Oral Health Facts
Are you suffering from pain, cavities, yellowed teeth, bleeding or sensitive gums, or any other dental issues? Don’t wait to see a dentist, because your condition won’t get better by itself. Consult with an oral health dentist at our office to correct these issues before it’s too late.
Many people don’t realize the importance of proper oral hygiene, but taking care of your gums, teeth, and mouth is very important to your overall health. Gum disease, sensitivity, bad breath, and cavities can be more than just bothersome issues—some of these issues can be dangerous.
Your quality of life could also suffer as you struggle with the pain of bleeding gums and sensitive teeth, for example. You can prevent these issues, and many others, by following the guidelines set by your dentist.
It’s never too late to improve the health of your mouth, so to get you started, check out these easy-to-understand oral health facts.
Fact 1: Taking Care of Your Mouth Takes Time
Don’t rush through your teeth-cleaning routine, because it’s important. You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Don’t just mindlessly move the brush around inside your mouth, but take care to brush the top and sides of your teeth. Floss at least once a day, and end your routine with mouth rinse.
Fact 2: Visiting the Dentist Shouldn’t Be Optional
Many people don’t take the time to see the dentist every six months as recommended, but getting a professional cleaning twice yearly can save you a lot of headache, pain, and money down the road.
Cavity fillings and major dental work can get expensive. Keep your teeth healthy, though, and they could last for the rest of your life. Dental visits will help with that. Your dentist professionally removes plaque, can fill small cavities before they get big and ruin your teeth, and can treat your gums to prevent gum disease.
It may not be fun to visit the dentist, but it’s a lot less fun when you need major oral surgery because you neglected your teeth and gums.
Fact 3: Use Good Products and Replace Often
There are a wide array of teeth cleaning options for you to choose from, but be sure to pick the products that work best for you. Once you choose a brush, be sure that you replace it often for optimal cleaning.
Electric toothbrushes offer a nice alternative to a manual brush, and the head rotates in a circular pattern, which is the correct way to brush your teeth.
Many types of toothpaste have ingredients that can help fight tartar buildup, whiten teeth, fight cavities, or help with bad breath. There are even toothpaste options for those with sensitive teeth.
Fact 4: Don’t Put Off Treatment If You Need It
If you do need dental work, such as fillings, crowns, root canals, or any other treatment, don’t put it off. Cavities can’t heal themselves like other parts of your body can, and gum disease doesn’t go away on its own.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four adults has untreated tooth decay. About half of those over the age of thirty have signs of gum disease. Tooth loss does occur when gum disease and tooth decay go left untreated. Your oral health could decline rapidly if you fail to get the treatment you need quickly.
Fact 5: A Healthy Lifestyle Leads to a Healthy Mouth
Research shows that when you live a healthy lifestyle, this will usually translate to a healthier mouth. What you eat plays a role in your oral health, as does regular exercise. If you eat foods high in sugar and acid, your teeth will pay the price. Treat your body and your mouth right by eating a healthy balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise.
Fact 6: Oral Health Can Start Early
You should teach your children the importance of good oral health as soon as possible. Even before teeth form, you should have a toothbrush waiting for your child to use. When you spot those first little nubs, you can use a clean cloth to wipe teeth and begin brushing as soon as possible. Encourage children to brush their own teeth.
Treats are okay, but a healthy, balanced diet is best. Try to keep your child away from sugary beverages, and don’t let your child go to bed with a bottle. When a child sleeps with a bottle, the beverage can rot the teeth. Always take your child to the dentist every six months.
Fact 7: Technique Matters
Many people don’t realize how important a thorough brushing is. When brushing your teeth, you should be sure to brush all sides of your teeth and your tongue. Brush along the gum line as well. Flossing has a technique as well. The floss should move all the way down along the teeth and into the gums.
Finally, when using a mouthwash, use it for at least sixty seconds or as recommended. The longer amount of time allows the alcohol-based ingredients to actually kill those nasty germs. A mouthwash with fluoride can aid in the prevention of cavities. It’s important that you read the label before use, and never ingest mouthwash.
Fact 8: Oral Cancer Is Often Linked to Smoking
It’s been discovered that tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cause the majority of oral cancers. The risk of developing oral cancer is almost quadrupled when you are a smoker. If you want a healthy mouth, you shouldn’t smoke.
Contact a Dentist at Our Office
Unfortunately, many people just don’t take their oral health seriously the way they do the health of the rest of their body. Paying attention to these oral health facts can help allow you to have the cleanest teeth, the strongest gums, and the best breath of anyone you know! Keeping your natural teeth longer is easy—all you have to do is take care of them.
To get your free smile consult, call New York Dentist at 555-555-5555 or make an appointment online utilizing the form below. We’ll have you meeting those #smilegoals in no time.
