Awareness of Dental

HEALTHY SMILE HEALTHY LIFE: IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR DENTAL VISITS

Most people do not realize that dental checkups are not only important for their oral hygiene, but also for the prevention and early detection of serious health issues like gum disease and oral cancer. A family dentist or general dentist focuses on preventative care, ensuring that your smile remains healthy and strong. While home maintenance such as brushing and flossing is crucial to healthy teeth, a professional tooth cleaning is much more thorough and gets rid of plaque buildup. A dental cleaning and a checkup are recommended about every six months.

When deciding whether or not to schedule your biannual visit to your family dentist or general dentist, keep in mind that it is much easier to prevent health problems than to repair them. Poor oral hygiene can lead to several issues such as bone loss, gum disease, and infections. Your family or general dentist can help prevent oral hygiene problems with fluoride treatments, teeth cleanings, tooth decay prevention, and early detection of oral diseases. Dealing with these problems early will not only save your health, but in the long run, will save you money. And the reason is simple: The earlier your problem is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, there is a relationship between gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as a stroke and heart disease. Women with gum disease also show higher incidences of pre-term, low birth-weight babies. A considerable base of evidence shows that more than 90% of all systemic diseases (diseases involving many organs or the whole body) have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems. Such diseases include diabetes, leukemia, oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease. Tips for maintaining good oral health

You can practice good oral hygiene by adhering to the following recommendations:

Brush for two to three minutes, at least twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste

Practice tongue cleaning: You can use a tongue cleaner or a soft-bristle toothbrush, stroking in a back-to-front direction. Tongue cleaning is particularly important for people who smoke or whose tongues are coated or deeply grooved

Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can not reach

Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular) to prevent gum disease

Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which may contribute to gum disease and oral cancer

Schedule regular dental checkups – the surest way to detect early signs of periodontal disease. Good oral health contributes positively to your physical, mental and social well-being and to the enjoyment of life’s possibilities, by allowing you to speak, eat and socialize