Causes and consequences of poor dental health and how you can brush up on your own
Most of us struggle with at least one area of our dental care. It could be that flossing is the one dreaded task, or maybe you haven’t been wearing the night guard recommended often enough. All of us should check with our dentists from time to time and make sure we’re on track with the best dental care plan unique to our situation. It’s best to never let the untreated cavity become a dental emergency.
How poor dental health can arise
Teeth Grinding
Grinding our teeth can be present when we’re sleeping at night, completely unaware of the toll it’s taking on our mouths. Even during the day, we might do this unknowingly, since stress at work or school can result in grinding. This bad habit will slowly wear away our fillings and eventually remove the hard enamel which protects the soft layer of dentin beneath. If you’ve recently noticed a chipped tooth or your jaw aches in the morning, you might be grinding your teeth at night.
Improper Care
It can be challenging to establish the best oral hygiene regimen and your dentist might even encourage more frequent brushing due to incorrect or inadequate self-care in the past. Not brushing often enough can lead to bad breath, swollen gums and even gum disease in the long run. Most individuals still feel that brushing and flossing are the main tools for success when it comes to protecting their teeth.
Poor Diet
Regularly eating foods high in sugar exposes our teeth to its deteriorating effects. The longer we spend chewing on a candy, the longer our teeth spend fighting its detrimental acidic content. If you’ve noticed an increase in cavities or undesirable breath, you might be eating too many sweets, putting your teeth at risk. It would be wise to consider more fresh fruits and vegetables for their natural teeth-cleaning ability or go for more calcium-enriched foods to protect and strengthen your teeth.
Benefits of improving your dental health
Increased Confidence
By upgrading your smile, you will improve your self-image and encourage a full and bright smile. If you suffer from chipped or cracked teeth, you might hide your smile while speaking and laughing in front of others. By having certain flaws in our teeth corrected, we no longer fear speaking to others and become more engaged in conversation. If we don’t feel this confidence in ourselves it can be discouraging to spark up a conversation with someone new, since our smile could be the first thing they notice.
Improved Health
Misaligned teeth are not only a cosmetic issue but can lead to a myriad of issues down the road. When our teeth don’t align effectively, it causes unnecessary wear and tear that can lead to toothaches, cavities, chipped teeth, and periodontal issues. If your smile has some imperfections, it might be wise to consider braces or some other aligner for better support.
Save Money
If you’ve ever refused a night guard at the dentists or put off much-needed braces, it might be costing you. Cigna Health estimates that every dollar spent on maintaining oral health saves you anywhere from $8 to $50 restoring it. Improving your smile not only helps you look and feel better but puts cash in your pocket better spent on other needs.
Contact Kenneth Hovden DDS:
650-755-6000
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
901 Campus Dr Ste 202
Daly City, California
94015
