Cause/Effect of Dental Hygiene Essay

The human body is intrinsically designed with its own system of checks and balances. Included in that system are good bacteria that protect against harmful bacteria. This good bacteria colonizes the skin, mouth, and entire gastrointestinal system, but can be detrimental if it crosses over to different body systems. The mouth may be the most colonized area of the body. With good oral health detrimental effects do not normally occur, but many Americans do not have good oral health. According to the American Dental Association, your mouth is the window to your overall health (Oral Health, n.d.).

Oral hygiene is a healthy practice of maintaining a clean and health teeth and mouth and protects it from the dental problems. Some of the general dental problems are the gingivitis, bad breadth, dental cavities and periodontal disease.

Dental problems can be almost entirely preventable. Bacterial plague is the cause of most tooth problems we experience such as tooth decay, bad breath and gum diseases.

Bad breath is often present. Continued infection around teeth can eventually cause cavities and loosen teeth. This may lead to eventual tooth loss.

Many things can go wrong in the mouth. The symptoms are serious and if they are experienced contact a medical professional immediately. If gingivitis is left untreated if can lead to gum disease, periodontitis, or chronic gingiva. If the teeth continuously get brushed twice a day for at least two minutes the risk of getting gingivitis lowers. Good nutrition and avoiding tobacco products will also reduce the rick of getting gingivitis or gum

However, many overlook the dangers of gum disease, and how it is equally as threatening as tooth decay. Gum disease, often known as gingivitis, can be a problem when left untreated. It often occurs when one has poor oral hygiene. Its symptoms include swollen gums, gum bleeding, gum reddening, and mild to moderate irritation. Although brushing does help prevent and treat this disease to an extent, flossing can enhance it even more and improve gum health. Some may consider this disease a minor one, but when left alone, it can progress to periodontitis, the final and most devastating form of gingivitis. Periodontitis is a harmful disease that “loosens” the gums from the teeth. Depending on the severity of the receding gums, teeth can fall off. Despite its scary symptoms, one can easily prevent this from happening by flossing daily. According to most dentists, gum bleeding while flossing is a sign of bacterial infection. Although many may think that it is a bad sign, it is a signal that the gums are trying to recover.

While regular cleanings protect your mouth, you also want to maintain good daily oral hygiene. Reduce bacteria, plaque, gum inflammation, cavities and decay when you:

Bacteria trapped in these pockets ultimately cause the breakdown of bone and tissue supporting the teeth. This stage is called periodontitis, and while it can be treated, it is not reversible. And if too much bone is lost, one or more teeth may need to be removed.

If decay in primary teeth is not addressed in a timely fashion, not only will it affect the children’s ability to chew and speak but it can also have a significant impact on the permanent teeth as well. Once a tooth has a cavity in it, that bacteria will spread to the neighboring teeth. If bacteria migrates below the gingiva, an abscess could occur which will delay or prevent the permanent teeth from erupting. An abscess will cause a lot of pain to the children and the affected tooth can be

Taken together these results show that bad oral hygiene can lead to serious health issues. Emphasizing these issues could lead to reducing the rate in which people get Gum disease.

If gingivitis remains untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. The plaque continues to form and spreads to below the gums. Toxins are produced by bacteria in the plaque irritate the gums; these toxins promote a chronic inflammatory response, where the body attacks itself, and the tissues and bone that support teeth are damaged and destroyed. The gum tissue separates from the tooth forming spaces between the teeth and gums, called a pocket that becomes infected.

Inflammation: One link between all of these health issues and poor oral health might be inflammation. Inflammation manifests as a result of periodontitis. Inflammation is also associated with such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.

To start, it’s always a good idea to practice good dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day. Secondly, always see your dentist regularly. Visiting your dentist for regular exams and digital x-rays can help catch any oral health concerns, and your dentist will be able to address any problems before they become too serious. Lastly, if you do have oral health issues, your dentist can determine the necessary treatments required to bring your dental health back up into good standing.

Periodontal disease can affect the tissue around one tooth or many teeth. Without treatment, this condition can cause you to lose a tooth.

Periodontal diseases, if left untreated, can create holes in your teeth where bacteria lives and destroys the tissues and bones leaving the root of the teeth exposed.