Visiting a dentist every six months is a vital practice in keeping the oral health in check. While a dentist may recommend more or less frequent dental visits, the checkup oral health problems to be caught early. As a result, they can decide on an immediate form of treatment before the development of the problem worsens and costs more.
Are X-rays Every Visit?
The frequency of dental X-rays depends on a person’s dental health. A person may not require X-rays every time he or she visits the dentist if they have not had cavities for years. But if the dentist keeps track of the progress of the patient’s dental issue, they may need X-rays on a more frequent basis.
Dental X-rays come with a much lower risk of radiation today. These offer invaluable insight into a person’s dental health, preventing minor issues from becoming serious ones. If you are uncertain about why you need to have an X-ray done, always feel free to ask your dentist.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Tooth decay is just one of the problems that dental professionals will examine when a patient visits them. The appointment may also comprise of:
- Neck, jaw, and head examination. The dentist will examine for anything unusual.
- Gum evaluation. Periodontal disease and other gum-related problems are checked.
- Mouth checkup. The dentist will examine for signs of oral cancer, diabetes, and vitamin deficiencies.
- Some dental professionals will perform a checkup on a patient’s face, bite, saliva, and lower jaw joints’ movement.
For children, a routine check-up is essential for monitoring the growth of their teeth. This is especially crucial for the eruption of the permanent teeth. A child’s primary teeth serve as the foundation for the adult teeth. When the baby teeth fall out earlier than usual, it can lead to problems with the bite and spacing of the permanent teeth. This can, therefore, cause malocclusion or crooked teeth. Moreover, a child’s teeth play an essential role in the biting, chewing, and speaking function.
For adults, a routine check-up is also imperative as oral health problems like gum disease can affect our overall health. After all, the condition of one’s oral health can affect the overall well-being and quality of life.
Additionally, as we age, our teeth also age. Therefore, taking extra care of them will help us save our natural teeth in our later years, keeping the function of our teeth as well.
6 Changes You Can Make For Healthier Teeth
Many people mistake healthy teeth for being high maintenance. This is not always the case.
There are many changes you can make in your daily life now that will soon bring you healthier, prettier pearly whites without having to resort to cosmetic dentistry.
#1 Stop with the bad brushing habits
Whether you brush too quick and rough or lightly brush your teeth for a long period of time, know that your pearly whites need something a little more in between to ensure healthy teeth.
Brushing too fast or rough leads to enamel deterioration which in turn can lead to cavities and tooth sensitivity.
Brushing too softly means plaque and food particles aren’t properly getting removed from your teeth. Start brushing right.
Brush for two minutes, twice a day. Don’t brush too quickly or too softly; apply the perfect amount of pressure. If your gums are bleeding or mouth is in pain after brushing, or if your teeth are still gritty afterward, you’re doing it wrong.
Remember, the proper brushing reduces the risk of discolored teeth, bad breath (halitosis), and other oral-related issues.
#2 Munch on healthy snacks
Fruits, veggies, nuts, cheese, and sugarless yogurt make for great healthy snacks. Healthy foods are full of vitamins and minerals important to build strong, healthy teeth
Dairy products, in particular, contain healthy bacteria (probiotics) great in fighting oral bacteria and offer calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Eating snacks throughout the day also increases saliva flow helpful in washing away excess food particles and bacteria. This also prevents dry mouth.
#3 Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks
The more sugar you intake, the more oral (and general) bacteria that will be present in your body.
This means a higher risk of many oral-related diseases and conditions such as gum disease in severe cases.
Keep your mouth happy and healthy by limiting the amount of sugar you consume.
#4 Drink more water
Drinking more water reduces dry mouth, bad breath, and buildup of oral bacteria and food particles.
Keeping hydrated throughout the day is a fairly simple task healthy in more ways than one.
#5 Start chewing sugarless gum after eating
Chewing gum (with no added sugar) is a great and simple way to ensure healthier teeth.
This promotes saliva production, a lessened risk of dry mouth, cleaner teeth with less oral bacteria and less food stuck between the teeth, and offers more desirable breath.
It’s also been said that gum is healthy in strengthening the jaw bone thanks to consistent chewing.
#6 Don’t be lazy about your teeth
Most of all, don’t be lazy about your teeth. Whether this means skipping out on flossing, avoiding dental visits because you’re “too busy,” or only brushing your teeth once a day, one should not be lazy when it comes to their oral health.
Even something as simple as not brushing your teeth for one full day can cause potential for oral issues in the future.
Another lazy habit people have with their teeth is avoiding going to the dentist if a problem arises. Tooth pain, cavities, and gum inflammation are just some of the things people look offer and avoid asking or going to a dentist to ensure everything is okay.
Don’t do this. Bad habits like these are easy to acquire, so avoid them before they start.
Always take the extra precautions when it comes to your oral health. After all, consistent neglect will lead to issues sooner than you think and even other issues throughout your body eventually. It’s more serious than it seems.
Did You Know Eating Cheese Can Lead to a Healthier Smile?
According to the study published in an issue of General Dentistry of the Academy of General Dentistry, the dairy product is useful in the protection of the teeth against acid erosion, or the breakdown of the outer layer of the teeth called enamel.
The study looked at the dental plaque pH of 68 subjects ages 12 to 15 before and after their consumption of milk, sugar-free yogurt, or cheese. The 68 individuals were grouped randomly among different products. They were then asked to consume their assigned product for three minutes and washed away with water. Researchers tested the pH level of each subject’s mouth and measured at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.
They then found that milk and yogurt showed no changes in the pH levels of the subjects, while cheese showed an increase in pH level at a rapid pace at each time interval.According to the researchers, two factors make cheese beneficial to oral health.
#1 It Causes Salivation
Saliva is significant in maintaining oral health and in reducing oral health problems like dental caries and oral infections. It functions as a lubricant, for dilution of sugars after food and drinks intake, antimicrobial and cleansing activity and tissue repair.
Saliva also acts as a neutralizing agent and helps in restoring pH levels in the mouth after eating. It also prevents halitosis or bad breath caused by dry mouth or xerostomia.
#2 It Has Casein Phosphate
Another factor why cheese is good for oral health is because of the teeth-strengthening casein phosphate contained in cheese. Casein phosphate lowers the acidity in the mouth and makes it resistant to decay. Cheese is also rich in calcium, which helps put back minerals in teeth that might have been lost due to other foods.
A whole wheel of cheese is not needed to be devoured to enjoy the benefits of cheese to oral health. It only takes one-third ounce serving or about a third of a slice. The fat content in cheese is not related to its benefits, meaning low-fat varieties will give the same benefits as those high in fat.
Other than Cheese: Foods For Your Healthiest Smile
Aside from cheese, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are suitable for the teeth. According to the American Dental Association, fiber-rich foods have a detergent effect in the mouth and cause salivation.
Green and black teas have polyphenols that either kill or hold back bacteria, preventing them from growing or producing acid. However, teas can stain teeth that it is advisable to drink water afterward and undergo teeth cleaning regularly. Sugarless gum can also aid in producing saliva to remove food particles from the mouth. Food with fluoride helps the teeth by preventing cavities.
Along with proper diet and avoiding activities like smoking, dentists also recommend brushing teeth, flossing, and regularly visiting the dentist for good oral health.
