The human body goes through many changes over time. And as we age, some of these changes have a lot to do with our lifestyles, our diets, and our daily hygiene habits.
One of the more noticeable changes occurs with your teeth. And this is evident from a very young age.
For example, you may remember the day you first wiggled a loose tooth. Shortly after it may have fallen out. But after your permanent teeth finally set into place, the time for you to start practicing good dental hygiene habits began.
Poor dental hygiene can lead to all sorts of problems. And some of these can actually be quite severe if left untreated. In fact, in prehistoric times it wasn’t uncommon for humans to die due to infection from an abscessed tooth.
Here, we’ll outline how dental hygiene is important, and what you can do to keep your teeth healthy.
Table of Contents
Your Mouth
Believe it or not, your mouth has a lot to do with your health. And oral health is especially fundamental to your overall health.
A healthy mouth allows you to chew, swallow, speak, display emotion and affection. These are all critical to maintaining a healthy quality of life in today’s interconnected society. And without a healthy mouth, you may not be able to function in society with confidence
Oral issues can also present a range of problems that can last for years if left untreated. And this is usually a problem that begins with poor dental hygiene.
For example, your oral health can affect your relationships, your presence at work, or simply meeting people in general. Even worse, poor oral health can lead to significant pain, discomfort, disfiguration, problems with eating, and serious infection if left untreated for too long.
Fixing Teeth
Once a tooth begins to decay, it’s only a matter of time before it completely erodes. And this process can be a long and painful one.
Perhaps the first of our teeth that begin to significantly decay is our molars and especially wisdom teeth. This is largely because you cannot effectively clean them because they sit so far in the back of your jawline. Hence, this is also why many dentists suggest removing them as soon as possible.
But when it comes to your front teeth, this is a different story. Your front teeth are what you use to smile. These are the teeth that other people see when you’re engaged in social situations. And as such, you want to keep them in good condition.
Fixing teeth, however, isn’t a cheap or easy process. In fact, some people choose to get covers for teeth or veneers and have to wear them until they can afford dental cosmetic surgery or implants, which can be costly in both cases.
Good Dental Hygiene Habits
If you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy, a best practice is to brush twice a day at a minimum. And you should also floss regularly.
Flossing is one activity that is usually skipped. And interestingly enough, most periodontists will tell you that if you had a choice, flossing is actually better than brushing. This is because flossing removes plaque and bits of food from between your teeth where decay usually begins.
Regular flossing also helps to keep your breath from smelling foul, as plaque buildup and food can produce an extremely unpleasant odor over time.
At the end of the day, brushing and flossing work great. However, you should also visit your dentist for regular checkups every 3 to 6 months, or as needed if problems arise.
Keeping your dental health in check is an ongoing affair. Because all it takes is just a few missed days of brushing before plaque buildup can begin to damage your teeth. As such, practicing daily dental hygiene will be the key to keeping your teeth healthy for years to come.
