Dental Health – harrisreedcases.com

Wisdom Tooth Extraction – What You Need to Know

what you need to know about wisdom tooth extraction

Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the age of 17 and 25 – hence the name, that period in our life is called the age of wisdom. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one at each end of the lower and the upper rows, but not everyone has them, what’s more, some people don’t get any wisdom teeth at all. However, the major problem with wisdom tooth is not when someone does not have them at all, but when they do develop to a certain extent, but their development or their direction of growth is hindered by external factors.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Get So Many Problems

Because we do not use them. Our ancestors used their wisdom teeth to grind their food, but the changes in our staple diet have deprived wisdom teeth of their role in food chewing and have transferred that role to the other teeth in the row. The process has also led to a decrease in the size of our jaw and an increase in the size of the other teeth in each row, leaving less space for wisdom teeth to grow. As a result, wisdom teeth struggle to erupt and to grow and they usually develop in the wrong direction, becoming more prone to all sorts of dental problems, including cavities, infections and impaction.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Problems Treated

Wisdom teeth can be treated with fillings and root canal procedures, just like any other tooth, but is the common way to solve wisdom tooth extraction Highland Park area. The problems that require extraction are usually diagnosed by general dentists during routine visits, but the extraction itself usually exceeds the competence of dentists and is usually performed by oral surgeons.

When a patient is referred to an oral surgeon, the surgical specialist will inspect the tooth, then will request an X-ray to see any infection in the deeper layers of the tooth and to be able to follow the exact direction of the root. The extraction is usually performed under local anesthesia, though in some cases, when the tooth is very large or very severely affected, the doctor might recommend general anesthesia. During the extraction, the doctor will use specialized tools to loosen and to remove the tooth or, if the tooth has not erupted, the doctor will make a small incision on the gum to get to the tooth, followed by the actual removal of the tooth. The intervention ends with the closing of the wound, either by dressing the wound or with stitches.

Patients need to be prepared that the wound left after the removal of a wisdom tooth is usually larger and deeper than the gaps left after the removal of other tooth, therefore the extraction site needs to be taken more care of and will probably take longer to heal, too. The final phase of the wisdom teeth removal process is the instruction regarding the wound care – before the patient leaves the doctor’s office, the doctor will provide detailed instructions about what the patient can eat, how cleaning needs to be performed as well as about the activities to avoid during the healing process.

Common Causes of Gum Disease

Those who suffered from it know how bad gum disease is: puffy, swollen and painful gums, occasional bleeding during tooth brushing…However, many people ignore the first signs of it and only start worrying when pain is constant and their teeth start moving. By that time, they may risk losing one or several teeth.

At the same time, there are lots of misconceptions concerning gum disease, as well as unproven cures and treatments for it. The truth is that if herbal teas and essential oil were effective, most dentists would be out of business. This does not mean that proper mouth hygiene can help prevent or mitigate the effects of gum disease. But the final word belongs to the dentists.

So, Is Gum Disease Preventable?

The answer is yes and no. Opting for a healthy diet and brushing, flossing and using mouthwash every day will help a lot. But sometimes, even the most careful person can develop gum disease.

To help understand why it is so, we prepared a list of common causes of gum disease:

Plaque Buildup

Plaque represents the accumulation of food residues in difficult areas around the teeth. It is mainly caused by lack of flossing and using mouthwash after brushing the teeth. As plaque accumulates, it can attack sensitive and weakened areas of the gums (especially in case of overly vigorous tooth brushing).

dentist Littleton CO

This is why frequent teeth cleaning by the best dental practice is necessary. The over the counter teeth whitening kits do not remove plaque effectively and completely. You need a professional teeth cleaning with specialized devices and substances.

Hormonal Changes

Gum disease can be triggered by hormonal changes women experience during the period and in pregnancy. This is why dental care is an extremely sensitive issue for pregnant women.

Many women experience puffy and red gums during pregnancy. It does not always mean that they suffer from gum disease. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. Check with your dentist regularly.

Smoking or Chewing Tobacco

Tobacco is one of the most detrimental effects to health. We will not refer to the long list of life threatening conditions that are directly linked to tobacco. For the purposes of this article, we will only say that frequent tobacco use can cause gum disease.

