Dental Hygiene Terms
Dental cleanings and check ups are recommended every six months. Dental insurance plans usually cover all or most of the cost for these visits.
It is important to take advantage of dental care to avoid more costly dental care that results from missed visits and poor oral hygiene.
Visiting your dentist helps prevent and treat:
- Oral cancers.
- Early dental problems.
- Bad breath.
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- Everyday staining from tobacco, coffee, tea and cola drinks.
- Maintains good physical health. |
Your daily dental routine should include:
Brushing teeth twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush.
Using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing fluoride.
Flossing once a day to reach areas between and behind teeth not reachable by a toothbrush.
Standard dental terms:
Plaque: The soft, sticky substance that accumulates on the teeth from food.
Decay: Develops when bacteria, attached to teeth in a sticky plaque, produce acid that dissolves tooth structure. As the tooth structure is dissolved the bacteria progressively move through the layers of the tooth.
Cavity: A hole in the tooth that is caused by decay.
Gum Disease: A leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
Oral Hygiene: Care that includes brushing twice and flossing daily, along with dental visits every six months, to prevent disease and complications of teeth and mouth.
Fluoride: Fluoride is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. It occurs naturally in all water sources.
