Smile is contagious….but are you confident enough to smile? Not all of us may have the perfect set of shiny, white teeth to flaunt. The oral cavity is often neglected when it comes to taking care of your health. Dental problems can range from a bad breath, usually due to poor hygiene, to a cancerous or a potentially cancerous focus commonly caused by toxins like tobacco. Good oral hygiene can prevent many local and general disease conditions. Care of teeth, gums and mouth as a whole is as important as care of any other part of the body.
Importance of oral health
Maintaining oral health and hygiene is an integral part of healthy living. A regular dental examination is as important as an annual general physical examination. Benefits of a healthy mouth are many. A healthy mouth enhances the aesthetic sense. You radiate confidence if you have a fresh breath and a bright and clean smile. Besides this, a healthy mouth can allow you to enjoy a wide variety of your favorite foods as the strong gums and teeth can help you to chew better. A healthy mouth is a promise for good overall health as open sores and cavities which are seen in poor oral hygiene are a source of infection. This oral infection may begin in the mouth but can later spread to the blood stream and cause illness, infection and disease elsewhere in the body.
Additionally, a healthy mouth can guard against the development of more grievous disease conditions like heart diseases. Studies suggest that more numbers of people with inflammation and infection of gums are likely to develop heart disease as compared to those who do not have such oral health problems. In women, an unhealthy mouth can complicate pregnancy outcomes. Studies prove that in pregnancy a compromised oral health raises the risk of delivering a premature baby before the expected date of delivery. Such problems are preventable by ensuring good oral health in pregnancy.
Simple measures for a healthy mouth
Only a healthy mouth can have a strong and longer lasting set of teeth. Three simple steps to a healthy mouth are: brush daily, floss daily and regularly visit a dentist. It is vital to brush every day. Make it a twice daily ritual. Carefully select a soft bristled brush and clean in several short strokes. Always brush on both the front and the back sides of teeth. Take care to brush both the upper and the lower set of teeth. It is desirable to spend a minimum of two minutes at brushing each time you do it. You need not be vigorous. Use gentle strokes to cover all surfaces and all teeth. Replace your brush every three months. You may select a toothpaste you like and this should preferably have fluoride. If you have sensitive teeth, you may choose desensitizing toothpaste. Use one consistently for around three to four months to get appreciable results. Flossing should be done at least once a day. Avoid substituting floss with irrigators or toothpicks. Educate yourself on use of floss. If you are using it for the first time, there can be initial bleeding after you floss. This means that there was a deposition and the same has been removed. This type of bleeding is minor and transient and does not raise a huge concern. You may not need to consult a dentist for this complaint unless it is severe and recurrent.
Regularly go for dental visits. Depending upon the health status of your mouth you may be required to visit a dentist as frequently as once every 3 months to once in 2 years. If you are younger than 18 years, you may need to go more frequently, say once every year or more frequent. This will help in timely detection of any cavities or diseased jaws and gums.
Dental plaque– Causes, consequences and removal
Plaques are sticky, transparent films that form on tooth surfaces. Plaques are not visible to naked eye as these are colorless. Bacteria like ‘Streptococcus mutans’ that cause plaques are found normally in our mouths and these colonize the tooth surfaces and also the margins along gums. Many more types of infection causing bacteria slowly grow in plaques. These bacteria are not easy targets of antibiotic therapy, and hence dental plaques are not easy to remove. It is important to get rid of plaque as it can lead to tooth decay and inflammation in gums.
Newer methods to get rid of dental plaques are being devised but prevention of plaques remains the best approach to fight dental plaques. To get rid of plaques, brush twice a day each day with a fluoride based toothpaste. Floss teeth regularly as this removes deposits from crevices where a toothbrush does not reach. Eat a healthy diet and avoid sugary and starchy foods. Periodically get teeth examined and cleaned by a dentist. Also check with the dentist if your plaque removal techniques are good. You may self diagnose plaque by using ‘disclosing tablets’ that stain plaques red or green. Lastly, if you are a smoker, quit smoking. Smoking facilitates build up of plaques and tartar on teeth.
Finding low-cost dental care
Dental care may range from consultation and advice for a minor dental problem or pain to oral surgery, alignment or replacement of teeth or other oral structures. The costs of dental care can be challenging. If you are interested in finding a low cost option, you may opt for one or more of the common options available. Seek dental care in a dental school. The teaching faculties in such institutes have rich experience and offer consultation and services at low costs. In addition to this, you may look for community based primary health care initiatives available in dental care. Seek more information from states and local resources. Lastly, you may choose to participate in a clinical trial if your dental ailment is being investigated in one or look for federally funded programs in dental care.
Smile…it does increase your face value!
A healthy set of teeth gives you the confidence to smile. Dental care is easy if adopted as a daily routine. Simple measures like brushing and flossing daily go a long way in dental care. A healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy body. It is never too late to start caring for the health of your mouth, teeth and gums.
