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Plenty of people have a hard time with proper oral care, and it’s not because of a lack of effort. It’s more because there is an issue with education about oral health. For example, cavities aren’t inevitable, but at least 90% of adults 20 and older have had one or more cavities according to the CDC. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to improve your oral health and prevent issues like cavities, general tooth decay, and gum disease.

Five easy ways to improve your oral health.

1. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Going to the dentist may seem like a chore, but it’s ultimately very important. Plus, you’ll probably end up spending less money if you simply visit the dentist regularly, as opposed to having your tooth damage repaired later. A dentist will examine your teeth, ensure that your teeth and mouth are healthy, and have a dental hygienist clean your teeth. All of this will help them catch common issues early and prevent others from occurring.

2. Brush After Every Meal

While most Americans brush their teeth twice a day, you could really benefit from brushing your teeth after every meal, or even after every snack.

3. Floss Every Day

You should be flossing daily, ideally after every meal. Flossing is in many ways just as important as brushing your teeth. This is because food gets stuck between your teeth in places simply brushing can’t reach, which can cause cavities and gum disease. While brushing your teeth is effective and essential, flossing ensures that they’re truly taken care of.

4. Consider Your Diet

Some foods are simply better for your oral health than others. You may want to avoid acidic drinks like wine, as well as sticky and sugary foods.
Ultimately, dental care is important to ensuring that your oral health is at its best.

5. Utilize Dental Treatments

Your dentist can offer a variety of extra treatments to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and much more. For example, you may have the option of a fluoride treatment. This will strengthen your teeth and help prevent decay. Sealants can also be applied to your teeth to further ensure that oral health is preserved. Usually, sealants are applied to your back molars.

Contact the friendly team at Lowell Dental Arts to learn more or to schedule your appointment, today!

We’ve known that oral health is an essential aspect of our overall general health for a long time. In the early 1980s, U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop coined the phrase, “You’re not healthy without good oral health.” Yet, 34 million school hours are lost every year due to unexpected (emergency) dental treatments, losing approximately $45 billion in productivity due to poor oral care.

The Connection Between Oral Health and Our Overall Health

Our oral health vastly influences our overall health. Think of your body as a machine. Like any machine, if one part goes down, the rest falters. Plus, our mouths are filled with nasty bacteria. Good oral care and our body’s immune defenses keep these ugly bacteria at bay. Poor oral health can lead to tooth decay and gum inflammation. Gum inflammation, on and off, is followed by plaque buildup. That buildup weakens our body’s defenses allowing some of those harmful bacteria to slip into our bloodstream, causing illness elsewhere in the body. There are several conditions you might not know are connected to poor oral care. They are:

• Heart Disease/Stroke – In some cases, gum disease may be linked to the overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth (gingivitis). This inflammation may lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
• Respiratory Disease: Bad oral hygiene can lead bacteria to go into the lungs and create plaque buildup. As a result, your lungs stiffen, and you become more susceptible to respiratory infections.
• Dementia: Swollen gums tend to emit a chemical that affects the brain. This chemical can kill brain cells, which, may cause memory loss. Worse, it has the potential to cause Alzheimer’s disease.
• Improper diet: If a child does not eat properly, they may lack the nutrients necessary for a healthy mouth. Oral disease leads to difficulty chewing and to a diet that lacks proper nutrition.

Poor oral healthcare can hinder a child’s school performance and speech. That is why dentistry for children is so important.

Keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy prevents further health complications in your child. So, it’s essential to get your child’s dental check-ups at least twice per year. Your child’s oral health affects their overall health. Boost your child’s emotional, physical, and mental health by ensuring that their oral health is in good oral standing.

As you get older, your mouth and teeth are prone to problems. You may also experience pain or discomfort in the jaw, gums, or tongue. These problems can occur at any age, but they often happen when people reach middle-age and beyond. For the best dental care, preventative measures such as brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting the dentist regularly will help ward off these issues before they arise. Here are some tips to help keep your mouth healthy.

1. Be Diligent With Oral Hygiene

Brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice per day, and floss once a day. Flossing gets the plaque off the hard-to-reach places in between the teeth. If you wear braces or have other dental work such as implants, make sure to clean them regularly. Rinse after eating sugary foods or drinking sodas or coffee because these are high in the carbohydrates that bacteria need to grow, which can lead to cavities and decay.

2. Use Fluoride Toothpaste When Brushing Your Teeth

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil, plants, and animals. It helps prevent tooth decay by making the enamel on teeth more resistant to acid erosion caused by bacteria. Fluoride can be found in many types of toothpaste or mouthwash, but some are not recommended for children under six years-old because they contain ingredients that can be harmful if swallowed. Read the label to find out how to use fluoride safely when you brush your teeth.

3. Reduce Sugar Intake

Bad bacteria need sugar as a food source, and it’s left behind after eating sweet foods such as fruit and candy, so brushing afterward isn’t enough to remove it from your teeth. If you eat a lot of candy or sugary foods and find that your teeth are sensitive after eating these foods, try brushing with fluoride toothpaste or rinsing with mouthwash to reduce the sensitivity. Be aware that smoking tobacco also causes sensitivity in teeth, so if you continue to smoke while doing all this, it will not help your teeth.

4. Visit the Dentist Twice a Year

A dentist can diagnose and treat issues like gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. Gum disease (gingivitis) is a condition that affects the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. It’s caused by plaque building up to the point where it starts damaging tissues around your teeth which cause bleeding, inflammation, swelling in gums, pain when chewing or brushing, and bad breath. That’s not something you want!

Cavities are another problem which, if left untreated, will get worse and cause pain leading to infections. So, be sure to visit your dentist once every six months or twice a year for regular checkups.

5. Get Modern Dental Care Products

Newer products can help you keep your teeth and gums healthy by preventing damage to existing surfaces or even growing new ones if need be. Cosmetic treatments, modern fillings, modern dental implants, and whitening procedures are just a few of the advancements in modern dental health that can help you have better oral hygiene and healthier teeth. Take advantage of these modern-day advances in dentistry to revitalize your smile.

6. Get a Customized Mouth Guard

A custom-made sports mouthguard is a protective appliance you wear over your teeth to protect them from damage that can occur during contact sports like boxing and football. You don’t want to risk chipping or cracking your teeth, so this could be very beneficial for anyone who regularly plays any of these sports. There are many types of mouthguards available, but if you find yourself playing the same sport often, it might be worth investing in one of these rather than using store-bought ones, which are not as effective.

In conclusion, by following the tips listed above and visiting the local dental professionals at Lowell Dental Arts, you can have a healthy mouth and avoid dental problems that lead to much more serious issues. Many dental issues are treatable if caught early, but ignoring them could lead to tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and more. Don’t let these conditions get out of hand, or you might find yourself unable to afford the necessary dental care.