Top Money-Saving Tips for your oral health

Oral health is an essential part of a healthy and happy life. Good dental hygiene reduces the chance of tooth decay and the likelihood of cavities. As a result, you have a beautiful smile and fresh breath. Oral health affects your overall health and well-being. Gum disease is associated with other conditions and illnesses such as respiratory, cardiovascular, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Gum disease is also linked to arthritis and hypertension. Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of heart disease by 70%. Oral infections can trigger a series of events where the bacteria from an inflamed tooth or gums spreads to the optic nerve. Oral health impacts your mental health. If you are embarrassed by the state of your teeth, you may experience social anxiety. As you can see, poor oral health can directly contribute to various serious diseases.

Preventive care is always less expensive than emergency care. The only way to be sure that you have good oral health is to visit your dentist. But we would like to give you some tips on maintaining oral health in good shape.

Brush and floss twice a day. The best time to brush is after you eat a meal, and you should also floss simultaneously. You need to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, making sure to cover all your teeth. Drink lots of water, which is crucial for your overall health and encourages saliva production, which is essential for healthy teeth. Water is much healthier and better for your teeth than sugary drinks and sodas.

If you've consumed anything acidic, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes. Foods containing citric acids, like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, weaken tooth enamel. Brushing too soon after eating them can damage the enamel in its weakened state. Consequently, it's a good idea to brush your teeth before eating acidic food and to drink a glass of water when you are finished to wash away the acids. By the way, the exciting fact is that cranberry juice is known widely for reducing plaque by almost 95 percent!

You should pay attention not only to sugar in drinks but also to the foods you eat. Try to avoid eating a lot of sugary foods and candy. If you overeat sugar, brush your teeth well after eating. Sugar is the main ingredient that causes cavities. The more sugar you consume, you will likely develop a significant dental problem.

Get regular calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is essential for strong teeth and dense bones. You can get a common source of calcium from dairy products and nuts. To absorb calcium, your body needs vitamin D, so make sure you go outside and get a good amount of sunlight daily.

Toddlers often don’t like brushing their teeth. But even a quick brush is better than nothing because it helps your child learn that brushing teeth is a normal part of daily life. However, children are more likely to go along with cleaning teeth if it’s fun. Help your toddler have fun brushing their teeth by playing music, making an oral health achievement chart with stickers, and offering positive reinforcement!

When you next go for your dental appointment, check with your dentist whether there’s anything you need to pay attention to specifically. Ensure your oral health is always in good condition.

For more information about dental health, please call one of our offices or contact us online.