{"id":627,"date":"2019-10-17T19:25:26","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T19:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bghdental.com\/blog\/?p=627"},"modified":"2019-10-17T19:25:26","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T19:25:26","slug":"national-dental-hygiene-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bghdental.com\/blog\/national-dental-hygiene-month\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s National Dental Hygiene Month! Here\u2019s How to Stay Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You\u2019ve heard it all your life\u2014brush and floss your teeth.\nBut this oral health maintenance is much more important than you may think.\nOctober is National Dental Hygiene Month\u2014a way to raise awareness about the\nsignificance of oral healthcare. How do you clean your smile? Do you see the\ndentist regularly? Keep reading to learn how dental checkups in Greenfield keep\nyou healthy as well as some pro at-home cleaning tips!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why is Dentistry Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dental care goes far beyond checking teeth for cavities.\nDuring your routine\ncheckups and cleanings<\/a>, dentists look for gum disease, infection, tooth\ndecay, oral cancer, and any other abnormalities. In fact, dentists alone catch\n84% of oral cancers, making routine visits potentially lifesaving.\nAdditionally, during the cleaning portion of your visit, your hygienist will\nremove plaque and tartar that can\u2019t be reached at home. The American Dental\nAssociation recommends regular dental visits at least twice a year to prevent\nand detect problems in the mouth before they lead to more extensive and\nexpensive treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may have known that seeing your dentist and maintaining\na good oral health routine keeps your mouth healthy, but did you know it can\nimpact your overall wellbeing, too? Recent studies have shown a strong link\nbetween oral health problems like gum disease and your overall health. Gum\ndisease can increase your risk of heart attacks by 20%, and it can also raise\nchances of strokes, certain cancers, diabetes, and even Alzheimer\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Stay Healthy Outside of the Dentist\u2019s Office?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key to good oral health is your at-home routine.\nRemember to brush and floss every day. Brushing should be done twice a day and\nflossing once. This regular cleaning will remove plaque and bacteria before it\ncan form into tartar and cause problems like decay. You can also add a\nnonalcoholic mouthwash to your routine for a deeper cleaning. There are some\nareas of the mouth that even your brushing and flossing won\u2019t reach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another great way to stay healthy is to watch what you eat.\nOctober means Halloween is right around the corner, bringing an influx in candy\nwith it. While it\u2019s almost impossible to avoid all sugary snacks, you can be\nespecially careful of extra sticky or hard candies. These sweets stay in\ncontact with your teeth for longer periods of time, leading to higher risks of\ncavities and tooth decay. Instead, if you\u2019re going to indulge, reach for some\nchocolate\u2014a candy that easily washes away from your teeth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you ready to give yourself a happy and healthy smile?\nUse these tips for keeping your smile in shape during National Dental Hygiene\nMonth and year-round! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At BGH Dental, we have a team of 3 experienced dentists,\nallowing us to offer a wide range of services for all of our patients. We want\nyou to stay healthy in and out of our office, which is why we\u2019ve provided some\npro oral hygiene tips. If you have any questions, we can be contacted through\nour website<\/a> or by phone\nat (413) 772-0842.  <\/p>\n\r\n