a former dental hygienist's lament

I am often amazed that people know very little about oral health. I was just watching a segment on the Today show about Heart Disease and the hostess was shocked that daily flossing could prevent plaque build up in the arterial walls.
The mouth is the dirtiest place on/in your body. THE DIRTIEST. And it has access to the same blood stream that goes straight to the heart.
If your gums bleed, you have unhealthy gums. Period. You should get to a point where the gums do not bleed when you floss. If your ears bled every time you used a q-tip, wouldn't you see a doctor?

If your idea of oral hygiene is quickly swabbing your toothbrush over your front teeth or popping a piece of gum to fight bad breath, the rest of us really wish you would learn a few things.

So, please, allow me:
There are two different concerns in the mouth dealing with your hygiene habits:
1- dental decay and 2-gum/periodontal disease.
Dental decay ("cavities")of the tooth often results from sugar/food that is not cleaned from the tooth and turns into maturing plaque. The "sugar" doesn't necessarily come only from candy, but also comes from carbohydrates especially all the refined sugars in our boxed foods. Most often cavities form between the teeth and in the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the tooth. The way to fight cavities in between your teeth- FLOSS DAILY. This interrupts the plaque maturing process or what I like to call the "breaks up the bacteria party." Thorough brushing the chewing surfaces of your teeth will help with cavities there.

Gum/Periodontal disease typically can be smelled by others right when you start talking. For trained noses in the dental profession, we typically can smell periodontal disease across the room. FLOSS. FLOSS. FLOSS. What happens if you don't floss? The plaque or "gunk" around your teeth matures and calcifies if not removed. This calcified plaque or "tartar" will first create inflamed gums. Fire red and bleeding. Then the calcified plaque works it's way down the roots of the teeth, eroding the bone that holds your teeth in place. If not treated, this can result in painful and expensive gum surgery. Periodontal disease is the cause of tooth loss. This is why generations before us lost their teeth at an early age.

If you have bad breath, more than likely it is NOT "halitosis," more than likely it is plaque, lots of plaque in your mouth. Talk about this with your spouses and make them a dentist appointment. (if you are in Jackson, call Belle Meade Family Dental).

Oral hygiene tips/tricks:
1- Floss and then smell your floss! If it smells like bacteria (moth balls) you have mature bacteria in that pocket around that tooth. You need to increase flossing frequency. If it doesn't go away, you need a dental exam.
2- If you brush too hard and are wearing the gums away, brush with a fingertip grasp instead of full-handed grip. The harder your you press your toothbrush down on your teeth, the less effective the bristles.
3- If you have a recurrent problem with cavities, ask your dentist for a flouride prescription.
4- do not store your toothbrush near your toilet. The air is filled with micro-sized mist from the toilet everytime you flush. Gross. I know.

I hope you learned something.
I am a nerd, I know.