Dental Health Is Part Of Overall Well-being

Dental Health Is Part Of Overall Well-being

There are proven connections between a person’s overall health and their dental health and many companies now offer some type of dental plan to help their employees remain healthy and available for work. It has been shown that plaque that builds up on the teeth often flows into the person’s system adding plaque to the heart and affecting their coronary health as well as their dental health.

A person who has had limited or no dental health throughout their life may also end up with diseases such as gingivitis as well as severe cavities and rotting teeth. While the teeth may affect their appearance gum diseases can lead to complications in other health care concerns. Plaque is made up of colonies of bacteria and poor oral hygiene allows the bacteria to grow and infect other parts of the body. It is also a major contributor to bad breath

While bad breath is often attributed to poor dental health, it is not the only cause. Food, such as onions, is digested and put into the blood stream. As the blood returns to the lungs to be re-oxygenated, it puts the odor of the food back into the lungs where it is released as bad breath. This also happens to others such as smokers and no amount of brushing, flossing or scraping of the tongue will eliminate this source of bad breath.

Oral Hygiene Is Important

Taking care of the teeth is so important to most people and the country spends over $3 billion a year on dental health products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and tongue scrapers as well as breath mints and gum. While many will spend hundred of dental health products, they shy away from trip to the dentists and have a feeling of pain before they enter the dentist’s office.

In part, dentists may be to blame for some of the reluctance of people to seek professional help with their dental health. Previously, many dentists were judgmental in their approach with patients, which made them feel even more uncomfortable than the actual work being done. Today’s non-judgmental approach to dentistry is having a positive effect on good dental health.

Recent studies have also concluded that that poor dental hygiene can be a contributing factor to ischemic stroke, one of the most common types of stroke in the United States. The plaque buildup can cause release of plaque which can settle into small blood vessels more common in the brain.

By: Kimberly Graham

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Dental Health - Prevention is the Best Medicine

Dental Health - Prevention is the Best Medicine
By Amy Nutt

It probably comes as no surprise to you that the best way to make sure your teeth are in good shape is to keep them that way right from the start. Even if you´ve had problems with cavities and such in the past, it´s never too late to start taking proper care of your teeth and you can start your kids early with preventative dental care, too.

Babies and Toddlers

Don't wait until those first baby teeth make their appearance. Use a damp rag over your finger to wipe your baby's gums on a regular basis. There are even rubber slip on fingertip cleaners designed specifically for this purpose and nothing apart from a little water is necessary.

Once the first little pearly whites pop through the gums, it's time to switch to a baby toothbrush. Again, use just water, since babies don't need toothpaste and it can actually be harmful if they swallow it on a regular basis. This basic dental care can continue up through the toddler years or until your child is able to spit the toothpaste out, usually around three years. Alternatively, you may look for a toddler toothpaste that doesn't contain fluoride.

Children

By the time your little one is ready to start using toothpaste, you should have a good toothbrushing routine down. Two to three times a day is good, with the brushing session lasting at least 60 seconds, though three minutes is actually the ideal. Setting an egg timer or playing a special song can help kids judge the amount of time to brush.

Adults

Many adults find that they are too busy to pay much attention to their teeth, but it is definitely worth making the effort. Regular brushing with fluoride enhanced toothpaste will help keep cavity causing plaque away and reduce your chances of getting sick due to a tooth decay issue. You will also save quite a bit of money by taking proper care of your teeth, which involves regular brushing (2-3 times a day) and flossing (at least once a day).

Despite there being specific dental care instructions for each age group, there are certain things that will help anyone of any age stay on top of their dental health and ensure that problems are stopped before they even begin.

Getting regular dental care is essential in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Your dentist can tell you if you need to step up your brushing and flossing and can also instruct you in the right way to remove plaque from your teeth. A proper cleaning is a good idea at least once or twice a year, as well.

In addition to regularly flossing and brushing, there are other steps you can take to help prevent tooth problems. Your diet is particularly important. It's a proven fact that certain foods and beverages are more likely to cause tooth decay and stains than others. Coffee, colas and tobacco are all terrible for staining your teeth, while anything with sugar tends to promote bacterial growth and thus tooth decay. Carbs that stick to your teeth (think crackers), are also notorious for causing problems because they convert to sugar with saliva and get wedged into cracks in your molars where a toothbrush may not reach. Mouthwash can help with this.

Your best bet for healthy teeth is to eat a balanced diet and avoid junk food and having too many sweets. When you do give in to the sweet tooth, make sure you brush afterwards. A little prevention goes a long way and with the proper care, your teeth should last a lifetime intact.

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