Dental care goes beyond making sure you make it to those yearly visits to the dentist. Most of the responsibility of taking care your dental health is, of course, yours. You are the one responsible for the daily cleaning and at the same time, what you put into your mouth. Your dentist is the partner who will help you meet your oral health goals, which is why those regular visits are important.
Because it is you who will do the daily tasks of cleaning your teeth and preventing cavities, it is best to know some important points regarding dental care. When it comes to your teeth and its health, it is always wise to refer to professional information from the dentist’s official site or by asking your dentist directly.
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Bleeding Gums are a Sign of a Problem
Many people do not pay attention to bleeding gums when they are brushing their teeth. Unfortunately, there is no situation when bleeding gums are normal or ok. For good oral health, it is important to inform your dentist when you are seeing a little bit of red while brushing your teeth. Leaving it untreated is not the right way to address them.
Bleeding gums might signal chronic gingivitis, gum tissue inflammation, or other unknown conditions. Only your dentist will be able to check and test to be sure what it really is. Doing nothing can, however, lead to tooth loss in the future. Choosing this path is useless because these underlying conditions can actually be treated in a few weeks (except if there are any restorative works). It is completely unnecessary to let it end up with missing teeth.
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Brushing Aggressively Can Damage Your Mouth
Many people choose to brush quickly but apply their toothbrushes with too much pressure. This is the wrong thing to do because doing so can damage the gums and be counterproductive to tooth brushing. The best technique is to do it gently, choosing a soft-bristled brush and cleaning for a few minutes. Try not to get distracted, as this might lead you to brush incorrectly again.
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Avoid Fruit Juices
At times, healthy food choices might actually be bad for teeth. Unfortunately, fruits are good for the body but they are also harsh on tooth enamel. This means many people who try to meet the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables might be putting their teeth at risk.
The secret lies in the right timing. Adding fruits to the diet should be done during breakfast or lunch time. After finishing your meal, you should then proceed to drink a lot of water to counter the acidity of the fruits.
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Your Medication Has an Effect on Teeth
There is a delicate balance in your mouth, which can be affected by external things like medicine. While it might be impossible to avoid them, you can still have a conversation with your dentist regarding them, especially when you have been prescribed some medication. This way your dentists can also plan future procedures or even suggest ways to reduce the possible effects of your medication. An easy tip is to drink lots of water to reduce the damage.
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Your Teeth Reflect Your Overall Health
Oral health is not just a factor that affects your overall condition, but it can also give you an idea of how the rest of your body is. Your dentist is actually trained to look at the state of your mouth to identify possible health issues so that he or she can advise you when there is something suspicious.
It is also vital to inform your dentist of any existing medical conditions. Certain health conditions can affect the teeth like diabetes, which increases the risk of periodontal disease by three times. This is yet another example of how the two are bound together.
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Resolve to Keep That Appointment
Visiting the dental clinic at least once a year is necessary to fully check everything that is going on inside the mouth. From the thorough check, cleaning, and teeth restoration, you can come out of the appointment with peace of mind that your oral and general health are both doing great.
Dental care is the individual’s responsibility and his or hers alone. All those little actions you do with your mouth today actually combine and determine your oral and overall health. It is your choice in the end, whether you want to maintain your teeth or not.