Prevention Is the Best Medicine: Importance of Oral Hygiene

Good oral health is more than just taking care of your teeth. It involves taking care of your gums and overall health, eating a balanced diet, and cutting down on sugars. Good oral health will enhance your ability to smile, eat, and speak confidently.

Benefits of Good Oral Habits

Good oral health habits will help prevent oral problems. It means you will have to have a consistent, intentional oral health routine. You will also have to go for regular dental checkups.

Oral diseases from tooth decay to periodontal disease are painful and can cause distress. Not just orally, but they can also affect your self-esteem and ability to interact with others. Avoid these issues by taking the preventive approach.

Prevention of Tooth Loss

Make sure you visit your dentist at least one or two times a year. During the visit, your dentist will clean your teeth and check them. As they clean your teeth, they will remove plaque and tartar. Removal of plaque and tartar will ensure that bacteria in your mouth does not cause your teeth to get cavities.

If there are any cavities, your dentist will give you a plan on how to deal with them. It will help you prevent the loss of your teeth in the future.

Prevention of Periodontal Disease

One of the indications of periodontal disease is bad breath or halitosis. When you sense a whiff of bad breath while you have a consistent, intentional oral care routine, visit a dentist. Periodontal disease causes inflammation of the gums as plaque and tartar from below the gumline. There is exposure to the roots of your teeth, making them susceptible to cavities. Cavities can then lead to loss of teeth.

Bacteria can also travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. These include the heart and kidneys. They can cause serious complications in these organs if you do not deal with the disease immediately.

Prevention of Pain

Cavities can make your teeth sensitive and painful. They make it hard to eat certain foods. When it leads to loss of teeth, it can make it hard to bite, chew, and even smile. The pain from tooth decay and cavities can make it hard to sleep at night.

Regular brushing and flossing of teeth will help you get to any food debris left between your teeth. Removing this debris will mean there is nothing for bacteria to feed on, so no plaque, tartar, tooth decay, or cavities. It prevents painful experiences that may leave you miserable.

Prevention of Speech Problems

Your teeth play a chief role in your speech and the formation of sounds. Losing them can make it hard to pronounce some words. Good oral care habits help prevent the loss of teeth. Hence, the prevention of speech problems.

Prevention of Self-esteem Issues

When you lose your teeth, it affects your confidence and makes it hard to smile. It may also affect your ability to interact with people, get a job, or even close a business deal. It is important to take care of your oral hygiene to ensure that you can continue interacting freely with people.

For more on the importance of oral hygiene, visit The Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at our offices in Destin, Panama City Beach, and Navarre, Florida. You can also call (850) 810-0300, (850) 810-0600, or (850) 409-6400 to book an appointment today.