Are your teeth as healthy as they could be? Chances are they aren’t. The Center for Disease Control calls tooth decay the most chronic disease of children under the age of 18 and notes that in adults over the age of twenty, 9 out of 10 have some level of tooth decay. While dental professionals are continually refining dental techniques, procedures and equipment to improve their patient’s oral health, there are 4 simple things you can do right now to enhance the look and feel of your teeth.
Kick the Habit
Tobacco products are one of the leading causes of poor oral health. Whether you use cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewing tobacco, the nicotine and tar in tobacco products not only stain teeth yellow, they also eat away at the gums. The use of tobacco products creates an ideal environment for bacteria and plaque to develop and grow on teeth and along the gum lines. This damages the tissue and increases the risk of tooth loss. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco products can cause mouth sores and lesions that can develop into cancer.
Brush Right and Brush Often
Are you using the proper brushing techniques and brushing often enough? Probably not. A recent study indicated that 90% of people brush improperly. In fact, of those who participated in the study, a majority of them had been brushing improperly all their lives, having learned incorrect brushing techniques as children. In addition, studies show that most people don't brush often enough, at least twice a day according to the American Dental Association. The American Dental Association has created an online guide to teach people how to brush properly.
Floss Effectively
Along with brushing, flossing is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene when done properly. Particles of food and debris caught between the teeth can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, resulting in tooth decay, damage to the gums and bad breath. Particles that can't be reached with brushing alone must be removed by flossing.However, improper flossing techniques can actually cause more harm than good. The American Dental Association has created an online guide to answer your flossing questions and demonstrate how to floss properly.
Make Regular Dental Visits
As many as 50% or more of adults in the U.S. don’t see a dentist on a regular basis. The most common reasons for this include:
- Lack of money
- No dental insurance
- Not enough time
- Dental anxiety
Considering the links between poor oral health and serious health issues such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and HPV, skipping your dental visits can significantly lower your oral health, as well as your overall health, and in some cases can even be fatal. More and more dentists are attempting to address the obstacles that prevent some patients from visiting them regularly.
- Minimally invasive dentistry is helping to maintain better oral health, reducing the number and complexity of dental procedures patients require, while also saving patients valuable time and money.
- Dental plans and dental financing are helping patients without insurance afford needed dental procedures before they lead to more serious health issues.
- Increasingly, dentists are partnering with therapists and altering some of their procedures and techniques to help patients with dental anxiety.
Breakthroughs in dental procedures, techniques and equipment are allowing dentists to detect and treat oral health issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, trauma or cancer at an early stage,before they can lead to more serious health issues.
The team at Rocky Mountain Dental Partners are your partners in helping you achieve bright, dazzling smile and excellent oral health you deserve. We are here to answer your questions and help you overcome whatever obstacles may be preventing you from reaching your dental health goal. With convenient locations in Aurora, Centennial and Cherry Creek, gentle, compassionate and highly experienced dentists and state-of-the-art dental technology we strive to make your dental visits as easy and painless as possible.