At the same time, tobacco stains the teeth, giving them an unappealing and unhealthy yellow aspect.

Unhealthy Diet

Lots of sugars and not enough vitamin C and liquids are bad for your teeth and gums. Sugar attacks the enamel of the teeth and causes cavities. And lack of vitamin C makes the gums frail and prone to disease.

Prescription Medication

Some drugs prescribed for preexisting conditions cause your mouth to feel dry due to reduced production of saliva. This is not only inconvenient, but also dangerous for your health. Dry gums are more vulnerable to bacteria and gum disease.

Genetic Inheritance

In some cases, gum disease is passed from parents to children. It is not fully clear how it happens, and what gene is responsible for this. If you know several family members with gum disease, you should take extra care to prevent its onset.

What Does an Oral Surgeon Do?

An oral surgeon, also known as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a specialist who treats dental problems and other health issues that affect the mouth and the maxillofacial area, including the bones of the jaw, the face, the cheeks, even the forehead as well as the soft tissue in the mentioned areas. The procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons often involve surgical interventions to remove growths and teeth or to treat various types of injuries to improve function and appearance.

The Education of Oral Surgeons

Oral surgeons study a lot. After high school, they undergo 2-4 years of undergraduate training, then 4 years of dental study, followed by 4-6 years of residency, during which they obtain a medical degree and they specialize in one or multiple fields of oral surgery, such as cosmetic facial surgery, craniofacial surgery or pediatric maxillofacial surgery.

The Work of Oral Surgeons

Oral surgeons most often treat patients who have been referred to them by general dentists or primary care doctors who make the initial diagnosis and consider the patient’s problem to require more specialized treatment. The conditions that are often treated by oral surgeons include the removal of severely damaged or unrestorable teeth, the treatment of affections of the oral cavity, such as obstructed salivary glands that need removal, ulcers and wounds in the mouth, jaw surgery for the realignment of the teeth, the restoration of the face after facial injuries, biopsies for diagnosing tumors as well as cosmetic dental procedures. One of the most common and most frequent interventions and treatment that oral surgeons perform is dental extractions and the implementation of dental implants.

oral surgeon Castle Rock

Oral surgeons have various workplaces to choose from – they can work in hospitals, medical centers or they can have their own individual practices. The office of an oral surgeon is very similar to the office of a general dentist, but it is equipped with more specialized tools for cutting and removing teeth. Very complicated surgical interventions are performed in general anesthesia, so the offices of oral surgeons are fitted with equipment and tools for performing the anesthesia and for monitor the patient’s condition during and immediately after the surgery.

The Skills Required of a Great Oral Surgeon

Beside extensive professional knowledge, oral surgeons are required to possess a wide set of other skills and abilities as well. A good oral surgeon – always search for the best oral surgeon Castle Rock has to offer – is a personable and compassionate person who can understand the worries and the concerns of the patient and is willing to explain why the procedure is necessary and how it will be performed. Oral surgeons also need outstanding dexterity as well as physical strength, especially in the arms and the hands – dental extractions often require considerable strength and the mouth has lots of difficult to reach areas that require the doctor to take up awkward positions. Complicated oral surgery can also take long to perform, so a good oral surgeon needs to be in excellent overall physical condition and to be able to concentrate for prolonged times.

Choosing Better Dental Health – Which Toothpaste is the Best for Specific Purposes?

dental care

Are you looking to find out which toothpaste is the best one you can use? With so many brands available out there today, it can be difficult to pinpoint one toothpaste that stands above all others. However, with a little research, a visit to the dentist and your own discernment, you can easily find an affordable, well-designed toothpaste that will fit your needs to a T.

Finding Out What You Need

Which toothpaste is the best you can find? More importantly, is there such a thing as the “best” toothpaste of all? According to many experts, it is almost impossible to determine an exact brand or product that will be of help in every situation. This is mainly because each toothpaste has its own strong and weak points, and none of them are equipped to erase every dental problem you might run into.

So how do you find out which one is the best toothpaste for you? That one is not so difficult:

First you have to go to the dentist and find out whether you have any specific problems such as fluoride deficiency, gingivitis, sensitive gums or a weakened enamel.
Next, your Lakewood family dental professional will recommend a type of toothpaste to use based on his/her findings, as well as a treatment or surgery that might be required.
At this point, it’s up to you to either get the recommended toothpaste or find one that does the same thing but better.

