Smile. If you think taking care of your choppers consists of brush, swish, spit, you’re wrong. Brushing simply removes plaque and bacteria that accumulate on the flat surfaces of teeth but does nothing to remove the bacteria in between.
That’s where flossing comes into play. It removes bacteria between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach.
“I tell my patients to think of their gums as a turtleneck collar that hugs the crown of each tooth,” said Sally J. Cram, DDS, spokesperson for the American Dental Association and practicing periodontist. “We should brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. It only takes the bacteria 24 hours to build up and start causing inflammation and infection in the gum tissue.”
When brushing, using a soft toothbrush, Cram suggests looking for toothpastes that contain fluoride to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay. Mouthwashes compliment brushing and flossing but should never take its place.
Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy.
That’s the easy part. When it comes to good dental it’s about the actual health of the teeth themselves such as being free of decay. Oral health encompasses everything in the oral cavity such as the gums, teeth, cheeks, throat, tongue, and even jawbones.
“Your oral health depends on many factors, including your diet, the type and amount of saliva in your mouth, habits, your overall health and your oral hygiene routine,” David A. Albert, D.D.S., M.P.H., assistant professor of clinical dentistry at the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery.
Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Smoking, poor habits such as not enough brushing, or a poorly balanced diet can cause problems such as periodontal disease, gingivitis, oral cancer, tooth decay or cavities.
People should also note that changes in your overall health status often result in changes in your oral health. Albert states certain medications can alter the saliva in your mouth or pregnant women can experience inflammation of the gums. Those who have asthma typically breathe through their mouths, which can result in dry mouth, increased plaque formation and gingivitis.
In addition to committing to a daily oral health routine that helps prevent unfavorable oral issues, people should examine their mouth regularly. Despite regular dentist visits you are the best person to notice changes.
These changes could include swollen gums, chipped teeth, discolored teeth or sores or lesions on your gums, cheeks or tongue. A regular examination is particularly important for tobacco users, who are at increased risk of developing oral cancer.
The dynamics of good dental and oral health may seem like an isolated part of the body, however oral health and overall health are more connected than one realizes.
According to Colgate, studies show people who have diabetes are 3-4 times more likely to develop periodontal disease. Studies have also shown a possible correlation between perio disease and higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
“We also have data that suggest women with perio disease are more likely to deliver preterm or low birth weight babies, due to inflammation and chemicals that cause production of hormones that start labor,” added Cram.
To put this into perspective, Colgate states the mouth is teeming with bacteria. We keep it under control with daily brushing and flossing. But when gum disease becomes a factor, it acts as a port to allow harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Medications or treatments can also be a gateway into allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
In addition to poor oral health being linked to cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth, and diabetes, in some cases, one of the first signs of HIV/AIDS may appear in the mouth, with severe gum infection.
The first stages of osteoporosis loss may show up in one’s teeth and many other conditions may make their presence known in your mouth before one knows anything’s wrong including certain cancers, eating disorders, syphilis, gonorrhea and substance abuse.
Many associate those types of diseases with care from a physician, yet dentists should also be held in high regard. Some people put off going to the dentist until there is a problem, but by the time something hurts it may be too late to save the tooth or can lead to more complicated, expensive and uncomfortable procedures.
The key is prevention, however people should see their dentist regularly. People with no dental problems should visit their dentist every six months; those with bad oral histories, every three to four months. Kids should start seeing the dentist after their first birthday.
“Good oral health is about more than a good smile. I can’t tell my patients enough that 95 percent of oral disease is totally preventable with good daily home care, regular visits to the dentist, and a healthy balanced diet,” said Cram.
