Coming up on June 28, Dental Awareness Day is intended to raise awareness about oral hygiene and encourage people to take care of their teeth. If you are studying to become a Dental Assistant, be sure to recognize Dental Awareness Day by passing along these important oral hygiene tips:
- Prevent bacteria from growing in the mouth by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily. The bacteria that cause bad breath can easily build up on the tongue, so it’s also a good idea to use a tongue scraper or to give it a good scrub with your toothbrush. Developing these good habits will help prevent bad breath as well as tooth decay.
- Keep smiles bright by replacing a manual toothbrush every three or four months and follow the manufacturer’s advice on how often to replace electric brush heads.
- After eating or drinking things that are known to stain teeth – like blueberries, coffee, and red wine – minimize discoloration by brushing and eating apples, carrots, or celery, which will trigger saliva flow. Brushing teeth with baking soda twice a month is also a good trick to keeping teeth bright.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to encourage your patients to eat less sugary foods, especially carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks. If they have a sweet tooth, encourage them to chew sugarless gum that will increase saliva production to cleanse the mouth and neutralize acidity. Remind your patients to see the dentist for a regular checkup every six months to remove plaque buildup and spot dental complications before they cause major problems.
If you’re curious about a career as a Dental Assistant, contact Arizona College to learn more about our Dental Assisting program.
Information in this blog post is accurate as of June 19, 2013.