Ever since we were kids we were told to brush our teeth every day. Twice a day. Floss. Don’t eat so much candy. Other than to ward off bad breath, cavities, and the embarrassment of having food stuck in our teeth, we didn’t really think about much more than that. What we didn’t know, however, is just how important those few minutes each day were to our overall health.
Let’s think about it from the most basic level. The mouth is, essentially, the gateway to the body. Consider how much we take in through our mouths: food, fluids, air, and whatever else is floating around. It’s a direct line to our respiratory and digestive tracts. That means that whatever we take in will end up in our stomachs (and beyond) as well as in our lungs and bloodstream. All the more reason why we should be selective about what we ingest. If we don’t take good care of our teeth, gums, and mouth we let in germs that could travel to other parts of our bodies, infect different systems, and cause inflammation and disease.
Um . . . no thanks.
There are some factors that put us at higher risk of periodontal disease. Poor nutrition, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, and even high stress levels are some of the more obvious culprits but what we don’t always realize is that any condition that lowers our ability to fight off infection could put our dental health at risk. Diabetes, autoimmune and respiratory disorders, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and even osteoporosis can affect the body’s defenses against nasty germs. But even if we’re healthy, poor dental hygiene can actually lead to things like respiratory problems, cellulitis, cardiovascular disease, endocarditis, high-risk pregnancy, and oral cancers. Even our mental health can be affected – when we feel down, we may neglect self-care, which may lead to embarrassment of the way our teeth look or how our breath smells. I think you get the idea . . .
So, what can we do about it? How can we take control of our dental health and, hopefully, ward off all kinds of terrible health issues? Here are some tips, most of which we already know, but are always worth mentioning – and remembering on a daily basis:
- Brush and floss regularly. Opinions differ about whether we should floss before or after brushing. Some say after, to get anything we missed, and some say before, to loosen up food particles hiding between teeth and under gums. That way they’ll get removed during brushing.
- Use mouthwash.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Some say to even limit the amount of tea or coffee we drink to avoid stains and acid eating away at the enamel.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Be active and eat good, nutritious food. Good health starts from the inside.
- Maintain any conditions that you do have. Take prescribed medications, treatments, etc. to help your body do its job in fighting further problems.
- Avoid food and drinks with high acid content and sugar.
- See your dentist every six months for regular cleanings, checkups, diagnostics, etc.
- Replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head (if you have a power toothbrush – and I HIGHLY recommend them!!) every six months.
In fact, at my last dental visit, my hygienist spent barely any time at all scraping my teeth. She commented on how easy it was and commended me for taking such good care of my teeth. Then she asked me how I did it. Here’s my secret: other than the brushing, etc. I change the toothbrush head between dental visits. My hygienist cleans my teeth really well (duh) and about three months later, I replace the toothbrush head before plaque has too much of a chance to develop. Then, about three months later, I have another dental visit and she cleans them up once again.
We all know it’s important to stay healthy and strong. Though it seems painfully obvious that dental health is part of daily life, it’s amazing how easily we can take it for granted and neglect it – until the day something goes wrong and fixing it is not only incredibly painful but expensive too. So show your “toofies” some love. Take care of them and they’ll take care of you.
#HappyBrushing
#LoveYourToofies
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
https://penndentalmedicine.org/blog/connection-between-oral-health-and-overall-health/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/oral-health-body-connection
The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.
Wholeness Health and YOU! 