How to Beat Dental Problems and Stay Smiling

Some people tend to take oral health for granted. They only pay attention to their mouth when they experience throbbing and incessant pain. Some fail to make their oral health their priority and use their busy schedules as their excuse. However, your oral health is as important as your overall health. Here are some ways on how to beat dental problems and stay smiling all the time:

Halitosis (Bad Breath)
This problem involves a person that has an unpleasant and foul odour coming from his or her mouth. This problem might be caused by several things: lingering food particles in the mouth, dryness of the mouth, poor dental hygiene, mouth infections, or illness. Resolving this problem depends on its cause but for some, this may be resolved simply by brushing the teeth to remove build-up of plaque, as well as brushing the tongue to remove bacteria. If you are suffering from this, it’s important that you replace your toothbrush every three months and have regular cleaning appointments. If this is caused by dry mouth, chew gum or drink water at regular intervals.

Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
Gums are the tissue inside one’s mouth that serves as teeth support. When they get infected due to plaque, it is called periodontal disease. The two basic types are: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a milder form and it is reversible. When left untreated, it develops to periodontitis – an advanced stage of gum disease. Bacteria can cause deterioration of the gums as well as destruction of tooth-supporting bones in this case. It might lead to tooth loss. Prevention is the key when it comes to this disease. Proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques remove the plaque and bacteria. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene.

Tooth Decay
As plaque forms on the teeth, it also produces acids. These acids attack the enamel and if not removed properly, it can damage the tooth enamel – this is called tooth decay. If this is not treated at the soonest possible time, it can result in cavities (small holes in the teeth). Tooth decay is caused by poor brushing techniques or failure to brush one’s teeth regularly or with proper technique.  It is highly preventable with basic oral maintenance – daily brushing and flossing after every meal.

Mouth Sores
Mouth sores vary in types and they can appear on the gums, inner cheeks, tongue and lips and even at the bottom of the mouth. They range from mild sores to more serious ones. Mouth sores can be prevented depending on the type of sore. People who get sores from biting their cheeks can prevent sores by chewing more carefully and slowly. Being careful when drinking hot substances also help in preventing sores from burns. Antiviral medications can also be given as they help prevent cold sores from appearing.

Why It’s Time to Prioritize Your Oral Health

Oral health is not limited to your appearance and sense of well-being – it is also essential to your overall health. Achieving that ‘winner smile’ is something that requires hard work and extra care for your teeth. Even when you’re going through tough times, you still have to include regular dental care in your priorities. Cavities and gum diseases might contribute to more serious conditions and untreated cavities are painful and can also lead to serious infections. Here are some of the reasons why you should prioritize your oral health:

Have white teeth
Everyone wants to have whiter teeth. Smiling is easier done when you have pearly whites to flash to other people, and a brighter smile definitely gives us more confidence. Professional treatments and home remedies are available in order for you to achieve your ‘dream smile’, but you can also prevent teeth from yellowing by brushing and flossing regularly. You can also avoid substances that stain teeth such as coffee, wine, tea and cigarettes.

Prevent gum diseases and tooth decay
Flossing daily is one of the best things you can do in order to prevent tooth decay. Some dentists even suggest that flossing is more important than teeth brushing. However, both have benefits of oral health. It’s important to brush two times a day and floss once a day. Fluoride treatments and products are also recommended such as mouthwash and toothpaste with fluoride.

Minimize the risk of some health problems
Good oral health has been linked to minimizing risk for general health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. People who suffer from bleeding gums can be in worse situations when bacteria from their mouths enter their bloodstream through the openings. The bacteria promote development of blood clots that might put the patient at high risk for strokes and other heart diseases.

Avoid expensive dental treatments
If you do not practice good oral hygiene, you are bound to have a wide range of dental problems and issues such as tooth decay and gum diseases – these will only lead to complicated and expensive treatments. Dental problems that are ignored and left untreated also cause increased damage to the supporting bones of your teeth and gum tissues. Regular trips to the dentist should be planned – once every six months. In doing so, you can avoid painful dental procedures because simple problems will be addressed by your dentist before they even worsen.