WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – When people think about October, some of the first things that come to mind are fall, pumpkins, and Halloween, but October is also National Dental Hygiene Month. For Oct. 20′s Health Watch segment, News Channel 6 sat down with the experts at StarImage Dentistry about the importance of good dental hygiene.
When it comes to keeping up with your hygiene, it is a daily task.
“Some things I like to tell on a daily basis to all my patients is just making sure they brush morning and night, flossing is very important. A lot of things people forget about is how important a water pick is. A water pick can clean like anything else and it is very important. So brushing, flossing, and water pic are the best things for your teeth,” Dental Hygienist Raci Dillard said.
There are downsides to not having a proper oral hygiene routine. The absence of one can cause problems in the mouth like tooth pain.
“Keep in mind that most dental problems are caused by infection or trauma,” Dr. James Green, with StarImage Dentistry, said. “So infections, we have two basic infections. One is gums and bones and the other is what causes cavities in the teeth, so your home care is the most important thing.”
Certain things like hard candies or sugary foods can cause trouble as well. While everything is fine moderation, there are foods that have benefits for your teeth.
“Some things that are good to eat are foods like apples. Hard things that like to clean the teeth, celery, raw vegetables, that sort of thing. Peanut butter is actually good for your teeth you know if it doesn’t have a lot of sugar in the particular one. Peanuts, nuts are good or unsweetened dark chocolate, some things like that,” Green said.