From the time you were young, you’ve been taught to brush your teeth regularly. But beyond freshening your breath and getting rid of that fuzzy feeling on your teeth, why is dental hygiene so important? The truth is your dentist can only do so much to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. William U. Britton DDS, MAGD, encourages his patients in the Chillicothe, OH, area to practice careful dental hygiene between visits to his office so you can avoid cavities, root canals, and even tooth loss.

No matter how carefully you clean your teeth, your mouth is still full of bacteria. These bacteria feed on sugars and secrete acids that damage your teeth—and whenever they can, they multiply, forming a film on your teeth called plaque. If plaque isn’t disrupted, it hardens into tartar, a mineralized coating that provides a home for bacteria and can’t be removed without professional help. Daily brushing disrupts and removes plaque from your teeth, preventing tartar buildup.

It’s bad enough that tartar harbors bacteria that damage your teeth, but it can also irritate your gums. When tartar forms near your gumline, the gums pull away, forming periodontal pockets that expose your tooth roots. These pockets are an even better hiding place for bacteria and are extremely difficult to clean out. Worse, the more bacteria gather in the pockets; the more irritated your gums will become and the deeper the pockets will get. While your dental hygiene routine can’t treat gum disease, it can prevent it by keeping tartar from forming at the gumline.

Your visits to the dentist are a major factor in good dental health, but they’re only half of the equation. Thorough dental hygiene is a must for a healthy smile. For tips to improve your dental care routine, schedule an appointment with William U. Britton DDS, MAGD, at (740) 772-2225, or contact his office online.