As you can see, it’s as easy as 1-2-3, although the last step will definitely present you with certain challenges. So let’s see if we can help you out in making a more informed choice regarding the toothpaste that works best for you.

Select Your New Toothpaste

Based on reviews and Lakewood family dental expert recommendations, there are a number of toothpaste products that stand out as being of superior quality depending on the area they address. Sensodyne is probably the best toothpaste you will find for sensitive teeth, while Tom’s of Maine toothpastes are known for their fluoride formulas, which can help you replenish your own fluoride reserves in case of deficiency. Finally, if you’re looking for the best general use toothpastes, most people will guide you to Colgate or Crest Pro-Health products.

The way you can decide between these toothpastes is to evaluate all the most important points, and compare them. Ask for each toothpaste:

Does it fit the purpose recommended by my dentist?
Is it affordable enough for my current budget?
Is it provided by an established and trusted brand?
Are there any negative reviews, complaints or side effects that are associated with this toothpaste?
Do I like the flavor?

Based on these details, you can form a general profile of the type of toothpaste you want and use it as a blueprint to compare each of the aforementioned. You can then make an informed decision regarding the precise product you’d like to start using from then on.

Selecting the right toothpaste can take some time, but you will find it is completely worth it. If you really want to know which toothpaste is the best, the recommendations presented above should help you in deciding that for any particular issue you might want to prevent or treat.

Is Invisalign a Good Option for Older Adults to Use?

Is Invisalign a good option that surpasses what benefits most types of braces have to offer? And is it a good enough options for adults – especially older ones – to use in order to correct teeth that may have been misaligned for a long time? These questions are important to answer, if you’re between your 40s and 60s, and you are considering clear aligners like Invisalign.

According to Highlands Ranch dental professionals, there are many benefits to using Invisalign, whether you have a more pronounced misalignment to correct or a smaller one. However, knowing how to use the braces and figuring out whether or not they are good for you in particular is extremely essential to know.

Who Is Invisalign Normally Designed for?

Invisalign was primarily invented with teens in mind. If you’re an awkward teenager at school, and you want to avoid other kids staring at you, then wearing braces simply isn’t the way – no matter how much your parents and your dentist might be pestering you about it. However, with Invisalign, the one aspect that makes social interaction difficult for teenagers wearing braces will be eliminated entirely.

These clear aligners are designed to fit your teeth perfectly and gently realign them over a period of several weeks. As they do so, however, you’ll find the aligners are not all that visible. They are almost completely see-through, so that unless someone is looking closely at your teeth they won’t notice that you’re wearing them.

Moreover, Invisalign can be a good option for adults who are considering going on dates, trying to find a job, attending formal parties or going to other social gatherings where being presentable is an absolute must. Is Invisalign a good option for you if you’re dealing with any of these issues? The answer is absolutely yes!

Will Invisalign Be a Good Option for You?

happy couple smiling

So, will Invisalign be a good enough option for you as an older adult? This issue might not be as obvious as it would first seem, however, older adults over the age of 40 or 50 can gain just as much from using Invisalign as teenagers would. Let’s take a look at why:

First of all, 50 is the new 40, so if you’re close to that age, it’s not a good idea to consider yourself older. In fact, a lot of adults that age take excellent care of their appearance, so Invisalign would definitely be a big plus in your case as well.
According to most experts, Invisalign is as good an option if you’re 63 as it is when you’re only 13. While certain challenges might exist depending on each personal case in part, there is no real age limit that applies to the use of Invisalign aligners.
If you had some work done, such as bridges and dentures, then Invisalign treatment can be somewhat of a challenge. However, experts still regard it as being a possible treatment for misaligned and overcrowded teeth, even in such cases. However, you might want to talk to your orthodontist about the possibility of replacing some of the dental work you’ve had performed in the past.

So, is Invisalign a good option you can entertain in the event that you need realignment work? All in all, you’ll find that Invisalign can be really great if you’re an adult, and it will provide you with far better results and support than any other type of braces out there.

When Do Kids Need Braces and What Are the Most Important Concerns to Remember?

When do kids need braces and what are you supposed to do about their problem? For a lot of parents, these questions don’t arise until their children reach the age of 12-13. However, in some cases, dentists might recommend braces sooner or even later.

