Why You Should Take Care of Your Teeth


 

Chattanooga pediatric dentist

Having healthy teeth and gums are very important to improving your quality of life. If you choose not to practice good dental hygiene at home then you will likely suffer from many oral health problems throughout your life. It doesn’t matter what kind of outstanding dentistry that your dentist provides, if you don’t help them out by brushing and flossing at home, it will all be for nothing. If you want to have a beautiful smile, then you need to brush and floss daily as well as avoid sugary foods and drinks. Here are a few things that can happen if you choose to do otherwise.

Tooth Decay
Everyone’s teeth have a hard coating on the outside of them which is called enamel. Throughout your day to day life, a film of bacteria called plaque builds up on your teeth. This will happen whether or not you brush and floss daily, it’s just a fact of life. Plaque produces acids that eat away at the enamel. This is what causes cavities. If you properly brush and floss, then you can get rid of the plaque every day before it begins to damage the enamel. The goal is to avoid cavities. Once you have one of those, your dentist will have to use some pretty outstanding dentistry to take care of it for you.

If you want to protect your teeth from decay then you will need to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Some people need more than others but your dentist can let you know.

Gum Disease
This is when the plaque starts to build up around and under your gums. It can cause infection that damage the gum and even the bone that keeps your teeth anchored in place. If you have gum disease, your gums will likely be tender and might bleed. You can usually fix this problem by brushing and flossing every day. However, if the gum disease progresses in to periodontitis, it has to be treated by a dentist. If you still don’t get it treated you could potentially ruin the bones and tissues as well as the gums and your teeth will either fall out or have to be removed. Even outstanding dentistry won’t save them at that point.

If you choose to avoid gum disease then you will need to brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride and floss once. You should visit your dentist at least twice a year and eat a balanced diet. Smoking will increase your risk for gum disease.

Oral Cancer
While oral cancer can not always be prevented, there are things you can do to increase your risk. For example, if you do not use a lip balm with sunscreen, use tobacco products or drink alcohol excessively, you are increasing your risk of oral cancer. Problems like these are why you need a good dentist with outstanding dentistry in order to check for symptoms every visit. Even if you have lost all of your teeth, you should still visit your dentist at least twice a year to check on your teeth replacements and screen for oral cancer as well.

Dry Mouth
This is a condition that happens if you do not have enough saliva and while it can not be avoided entirely, there are things you can do to help it. Sipping water or other sugarless drinks can be helpful. Try to avoid smoking and alcohol and caffeine also. Tart sugarless candy and gum has been known to stimulate the glands. If you see your dentist about it, he or she may be able to recommend an artificial saliva to help keep your mouth, gum and teeth in good condition.

You may not feel like your teeth are very important to your overall health and look but they make a big difference. They are one of those things that you don’t appreciate until they are gone or damaged. If you have missing teeth, your jaw could begin to shrink over time and will change the shape of your face. The bacteria that gets into your gums can also mix with your saliva or food and be swallowed and will be carried to your organs well they will continue to cause harm.

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