October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which is a great time to highlight the need for comprehensive dental hygiene and to welcome you for your end of year check-up to maximize your dental insurance for the year. We are filling up fast, so don’t delay in making your next appointment.
The Importance of a Healthy Mouth
It’s our mission to educate our community on the importance of your oral health. Healthy teeth aren’t just important to reveal a beautiful smile, but your oral health is deeply connected to your overall well-being. Poor dental health can lead to various problems like cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and even impact systemic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
How to Prioritize Your Oral Health
National Dental Hygiene Month is a good reminder that prioritizing your oral health should be at the top of mind. There are several ways to ensure you maintain good oral hygiene
-
Daily Oral Hygiene Routine — brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day should be a priority. If you can brush after every meal, that would be ideal so food doesn’t lurk around your teeth and gums and lead to dental issues in the future.
-
Dental Visits — it’s crucial to visit your Sterling dentist at least twice a year for a professional dental exam and cleaning. We cannot emphasize the importance of this enough, as it’s our role as your Sterling dentist to spot any early signs of dental issues and also give your teeth a deep clean to remove plaque and tartar that at-home brushing can’t always remove.
-
Electric Toothbrush — if you don’t already have one, we highly recommend purchasing a good electric toothbrush as they can help remove food debris more effectively than a manual toothbrush. Ask a member of our dental team if you’d like a recommendation for any budget.
-
Family Fun — it’s important to instill good oral hygiene to children so they grow up with a healthy relationship with visiting the dentist and taking care of their teeth. Make brushing and flossing a fun time by singing special songs, getting a toothbrush with their favorite character on it, or using a special timer so that kids are excited to brush and floss their teeth.
-
Investment in Your Teeth — we find that if our patients invest in their teeth, such as straightening their teeth, correcting a misaligned bite, or whitening their teeth, they tend to look after their teeth better as they’ve already committed to investing time and energy into their oral health. If you are interested in learning more about our cosmetic offerings, please book a consultation.
Drs. Hubbard, Keynton Sill, Mitnick and the rest of the team are looking forward to helping you unlock your best smile. Come visit us at Sterling Virginia Smiles, your local dentist serving Sterling, Ashburn and the DC metro area.