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
Grinding our teeth can happen 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 urge 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 men and women 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 impact. The longer we spend chewing on candy, the longer our teeth spend fighting its harmful acidic content. If you’ve noticed an increase in cavities or unpleasant 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 beautifying 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 fixed, 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 dilemmas down the road. When our teeth don’t align properly, it causes unnecessary wear and tear that can lead to toothaches, tooth decay, broken 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 dentist or put off much-needed braces, it might be costing you. Cigna Health estimates that every dollar spent on maintaining dental health saves you anywhere from $8 to $50 restoring it. Improving your smile not only helps you look and feel better but puts dollars in your pocket better spent on other needs.
Contact Pence Family Dentistry:
317-842-2337
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
9744 Lantern Rd
Fishers, Indiana
46037
