Keeping Those Pearly Whites Healthy: Some Dental Health Pointers
Dental hygiene is something that we’re taught when we are very young. In fact, after learning to walk, talk, and use the bathroom, it’s often the first real “life” lesson are parents impart to us. Still, as we grow older, it becomes less of a priority beyond maybe brushing our teeth two or three times a day.
The importance of keeping your teeth healthy cannot be emphasized strongly enough. Poor dental hygiene results in many complications as we grow older, leading to very painful procedures at the dentist that could have easily been avoided. Beyond brushing one’s teeth, flossing is an added step in the daily hygiene routine that is often skipped. But the benefits of flossing are numerous – the practice removes bacteria, prevents gum disease, and also prevents the future loss of teeth.
In an MSN Health article, Dr. Kimberly Harms, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association (ADA), states: “The root of all evil, when it comes to periodontal disease, is the plaque that forms on your teeth every 24 hours … The bacteria in plaque produce toxins, and if you don’t remove it, the toxins will irritate the gums, create a painful inflammation, and eventually cause the loss of bone around the tooth.”
Although the link hasn’t yet been established, some research has indicated a high rate of association between chronic gum disease and heart stroke, heart disease, and low birth weight in newborns.
Another aspect of dental hygiene that concerns us is the whiteness of our smile. While of course products such as Crest White Strips and even a laser treatment from your dentist are solid ways to remove stains, preventing stains in the first place is just as important in keeping a healthy white smile for many years to come. Avoid smoking, as well as drinking drinks that are known to stain teeth. This includes coffee, tea, and wine, among other beverages. If you can’t avoid the drinks, then try drinking them with a straw.
Going to the dentist regularly is very much part and parcel of maintaining a healthy set of teeth. It is advisable to go at least once every year for a checkup. If your gums are bleeding for long periods of time, or if are experiencing any sort of pain, check up with your dentist immediately before the problem becomes more complicated – and more expensive – to treat.
As with most health concerns, taking preventative measures is much more effective than fixing problems after they’ve been ignored.
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