What Causes Poor Oral Health?
Ensuring your teeth and gums are clean is the one sure way of keeping them healthy. However, many people, despite the advice given to them, still don’t seem to do it right. Oral health is important for two reasons. First it prevents the development of what can become major problems – gum disease and tooth decay.
Poor oral hygiene
But it isn’t just tooth decay that can result from poor oral hygiene. Over time teeth can crumble, the enamel can thin and a number of other issues can arise that inevitably result in some form of restorative or cosmetic dentistry being required.
For example, you might need implants to replace missing teeth or veneers to cover cracks or broken teeth. Teeth whitening can help teeth look clean but it doesn’t solve the problem of poor oral health, it simply masks it.
The latter is bad enough, but gum disease can also be linked to other problems. This leads on to the second reason, namely that oral health problems are now known to link with other major organ medical issues.
Other medical complications
For instance, poor oral hygiene can result in periodontal disease which in turn can result in heart disease, diabetes and strokes.
But how do I keep my teeth healthy?
So, now you know what can happen as a result of not looking after your teeth and gums, what is it that you need to do? First of all, you should eat properly and drink fewer sugary drinks. The latter is possibly the number one cause of teeth decay.
If you smoke, or drink too much alcohol, then try to cut down, or stop completely. Smoking is a major factor in oral cancer. Next, you should develop a regular cleaning routine, which includes brushing, flossing and mouthwash.
Finally, regular visits each year to the dentist for proper cleaning and inspection is of paramount importance.
