Mouth Cleansing
Dental Hygienists work with you
to help keep your mouth clean and healthy.
“Mouth Cleaning” at home is more than brushing your teeth!
Brushing or scraping your tongue is also essential.
Cleaning the crevices around your teeth prevents gum disease,
inflammation (bleeding gums) and malodour.
This can be accomplished with floss, rubber tip and irrigation below the gum line. Periodontal (gum) disease affects more than 80% of the general population in some way. Periodontal disease is an infectious condition that results in inflammation. Studies have shown that this inflammation can increase your chances of heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and pregnancy disorders.
Top Ten Tips for Optimal Oral Health
- Choose oral health care products that are “ safe to swallow ”. Oral Health Products that do not have warning signs on them will have healthier ingredients for you and your family.
- Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes. Alcohol dehydrates (dries out) gum tissue and cells in the mouth. It facilitates entry of harmful chemicals into the soft tissue of the mouth.
Alcohol can harm composite and cosmetic (white/bonded) fillings. - Prevent and reduce oral inflammation by “mouth cleansing”. Brush your teeth using a dry brush with toothpaste or tooth powder.
Scraping or brushing your tongue is essential to preventing bad breath and reintroduction of bacteria onto the teeth. Cleaning the crevice between your teeth and gums is also essential to optimal oral health with floss, water irrigators and/or rubber tips. Discuss the best options for you with your dental hygienist. If you have inflammation in your mouth, you will have inflammation in other parts of your body. Studies have shown that inflammation leads to or can exacerbate heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and cause premature labour/low birth weight in pregnancy. - Put the right fuel in your body. We would not even think to put the wrong fuel in our vehicles, yet we continually put the wrong fuel in our bodies. We wonder why we get cavities or gum disease. Working with a health practitioner who specializes in nutrition can help you determine the best foods for you for best health. Everyone is unique and different and therefore their nutritional needs are unique and different. Try to eat whole, real foods. Eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.
- Reduce or eliminate high sugar foods and drinks. Drink the best quality water you have access to.
- Find a balance in your life-style. Make time for work, play, family, exercise, and relaxation every day. Stress can affect your oral health.
- Adults and older children can chew xylitol gum to stimulate natural cleansing of your mouth and prevent cavities. It neutralizes your saliva and it weakens the germs that cause gum and cavity problems. Younger children can use xylitol mints. There are several products available that contain xylitol: discuss with your dental hygienist and dentist to determine the best product for your oral health.
- It is helpful to work with a health professional who is knowledgeable about vitamin and mineral supplements and the use of herbs for oral and body health. Every person is unique and different and it important to determine which supplements and/or herbs are best for you. Nutrients are needed for daily health and body function. Some are needed to repair previous damage and to heal. Some are needed to prevent and fight disease.
- Find a dental hygienist and dentist who work with you to attain optimal oral health.
- Remember a healthy mouth can help to give you a healthy body!