Oral health can be challenging to maintain, and it's the job of dental hygienists to prevent issues before they happen.

Those who have dental complications or those who have never been, visiting the dentist can be daunting.

That's where hygienists come in. Jessie Peters works at Pembina Valley Dental, and her job is to give people peace of mind.

"We try to make it a positive experience for kids because that's what shapes their future with dentists. We now have a lot of patients with dental phobias and what we want to do is to try and shape it for their future, so they don't dread coming to the dentist."

Peters can't overstate the importance of proper dental care and routine checkups and cleanings and adds it goes beyond just whitening your smile. She says if your gums or bone aren't healthy, it's akin to building a house on sand.

"Whitening is something we offer, but cleaning is super essential it does much more than whiten. It's about maintaining the structure of your mouth. Your teeth are important, but so is the foundation which is the gums and the bone. We're cleaning the teeth but were also cleaning everything out from under the gums."

If people are experiencing dental pain, that's a potential sign an issue has established or escalated. Peters says if left unchecked, your mouth can develop an infection called periodontitis, which can cause both the gums and supporting bone to deteriorate. She notes they recommend cleanings and checkups every six months, to identify issues early as problems can escalate quickly.

Smoking is another element that can put a strain on oral health. Smokers are at a higher risk of periodontal disease, oral cancer, and slows down healing times after dental procedures. For people with a smoking habit, these routine checkups are vital. Peters says they screen for oral cancers, watch bone levels, and provide potential options if they are looking to stop smoking.

Visiting a dentist is the first step; the next is caring for your teeth at home. Peters recommends brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day.

"Flossing is super important because when you don't floss you're missing 35 percent of the tooth structure. Yeah, you can brush, but you're still not getting under the gums where the floss can reach."

If someone only has the opportunity to brush their teeth once, Peters says the best time is before bed. She explains, after you've been eating all-day and bacteria has been building up in your mouth, you want to clean it out.