The next time you think about skipping your nightly toothbrushing and flossing routine, your dentist in Casper urges you to think again. Your oral and overall health are closely linked — and research shows ignoring your dental hygiene can have an impact on everything from your heart health to your memory.
Healthy Teeth and Gums Promote General Wellbeing
Routine oral hygiene prevents gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss, which promotes a healthier body. Because your gums provide easy entry into the bloodstream, your periodontal (gum) health is especially linked to your systemic wellbeing. People who have gum disease are more likely to have heart issues like cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled blood glucose levels, memory loss, and other health conditions.
Tooth decay and tooth loss also have serious effects on your overall health. By making it difficult to chew, missing teeth may make it difficult to maintain a balanced, nutritious diet. Self confidence may also suffer due to gaps in the smile. A 2015 study from the American Dental Association shows that 35% of young American adults regularly feel stress or embarrassment about the condition of their teeth.
Oral Hygiene Basics
So how can you prevent gum disease, tooth decay, missing teeth, and low self confidence for better general health? A big part of it is what you do at home — like brushing and flossing regularly. Brush your teeth for two minutes, at least twice daily, and floss once a day. Attend six month checkups and cleanings with your dentist for routine preventive care. When we see your smile regularly, we are able to catch problems almost as soon as they develop, which ensures we can provide the most conservative treatment possible.
A Good Diet Matters, Too
In addition to your dental hygiene routine, your diet also plays a significant role in your oral and overall health. Knowing what to eat (and what to avoid) can help you enjoy a healthier smile. In general, try to avoid foods that are very sugary, chewy, or sticky (like candy, caramel, and even some very sweet “nutritious” items like granola bars or fruit mixes).
Some tips you may want to consider for better smile health include:
- Select whole grains instead of modified/refined grains. Choose breads, pastas, and cereals with “whole” in the title — doing so keeps the pH balance in your saliva in check.
- Snack on a handful of nuts veggie sticks in the afternoon. You’ll get a boost of vitamins and antioxidants, and the crunch factor will naturally scrub away plaque and bacteria buildup.
- Rinse your mouth out with water after drinking black coffee, wine, or dark beer to wash away the dark pigments that cling onto and stain tooth enamel.
- Get plenty of calcium in your diet from low-fat dairy sources, spinach, and nuts. Calcium strengthens your tooth enamel to help protect against cavities.
Protect Your Smile: Visit the Family Dentist in Casper!
When was the last time you and your loved ones visited the dentist? If it’s been more than six months, don’t ignore your preventive care for another minute. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Prach today.