As children we are often told to do things for reasons we don’t understand. Brushing and flossing – basic dental hygiene – are some of those things. It’s cavities we are

worried about then. No one mentions that healthy gums and teeth are directly connected to a healthy heart. So, coming into adulthood we are sometimes unsure of what we

hear, but the facts are there: If you take care of your smile, you are taking care of your heart.

A poorly taken care of mouth is laden with plaque (the gummy white stuff which forms between the teeth and along the gums) and is essentially a mouth full of bacteria that

is ingested every time you swallow. Streptococcus sanguis

is found in the saliva, and studies have shown a connection between this bacteria and coronary heart disease.

Mouths not regularly cleaned will be higher in the amount this bacteria and offer a higher risk of developing heart problems.

But keeping ahead of the danger is easy.

Flossing regularly is one of the easiest ways to prevent gum disease and keep your smile strong and bright. And while the advances in oral hygiene tools abound in

pharmacy stores, flossing and brushing the old fashioned way is still the most effective.

Brushing often. Most of us don’t carry a toothbrush around, so finding time to brush in the middle of the day can be hard. If you can’t find the time throughout the day, try chewing some sugar-free gum after a meal. Also, when you do get brushing, don’t rush through it. Take the time to floss, and then brush – enjoy the ritual knowing that everything is connected and this little step can add healthy years to your life.

Dental Assistants have no easy job, as they must be able to perform many duties in a fast paced environment, while also being able to multi-task. There will also be situations where they will be sitting for long periods of time, such as when they are assisting the Dentist or the Hygienist while they are performing surgery.

Some of the common duties around the office that are laid on the Dental Assistants shoulders are making sure that the Dentist and Hygienist have all of the necessary tools that they need to perform operations, routine checkups, or any other action that they may carry out.

They are also responsible for the sterilization of all the instruments and tools that are being used in the office. One thing you must never overlook is the amount of germs that come into Dental offices and procedure rooms, so they are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the work space day in and day out.

In order to become a Dental Assistant, you will more than likely have to take some kind of certification course. The types of courses and schools vary from state to state, but almost every Dental office that is out there will want to make sure that you have the certification and schooling before being hired on the team. One must also want to have a clean history record.

Of course the rules for being hired will differ depending on what state you are trying to apply for a Dental Assistant, but they all have the same standards. Some of these may include not having any felony charges, no history of violence or any other type of crime that is related to violence. Dental Assistants will be around many types of people every day, and they need to make sure that they will be able to work well with others.

Once schooling for a Dental Assistant is completed, and you have a job there are many opportunities for advancement. For instance there are Dental Assistants that primarily work with Orthodontics, which may get paid a little more than the average Dental Assistant does. Many offices will also encourage you to further your career and work with you so that you will be able to take some classes, some might even help pay for them.