Maintaining good dental hygiene is important in more ways than just preventing tooth decay and gum disease.  Keeping your mouth and teeth healthy can have a positive impact on your overall health and helps you avoid sensitivity in your teeth and painful dental procedures.

​

Even the healthiest mouths are teeming with bacteria.  Under normal circumstances, in a healthy mouth, this bacterium is kept under control.  Some good bacteria help with food digestion and actually protect your teeth, but there are also bad bacteria that can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay.  With daily dental care, you can manage the bad bacteria and prevent oral disease and other health complications. 

​

What does good dental hygiene entail?  It is recommended by most Manahawkin dentists like Bayside Dentistry to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth.  You should brush your teeth for a minimum of 2 minutes making sure you cover the inner, outer, and food chewing surfaces of your teeth.  Don’t use a toothbrush that has very firm bristles as they can actually do more damage than good.  Firm bristled brushes may damage tooth enamel and cause injury to your gums and root surfaces.  You should change your toothbrush at least every three months or after you have had a cold, the flu, or an oral infection as germs can hide in the bristles of your toothbrush.  Proper flossing ensures there is no food trapped in your gumline and removes plaque that regular brushing may miss.  Manahawkin dentists recommend using about 18 inches of floss held firmly between your thumb and forefingers inserted in between your teeth using a gentle back and forth motion.  Completing your dental routine with a mouth rinse can help get rid of any bacteria that you might have missed while brushing and flossing.  There are many types of mouth wash so be sure to ask your trusted dentist which variety is best for you.  Visit the dentist at least once a year and avoid certain things such as excessive sugar intake and tobacco products to help keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

​

Saliva is an important component to a healthy mouth.  Some diseases and medications can decrease the amount of saliva that your mouth produces and when you have dry mouth, you have a higher risk of tooth decay and bad breath.  It helps to wash away food, neutralizes the bad bacteria, and aids in chewing, swallowing, and tasting.  Ways to increase saliva production if you do suffer from dry mouth is chewing sugar free gum, increasing your intake of water, avoiding mouthwashes that contain alcohol, and sometimes using a humidifier while you sleep can assist in saliva production.

​

During your regular dental exam, your Manahawkin dentist will examine your mouth, teeth, gums, and more.

​

Your dentist does more than just clean your teeth.  This includes checking your teeth for cavities, examining your gums for disease, and inspecting your face, neck and mouth for any abnormalities like a lump.  They will check your jaw alignment, possibly recommend oral x-rays, and should ask if you would like to screen your mouth for cancer.  Maintaining good oral hygiene and scheduling regular visits to your Manahawkin dentist will keep you smiling bright and help prevent a host of other diseases.