Facts About Dental Hygiene

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of English Language, dental hygiene is defined as the practice of keeping the mouth, teeth and gums clean and healthy to prevent disease, as by regular brushing and flossing and visits to the dentist.

Dental hygiene starts in the womb, prenatal care, proper diet and vitamin supplements are necessary for pregnant mothers, in order to lay the foundation for their infants to have strong teeth and healthy gums.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends and reports the following:
Children Hygiene
Early attention in thoroughly cleaning the infant's gum after each feeding with a wash cloth or gauze pad to stimulate the gum tissue and remove food. When the baby's teeth starts to erupt you may clean them with a soft bristle tooth brush, there are tooth brushes designed especially for babies. At one year of age a dental visit should be scheduled for a routine dental examination followed by periodical visits to check for the progress of the primary teeth and for any tooth decay. As a child grows into adolescence and early adulthood, regular dental appointments should be scheduled to maintain proper dental hygiene and to provide any necessary dental care required.

Adult Hygiene.
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) reports that an estimated 75% of Americans reportedly have some form of periodontal disease, this disease is the most common cause of tooth loss. Dental experts suggest that adults should see there dental hygienist at least every six months in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums.