Dentist - History of Dental Care and Why it is Important

There is historical evidence that around 2700 BC, Chinese acupuncture was used to treat tooth pain and 5,000 years ago ancient Egyptians used a form of toothpaste. Other cultures chewed on twigs and roots to clean their teeth, which may explain why just one hundred years ago, half of the population in America had missing teeth.

Obviously the need for a trained specialist in the care of teeth has been around for awhile. Maybe Ancient civilization even had someone who practiced the much needed skill of helping people who suffered from dental pain by using natural remedies like clove to ease the pain. We may never fully know how ancient cultures and societies functioned but we can probably safely assume dental care has been an ongoing issue for a long time.

Luckily today you have more options for dental care than ever before so there is no reason to not take care of your teeth. Your options today have expanded a great deal past chewing on twigs and using acupuncture for the pain of tooth aches. Today you have the option of using electric tooth brushes, tooth paste in a wide assortment of flavors and colors, dental floss and mouth wash. Your teeth are more than just a pretty smile they are an important part of your overall health and you know it every time you floss, brush or gargle to take care of your mouth.

Studies have shown that people with tooth decay and gum diseases like Gingivitis are more likely to have heart attacks than people who don't have dental problems. The reason- the bleeding from gum disease is an open opportunity for bacteria to enter your mouth and get into your bloodstream. And since tooth decay is the second most common disease around most people have at some point in their lives suffered from a cavity and lowered their resistance to getting sick with more serious health problems as a result.

Studies have even demonstrated that asthmatics are more likely to have cavities than non asthmatics possibly due to the side effect of their inhalers which causes dry mouth which can lead to cavities.

Preventive dental care is the best defense against the many causes of tooth decay and gum disease. You should be seeing your dentist at least twice a year for deep teeth cleanings and to catch any small problems before they emerge into big problems like a root canal or a tooth that needs to be extracted. After all you have all the options at your fingertips, there is no reason to suffer from the pain of tooth decay or lose your teeth like generations past were forced to do. Take care of your teeth and you will be glad you did, they are one of your biggest sources of good health and can help create a pretty smile on top of it all.