October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a time for all to reconsider their oral health habits. The truth is, early gum disease is silent and painless. If left untreated, early gum disease can lead to bad breath, tooth loss, and other health problems. The purpose of this release is to urge readers to take charge of their smile this month by visiting their local dentist for a check up and cleaning.
Dr. Catrise Austin
Celebrity Dentist-VIP Smiles
NEW YORK, NY — October is National Dental Hygiene Month, a time for all consumers to reconsider their oral health habits, and to consider enhancing their smiles through cosmetic dentistry by visiting their dentist.
Today’s dental hygienists no longer solely clean patients’ teeth. A contemporary hygienist is responsible for detecting oral cancer, examining cracked crowns, and promoting the benefits of cosmetic dentistry to the patient before the dentist ever looks in the mouth.
Regular professional visits are important because gingivitis, the early stage of periodontal disease, is usually painless and patients may not be able to detect it on their own. "Don’t ignore the warning signs of gum disease" say Dr. Austin. "Red, swollen or tender gums; Gums that bleed with brushing; and recurring bad breath are all key signs of gum disease. In my practice, 75% of my new patients have gum disease and didn’t have a clue until we assessed the health of their gums
Fortunately, early gum disease such as gingivitis is completely reversible with professional treatment and oral home care. "Brushing frequently and most importantly flossing are the habits that I teach my patients to do at home between visits" say Dr. Austin. "Once my patients are educated on the importance of keeping their pockets cleaned by flossing at home, I usually see a major improvement when they return for check up visits." Visiting a dental hygienist and dentist team, every six months or as scheduled, is vital in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If left untreated, early gum disease can lead to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis which can result in tooth loss and other life threatening health problems!
In addition to daily care and visiting a dentist-hygienist dental team, total oral health requires proper nutritional habits. Several foods that help build healthy teeth and gums include:
* Dairy products provide calcium and vitamin D that strengthens teeth and bones._* Breads and cereals supply B vitamins for growth and iron for healthy blood, a key contributor to healthy gum tissue. _* Fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C and other important vitamins, which are essential to maintaining healthy gum tissue._* Meat, fish, poultry and beans provide magnesium and zinc that strengthen teeth and bones.
If you’ve been guilty of putting off your next dental exam and professional cleaning, consider visiting your dental hygienist and dentist team during this National Dental Hygiene Month for a beautiful Fall smile.
