Whenever a new year rolls around, people think up resolutions, ways to embrace the motto of “new year, new me.” Maybe you want to trim off all of that holiday feasting by working out more or keeping abreast of what goes on with your friends and loved ones, the point is that a new year is a great time to think about how to be a better person or pursue self-improvement over the next calendar year of existence. One of the best possible resolutions a person can choose to pursue is working toward better dental hygiene. The quality of a person’s teeth holds a surprising amount of influence over the quality of that person’s overall physical health. Flossing once a day and getting into two brushing sessions a day are simple, easy and fast methods to keep your teeth and gums in a good place. Visiting your dentist every six months is a great way for you to find out how your routine is helping your teeth and what sort of improvements may be called for.
The human mouth is teeming with a variety of nasty bacteria. Brushing and flossing on a daily basis is the best way of expelling those bacteria. When bacteria development within the mouth is not kept in check, people are primed for getting nasty problems like the following.
- Infections within the mouth
- Decay and erosion of the teeth
- Gum disease
- Periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that is believed to contribute to several other diseases.
- Cardiovascular disease
- Infective endocarditis, a bacterial inflammation of the heart’s inner lining. Symptoms can include pallid skin, nausea, joint pain and a sensation of fullness where the heart rests in the body.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Eating disorders, possibly due to the pain caused from placing pressure on compromised teeth.
- Cancer in the head and neck.
Patients dealing with ailments like diabetes and HIV/AIDS are prone to more severe oral issues due to the debilitating effect that these particular conditions have on the immune system. Pregnant mothers are another demographic more susceptible to oral problems and should be extra vigilant in their oral care routines.
While all of this can sound scary, it is important to remember that deterring these problems is a relatively easy task. Stopping these problems begins with keeping good dental hygiene on a daily basis. While brushing and flossing are great ways to keep your teeth in top shape, you should still keep a good relationship with your dentist and visit them twice a year for oral checkups.
One last thing you can do to improve your dental health for the new year is to consider your diet. Healthy eating and limiting your intake of carbohydrates will do wonders for keeping your teeth nice and happy. Adults can also stand to quit smoking and the use of tobacco as additional measures to improve the quality of their smile and mouth. Lastly, it may be a good idea to look over certain medications you take as some medications are known to cause debilitating side effects within and around the mouth; consider chatting with your dentist or doctor to see about viable alternatives if this proves to be the case for you.
Overall, spending a little time on oral care each day pays off in not having to pay to treat the litany of previously mentioned oral problems that may arise down the line. Keep this advice in mind and do your best to stick to good habits and good health in 2022!