Dentists Care About Health

Dentists need their patients to know that there is more to good oral hygiene than simply showing up twice a year for a check-up. There are a lot of things that the patient needs to do in the interim to maintain the health of his or her mouth.

Dentists are not just concerned about the welfare of their patients’ teeth but about their entire bodies. They realize that the mouth is an important part of the body that plays a role in many aspects of life. A smile is the first thing many people notice when meeting a new person; it is the portal through which good food and drink passes as we entertain our new acquaintance; it is the outlet for our speech that we use to discuss all the facts or our world; it is the tool we use for that first goodnight kiss after a wonderful evening. Dentists become doctors because they know how important oral hygiene is. They have spent years in college and afterward working toward their goal and now that they have reached it they want you to know that there is a lot more to a healthy mouth than one might think.

Many people do not realize just how important our mouths are. Bad breath and stained teeth are minor and cosmetic problems compared to some of the complications that can result from poor oral hygiene. There is a large amount of research that suggests heart disease, stroke and diabetes are all increased in people with poor oral health. Gum disease and cavities can lead to more serious infections. Increased sensitivity because of these problems or tooth loss can lead to a reduction in eating and a loss of weight and general well being. An unhealthy smile can literally kill you.

Fortunately, dentists are there to prevent any of these problems long before they even become an issue. Having semi-annual check-ups with a cleaning by a hygienist and x-rays to evaluate the underlying architecture ensure that any problem is caught in its most nascent stage. In addition to saving you from more serious problems, having a check-up every few moths also prevents expensive costs and painful procedures from being necessary.

The thing that most needs to be stressed is the importance of flossing and brushing. Hopefully we all regularly brush but it is not enough on its own. It may seem like a truism but flossing is really important. It removes food and plaque from areas of the mouth that are unreachable with a toothbrush. Every night before bed and after meals every person should brush his or her teeth and then floss and then use a good quality mouthwash. It would be amazing if everyone could have a professional cleaning every day but since they can’t dentists recommend these three simple activities to maintain good, healthy teeth.