Clean teeth
October marks National Dental Hygiene Month. This year’s NDHM focuses on four components of oral health referred to as the daily four: brushing teeth twice daily, flossing daily, rinsing with mouthwash and chewing sugar-free gum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50 percent of adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis. The diseases form when plaque builds up and hardens into tartar on the teeth which can spread below the gum line. Following the daily four can help prevent these diseases. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Airman 1st Class Kathleen D. Bryant/Released)