In some ways, oral health can feel like a nuisance. It’s a pain to go to the dentist. Brushing and flossing can be annoying. And of course, some of the most delicious foods out there are also some of the most destructive.
But you should still make oral health one of the top priorities for you and your family.
Why Oral Health Should Be One of Your Top Priorities
Let’s examine why oral health should be one of your top priorities:
- Pain prevention and relief. Anyone who’s had an abscess, a tooth infection, a dying tooth, or a similar ailment can tell you that tooth pain can be excruciating. Not all oral health issues are preventable, but most of them are – which means you have the opportunity to spare yourself this intense, persistent pain. If you allow your dental issues to get out of control, you could suffer from extreme nerve pain until you get them corrected. If you’re currently suffering from a toothache, understand that proper dental care could potentially provide you with immediate relief.
- A better smile. Taking better care of your teeth sets you up for a brighter, healthier smile for the rest of your life. And if you’re already suffering from some oral health issues, don’t worry; there are solutions that can help restore your smile to normal. Dental implants in Woodbridge, for example, look and function like regular teeth, giving you the lustrous, perfect smile you’ve always wanted. With a better smile, you’ll feel better, look better, and have more confidence.
- Decreased risk of various diseases. Poor oral hygiene is associated with a variety of other physical health ailments, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. If you take good care of your teeth, you’ll maintain good health in a variety of other areas.
- Better breath. Bad breath is often a secondary symptom of poor oral hygiene or oral health issues. If you don’t brush your teeth frequently enough, or if you suffer from gum disease, you may have perpetual bad breath, negatively impacting your relationships and decreasing your self-esteem.
- A better immune system. Did you know that better oral health is correlated with better immune system function? In other words, if you practice better oral health, you’ll have a stronger immune system. That means you’ll be less susceptible to certain types of infectious diseases, and you may be able to recover from certain illnesses and ailments faster.
- An ounce of prevention. There’s an old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” implying that preventing problems is typically less expensive and more efficient than correcting them once they arise. This certainly applies to the world of oral health. In terms of financial costs, time spent, stress, and effort, it’s much better to practice proactive oral health than it is to deal with the negative repercussions of poor oral health in the future. It’s much easier to brush your teeth every day than it is to go through several rounds of cavity fillings and root canals. It’s certainly much cheaper as well.
- Minimal investments. Finally, understand that practicing good oral health requires very minimal investments in terms of both time and money. You can pick up all the supplies you need at a local drug store for just a few dollars each, and it only takes a few minutes each day to keep your teeth in good health. There’s no reason not to go through with this.
How to Improve Your Oral Health Habits
So what steps can you take now to improve your oral health habits? What does it really mean to make oral health a top priority?
- Commit to a thorough daily routine. Commit to a daily oral hygiene routine if you don’t already have one in place. At minimum, you should brush your teeth twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush. You should also floss between your teeth and rinse with a fluoride-based mouthwash at least once daily.
- Visit the dentist regularly. In addition to your daily oral care routine, you should visit the dentist regularly. For most people, that means twice per year. Your dentist will give you a thorough tooth cleaning and check for any budding issues.
- Take care of issues quickly. If you do find issues with your oral health, take care of them as quickly as possible. It’s easier and less expensive to take care of these issues when they’re small.
Oral health isn’t something you can afford to neglect. Regardless of your oral health history, your current budget, and other variables that might influence your decision making on this front, practicing routine oral care Is inexpensive yet highly impactful.