This article describes the importance of thorough lifelong oral hygiene in the preservation of a beautiful and healthy smile.

Just the ones you want to keep! We have all been instructed by our parents, guardians or Pueblo dentist to brush and floss our teeth twice a day. “Look after your teeth” is a phrase that all of us should be familiar with and the consequences of poor oral hygiene, even more so. Yet, in spite of our awareness of the importance of good oral health, there is this air of invulnerability that keeps so many people from taking the advice of the Pueblo dentist seriously. So now there is a new phrase to memorize and teach your children:

You don’t have to brush all your teeth; just the ones you want to keep!

Ask the Pueblo Dentist: The Hazards of a Dirty Mouth

Keeping your teeth and gums clean requires regular (and thorough) brushing, flossing and check-ups with the Pueblo dentist. If it’s been more than a year since your last appointment or teeth cleaning, then it’s time to make that phone call! Why? No matter how neurotic we are about keeping our teeth clean (and very few patients are), plaque accumulates in places that are hard to reach and hard to keep clean. That soft white sticky substance on your teeth may seem harmless enough, but did you know that it consists of over 300 different varieties of bacteria? Ew, gross! Exactly; and there are people who seldom brush their teeth more than once a day! The reality of the situation is that we need to understand what happens when we don’t practice proper oral hygiene and healthy living habits. According to the Pueblo dentist, oral bacteria, if not kept to a minimum via brushing and flossing can cause the soft tissues in the mouth to become inflamed and infected. Gingivitis not only results in gums that are swollen and unsightly, but also bad breath, which is a guaranteed social deterrent!

Pueblo Dentist: Fancy Dental Implants? Here’s How to Need Them…

When an oral bacterial infection is left without treatment – and exacerbated by further neglect of oral hygiene – the decay can migrate down into the gingival sulci or tooth sockets. It is at this juncture that only professional intervention by the Pueblo dentist will be able to restore good oral health; or otherwise you face the inevitable need for dental implants as a result of tooth loss. Yes, tooth loss. One of the biggest causes behind tooth loss and the suite of nasty oral ailments that cause it is poor oral hygiene; in other words, neglecting to brush, floss and see the Pueblo dentist regularly. Other factors include a diet that is high in fats and sugar, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse.

A Final Note from the Pueblo Dentist

If you want to end up losing one or more of your pearly whites to decay and if you want to end up requiring dental implants, then poor oral hygiene, says the Pueblo dentist, is the fast track there. For those of us who care about the quality and health of our smiles, regular brushing, flossing and visits to the Pueblo dentist are a must.

So, remember to brush the teeth you want to keep for a lifetime: all of them!