• The Consequences of Neglecting Dental Hygiene and How to Avoid Them

    Importance of Dental Hygiene

    Good dental hygiene is the key to a captivating smile, strong teeth, and fresh breath. This involves caring for your teeth and gums through daily at-home care and routine dentist visits. If you want a bright, radiant smile and a healthy mouth, learn about the consequences of neglecting dental hygiene and how to avoid them.
    Dental Hygiene Habits by Donahue Dental

    What Are the Signs of Dental Neglect?

    When dental hygiene falls by the wayside, the consequences can be surprisingly widespread, impacting your mouth and body in various ways. Here are some common examples of how dental hygiene negligence affects your health:

    • Bad breath: While occasional bad breath may occur after eating certain foods, chronic bad breath, or halitosis, is an early sign of poor oral hygiene. Failing to remove trapped food particles from your mouth leads to unchecked bacteria growth, resulting in a foul odor that mints and mouth sprays can’t mask.
    • Cavities: Tooth decay occurs when your teeth are exposed to acid from bacteria feeding on dietary sugars in your mouth. This acid erodes the tooth enamel, creating small holes or cavities. Failing to seek dental treatment promptly may lead to further tooth damage, unsightly discoloration, and toothaches.
    • Receding gums and gum disease: Poor dental hygiene often leads to plaque buildup, causing gum inflammation or gingivitis. If ignored, the gums may begin to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets that harbor more bacteria, leading to full-fledged gum disease.
    • Tooth loss: When cavities and gum disease go untreated, these problems can progress until they infect your teeth, jaw bone, and connective tissue. A root canal or other treatment may reverse the infection, but if the tooth is loose or severely infected, it may fall out or require extraction by a dentist.
    • Diabetes: The relationship between poor oral health and diabetes goes both ways. Gum disease can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, leading to worsened diabetes. Conversely, diabetes increases the risk of developing gum disease due to decreased immunity.
    • Kidney disease: The inflammation from chronic gum disease weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections. This puts you at risk for kidney disease and other related conditions.
    • Heart disease: Many studies have found correlations between gum disease and heart disease. Although the exact reason isn’t clearly understood, research suggests that harmful bacteria from your mouth enter your bloodstream and attach to the fatty plaques in your heart’s blood vessels, leading to inflammation and raising the risk of clots that can trigger a heart attack.

    Best Habits for Proper Dental Care

    Learning the effects of poor dental hygiene may be disconcerting, but the good news is that you can keep these risks at bay with proper dental care. Here’s what a good oral hygiene routine entails:

    • Brush twice a day: Brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste removes food particles and plaque from your teeth, preventing decay. Make sure you brush for a full two minutes at least twice a day.
    • Floss daily: Flossing is easy to neglect, but it’s crucial for removing plaque and food particles from areas where your toothbrush can’t reach, like between the teeth and below the gum line. Floss at least once a day to help prevent gum disease and cavities.
    • Rinse with mouthwash: Mouthwash isn’t a substitute for brushing and flossing, but it can complement your routine. A good fluoride mouthwash freshens your breath and removes the biofilm—a thin layer of bacteria—from your teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks.
    • Use the right equipment: Most dentists recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles to prevent gum damage and enamel erosion. Replace it every three to four months—sooner if the bristles become frayed. You may also want to upgrade to an electric toothbrush for superior brushing capabilities. Then, choose toothpaste and mouthwash that contain fluoride, a mineral that prevents cavities by strengthening the enamel.
    • Chew sugarless gum after meals: While brushing after eating is ideal, it isn’t always practical. Chewing sugarless gum is the next best thing, increasing saliva flow to naturally wash away food particles and neutralize harmful acids.
    • Drink plenty of water: With no added sugars or colors, water is the best way to keep your mouth moist, wash away food particles, and neutralize acids produced by oral bacteria.
    • Visit the dentist regularly: Routine dental check-ups and teeth cleanings help you identify oral health issues when they’re most treatable. The recommended guideline is to visit the dentist twice a year—more frequently if you have a higher risk of oral diseases.

    Safeguarding your dental hygiene demonstrates a commitment to your overall well-being. At Donahue Dental, we share this commitment, offering personalized, comprehensive dental care to address each patient’s unique needs. With our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced dental professionals on staff, you can expect the very best care from us. Call our office today at (636) 946-6117 to request a dentist appointment in St. Charles or St. Peters, MO.

