Are You Practicing Proper Daily Oral Health Care? Find Out Now
More and more studies are suggesting a link between your oral health and your total body health-particularly gum disease and heart disease
. This link makes it more important than ever to keep your teeth and gums healthy through proper daily oral health care. Good dental health starts at home with preventive care, which includes brushing, flossing, nutritious eating, and regular visits to your dentist-all of those important things you should do to keep teeth and gums healthy while preventing dental diseases.
Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums
Prevention begins with daily brushing and flossing to control plaque buildup, which cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
The American Dental Association recommends the following tips for good oral health:
*Brush teeth at least twice a day
*Replace your toothbrush at least every three or four months
*Floss daily to clean between the teeth and along the gum line
*Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and limit sugary foods or beverages and between-meal snacking
*Visit your Farmington dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Your mouth can say a lot about what you are eating and your dentist may be the first person to notice any potential nutritional imbalances. Nutritional deficiencies result when there is an imbalance between what the body needs and what it is getting. These imbalances can be reflected in the oral cavity, where soft tissue renews quickly - often in as little as three to seven days.
You are able to improve your oral health and reduce the risk of periodontal disease by eating a well-balanced diet based on the food pyramid. The food pyramid recommends eating a variety of foods from the five major food groups - grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and meats. With a proper diet, you may be able to prevent tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Decay results when acid products from oral bacteria destroy the teeth and other hard tissues of the mouth.
Eat a well-balanced diet that contains moderation and variety. Always keep your mouth moist by drinking a lot of water because saliva protects both hard and soft oral tissues. If you have a dry mouth, supplement your diet with sugarless candy or gum to stimulate saliva. Additionally, foods that stick to your teeth can promote tooth decay, so when you snack avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cake, candy and dried fruits. Choose dentally healthy foods, instead, such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese and sugarless gum or candy.
It's easy to protect your mouth from harmful dental disease with a little extra care. Brushing and flossing help to remove plaque; a healthy diet low in sugar and other refined carbohydrates helps keep your whole body as well as your teeth and gums in good condition; and routine dental exams and regular cleanings may help prevent the incidence of serious dental diseases.
It is never too late to start taking care of your oral health. Contact your dentist in Farmington for more information on daily oral health care and how you can keep your smile for a lifetime.
by: Gen Wright
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