This might sound like something out of a horror movie, but without a mouth, you won’t be able to eat food, speak, or smile at all. That’s why it’s very important for you to take care of everything inside your mouth. However, doing so can be very easy to overlook due to improper dental hygiene, a pre-existing medical condition, or several other factors that you might suddenly wake up one day to a host of oral health problems warranting a trip to the dentist. Prevention is always better than cure, though, as the saying goes. Thus, you’ll want to check if you have any of the following signs of poor oral health:
- Chronic bad breath
Having breath right after eating or drinking is fine as long as you brush your teeth afterward. But if you’ve already done so and your mouth still reeks of bad breath, you may already have halitosis. Chronic bad breath is usually a red flag for a more serious oral health problem, such as gum disease or dental plaque.
- Bleeding gums
You may already be using a toothbrush with soft bristles because your gums can’t take a hard-bristled one. However, if you still find yourself spitting blood on your bathroom sink, you may be suffering from gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums, which can lead to profuse bleeding.
- Sensitive teeth
Drinking a hot cup of coffee or eating ice cream can be your way of treating yourself after a job well done. However, if doing either of these things suddenly sent you howling in pain, even though you haven’t had any dental procedures done on you before, your teeth’s enamel may be getting thin. Or worse, your teeth or gums may already be abscessed.
So how do you go about fixing your poor oral health after recognizing the signs mentioned above? Here are a few oral care tips for you to apply:
- Brush your teeth regularly and as often as possible.
Your parents may have been telling you to brush your teeth every day as a kid, and it should still apply to you now that you’re all grown up. It doesn’t mean though that you should only brush your teeth once a day every day. In fact, you should brush your teeth every after consuming food, regardless if you’re eating the usual three meals a day or taking snacks in between.
- Floss your teeth daily.
Brushing your teeth regularly isn’t enough, especially as there might still be food particles stuck between them that can cause bad breath or a more serious oral health problem if left unremoved. Use a dental floss to thoroughly get rid of those bits of food stuck between your teeth. Do this daily as well to be sure that the spaces between your teeth are clean.
- Cut down on your sugar intake.
Sugar often makes some foods and drinks taste better than if left unsweetened. However, sugar can also cause plaque to form in your teeth, which can then lead to tooth decay.
You can opt to use artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar. If you feel like your day isn’t complete without sugar, you can simply reduce your sugar intake and start adjusting to unsweetened foods and drinks.
- Don’t use your teeth as a substitute for hand tools.
If you can’t open your bag of chips or bottle of beer with your bare hands, you may be tempted to use your teeth instead. However, doing it too often can cause your teeth to get chipped or even completely fractured.
So instead of using your teeth, keep your scissors, bottle and can openers, pliers, and other hand tools within easy reach. If you don’t have any hand tools at all, now is a good time to buy some at a home improvement store nearest you.
- Have a routine dental checkup.
If your oral health condition is not improving after doing all the tips above, don’t wait any longer. Visit your dentist to prevent worsening the condition. Choose a local dentist that you can go to easily and fast. For instance, if you’re residing in northeastern Florida, you can search online for dentists near you and inquire about their services and prices. Pay them a visit and come out with your mouth feeling much better than before. The same should be practiced when you’re looking for your children’s dentist. The earlier you teach them about the importance of oral health, the better.
You don’t also have to wait for a dental emergency to visit your dentist. It will actually save you a lot of money and hassle if you schedule a regular routine dental checkup so that dental problems can be prevented, detected early, and treated fast before it can even bother you.
Being healthy is more than just keeping your body in tiptop shape; it is also taking care of its various parts as well, one of which is your mouth. You can save yourself an emergency trip to the dentist by checking if you’ve got any of the signs of poor oral health and applying the oral care tips listed above.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-oral-health-warning-signs
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/oral-health-symptoms-types
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