You only get one set of permanent adult teeth. Unfortunately, over time and without the proper care, you can begin experiencing problems with both your teeth and gums. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth and underlying jaw bone loss in the world. The scary thing about gum disease is that it affects nearly half of all adults over the age of 30. This is why so many people are beginning to wear dentures at an earlier age or having issues with their teeth and gums.
The Link Between Your Mouth and General Health
There has been a direct link involving both your dental and overall health. In fact, a recent study revealed that people who had IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, had higher instances of gum disease. This often has to do with cell rate turnover, intestinal lining shedding and inflammation found within the body. Taking down that inflammation is key to improving both overall and dental health. This might involve losing weight and correcting intestinal issues that you might be experiencing.
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing and flossing are incredibly important when it comes to taking good care of your oral health. Unfortunately, many people forget to brush twice a day or when they do brush, it's forced and rushed. You want to brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day and floss between the teeth at least once a day. Flossing is an often overlooked step that can help to get rid of plaque and debris from between teeth. If you don't like using string floss because of it pulling or hurting, consider using a water flossing device. Switching to an electric toothbrush can also make a world of difference to your oral health.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash often contains ingredients that are specifically designed to kill germs and bacteria. Some are even designed to be used before brushing to improve the amount of plaque that is removed after using the product. The key to using mouthwash is to find one that works for you and provides you all of the benefits that you need. Try to get in the habit of using mouthwash at least once or twice a day in order to reap the benefits that it provides.
Regular Trips to the Dentist
You need to make routine trips to your dentist in order to have professional cleanings and exams done. Unfortunately, even with proper brushing and flossing at home, you're still not able to get rid of any and all plaque that is present. For this reason, it is essential that you work to keep up with appointments for professional cleanings. The exam is done by the dentist, who is going to look for any signs of cavities and gum disease while you are in the office. If it's been awhile since you've been to see a dentist or had a cleaning done, it's never too late to begin taking charge of how your teeth look and feel.
A Change in Diet
The way that you eat can contribute to a lot of different health problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. A diet that is high in carbs and sugars can feed the bacteria within the mouth, making them more impervious and likely to cause decay. By cutting out sugar and eliminating bad carbs, you're able to improve your smile. Likewise, it is important that you brush after eating or drinking anything other than plain water before going to bed at night.
There are many ways for you to keep your teeth and gums healthy so that you have a smile you can always show off. You will want to become more proactive about your oral health and take steps to improve the way that your teeth look. By keeping up with dental appointments and upgrading the products you're using at home, you'll see a major difference in your smile.