It’s drummed into us from an early age by parents and dentists: make sure you brush your teeth well. But there’s more to it than that, there’s mouthwashes, flossing, tongue scraping. And diet plays a big factor: sugary drinks and acidic foods cause decay; coffee and wine cause staining. Smoking is bad for all aspects of oral hygiene. But what happens if you don’t take good care of your teeth? Well, it’s not pretty.
Your Smile
Your smile says a lot about you and smiling more can make a real difference to your wellbeing. But you’re less likely to be smiling if you don’t like the appearance of your teeth. Not maintaining healthy teeth can lead to all sorts of unsightly disorders, from the relatively innocuous stained teeth to the sore, infected gums of gingivitis, which will make you less likely to show off your smile. As well as needing treatment, these problems can affect self-esteem and be a major turn-off to prospective or current partners. If you’re simply worried about the aesthetics of your teeth you can also opt for whitening, braces and porcelain veneers to overhaul your smile. Livingston Smile Design for example offers a comprehensive range of cosmetic treatments.
Your Breath
Bad breath is a common and embarrassing problem that is directly related to poor oral hygiene. It can be a bane of your love life and in social situations, as well as leading to poor self-esteem. The odour is usually caused by bacteria on the teeth and tongue so make sure to brush your teeth twice daily, use a tongue scraper, alcohol-free mouthwash and to floos regularly. Drink plenty of water and eat naturally tooth-cleaning foods like apples. If bad breath persists see a professional about it.
Dental Care Costs
No matter your age, not taking care of your teeth can lead to serious dental problems which in turn can lead to some serious bills. While some expensive treatments like braces and whitening are purely cosmetic, often for people with otherwise healthy teeth, crowns, bridges and root canal therapy are for badly damaged or infected teeth. Treatments can be particularly costly if several teeth are damaged as well as being time-consuming; and the likelihood of further problems occurring is high, especially if you do nothing to improve oral hygiene. Do remember that some forms of gum disease can be genetic however so if you’re parents or siblings have lost their teeth early or have gum problems, take extra special care over your oral health.
Possible link to Heart Disease
There has been speculation that oral health can affect your heart for almost a century now. However, it’s only in the last 20 years that any research has been done into the link. The theory is that serious gum disease is connected to atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits on artery walls which can lead to heart disease. This belief stems mainly from the fact that organisms found in the mouth, such as Porphryomonas gingivalis, are also found in these fatty deposits. The American Heart Association recently decided to review the evidence but found there to be no discernible connection, although they acknowledged it is “biologically plausible”.
[toggle title=”Featured images”]
[/toggle]
I read a study of cancer patients and it was discovered that 97% of all of the study subjects shared one common denominator. They had all had root canals. I have had 3, so this was not a welcome finding.