Cause/Effect of Dental Hygiene free essay sample

Have you ever thought about what could happen if you dont practice good oral hygiene? Have you ever thought about the fact that cavities can lead to even more serious dental problems? Do you know that if you arent practicing good oral hygiene, youre opening the door to dental problems that isnt easy to close? If you dont take care of your teeth,think about how much harder easy life tasks would be for you. It is not that hard to simply brush your teeth twice a day and floss them once. The effects of not having good oral hygiene are cavities, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. A cavity is the least severe effect of not practicing good oral hygiene. You may think that a cavity is just a small hole in your teeth, but in reality a cavity is tooth decay which leads to the hole in the tooth. We will write a custom essay sample on Cause/Effect of Dental Hygiene or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Cavities are caused by bacteria which combines with food and creates a sticky substance known as plaque. Plaque sticks to the teeth and converts sugars into acid which then dissolves the tooth structure, causing holes, or cavities. When you brush your teeth properly, at least twice a day, you are removing the plaque that causes cavities. Flossing daily will remove the plaque from in between the teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach. Although cavities are the least severe effect of not practicing good oral hygiene, cavities are still painful and can lead to more severe dental diseases. The next effect of not practicing good oral hygiene is gingivitis, which causes the gums to redden, swell, and bleed. It is plaque build up on your teeth which casues swelling of your gums and leaves a yellow tint layer of plaque on the surfaces. In most cases, there is either little or no discomfort. Although a person can develop gingivitis, it is reversible with professional treatment and proper oral health care at home, which includes brushing and flossing 2 times a day at least. Without treatment, gingivitis can spread and grow below the gum line. Gingivitis is a chronic inflammatory reaction, and the body turns on itself, and the tissues, plus the bone, which hold up the teeth, is destroyed. Because the gums separate themselves from the teeth, this causes spaces between the teeth and gums, and they will become infected. As the disease advances, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed. This gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults and has also been linked to heart disease and strokes. Gingivitis can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene, but if it is not treated may lead to periodontal disease. Lastly the most severe dental disease that comes with not practicing good oral hygiene is periodontal disease. If it is left to itself and not treated, it will lead to tooth loss. In order to fix periodontal disease, a hygienist needs to place a probe in the gap of your gums and insert fake gums to keep bacteria from going in the hole. There are many factors that cause periodontal disease, but the main cause is bacteria. Without proper home care, your chances of getting it increase. The other factors vary and can affect the health of your gums. The most severe case of not having good oral hygiene is periodontal disease, and it is very painful. Maintaining good oral health is essential to maintaining good overall health. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, most commonly, dental cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. Preventing these dental diseases are not that hard. If you havent been brushing twice a day and flossing once a day at least I hope after reading this you will consider doing it. Always remember your teeth are a key part of your life, so be sure to take good care of them so you dont need to experience the painful dental diseases.