for a number of reasons, something which does not take much time or effort to maintain.

The process of brushing your teeth has been one drilled into children by the parents since an early age, the frequent complaints that it 'takes too long' or is 'too much effort' or often exacerbated by the belief, prevalent in some adults as well as children, that the unsightly and unhealthy tooth decay, which can eventually occur due to neglecting dental hygiene, is 'not going to happen to me'. These attitudes toward health in general will always exist, whether in the fields of dental hygiene, obesity, exercise, smoking etc., amongst people who are yet to experience the deleterious effects of their lifestyle choices. It is no coincidence that people who visit the dentist having had numerous fillings done or rotten teeth removed often tend to take care of their teeth far better having gone through these experiences. What, then, can be done to convince them to take better care of their teeth in the first place?

Over the years dentists, the NHS and Government have released numerous public health leaflets and run various campaigns advising people on how best to look after their teeth and maintain good dental hygiene. Not all of these have been successful, for instance the results of a scientific study released a few years ago telling the public that the best way to brush their teeth was by 'using the same amount of pressure as the weight of an orange' were largely unhelpful, confusing and off-putting to the public. The straight-forward messages delivered by dental surgeries are usually the best, scrub your teeth well using toothpaste and water for around two-minutes at least twice a day; however by the time a patient visits the dentist, problems may already be starting to occur.

Of course, all the advice in the world will not convince some people that remembering to clean their teeth every morning and night is worth the effort. A popular approach in schools is to demonstrate to children what can happen to teeth if dental hygiene is not maintained. The common problems caused by plaque building up on teeth and poor oral hygiene include gum disease, gingivitis (gum infection), cavities forming in teeth which require filling, more seriously rotten teeth and extremely painful tooth abscesses are all unsightly and obviously painful to a degree, qualities utilised to encourage the cleaning of teeth. Similarly, the popular perception of trips to the dentist being uncomfortable and unpleasant can aid in encouraging people to take better care of their teeth to avoid such visits! Either way, it must be hoped that such tactics improves our nation's dental hygiene, for everyone's good!

by: Matthew Forster

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