Admit it. We’ve all gobbled down more than the recommended serving of breath mints before walking into a job interview or sitting down at a first date. After years of half-hearted brushing and questionable flossing regimens, it’s time to stop cutting corners with your dental health. Prioritize your pearly whites.
Ever since you were a little child, you’ve likely received a lecture or two from concerned parents and teachers who insisted that good dental hygiene was critical to your overall health. While most of us instinctually brush and floss our teeth twice daily, an alarming majority of flossers aren’t familiar with the reasoning behind routine dentist visits and teeth-whitening practices.
Your mouth is one of the primary entry points for harmful bacteria into your body. If you don’t brush regularly and practice good dental hygiene, you give that harmful bacteria more than ample time to work its way into your circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems. The medical sector has provided plenty of evidence that these bacteria strains instigate their fair share of health problems.
As a result, the nation’s top dental care providers continue to highlight poor dental hygiene’s health consequences and advocate for the importance of routine dentist visits. Canyon Crest Dental, a Lehi UT dentist, insists that achieving optimal dental health is virtually impossible without biannual trips to the dentist’s office. With the consequences of skipping dental visits in mind, you’ll want to schedule your bi-annual check-ups. Otherwise, expect to pay the price.
- Increased plaque and tartar buildup (known to cause gum disease)
- Heightened risk of tooth decay
- Heightened risk o of gum disease
- Bad breath that can be off-putting to others
- Tooth loss, which could result in the need for bridges or dentures
The impact of poor dental hygiene
To keep damage control to a minimum during your semi-annual trips, employ the recommended dental hygiene techniques. Failure to do so could result in the following physical and social consequences:
Physical Impact:
- Heart and lung disease brought on by bacteria entering the body
- Mental health disorders like Dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Exacerbated diabetes-related symptoms
- Reproductive issues in men and women
- Kidney disease and digestive disorders
Social Impact:
- Time loss at work or school due to persistent dental problems
- A negative financial impact after covering the cost of dental procedures
- Issues with maintaining relationships due to bad breath
- Loss of employment opportunities due to bad breath and stained teeth
Eight insider tips for better dental hygiene
While poor dental hygiene can have severe consequences, it’s possible to dodge these adverse effects by observing good dental hygiene says this dentist in Greenville. To help you do right by your mouth and teeth, here are eight reliable insider tips you can follow for a brighter, whiter smile and fresher breath.
Brush your tongue
While this may seem like common knowledge to some, others neglect the buildup rest on their tongue when brushing their teeth. Scraping this build-up is a must, given that the tongue hosts bacteria in the same way the teeth do.
Preventative dental care
The dental community recommends each person schedule at least two preventative appointments every year. Two teeth cleanings and checkups a year can ensure optimal tooth help and reduce susceptibility to dental problems.
Healthy foods reduce stains
When left to your own devices, you could probably list dozens of reasons why maintaining a healthy diet is worthwhile. Although, in most cases, improving your dental health won’t have a place at the top of this list.
Unbeknownst to most, certain traditionally healthy foods contain enzymes and acids that can help remove stains and plaque buildup from teeth. The healthy foods that contain these plaque-fighting properties include nuts, carrots, pears, and apples.
Find a dentist that makes you feel comfortable
One of the primary reasons people avoid the dentist’s office like the plague is fear. You can avoid spiraling into a panic episode at first sight of a dental drill by looking for a dentist that makes you feel secure. That way, you’ll follow through with these bi-annual appointments instead of canceling at the last minute.
Ban whitening strips
The reality is whitening strips are an unreliable way to maintain white teeth. They don’t whiten evenly, and they do absolutely nothing to address issues with bad breath. Additionally, these whitening strips often give users a false sense of security that their oral hygiene checks-off the must-haves.
Floss, floss, and floss some more
Dentists don’t stress the need to floss because they invest in dental floss manufacturers. Dental care providers recommend flossing once daily, as flossing works to remove food particles and bacteria lingering between the teeth and around the gums.
Rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar won’t leave your breath feeling fresh, but it does have properties that will clean your teeth. You can rinse with mouthwash afterward to eliminate the unpleasant aftertaste.
Read More: 4 Signs that you may have a cavity
Avoid citrus fruits
Lemons, oranges, and limes might appeal to the taste buds, but they’re also your pearly whites’ arch enemies. Why? The acid content in citrus fruits will erode tooth enamel, resulting in a dingy smile and unpleasant tooth sensitivity.
Wrap up
Here’s the bottom line. You can ignore your dental hygiene and break the bank on costly dental procedures, or you can take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing daily.
