The Importance of Dental Health

Dental health is a seeming small aspect of our lives but one of the most important areas to which we should give our attention. As an open portal to the rest of our bodies, great care should be given to our gum tissues, tongue and teeth in order to prevent diseases throughout our entire self. Many may not know the importance of proper oral hygiene but it is vital to our longevity and quality of life.

You may not know that good oral hygiene has a tremendous effect on your overall health but it does! On a very basic level, saliva is your body's natural defense against bacteria, plaque and acid from your diet. Changes in the acidity of your saliva can be harmful to your oral health, allowing formation of cavities and gum disease. If allowed to progress, these problems may have a negative impact on your overall health. Most commonly these problems are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDs, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and pregnancy.

Systemic diseases may also have oral manifestations, meaning your hygienist can see evidence of a health issue in your mouth. Many conditions are spotted by your dental practitioner before traditional signs and symptoms are noticed by you or your physician. Dental hygienists are well versed in all aspects of the body and continue to research and learn so that we may provide the highest level of comprehensive and quality care.

As you may now understand, dental hygiene is a complex and ever changing profession! Dental hygiene has a rich history filled with adversity and legally constraining regulations that dictate our scope of practice. The profession dates back to the 1880's when dentists utilized assistants to clean teeth and help prevent diseases. The term "dental nurse" was coined, but was later disregarded and the current name "dental hygienist" was accepted.

Facing judgment from dentists who worried that an increase of extended functions would take too much business from them, the hygiene profession became regulated by dentists. Today, we have local, state and national levels of representatives who work with our fellow hygienists, dentists, and legislature to ensure everyone has access to the services dental hygienists can provide, and to help represent the interest of hygienists.

In Montana, we have seven local components that together comprise the Montana Dental Hygiene Association. Each state also has a student driven group (SMADHA) to which I was privileged to serve as the president from 2013-2014.

Thanks to the associations representing the profession, dental hygiene currently encompasses a variety of preventative and therapeutic treatments and screenings that address oral disease ranging from gingivitis and periodontal disease to applying preventative agents and identifying subtle indications of oral cancer or other immunological diseases. These are just the fundamental components of a vastly complex career. The professional license held by a dental hygienist allows her/him to serve as researcher, educator, administrator, advocate, clinician and public health specialist. And I can attest that in my career, I have served as each of these on more than one occasion!