An Overview of Dental Health

Keeping your teeth, gums, and the rest of your mouth healthy is very important. In fact, oral health can even impact the state of your overall health. Our two outstanding, caring and highly experienced dentists will do everything they can to ensure your mouth is as healthy as can be when you’re in our one of our offices, but there are some facts you should know to stay healthy between visits.

Dental health plays a big part in the overall health of your body. It might surprise you to find out that your dental health can be linked to a number of other conditions in your body, including cardiovascular disease, premature birth and low birth weight. This is mainly due to the fact that the healthy bacteria in your mouth can get out of control (if not kept in check with daily care), and reach potentially harmful levels that influence your overall health, as can the inflammation that comes with periodontitis.

There are also a number of conditions and diseases that can negatively impact your oral health, including HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. If you suffer from these or any other long-term health conditions, ask us how those conditions could affect your oral health.

So, ready to start caring for your teeth, gums, and mouth? Good! Read on to learn how you can do just that.

Keeping your mouth in good health includes more than just twice-a-year dental cleanings. Here are a few tips on maintaining good oral hygiene between visits:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time (use a timer!)
• Floss daily
• Make sure you replace your toothbrush every three months (or sooner, if you see the bristles become frayed)
• Don’t use tobacco products

A healthy diet can, indeed, have a positive effect on your dental health, while a diet loaded with sugar, artificial dyes, coffee and alcohol can cause major problems for your teeth and gums. Snacking between meals also triggers the production of acids that are harmful to your teeth, so limiting the frequency of snacking can help protect your teeth, too.

For optimal oral health (and general health benefits), stick to a nutritious diet that isn’t high in sodas, sugars, coffee, alcohol or dyes.