zaterdag 16 april 2011

Understanding The Importance Of Dental Care

By Adrianna Noton


One should never underestimate the importance of dental care and oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth is not only good for teeth and gums, but for your overall health. When plaque begins to build up and left untreated, it irritates the gums until they bleed. This allows bacteria into your blood stream and can lead to not only tooth decay, but also heart conditions and make diabetes harder to control.

When you stop caring for your teeth, you stop caring for your health as a whole. Proper hygiene takes only minutes a day with brushing and flossing, and making smart choices with sugary drinks and sweets as well as regular dental checkups. Each time you properly clean your teeth, you improve your health. Proper hygiene and care of the teeth and the mouth should start in infancy, even before the teeth come in.

Starting even before your baby begins to teethe, you should be gently cleaning their mouth and gums with a wet cloth. Never allow your baby to sleep with a bottle. Baby bottle decay happens when a baby or child lies with a bottle in their mouth and the milk or juice then lays on their teeth and gums. If your child won't sleep without a bottle, substitute water for milk or use a pacifier if you can.

As your child's teeth begin to come in, it can be painful and rubbing their gums or using frozen teething rings or medication can help relieve some pain. Wipe off the gums with a wet washcloth twice a day, and when teeth come in you can start brushing. For toddlers under two, it is recommended not to use toothpaste or only a tiny pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Their first dental appointment should be scheduled around the age of two.

By the time your child has reached their teens, they should already have good oral hygiene habits. To help set those habits, make an example by following practicing good oral hygiene yourself. You cannot control what they eat when they are not at home, but in the home keep the junk foods to a minimum. Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for snacking.

Adults should already be in the practice of brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. But as you age, that is the time to start watching for signs of gingivitis. The signs of gum disease may include redness, tenderness, or swelling. If you experience any of those signs, then you need to contact your dentist. Even though you are all grown up, you still need to watch the sugary and junk foods and visit the dentist twice a year for checkups too.

If your water is not fluoridated in your area, then you should talk to your dentist about using supplemental fluoride. This is especially important for infants because fluoride is essential even before teeth start to form. Simple lifestyle changes can improve oral health also, such as a balanced diet high in calcium and vitamin C and avoiding smoking, which is a factor for gum disease.

It is essential to understand the importance of dental care, as your overall health depends upon it. When something goes wrong in the body, signs of that can be found in the state of your teeth and gums. Practicing proper teeth cleaning and hygiene as well as regular dental visits not only helps prevent problems but also controls any before they get out of hand.




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