Depending on your child’s development, the details revolving around their use of braces will differ. To find out the ultimate answer to the question of when and whether your kids will need braces, it’s usually best to get in touch with a dependable orthodontics Littleton specialist and learn all about orthodontics, tooth development in children and the potential benefits and hazards that various types of braces might present.

Understanding Why Braces Might Be Necessary

teenage girl with dental braces

Your children might need braces for one of a number of different reasons. Their teeth might need realigning, or they may have a “bad bite.” As a parent, before considering the question of “when do kids need braces” you will have to address this concern first, figuring out all the important details regarding braces and why they are required in the first place.

There could be a difference in sizes between the top and bottom jaws. This is called “malocclusion” and it involves cases of overbite (when the top jaw is larger) and underbite (when the bottom jaw is larger than the top). Both these instances may warrant the use of braces, although depending on your child’s specific case, you will have to talk to a dependable pediatric dentist or orthodontist specialist in order to find out the specifics of what will be required.

Tooth and jaw problems can also be caused by losing baby teeth too soon. In such cases, aligners or braces will be required while the teeth and jawline is still in their formative stages. Accidents, sucking on thumbs and various other habits can also lead to such problems, so it’s important to take your child to the dentist from a young age, in order to gain insight on the potential concerns and how to deal with them before your child will even require braces in the first place.

At the first orthodontist visit, your orthodontist will examine the child’s teeth to find signs of overbite, overlapping teeth, misalignment or any other problems that could be resolved by wearing braces. Upon completing his investigation, the orthodontist will make a recommendation regarding the use of braces or regarding the need for other forms of orthodontic services and procedures that could work better.

When Will Your Child Actually Need Braces?

So, now that we covered the basics, let’s take a look at exactly when your child will require braces. The typical age of when a child will need braces is not one that can be determined on a whim. Your dentist will have to perform a thorough examination and determine the risks and benefits of a treatment using either traditional braces or aligners like Invisalign.

Most kids will definitely benefit from orthodontic visits as early as age 5-6. However, they will likely not have to start wearing braces until ages 10-13. Moreover, if you find a dependable expert, who can guide your kids throughout their early stages of dental development, the question of “when do kids need braces” will no longer apply to them, since their teeth will have developed naturally and correctly in the first place.

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry All About and Why Should You Consider It?

You may have heard about the efficient services of a cosmetic dentist in the past, but wondered, “what is cosmetic dentistry all about, and why should you think about opting for such a service?”

While, in most cases, cosmetic dentistry is considered to be less important due to the fact that it doesn’t fulfill an actual need – such as, for example, the services of a prosthodontist – cosmetic dentistry has a lot of potential advantages when it comes to improving your image. In day-to-day life, its contributions can be invaluable, especially if you’re considering becoming a public figure, or even just making sure you are presentable before attending a social gathering.

Understanding the Idea Behind Cosmetic Dentistry

So, what is cosmetic dentistry anyway, and why is it such an integral part of dentistry as a whole? To put it simply, cosmetic dentistry is a field of dentistry that has to do primarily with improving the appearance of your teeth. Like cosmetic surgery, it often aims to correct various problems involving misalignment, discoloration, lack of symmetry and other important aspects of what might make your appearance pleasant.

couple with perfect smile and white teeth

The main purpose of some cosmetic dentists is to make sure you can retain your beautiful smile, or that they can fashion you a brand new smile that you never even hoped for. Of course, the appearance of your smile is not everything, and many dentists have actually adopted a mixed approach in recent years. While some of them deal solely with cosmetic dentistry practices, others combine orthodontics, prosthodontics and a number of other types of dentistry with the aesthetics of the cosmetic dentistry branch.

The main idea behind cosmetic dentistry these days is that it can be integrated with virtually any other type of practice. Even if you’re going to have your gums treated, or you just want a filling, the dentist – if he/she is an adept of cosmetic dentistry – will likely suggest a few additional, secondary procedures that would normally be offered by a certified cosmetic dentist as standalone services.

Do You Need a Cosmetic Dentist?

Some dentists delve in many different areas of dentistry at the same time. A few even promote their practice using several different names – such as saying that they are a certified orthodontist specialist and cosmetic dentist. However, a genuine cosmetic dentist is one who specializes only in that area of expertise.

