Let’s Talk About Oral Hygiene

Let’s talk about…. our oral hygiene shall we?

For some, this may be a triggering topic. For some, it may be a great reminder. For some, it may be a wake up call. Regardless, we are going to talk about it.

When was the last time you went to the dentist for a cleaning? Do you go every six months? Once a year? Has it been ” a while” and you just constantly ignore the reminders when they come in the mail, your email, your voicemail?

Do you complain about your mouth/tooth hurting but do nothing about it? What types of fillings do you have? Get rid of all the metal/silver/mercury mixture. What about that root canal you had done years ago, have you had that checked?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, I highly recommend you continue reading on even if you are feeling a little uneasy.

VISITING THE DENTIST

If you have great oral hygiene meaning you regularly brush and floss your teeth and gums, a regular visit to your dentist is important. It is recommended to go in for a visit once or twice a year.

It is very common for many dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer to not cause pain or become visible until they are in the more advanced stage. By waiting, this makes treatment and follow-up more extensive.

Did you know that your risk for dental disease(s) can change over time ? You can be affected by factors like illness, diet changes, new medication, pregnancy and more. So why wait? Book the appointment and just go.

HIGH RISK GROUPS

According to Delta Dental, those who are at high risk for oral health issues are:

• Smokers
• Pregnant women
• Persons with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome, head and neck cancers, HIV/AIDS, and others
• People with current gum disease
• People with a weak immune response to bacterial infection
• People who tend to get cavities or build up plaque
• People who suffer from dry mouth
• Older adults

8 Healthy Oral Habits

1. Use toothpaste when brushing morning/night
2. Use mouthwash
3. Don’t forget to scrub your tongue
4. Floss daily
5. Brush your teeth the proper way
6. Change your toothbrush reguarly
7. Chose water over sugary drinks
8. Go for regular dental check ups

CAN SMOKING RUIN MY TEETH OR CAUSE DENTAL PROBLEMS?

“Smoking by itself does not cause direct damage to your teeth. However, it can cause dryness of the mouth and change the type of bacteria in your mouth. This may increase the risk of decay and gum disease.

Nicotine and tar from smoking can cause long term yellowing of teeth and surface staining of teeth and existing fillings. Smokers are also at higher risk of developing gum disease, fungal infection of the mouth (oral thrush) and lesions of the soft tissues, including oral cancer” (Dental Studio).

HOW TO PROTECT TEETH ( AND GUMS) IF SMOKING ?

According to Dental Studios, these are a few great tips to help protect your teeth and gums if you are a smoker:

1. Rinsing your mouth after smoking can mitigate the degree of staining from smoking.
2. Brushing straight after smoking can improve your breath. It also reduces the time that nicotine and tar from smoking sit on your teeth and gums. This can can reduce staining.
3. Frequent consumption of water can counter the dehydrating effects of smoking. It is vital for smokers to maintain a high standard of dental hygiene as they are at higher risk of decay and gum disease compared with a non-smoker. This also helps reduce bad breath.
4. Effective cleaning of teeth, including the use of toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and other interdental aids, combined with brushing or cleaning of the tongue can go a long way in improving one’s breath.

ROOT CANALS CAUSING CANCER

Oral health is nothing to mess around with and we hope to bring awareness to the topic. There is a lot of conversation about dental procedures causing infections, cancer and even death.

Recently, we have been discussing root canals and cancer.

“Root canal treatment is a procedure dentists use to treat infection at the center of a tooth. The part of the tooth known as the root canal contains the pulp of the tooth.

When bacteria get into this area, an infection can develop, which may eventually lead to cell death in the pulp. Infections in the pulp can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain when chewing, pain when eating hot or cold food or drink, and loose teeth.

Root canal treatment is a procedure that effectively cleans out the dead and dying pulp from the infected tooth. The dentist will remove the bacteria and then seal the tooth. They will fit a crown on the tooth to prevent future problems from occurring. This procedure leaves the original tooth in place to help maintain the integrity of the jaw ” ( Medical News Today).

The documentary, ‘Root Cause’  explores the science and systemic connection to root canal therapy. There is controversy surrounding the film because many believe they “exposed a medical industry cover up” regarding root canals leading to health issues. The film has since been pulled from Netflix.

Hmm..

ALL IN ALL

We recommend you do your own research, make your own opinions and do what is best for you and your body. Make healthy oral hygiene changes where you can, go to the dentist reguarly and make your overall health a prority.

You only get one body, take care of it and he/she will take care of you.