Signs of Poor Dental Hygiene

Signs of Poor Dental Hygiene

24/09/2021

When it comes to our teeth, some people have an ‘out of sight, out of mind mentality’. As we only see our teeth when looking in the mirror, it is easy to ignore the visual signs of poor dental hygiene if you aren’t regularly brushing your teeth.

Poor dental hygiene manifests in many different forms, some obvious and some more discrete. It is important to know your own mouth and notice any changes, as prevention is far easier than trying to reverse years of poor dental hygiene mistakes.

Here are the most common signs of poor dental hygiene:

Tooth Ache

Tooth pain is never normal and is always a sign of a problem with your teeth. Tooth pain is often caused by tooth decay reaching the inner nerve of your tooth. This can be prevented by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth daily to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth so it doesn’t have chance to cause pain.

Aside from tooth decay, tooth pain is often a result of damage to the tooth such as a chip or fracture. If you experience any tooth pain of any kind, you should book an appointment with your dentist.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are the number one sign of poor oral hygiene and indicate problems with your gum health. It is not normal for your gums to bleed when brushing your teeth! Persistent swelling and bleeding indicate irritation and potentially infection. Visiting a dentist regularly will ensure that a professional can identify the early stages of gum disease and put a treatment in place to prevent gum recession.

Tongue Changes

As well as brushing your teeth twice a day, you should clean your teeth every night before bed as germs can breed and cause foul odours overnight. If you notice any changes to the look or feel of your tongue, this could be a sign of changes in your oral health. If you don’t regularly clean your tongue, you should add this into your oral health regime. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, try a tongue scraper.

If you have concerns about your oral health, book an appointment with our Kettering dental team for peace of mind.