Keeping your mouth and the rest of you “well” with professional care, guidance on hygiene practices at home

The behaviors and practices that add up to “good oral hygiene” are a sum of many parts. They are not any singular habit, product, service, or practice. These aspects of a strong oral care program include regular visits to Asuncion Dental Group in Frederick, Maryland. 

During each 6-month visit, our hygiene team cleans your teeth and gum line with special tools and techniques. This step is important and cannot be substituted with good home care because standard toothbrushes, floss, and cleaning techniques cannot remove plaque after it has hardened. So, our ability to remove this stubborn tartar or calculus helps to minimize the risk of developing conditions such as dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease.

Home care is a necessary complement to professional cleanings. And we can advise on ways to clean the teeth, gums, and other areas that harbor harmful bacteria and plaque more effectively. Our dentist, Dr. Frederick Asuncion, peeks inside your mouth to check that the teeth, gums, jaw joints, and other tissues and structures are in good working order. Dr. Asuncion also strives to “catch” problems early before they cause damage that requires extensive treatment. 

Dr. Asuncion can also advise on good oral care products. Medicated rinses or medications may be prescribed. Furthermore, professional preventative services (like sealants or nightguards) can be discussed and even applied, in some cases, during your regular check-up or hygiene appointment. 

Do it for your smile – and the rest of you!

The oral cavity or mouth does not exist in isolation. It is a part of and linked to a bigger “system”: your body. Think of the essential functions performed by the mouth. We may take the ability to chew for granted until we find that ability impaired. When we can’t eat our food easily or painlessly, our diet is limited. Nutrition suffers. When nutrition suffers, our entire immune system suffers. We get more infections. Wounds take longer to heal.

The connection between the mouth and body is largely illustrated in two ways: 

• Oral problems as a symptom of other diseases
• Poor oral health as a contributor to disease

Gum disease can be a symptom of diabetes. This condition is associated with poor blood sugar control. Stomach acids caused by reflux disorders may wear away at protective tooth enamel and cause cavities and other damage. GI disorders like Crohn’s may be accompanied by mouth sores and swelling. 

Additionally, hundreds of medications to manage conditions ranging from allergies to high blood pressure have been linked to dry mouth. This side effect is a risk factor for decay because saliva is a natural cleanser that washes away food debris and neutralizes harmful acids.

Many of the same conditions listed above, including hypertension and diabetes, are also associated with poor oral health, especially gum disease. Other related systemic conditions include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia
• Respiratory infections

The link between oral and systemic problems appears to be the bacteria and inflammation associated with advanced gum disease or periodontitis. It’s believed persistent, severe inflammation enters the bloodstream, slowly damaging the blood vessels in the heart and brain. Inflammation can also spread to other parts of the face, jaw, and distant body parts via untreated dental infections or abscesses. 

When you maintain good oral care at home and at Asuncion Dental Group, you are doing more than just your teeth and gums a favor. You are maintaining better health as a whole. 

Call (301) 690-8482 (new patients) or (301) 620-8882 to book your hygiene visit at our office in Frederick, MD.