Dr. Robert Dernick of The Woodlands sees a lot of people and consequently, a lot of teeth throughout the day. As such, there are a few things he wants his patients to know a few things about their oral health they may not be aware of.
First things first, flossing is key. If you don’t floss regularly, you’re missing a lot of debris in the gaps between your teeth. his is where decay and gum disease are most likely to occur. The truth is, brushing just won't effectively reach these areas. And while the floss picks and other flossing devices are good, nothing beats traditional floss for really getting at every crevice.
Second, if your gums are bleeding, you’re doing something wrong. This is not a normal reaction to brushing. In fact, healthy gums don't bleed during proper brushing or flossing. If yours do, talk to your dentist. During a routine cleaning, some bleeding is normal because dental hygienists are doing such a thorough job and using instruments.
And finally, the mouth is a part of the human body. This may seem like an obvious thing to say, but somehow the mouth is isolated from the rest of the body in many people's minds and even by our health care system. To wit: Why are there separate insurances for medical and dental care? Disease in the mouth affects the rest of the body and vice versa, particularly when it comes to problems like diabetes and gum disease as well as oral cancers. Keeping this fact in mind helps people take better care of their oral health.
