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Looking for a Dental Hygentist? Good Luck!

Trying to find a dental hygentist? How about a dental hygenist or dental hygeinist? Oh dear... is it dental hygene or dental hygeine or dental hygine? All you have to remember is "I before E," and in no time you'll be spelling "hygiene" and "dental hygienist" like a pro.

But spelling skills aren't required for good oral health! When it comes to oral hygiene, all that really matters is you keeping your teeth clean, and you visiting the dentist and hygienist for regular dental exams and teeth cleaning.

Step one is practicing proper dental hygiene at home. By now you must know what you're supposed to be doing, but here's a quick review:

• Brush gently for 2 minutes each morning and night, moving a soft-bristled brush in circular strokes.
• Brush your gums and tongue as well.
• Floss daily.
• Wait 30 minutes before brushing if you've had something acidic (like orange juice), as the acid temporarily softens your tooth enamel.
• Contact your dentist if you discover any dental problems.

You should also see your dental hygienist twice a year for dental cleaning. If you have gum disease, you may need more frequent hygiene visits with periodontal cleaning.

At these visits, the dentist will also examine your teeth and gums to look for signs of any problems or gum disease. Dental issues are much easier to fix if they're caught early.

In the end, taking care of your teeth is one of the wisest investments you can make. After all, does it really matter if you're looking for a denist or dental hygenists or hygentists? Well, maybe it matters in spelling class…

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Cleaning: The Right Schedule for You

The chemistry of your mouth is as unique as your signature. No two are exactly alike. And so, when it says in popular magazines that "you" need only a dental hygiene appointment twice a year to stay in good dental health, some dentists get very concerned. They don't know you. They're referring to an "average" patient. Dental insurance plans also tend to believe in this mythical "average patient" and may not pay for more than a bi-annual visit.

Sure, two visits are fine for many patients, even most. But some mouths build up more deposits of calculus than others. Some mouths are naturally decay-prone. Still others, and this is critical, may be showing signs of periodontal problems.

Bleeding gums need to be taken seriously. They're signs of an infection that can be a significant risk factor for heart disease. If you had a bleeding sore on your hand that didn't heal you'd get to a doctor and have him check it out, right? Type I perio (gingivitis) consists of tender gums and a little bacteria-filled pocket between your tooth and gum. It's easily treatable at this point. But if the infected pockets are allowed to enlarge, that inflammation can extend to the bone beneath and erode it.

Your dentist's concern is for your overall oral health and your teeth, not whether you've made the standard number of appointments for this year. He or she wants the chemistry to be right in your mouth… and between the two of you.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.