General Information About Good Oral Hygiene

For you and your family, good oral hygiene is important for maintaining your body’s overall health. According to the Caucus Educational Corporation, poor oral health has been linked to heart and lung disease, diabetes, stroke, low-birth weight and premature births. Also, many diseases give their first warning signs in the form of oral problems, signaling another clinical problem, so keeping up good oral health habits is extremely important.

There are four basic steps to maintain good oral health (Colgate):

1. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.

2. Floss every day.

3. Limit the number of times you snack.

4. Visit the dentist regularly.

When brushing and flossing, proper technique is important. Reference the site below for instructional pictures:

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHealthBasics/GoodOralHygiene/OralHygieneBasics/FamilyGuideOralHealth.cvsp

Without consistent care several oral health problems can result. Immediate risks include gingivitis, cavities, tooth decay, and other gum diseases and can eventually result in oral cancer. This “silent epidemic” (U.S. Surgeon General) can be avoided through regular prevention and treatment at home and from your dentist.

In addition to these important factors in maintaining oral health, there are several other ways to prevent related health problems in your family (U.S. Surgeon General):

1. Serve as a role model for your children by practicing good oral health care habits yourself.

2. Check your children’s mouth for signs of gum disease such as bleeding gums, swollen gums, gums receding away from teeth, and bad breath.

3. Eat a balanced diet including foods high in calcium, and vitamin C.

4. Educate your children about the health risks of tobacco use. Smoking is the number one preventable risk factor for gum diseases.

Below are several books with information about oral hygiene for children and families:

1. The Intelligent Consumer's Complete Guide to Dental Health: How to Maintain Your Dental Health and Avoid Being Overcharged and Overtreated by Jay W. Friedman. Paperback. Publisher: Authorhouse

2. The Complete Guide to Better Dental Care by Jerry F. Taintor, Mary Jane Taintor. Paperback. Checkmark Books

3. Your Child's Dental Health: Womb to Wisdom Teeth by Vicki Audette, Joleen Jackson, McHenry Lee. Paperback. IHD Publishing

4. Brushing Well by Helen Frost. Dental Health. Library Binding.

5. Oral Health Education by Vickie Kimbrough, Karen Henderson. Paperback. Prentice Hall

6. Essentials of Dental Hygiene: Clinical Skills by Mary Danusis Cooper, Lauri Wiechmann. Paperback. Publisher: Prentice Hall

7. Healthy Teeth for Kids: A Preventive Program : Prebirth Through the Teens, Paperback, Twin Streams

Sources:

Colgate World of Care

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/OC/Information/OralHealthBasics/GoodOralHygiene/OralHygieneBasics/FamilyGuideOralHealth.cvsp

Learn4Good

http://www.learn4good.com/health/dental_health.htm

Caucus Educational Corporation

http://www.caucusnj.org/caucusnj/special_series/oralhealth/importance.asp

U.S. Surgeon General

http://www.perio.org/consumer/children.news.htm