Steps For Keeping Teeth Healthy For A Lifetime

Steps For Keeping Teeth Healthy For A Lifetime A smile can last a lifetime-if you take care of it. For that reason, it’s important for parents to instill good oral health habits in children as early as possible. According to U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona’s “National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health” report, children lose more than 51 million school hours and adults lose more than 164 million work hours each year due to dental disease or dental visits. The nation’s total bill for dental services was estimated to be more than $70.1 billion in 2002.The first step towards lifelong dental health and general health begins by changing your approach to oral healthcare. Poor dental health has serious effects on your overall health and dental health must be thought of as a fundamental aspect of your overall health and wellness.

Poor dental health is proven to lead to serious medical issues throughout your body. Gum disease, for instance, has been linked to the development of: Heart disease Diabetes Hypertension Cancer

The fact of the matter is simple. When you ignore your dental health, you will find it more difficult to achieve lifelong health and may even be contributing to diseases that will affect you for the rest of your life. Good oral health is essential to maintaining a healthy mind and body. What Can You Do? You must take personal responsibility for your oral health care at home. At Timberhill Dental, our dentists and hygienists can help you develop proper home care techniques but you must make the time to brush and floss. Remember: if you have children it is your responsibility to set a good example for them! Brush and Floss Daily Brushing and flossing daily goes a long way towards maintaining a healthy smile. It will also help fight against gum disease and tooth decay, which are big concerns no matter your age. Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time with a fluoride toothpaste. Rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining food or plaque particles. Once a day, floss thoroughly to ensure anything caught in-between your teeth is removed. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services removed flossing from its Dietary Guidelines, citing a lack of proven studies showing substantial benefits. Given that studies have still shown flossing can help remove plaque and offers no downsides or risks, we still recommend flossing daily. Additional brushing and flossing tips: Change your toothbrush 3-4 times a year Use a soft toothbrush (brushing harder does not mean better) Anyone with braces should use a specially designed toothbrush. Eat a Healthy Diet Your body needs good, nutritious food to get through the day. Why would your teeth be any different? When you eat sugar, the bacteria in your mouth creates acid. In addition to breaking down the sugar, acid erodes tooth enamel – leading to tooth decay. This is particularly true with sugary drinks, since these are generally enjoyed over a longer period of time. This creates additional acid in your mouth, leading to even more decay. The best diet for your teeth and gums is one that is rich in whole foods and low in sugar. Try to center your diet around balanced portions of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and dairy products. We also recommend limiting drinks that aren’t water as much as possible. Some things to keep in mind: The more you snack, the more likely you are to suffer from tooth decay. Both carbohydrate rich and acidic foods will lead to decay. Brushing and flossing, while helpful, will not completely eliminate the negative effects of a poor diet. High-sugar and processed foods lead to decay, as well as other general health issues like diabetes. Avoid Tobacco Products Using tobacco is bad not just for your lungs, but for your mouth, too. The effects that it can have on your mouth can be devastating. Did you know that 50% of smokers have gum disease? Other effects of smoking and tobacco use on your teeth include: Twice as likely to lose your teeth Twice as likely to require root-canal treatment Smokeless tobacco is linked with cancer in the cheeks, gums, and lip linings “Oral health disease is making disturbing inroads into communities across the country,” Dr. Marsha Butler, Colgate-Palmolive’s Vice President, Global Oral Health and Professional Relations, explains. “For children between the ages of 5 and 17 here in the U.S., tooth decay is more common than asthma, more common than hay fever, and it poses a significant threat to our children’s overall health and well-being.” Recently, during the celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Colgate and Dr. Carmona unveiled “The U.S. Surgeon General’s Seven Steps to a Bright Smile,” tips that were developed, with a grant from Colgate-Palmolive, to help keep teeth and gums strong and healthy: 1. Brush teeth and gums with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime. 2. Visit the dentist regularly. 3. Floss your teeth daily. 4. Use fluoride rinse for strong, healthy teeth and gums. 5. Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day-and remember to practice healthy eating and get plenty of calcium. 6. Wear a mouthguard when playing sports. 7. Ask your dental professional about dental sealants.

Through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, Colgate has reached more than 50 million children with free dental screenings, treatment referrals and oral health education. The company is more than halfway to meeting a public commitment it made to reach 100 million children with these services by the year 2010. Bright Smiles, Bright Futures empowers children to take control of their oral health and helps to generate greater awareness about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.