Maintaining your mouth isn’t only about having a shiny smile or good breath—it’s an integral component of overall health. Your mouth is the entryway to your body, and whatever goes on there doesn’t remain there. Proper oral care can influence everything from your heart to your risk for certain diseases, even certain cancers.
There is an established connection between general health and oral health. Bacteria in your mouth can travel through your circulatory system and contribute to heart disease, stroke, and pregnancy complications. Diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s can also make it more difficult to maintain a healthy mouth, and poor oral health and chronic disease feed into one another.
Which is why an early warning sign is important to catch. Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, tooth decay, loose teeth, receding gums, or mouth sores that don’t heal are all warning signs that something’s amiss. All of these symptoms are your body’s way of hitting the alarm bell, telling you to pay a bit more attention to your oral hygiene routine. It’s always quicker—and less painful—to take precautions than it is to fix things after the fact.
A good daily routine is the cornerstone of mouth health. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste is essential. Technique counts: hold your brush at a 45-degree angle toward your gums and make little circles. Don’t forget to get all surfaces of your teeth—and your tongue, where bacteria tend to congregate.
Flossing is equally crucial. It reaches the tight areas that your toothbrush cannot. Take around 18 inches of floss, wind it around your fingers, and guide it between every tooth gently. Wind the floss into a C-shape around the tooth and move it back and forth. If regular floss is difficult for you, floss picks, interproximal brushes, or floss threaders will come in handy, particularly if you have braces or restricted mobility in your hands.
Fluoride deserves some credit, too. This mineral helps strengthen your tooth enamel and can even reverse the early stages of decay. You’ll find it in most toothpastes and many public water systems. Your dentist can also apply fluoride varnish for extra protection, especially helpful if you’re more prone to cavities.
Sealants are an added layer of protection, particularly for children and adolescents. Thin layers of coating are painted onto the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent food and bacteria from seeping into the deep grooves where cavities enjoy getting started. Although generally applied to children as their molars erupt, adults with no decay or fillings in those teeth can also reap rewards.
Visiting your dentist regularly is as vital as brushing and flossing. Regular cleanings and checkups catch issues early—before they become big problems. Dentists and hygienists examine you for signs of gum disease, bone loss, and even oral cancer. They will also provide you with individualized advice for your oral health, discuss your habits and diet, and check for anything abnormal in your mouth, jaw, or neck. It makes a huge difference to catch oral cancer early, and instruments such as the VelScope light catch things that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Children require their brand of this kind of care as well. Beginning healthy habits early on gets the whole course of a lifetime of great teeth underway. Fluoride treatments and sealants are commonly recommended by pediatric dentists as soon as adult teeth erupt. They also provide a comfortable area to facilitate easier, less fearful dental visits. If your child wears braces or other devices, flossing and brushing can be more difficult, but even more crucial. Soft brushes, floss threaders, and fluoride mouth rinses can assist in keeping everything clean and healthy.
Your lifestyle determines a great deal about your mouth. Tobacco use and smoking cause gum disease and oral cancer. Having a balanced diet, not snacking too much, and not overdoing the booze all go toward keeping you healthy. Your toothbrush is important too—electric toothbrushes with timers can assist you in getting your mouth cleaner, particularly if you have braces or have a hard time using your hands.
Oral hygiene isn’t just about avoiding cavities. It’s about taking care of your whole self. A few daily habits, regular dental visits, and some smart choices about your lifestyle can make a huge difference. When your mouth is healthy, you’re giving your whole body a better chance at staying that way, too.