So, do you think you might need the support of a cosmetic dentist? Here’s how you can know:

You don’t actually have any serious dental problem, but you’d like to improve your appearance.
You don’t mind spending some extra cash, even though some cosmetic dentistry practices are included in dental insurance policies.
You want to whiten or realign your teeth for the purpose of improving your chances at job interviews, on dates or as a business entrepreneur.
You just want to feel good about yourself, and you feel that changing your smile would help you achieve that goal.
You’re a model, reporter, YouTuber or other type of public figure, and you need your smile to be flawless.

Although some cosmetic dentists charge more than others, there are a lot of options when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Also, as long as your desire is aligned with one of the aforementioned points, you’ll find that the remarkable results you can gain from even a few sessions with an experienced cosmetic dentist will be well worth the expense.

Give dentist Littleton CO cosmetic experts a call to see what they would recommend to improve your smile!

The Outstanding Advantages of Clear Aligners: Is Invisalign a Good Option for Your Teenager?

A lot of parents have asked their dentists recently, is Invisalign a good option as a replacement for braces? If you have teenagers, you’ve probably heard just how much they dread the day when the time comes to go to the orthodontist and get new braces. Fortunately, avoiding all that can be easy with an impressive new invention known as Invisalign – the revolutionary clear braces that have changed the face of dentistry.

invisible braces on a white background

Fewer Emergencies and Easier Maintenance

So, what’s so special about the Invisalign aligners? According to a Littleton dentist, basically, they are a set of aligners designed to mold over your teenagers’ teeth perfectly well. Aside from the fact that they’re completely transparent, one of the main advantages they have is that the material they’re made from is extremely comfortable and low-maintenance. Your kids will not have to remove them before meals or struggle with oral care.

Also, if you get Invisalign for your teenagers, they will more easily be able to avoid orthodontic emergencies. Unlike in the case of braces and wires, Invisalign is 100% safe, as there are no pokey wires or components that could break and cause discomfort.

You Can Eat Whatever You Feel Like Eating

With traditional aligners and braces, you have to cope with eating what you can. Sticky foods can be extremely difficult to get through, and you can forget about most crunchy foods as well.

Invisalign takes all these problems out of perspective. With these clear aligners, your teenagers will breathe easily and eat whatever and whenever they please. They no longer have to turn down snacks from their friends or avoid certain meals. Also, once they finished eating, all they need to do is remove the aligners, brush their teeth, then put the aligners back in no time at all.

The Advantages of Braces Still Apply

If you had braces in the past, you probably realized that, despite all the struggles and sorrows they may have brought you, they still did their job – which was to align your teeth properly. 74% of Americans are currently struggling with misaligned teeth, and that problem can affect their personal lives, careers and many other aspects of life as well.

With Invisalign you can say goodbye to those problems without having to worry about your aligners being seen and ridiculed by others. Your teenager will definitely thank you for that, since they’ll have an easier time forming social bonds at school, and their teeth will just keep getting better and better as Invisalign does its magic.

Invisible Aligners

The fact that the Invisalign aligners are see-through also have other perks. Let’s say your teenager is a confident kid and doesn’t let others bother them. Clear aligners can still make memorable experiences such as taking a selfie with a classmate or smiling spontaneously a lot more pleasant. Pictures and memories will be retained a lot more easily as a result.

So don’t worry about the cost of Invisalign – which, surprisingly, is not a lot higher than that of regular metal braces – and look into the option of getting it for your teen. Is Invisalign a good option for them? You’ll find out soon enough when they’ll go so far as to bake you a cake to thank you for the new aligners.

Facing the Revolutionary Side of Dentistry with the Most Reliable Dentists in Littleton

Dentists in Littleton, and everywhere else in Colorado for that matter, are not what they used to be. Modern equipment and advanced resources and technology have changed the face of dentistry forever, whether it’s through advanced materials for prosthetics, transparent braces or laser treatments.

man having teeth examined by dentist There are many new advancements that local dentists have to know about, and in most cases only the best can keep up with all the innovations. They are the ones you should consider for your preferred dentistry services.

