I somewhat remember going to the dentist’s office somewhat frequently when I was in my early elementary years. We’d go often enough for me to recall the layout of the office and who the staff was. What’s funny though is that we stopped going after that for quite some time. In fact, I hadn’t been to the dentist again in over a decade. When I told that to people recently, they were quite shocked it had been that long. For me and my family, though, it wasn’t that big of a deal to be honest. But looking back now, it really was a big deal. While I understand my parents didn’t want to take us because they didn’t have dental insurance and found it to be a bit expensive, I still think they should’ve taken us at least once a year for basic cleanings just to make sure nothing major was wrong with our teeth. What’s weird is now I’m not overly keen on visiting the dentist because I was never in a somewhat routine habit of going before. But it’s one of those things that I know I need and something I even want to do. But sometimes I ask myself why the bi-annual scheduling of visits? Why is that the prescribed amount in a year for going to your dentist? Cleaning So maybe you don’t actually have gum disease or cavities or crooked teeth. Maybe your teeth are quite great for your age and you’re proud of them. You still should visit your dentist for routine cleanings in order for them to get the bits of plaque you can’t quite get without their expertise. They can floss better than you and even give your pearly whites a quick polish once they’re done. There’s no clean like exiting a dentist’s office and feeling like every single little spot on your teeth is squeaky clean. Finding other issues Yes, you can identify a cavity or gum disease on your own, but what happens when you usually see those things? You end up shrugging it off thinking “I’ll make it to the dentist soon.” When the dentist sees those things, though, they take initiative and right the problem then and there if possible.
Even if you think it’s too expensive to visit your dentist, talk to them about that concern. They’ll work with you to make sure you can still visit them often enough to keep on top of your dental health.
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When I hear someone spouting off things as “fact” without actually knowing for sure what they’re talking about, it rubs me the wrong way. If I, myself, am about to present some sort of knowledge or piece of information that I’m not 100% certain about, I preface my speech with “I’m not 100% sure on this, but I think . . .”. It’s that easy, and yet no one likes not having the answers, so they go ahead and drop info like they’re an expert on it. Things about your teeth seem to fall into this category of “stuff people act like they know a lot about” for whatever reason. You may hear a friend say brushing once a day is just fine or flossing has no direct impact on the state of your mouth, but these things are very wrong. While some of these things are easily recognized as falsehoods, others can be a bit confusing or believable. We’ve done you the service of knocking some of these myths out by revealing what the truth is. Gum disease affects a small percentage of the population This is actually completely wrong. The majority of people in America are affected by some sort of gum disease, but most don’t actually know this unless they visit their dentists often. You can easily reverse the course of your gingivitis by seeing your dentist and having them provide a plan to get rid of the disease. Your wisdom teeth need removed because they crowd your mouth Very rarely can this actually be the case. Most people need their wisdom teeth removed because the teeth are impacted (growing sideways) under their gums or because they are rotting from being too far back in the mouth. Tooth whitening products are bad for your enamel Some could be, but most are dentist approved and cannot harm your teeth’s enamel. You may want to talk to your dentist about the best products for you if you’re worried, but almost everything that’s over the counter is just fine for the health and strength of your teeth. Sugar makes your teeth decay
Sugar doesn’t directly cause your teeth to rot. Rather, leaving sugar on your teeth and letting it become infested with bacteria that eats at your teeth is what causes cavities and the likes. So, the sugar isn’t directly responsible. You’re directly responsible for not brushing your teeth early and often after eating sugary things. Plaque is a commonly known thing when it comes to your teeth. Everyone pretty much knows what it is, but what causes it and how to deal with it are a bit shrouded to everyone if you ask them more about it. If you haven’t visited the dentist in awhile, you’ll likely have quite the build up of plaque on your teeth. Yes, this is normal. But a quick trip to the office will have a lot of that build up scraped and cleaned off for you. If you feel like you can help the process some on your own, though, here are a few at-home methods to help with your plaque problem. Baking soda This is something most people think of when they’re trying to whiten their teeth at home, but it’s actually pretty useful for getting rid of plaque, too. All you need to do is dip your toothbrush in some baking soda and a touch of water and begin scrubbing. It’ll begin foaming as if it were a toothpaste, though the taste isn’t spectacular. Just remember to incorporate this into your dental hygiene routine once a day and you’ll see noticeable results over time in both the whiteness of your teeth and your plaque being reduced. Aloe vera This isn’t just for sunburns, folks. It can help your teeth, which may seem kind of weird. Just mix it in with water, vegetable glycerine, lemon essential oil, and baking soda, and you’ll have a concoction at home that works for killing plaque and whitening your teeth. Sounds like a win win, right? Vinegar Vinegar is great at killing off plaque, but you don’t want to swish it around in your mouth by itself. Mix it up with some water and salt, and then give the mouth a wash. You can do it multiple times a day if you feel, as it helps to break down the plaque that’s harder to reach in your mouth. Follow up with a brushing to enhance the results. Just remember that you’re not replacing your regular dental routine with any of these methods. Do them alongside what you already do, not in place of. Just as well, get to your dentist. Don’t put it off anymore. Don’t make excuses. You need to see your dentist in case there are other underlying issues that you’re not quite aware of. They’ll be able to advise you more than anyone else can.
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Harlan TennantHealth Blogger. Traveler. Fitness Junkie ArchivesCategories |