Do the Daily 4 to Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month

Dental hygienists encourage patients to take control of their oral health with 4 key hygiene tasks.

When you visit a dental office, your dentist is not the only professional working hard to help you take excellent care of your teeth. Dental hygienists also do very important work, especially when it comes to educating patients about oral hygiene. After all, they get a very close look at your teeth while providing your dental cleaning, and this provides the perfect opportunity to identify areas you might be falling short on and provide advice for improvement.

This month, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association is once again spearheading efforts to spread awareness about oral hygiene. The focus of this year’s National Dental Hygiene Month campaign is the “Daily 4.” As part of the “Do the Daily 4” outreach effort, dental hygienists are encouraging patients to incorporate the following 4 components of good oral health maintenance into their daily routine.

Brush: Brushing teeth twice daily is the foundation of good oral health. Both gum disease and tooth decay—the top two causes of tooth loss—can be prevented with proper brushing, because brushing helps to control populations of oral bacteria. Be sure to replace your toothbrush every few months and use a quality anti-cavity toothpaste.

Floss: No matter how thoroughly you brush, you cannot reach everywhere. In order to make sure the spaces between teeth and the pockets between teeth and gums get cleaned, you need to floss at least once per day. Be sure to use proper flossing technique to reach deep into those gum pockets, and avoid snapping floss against your gums as this could cause bleeding and irritation. Don’t be afraid to use plenty of floss—you want to use a clean section for every tooth space.

Rinse: While some types of mouthwash mainly serve to put a pleasant scent on your breath, antimicrobial mouthwashes can make a big difference in your oral health. They kill the germs that cause gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association recommends rinsing once per day.

Chew: Chewing a piece of sugarless gum once a day is an excellent way to further protect against cavities. The chewing motion and the flavor of the gum stimulates production of saliva, which helps wash away both food debris and bacteria that could otherwise contribute to cavities. More saliva flow will also deliver more minerals to teeth to help strengthen and even rebuild tooth enamel.

Need a Professional Dental Cleaning?

If it has been a while since your last dental visit, we encourage you to contact California Dental Group now to schedule a dental cleaning and exam. Our caring dental hygienists will be happy to answer any questions you may have about doing the Daily 4.