Preventing Tooth Loss Starts NOW!
This article explains the importance of lifelong oral health and hygiene in preventing tooth loss caused by bacterial infection and decay.
Too many people take their teeth for granted. And as strong and invulnerable as your pearly whites may seem, they simply cannot withstand decades of neglect. A diet that is high in sugar, poor oral hygiene and habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can all result in the suite of oral conditions and diseases that lead directly to tooth loss. But you don’t even need to commit the top dental sins to suffer from tooth loss later on in life. Some patients are genetically predisposed to periodontal (gum) disease and oral cancer. What you absolutely want to avoid is finding out the hard way just how vulnerable your teeth are to poor lifelong oral hygiene and certain habits. Preventing tooth loss is a lifelong exercise that should start as soon as your adult teeth emerge in your late childhood.
A Guide to Preventative Oral Healthcare
There is no better approach to healthcare than a preventative one. And this starts by following a rigorous home oral hygiene routine:
- You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, for two minutes at a time, making sure to include each and every tooth in your brush strokes using toothpaste with fluoride.
- You should floss your teeth at least once a day, and always before you go to bed at night. Food and bacteria readily become trapped between your teeth and using a toothbrush alone simply isn’t good enough to keep these narrow spaces clean.
- It’s always a good idea to include an anti-bacterial mouthwash in your oral hygiene routine, especially if you spend long hours away from home. Keep a bottle of mouthwash (preferably one approved by the American Dental Association) in your drawer at work and swill your mouth out after lunch, a sugary snack or drink. This will keep bacterial activity in your mouth to a minimum.
Another fundamental component of preventative dentistry is regular visits to the dentist and oral hygienist! Even if you maintain a strict home oral hygiene routine, your teeth and gums are still vulnerable to bacteria, decay and physical trauma. You may have a surface cavity or localized infection that you’re completely unaware of. Only the skilled and experienced eye of the dentist can make that diagnosis and recommend treatment before mild problems such as these escalate out of control. You should be going for check-ups once every six months, according to dentistry guidelines.
Habits to Avoid and Habits to Adopt
In conjunction with a thorough home oral hygiene routine and keeping regular visits to the dentist, you should take care to avoid the following habits:
- Tobacco chewing and smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Drug abuse (both illegal and prescription)
- Using your teeth as tools, for example; to open containers, etc.
And you should try your best to make the following positive lifestyle changes:
- Drink water instead of sugary soft-drinks
- Cut down on tea and coffee
- Get more exercise: This promotes general health and helps patients psychologically cope with stress, says the Fort Lauderdale dentist, which in turn aids in the prevention of teeth grinding, or Bruxism.
- Eat a balanced diet
A Final Note on these Dentistry Guidelines
By following these healthcare guidelines every day, there is no reason why you can’t enter into your late adulthood with all of your original adult teeth. Healthy teeth and gums make for a beautiful smile and fresh breath; and let’s not forget all that money saved on expensive restorative dental procedures and surgery.
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