The perfect smile doesn’t just happen on its own. It’s the result of proper dental care both at home and at your local dental office in Fontana. But why is it so important to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and how do you do it? All of your questions will be answered.
Why Dental Hygiene Is Important
Dental hygiene isn’t just for keeping a beautiful smile, although no one ever argues about having picture-perfect teeth. You’ll be surprised to know that the health of your teeth and gums greatly impacts your overall well-being.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
By neglecting your teeth long enough, you will start to notice pain or discomfort in your mouth. It can come in the form of swelling, bleeding, and loose teeth. It starts off with gingivitis, but it can quickly develop into gum (or periodontal) disease. Even though gum disease can cause you to lose one or multiple teeth, that’s not even the worst that can happen.
Heart Disease
You may not expect it, but gum disease that gets bad enough can actually affect your heart health. Gum disease has been proven to induce heart disease and even stroke. Even if you don’t care that much about how your teeth look, a danger to your life will surely be a wake-up call.
Diabetes
As if things weren’t bad enough already, gum disease can also spike your blood sugar levels leading to an increased risk of acquiring diabetes. As you may already know, an existence with diabetes is a difficult one that could also shorten your life.
Best Practices For Taking Care of Your Teeth
If you thought the possible outcomes of poor dental hygiene were alarming, it’s nothing to be concerned about as long as you practice good habits. Consistent dedication to caring for your teeth is key to avoiding all of the worst consequences. So what should your routine look like? Take a moment to carefully review these best practices for optimal oral hygiene:
- Brush twice a day. This already goes without saying, but you’d be surprised at how many people skip this basic step. It is also recommended to brush for a total of 2 minutes whereas most people brush for as little as ten seconds. Buying toothpaste containing fluoride will also give your teeth an extra boost.
- Floss after every time you brush. This may be a running gag, but flossing regularly is incredibly effective since it gets into hard-to-reach spaces that a toothbrush can’t touch. There are modern water-based flossers that make this task even easier.
- Work mouthwash into your routine. Rinsing with mouthwash can help loosen up food particles that are stuck in the corners of your mouth so it’s worth it to keep a bottle stocked at home.
- Don’t forget to clean your tongue. The tongue is just as capable of collecting and holding bacteria. Using your toothbrush or a tongue scraper can help get rid of any lingering particles.
- Avoid (or at least limit) smoking and drinking. It should be no surprise that drinking and smoking have a negative effect on your teeth and gums. You can make things easier on yourself by quitting or limiting your intake.
- Start a healthy diet. Sugary foods are a major culprit in building up plaque. Cutting back on sugar, eating more produce, and drinking more water are all excellent ways to stay healthy all-around.
- Be nice to your teeth. Some people like to use their teeth to pry open packaging or other tasks that aren’t food-related. This can cause great damage to the integral structure of your teeth.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year. It’s recommended to get your teeth professionally cleaned at least once every six months. This also gives your dentist a chance to check your mouth for any other problems that may arise in the near future.
This may seem like a lot to take in, but most of it can be done at the sink in as little as 5 minutes both morning and night. That’s a small price to pay for not having to undergo intense surgery and missing teeth. Your smile will thank you!
What If You’re Already Seeing Symptoms of Gum Disease?
It’s not hard to notice the symptoms of gingivitis since the signs tend to exhibit irritating pain and discomfort. Swollen, inflamed, and bleeding gums are difficult to ignore since the act of eating and brushing your teeth will rub on the affected area. You may also notice bad breath or loose teeth on top of that. No matter what you’re experiencing, it likely doesn’t feel too great. When this happens, it’s time to see your trusted dentist in Fontana.
A qualified dentist will be able to examine your situation and present you with a personalized treatment plan for your gum disease. This can range anywhere from an extra dental cleaning appointment and a lesson in improved oral hygiene along with some antibiotics to more serious procedures like scaling, root planing, and gum surgery. Whatever needs to be done, you’ll need the most trustworthy dentists in the business with years of experience under their belt.
Come Visit the Best Dentists In Fontana!
Whether you need to make an appointment for your next teeth cleaning or you’re seeing signs of gingivitis, Southridge Dental Group is the best dental office in Fontana for everything that you need! Being an established business staffed with experts who have had decades of experience in the field, you are sure to be in good hands every time you come to visit. The services at Southridge Dental Group are also very affordable with flexible finance options which make this particular office especially accessible to the general public. You can even set your next appointment online!