Did you know that your oral health and overall health align with one another? We understand you may be thinking: “how could my oral health possibly impact my entire well-being?” But the truth is, that our mouth and body connect and show us any signs of problems we may be having in our health. A bright and healthy smile is about much more than aesthetic pleasure. When we think of our oral health, we usually think about cavities and bad breath; however, everything we ingest can have an alignment to its impact on our overall health; both body and oral. There are many components to our overall health, which correlate with our oral health, such as periodontal disease, diabetes, and other complications.

Understanding that oral health issues can be prevented is essential to ensure that they do not stem into further problems. Since we were children, we have always been told to brush our teeth, which is a great first step to ensuring that health problems are prevented; however, there is much more that can be done to make sure that everything stays healthy. Some suggestions we have to help prevent any oral or bodily health complications can be achieved by a nutritious eating regime, which will translate to a healthy oral hygiene routine. These two components work together to ensure that our bodies are healthy and happy, but it is up to us to make that happen.

A Healthy Diet

An apple a day keeps the dentist away because apples are associated with a healthy smile…and a healthy body. Changing your nutritional routine can help improve not only your overall well-being but your oral health as well. The main culprit of oral damage are foods that contain sugars and starches, which can lead to tooth decay, gingivitis, and tooth loss. Thinking and understanding what food and drinks you are putting into your body is important because it has a direct relationship with our oral health. Some things to keep in mind when wanting to keep a healthy body and smile:

• Upping your intake of water will help remove any food or debris left in the mouth, which does not give anything for bacteria to attack.
• Enjoy fruits and vegetables more often as they help keep your teeth clean, keep saliva flowing, and prevent bad breath. Rather than munching down on sugars and starches, replace them with a healthy snack, like apples and celery, that will not damage your teeth and gums.
• Cheese is another great way to enhance saliva and calcium production. Cheese can help build minerals and enamel that may have been lost due to harsh foods or improper oral hygiene.
• Not many individuals may know this, but green and black teas contain polyphenols, which attack harmful bacteria, which will help to prevent cavities and gum disease.

Hygiene Care

Now, what exactly happens when you do not care for your oral health? Well, it is common knowledge that if we do not take care of our teeth we are going to deal with bad breath and plaque build-up; however, that is not all you are going to be dealing with. Firstly, if you do not take care of your oral hygiene, your enamel will start to break down, which will allow for plaque to build-up, and become tartar. Tartar is a yellowish substance that hardens on the surface of the teeth which can only be removed by dental professionals. This is a serious condition as it can cause decay or erosion of your enamel, which is what protects your teeth. Once the enamel has been destroyed, there is no way to restore it, which means that your entire tooth will need intensive dental procedures to ensure that the decay does not attack the pulp and destroy the root. Secondly, is that you can become prone to gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). This condition begins as gingivitis, which is preventable; however, once it becomes gum disease, plaque may begin to attack the gums and cause gum recession and bone loss. Lastly, are tooth infections that can become extremely painful. This can occur from cavities or cracks in the teeth that have not been taken care of properly. Once bacteria have entered the tooth due to a cavity or crack, this puts the pulp of our tooth in harm’s way which can cause discomfort in the mouth and lead to a root canal. These three issues are the most common if you do not take care of your teeth, which is why we recommend brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash to ensure that these issues are prevented. Brushing may be increased if a dentist suggests, due to patients showing early signs of gum disease or if someone is susceptible to cavities.

Dental tip: toothbrushes should be replaced every three months because they harbour a lot of bacteria from months of use and their bristles wear down, losing its purpose.

Dental Checkups

Visiting the dentist should be done every six months, or as recommended by a dental professional. When visiting the dentist for a checkup, there are specific actions that a hygienist and dentist will be performing. A hygienist will perform a teeth cleaning, which involves scraping off plaque, flossing between the teeth, and polishing the teeth. Now that your teeth have been properly cleaned, there will be a deep examination of the condition of your teeth and gums to identify any dental conditions, if there are any. This examination includes x-rays for the dentist to see if there are any issues below the surface of the mouth, once this is completed, the last step is a dental exam. This is different from the exam performed by the hygienist as this is performed by a dentist, to locate if there is any bone loss, cavities, or other abnormalities that are above or below the oral cavity. Once these examinations are completed, a dentist will give you the results and advice to complete to prevent further damage, if there is any.

If you are feeling something in your mouth that should not be there, or are concerned about your overall oral health, it is important to get it checked by a professional. Although it may be nothing too concerning, it is better to be safe, rather than sorry. If you are concerned about your oral health or looking to improve your smile, contact us today. We want to make sure that your oral health is always taken care of and that you are avoiding any unwanted health problems.