Oral Health is Essential.

Oral Health is Essential.

How much care do you take of your teeth? Do you realize the implications of not having regular check-ups at your dentist?

So you remember when you Mother was always telling you to brush your teeth? Well if you did that – chances are you have managed to have a lot less teeth and gum problems than the people who were not taught this valuable lesson.

There are several reasons why you should take care of your teeth, gums and mouth. Dental hygiene prevents bad breathe and tooth decay and ensure that you maintain healthy gums. If you have small children, get them cleaning their teeth from a very young age.

Brushing and flossing your teeth is essential to maintaining good oral hygiene. Good oral health is connected to your overall health and wellbeing. An unhealthy mouth can result in gum disease and has been linked to some serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke. You should brush either two or three times a day but check with your dentist what they recommend.

Have a Dental Check-up.

A dental check is recommended ever six months or at least every twelve months. Here the dentist can check your teeth and your mouth and gums.

The mouth can tell a lot about your overall well being. A swab of the mouth can reveal a great deal of information. If you mouth is swabbed by a member of the police force and placed in their detection machine, it will analyse what drugs (legal or illegal) you have in your system. If the swab is taken by your doctor he can also detect a variety of substances. Cortisol levels in saliva, in babies, are used to test the stress levels of the newborn. There are also certain cancer markers that are present in saliva.

Saliva is one of the main defences against bacteria and viruses. Saliva is known to contain anti-bodies and can attack pathogens that are known to cause the common cold.

When we brush and floss our teeth regularly, we prevent the build up of plaque on the teeth and gums. Plaque allows bacteria to cause problems in our mouth and can result in gum disease – gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, the results can be to a more serious condition called periodontitis.

Long term gum infection can result in the loss of your teeth. These diseases were much more common fifty years ago – and this could be the reason why your grandparents have false teeth. That is not the only reason why we have to clean and floss every day. There is a correlation between some major health problems and oral infections. One cause of concern is cardiovascular disease. If you have gum disease, the bacteria may cause clogged arteries and blood clots.

Brush Your Teeth

Some people are not sure how to brush their teeth for the best possible protection.

1. Brush for at least two minutes using toothpaste on your brush. It is vital that you brush your teeth both morning and night. We all brush the outside of our teeth but don’t forget to brush the inside.

2. Including flossing as part of your daily routine – especially in the evenings.

3. Have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist when you go for your six or twelve monthly check-up.

If you did not think that oral health was essential – think again. Get into the habit of looking after your mouth and teeth. If you take good care of your teeth and gums you will be helping your overall health.