  • The Importance of Daily Brushing and Flossing for Oral Health

    Daily Brushing and Flossing

    You’ve probably heard this old refrain your entire life: brush twice a day, floss regularly, and visit the dentist every six months. It’s routine advice, but do you understand why these habits are so vital to your well-being? After all, the importance of daily brushing and flossing extends far beyond simply making your teeth sparkle. Learn more about brushing and flossing to remind you why they should be a part of your daily life.
    Brushing and Flossing Tips by Donahue Dental

    Why Brushing Your Teeth Is So Important?

    Brushing is the simplest, most effective dental care practice. When you brush, you remove plaque and bacteria and help brighten your smile. Many people wonder if brushing once a day is enough, but you should really brush at least twice daily, preferably in the morning and before bed. It’s also important to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, after being sick, or when the bristles become frayed.

    Here’s a closer look at the importance of brushing your teeth:

    • Prevent tooth decay and cavities: When you eat, a sticky film known as plaque forms on your teeth, leading to tooth decay and cavities if not removed promptly. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste eliminates plaque and significantly lowers the risk of cavities.
    • Prevent gum disease: Tartar, a hardened form of plaque, leads to gum disease if not addressed. Regular brushing stops tartar from gaining a foothold, keeping your gums healthy.
    • Avoid mouth infections: Brushing minimizes harmful bacteria, preventing mouth sores, tooth abscesses, and other painful infections.
    • Freshen your breath: Food particles and bacteria are the primary culprits behind bad breath. Brushing removes these offenders, the first step toward having fresh, inviting breath.
    • Reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke: Strong connections exist between your oral health and cardiovascular health. They may seem unrelated, but gum disease can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, making regular brushing an important preventative measure for maintaining overall health.
    • Remove stains: Brushing your teeth also has aesthetic benefits. It helps remove surface stains caused by coffee, tea, wine, and other stain-inducing foods and drinks, promoting a whiter, brighter smile.

    How to Brush Your Teeth

    The first step is to select the right toothbrush and toothpaste. Dentists typically recommend a soft-bristled brush in a size and shape that fits your mouth comfortably so you can reach all areas easily.

    Here are the basic steps for brushing your teeth:

    1. Squeeze some toothpaste onto the brush, wet it a bit, and place the bristles at a 45-degree angle along the gum line.
    2. Gently move the brush back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes.
    3. Brush your teeth’s inner, outer, and chewing surfaces.
    4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.
    5. After two minutes of brushing, spit out the toothpaste and rinse your mouth with water.

    The Importance of Flossing

    While most people are good about brushing, flossing often falls by the wayside. However, you should floss at least once a day to reach the tight spaces between teeth that your toothbrush misses. This removes food particles that would otherwise lead to bacterial growth and decay.

    Here’s why the importance of flossing can’t be overstated:

    • Prevent chewing difficulties: Food particles lodged between your teeth can lead to discomfort and difficulty chewing. Regular flossing helps eliminate problematic particles, promoting a healthier and more comfortable eating experience.
    • Avoid toothaches: Toothaches often stem from cavities and decay caused by bacterial activity on trapped food particles. Flossing helps prevent toothaches by dislodging these particles before they cause issues.
    • Promote gum health: Flossing removes plaque along the gum line, often more effectively than brushing, reducing inflammation and bleeding associated with gingivitis and gum disease.

    How to Floss Your Teeth

    Choosing the right floss depends on your preferences and the space between your teeth. Waxed, unwaxed, thick, and comfort floss can all be effective.

    Follow this guide on how to floss effectively:

    1. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around your middle finger on each hand.
    2. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
    3. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.
    4. Curve the floss into a “C” shape against one tooth and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
    5. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth and rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
    6. Repeat these steps until you floss between every tooth, including behind your rear molars.

    Maintaining oral health is a lifelong commitment that impacts your smile and overall well-being. At Donahue Dental, we understand the importance of oral health and hygiene in daily life. If you’re looking for personalized, comprehensive dental care in St. Charles or St. Peters, MO, please call us at (636) 946-6117 to request an appointment today.