There are 7 key things your dentist wants you to know about your oral health – this goes for both kids and adults.
- Brushing isn’t optional – You must brush your teeth to remove harmful bacteria from your mouth. Bacteria erodes your teeth which causes cavities. If you don’t remove the bacteria, it will continue to grow and harm your teeth, gums, and overall heath. In fact, you have more bacteria in your mouth than a public toilet seat! Brushing twice daily for two minutes per session will fight bacteria in your mouth.
- Changing your toothbrush isn’t optional – Dentists are not in the business of selling toothbrushes, that is not why they tell you to change your toothbrush every 3 months. If you use a toothbrush for longer, it isn’t going to be as effective, the bristles will be worn down and not work as well.
- Dentist visits aren’t optional – Most people dread the visit the their dentist for fear of problems with their teeth. (Unless you have awesome experiences like my kids do with their pediatric dentist, they love their visits because they are super nice to them!) Regular twice annual visits are recommended for kids and adults.
A professional cleaning is beneficial but the main reason you need to go to the dentist is to detect issues early on. If you catch an issue early on, you can prevent missed school and/or work due to pain. Catch the problem and fix it before it becomes infected and painful. A small cavity is easier to fix than an abscess tooth that needs pulled – and less expensive too. The dentist is also looking for things like tooth decay, gum disease, and even cancer during your visit. - Flossing isn’t optional – A lot of emphasis has been placed on brushing your teeth twice daily from early childhood on, however flossing isn’t an optional effort. A toothbrush cannot get in between your teeth. Bacteria and even food love to hang out in between your teeth which can lead to cavities. Flossing once daily is all it takes.
- Poor oral health causes major health problems – Poor oral health can affect your overall health in major ways. Bacteria in your mouth can spread to your bloodstream and cause serious conditions including cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes complications, pregnancy complications, infertility, erectile dysfunction, cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and more.
- Your gums shouldn’t bleed – If your gums are bleeding you are either doing something wrong like brushing and flossing too hard or you may have gum disease. Tell your dentist if you experience bleeding gums.
- Smoking, Illegal Drugs, and Alcohol will ruin your teeth: We all know smoking is bad for you, it causes yellow teeth, bad breath and increased bacteria that can lead to oral cancer. Illegal drugs and alcohol will also ruin your teeth. Illegal drugs causes extreme discoloration of teeth, rotten and broken teeth, bad gums, extensive decay, and tooth lose. Frequent alcohol drinks experience faster tooth decay, weak teeth, and other gum and tooth problems.
Adults: Having good oral health practices are essential for everyone. If you have had poor dental care in the past, now is the time to find a quality dentist to get your oral and overall health back on track. Making your oral health a priority also sets a good example for your kids.
Kids: Teach your kids about good oral health from the start. If you have children in the greater Akron, Ohio area, I highly recommend our dentist, Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry. My kids love Dr. Pollock and the entire staff. They are a really great group of professionals that make a trip to the dentist as relaxing and comfortable as possible for kids. I trust them 100% with my children. Learn more about pediatric dentistry with these posts.
Dr. Adam Pollock D. D.S. Pediatric Dentistry
1707 Portage Trail
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
(330) 929-3091
Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm
Saturdays 9am – 1pm
Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry is conveniently located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, just minutes from Akron, Stow, Munroe Falls, Kent, Hudson, Peninsula, Tallmadge, Ellet, Copley, and Fairlawn, Ohio.
Visit Dr. Adam Pollock Akron Pediatric Dentistry online and Like Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry on Facebook.
Visit Dr. Adam Pollock Akron Pediatric Dentistry online and Like Dr. Adam Pollock Pediatric Dentistry on Facebook. Tell them you heard about them on AkronOhioMoms.com.
