Why It’s Important to Keep Your Mouth Clean

The fight against tooth decay is real and worthwhile!  We all know that bathing regularly helps keep us smelling good, feeling good and overall more healthy. Staying clean can literally boost your immune system and prevent you from contracting many illnesses and diseases. Keeping your mouth clean and free from tooth decay, has many health benefits that you might not even realize. Studies have shown that there are over 700 different strains of bacteria that have been found in the mouth. Most people only have between 34 and 70 of these bacteria strains. Some bacteria is beneficial to our health, whereas other bacteria can harm and damage our health and that of our teeth and gums. Tooth decay and gum disease actually stem from the workings of bad bacteria in the mouth. The best part about all of this though? You can prevent the harmful effects of tooth decay and combat the bad bacteria out there. Good oral care practices, coupled with seeing the dentist regularly, can help protect your teeth (and your health) for the rest of your life.  Visit our Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies office today for your checkup and let us help keep your pearly whites bright and healthy!

Bacteria In the Mouth

Have you ever felt a sticky covering over your teeth with your tongue? That sticky covering is called plaque, and is actually the product of mouth bacteria mixing with the food you eat. That bacteria-infested plaque eventually becomes an acidic substance that erodes the hard tooth enamel that covers each tooth and seeps into the soft pulpy tooth center. When that happens, bacteria goes crazy and starts the process of internal and external tooth decay.  Cavities are highly common in our patients, which is the reason we provide diagnostic and preventative care to stop cavities before they start. We also employ regular dental cleanings and x-rays to detect small changes in your teeth that come from the effects of bacteria. We suggest dental cleanings at least twice a year to keep your mouth extra clean from plaque and tartar buildup.

Bacteria Attacks the Gums Too

Besides eroding the teeth, bacteria also targets the soft tissues of the mouth, namely the gums. You may have heard of gum disease before, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about here. Gum disease generally starts out with gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease. Plaque buildup can cause the inflammation of gum tissues around the teeth. Gums will begin to become red, swollen and will even bleed easier when brushing and flossing. You may notice a darker color to your gums, tenderness and bad breath as well. Gingivitis moves to full-blown gum disease if the teeth are still not cleaned properly through good oral hygiene habits. This leads to worsening symptoms, some of which include receding gums to the point where teeth fall out. When one tooth falls out, others are sure to follow.

Gum disease progresses because of poor hygiene habits. That means this disease is 100% preventable. You don’t have to be part of the 64.7 million Americans suffering from gum disease (and yes, there’s really that many people who have gum disease). Use your toothbrush and floss several times a day to mow down bacteria before it begins to attack.

Not All Bacteria Is Bad

The amazing thing about mouth bacteria is that research and study has shown that up to 700 different strains of bacteria have been found in the human mouth. Sounds kind of gross, right? Except not all bacteria is bad! And most people generally only have between 34 and 72 different bacteria strains instead of the full 700. We actually need some bacteria in the mouth to break down the food we eat so that the digestive system can work properly. So we need some bacteria. What about all the bad bacteria though? How do we combat it?

Let Us Help You Combat Tooth Decay!

Keeping the teeth free of plaque and tooth decay is the first step to giving bad bacteria the boot.  Brush and floss your teeth several times a day. There is a reason we say this so often and that reason is because we want you to keep your mouth clean so that gum disease and tooth decay don’t have a chance to flourish and cause problems.  It is especially important to brush after eating sugary foods.  Plaque starts it’s buildup when sugary food particles aren’t cleaned from the teeth. You can keep yourself free from tooth decay and gum disease by keeping the mouth clean. Brush and floss several times a day or after every meal. Come into our office for your comprehensive exam and for biannual checkups and cleanings. A professional cleaning can reach all the places you maybe can’t and can detect subtle changes in the teeth.

We want all of our patients to have healthy (and clean) teeth for their entire lives. Keeping the mouth clean will ensure you keep your teeth for as many years as possible. Plus, it can save you tons of money from having to correct problems (if it’s even possible) that stem from severe tooth decay and gum disease. Stay smart and grab a toothbrush. To schedule your cleaning, call ourFamily & Cosmetic Dentistry of the Rockies office today today at 970-267-0993!