Advanced Diagnosis and Hi-Tech Treatments

There are many new ways to diagnose disease and accurately detect disorders such as oral cancer without having to wait until the disease progresses over time. Special lasers and new types of procedures have now made this endeavor possible, and technology just keeps on advancing.

When it comes to treatments, ongoing research already exists into the production of biomaterials designed to fill cavities. One day, these materials could help you get rid of painful cavities without the need for complicated procedures, and the biomaterial could even be engineered to help the tooth heal more rapidly even when left on its own.

Another advanced treatment that the future could bring involves the use of nanobots. These are tiny, microscopic robots that could one day be used to deliver anesthesia or even restore your teeth entirely.

Dentistry in the Digital Age

Even though dentists in Littleton won’t have access to the technologies mentioned above for quite some time, you’ll find some of them are quire knowledgeable about these and many other innovations in the world of digital dentistry.

With access to digital documentation and learning materials, Littleton dentists’ work is never done. They will guide you through the more advanced aspects of prevention and treatment, knowing about advanced toothbrushes, sensors for detecting the presence of various diseases, and scanning technology that even makes it possible to scan your teeth for problems at home, without any invasive procedures.

Finally, digital x-rays are being used to provide faster results, reduce the amount of radiation associated with regular essays, and of course, gain higher quality images as well.

Lasers, Dental Implants and More

So what are the top most popular and advanced innovations that Littleton dentists promote these days? Invisalign is one such device: a set of transparent braces that gets your teeth aligned more easily and with a far more elegant approach than common braces.

Another technology you may already have heard of is VELscope – a revolutionary light-based device that is capable of detecting almost any abnormalities in a patient’s mouth, including the illusive presence of oral cancer.

Finally, there’s a lot to be said about lasers and dentistry. Although the use of lasers for this purpose is relatively still new, it’s already starting to catch on, and dentists continue to use lasers on an ever-increasing basis and for many possible purposes.

If you want the best experience from dentists in Littleton, look for one that specializes in laser dentistry, and they can bring you laser procedures to whiten teeth, reduce tooth sensitivity, or even to fill cavities, and quickly eliminate any form of unwanted bacteria before it becomes a problem.

Let’s Have A Talk About Cavities And Their Treatment

There are hundreds of thousands of people of all ages that end up losing their teeth or having to pay a lot for lengthy treatments. Most of them end up in this situation because of poor dental hygiene. They either do not know much about it, or they simply do not care because they do not show obvious symptoms. Those are the people that will eventually have to go through the process of finding one of the good Highlands Ranch dentists to take care of what is left of their teeth.

Someone once said that “sugar and sweets will rot your teeth”. That saying is not very far from the truth. In fact, if we look at it from a chemical point of view, that is highly accurate. We have taken the time to talk to some of the best dentists in order to better understand what cavities are, why they appear and how we can treat and prevent them.

What are cavities?

To narrow things down more, cavities are the result of tooth decay, a condition that affects both enamel and dentin. You will recognize a cavity by its color that goes from yellow to black. A tooth that has been affected by cavities is exposed to bacteria, which does give the unaesthetic look, pain and other symptoms. If not treated in time, cavities can lead to more serious health conditions.

Why do they appear?

Like we said earlier, the tooth decay affects the enamel and dentin that protects the tooth. This is usually caused by acids that can be found in food and drinks. Looking at a report on last year, most patients that came in with cavities, have admitted to consuming soft drinks, soda and sweets. The acids within these products will deteriorate the tooth leaving enough room for bacteria to settle in.

Treatment and prevention

The treatment for cavities is operative. That means that the dentist needs to remove the decayed area of the tooth using specific tools. Depending on how bad the cavity is, treatment can go from clearing the tooth and adding a filling, to tooth removal. That is why you need to prevent these types of situations. In order to do so, you will need to brush your teeth. We know you have heard that before from many dentists, but it is actually the truth. The toothbrush combined with the toothpaste will clean your teeth from leftovers and acids coming from food. By brushing your teeth at least two times a day, you prevent cavities by 90%.

Do not think that you can go a few days without brushing – otherwise, you will need to be finding a good dentist very fast to take care of the problem. Brushing your teeth will not only protect you against tooth decay, but it will also keep your teeth free from stains that change that pearly white into a depressing yellow. Talk to your dentist today and find out more about cavities and a better oral hygiene.