{"id":11561,"date":"2023-09-05T15:40:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T19:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=11561"},"modified":"2024-12-13T16:44:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T21:44:01","slug":"importance-of-dental-hygiene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/importance-of-dental-hygiene\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Dental Hygiene Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The field of dental hygiene, the dental hygienists<\/a> who work within it, and the connection between oral health and overall well-being are significant<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Oral conditions and diseases are associated with, and sometimes signs of, other more severe health problems. The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research<\/a> explained that because the mouth is the entry point to the digestive and respiratory tracts, some of the bacteria found in the mouth can cause disease.<\/p>\n

Maintaining daily brushing and flossing habits is essential to control the growth of bacteria. However, neglecting oral hygiene or consuming excessive sugar can lead to severe oral infections, such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer.<\/p>\n

And that is where dental hygienists come into play. Dental hygienists work hard to prevent and treat oral diseases in their patients. They clean teeth, scan for abnormalities, apply protections, and educate people about the importance of dental care.<\/p>\n

Why Dental Hygiene is Essential to Overall Health<\/h2>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)<\/a>, underlying, untreated oral disease can lead to pain and infections that can cause problems with eating, employment potential, learning, speaking, smiling, showing emotion, self-esteem, school performance, and social interaction.<\/p>\n

In a dental hygiene workforce summary, the National Institute of Health<\/a> reported, \u201cOral health is much more than just healthy teeth; it also includes the health of many other anatomical structures such as the gums, bones, ligaments, muscles, glands, and nerves. In addition, oral health affects some of our most basic human functions, thereby shaping an individual\u2019s self-image and sense of well-being.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The CDC<\/a> stated, \u201cOn average, $34 million in school hours are lost yearly because of emergency dental care, and over $45 billion in US productivity is lost each year due to untreated dental disease.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Certainly not solely an issue in the United States, the World Health Organization<\/a> further estimated in its 2022 Global Oral Health Status Report that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide, with 3 out of 4 people living in middle-income countries.<\/p>\n

What Exactly Do Dental Hygienists Do?<\/h2>\n

Dental hygienists are licensed dental professionals who partner with dentists to prevent and treat oral diseases and provide complete oral healthcare to patients.<\/p>\n

Daily responsibilities<\/a> for dental hygienists include:<\/em><\/p>\n